asked Mrs. Bhaer from the steps where she always appeared when Dan performed with Charlie . `` Of course he is . See he wo n't run away now , even if I do n't hold him , and he comes to me the minute I whistle ; I have tamed him well , have n't I ? '' and Dan looked both proud and pleased , as well he might , for , in spite of their struggles together , Charlie loved him better than his master . `` I am taming a colt too , and I think I shall succeed as well as you if I am as patient and persevering , '' said Mrs. Jo , smiling so significantly at him , that Dan understood and answered , laughing , yet in earnest , `` We wo n't jump over the fence and run away , but stay and let them make a handsome , useful span of us , hey , Charlie ? '' CHAPTER XVII . COMPOSITION DAY `` Hurry up , boys , it 's three o'clock , and Uncle Fritz likes us to be punctual , you know , '' said Franz one Wednesday afternoon as a bell rang , and a stream of literary-looking young gentlemen with books and paper in their hands were seen going toward the museum . Tommy was in the school-room , bending over his desk , much bedaubed with ink , flushed with the ardor of inspiration , and in a great hurry as usual , for easy-going Bangs never was ready till the very last minute . As Franz passed the door looking up laggards , Tommy gave one last blot and flourish , and departed out the window , waving his paper to dry as he went . Nan followed , looking very important , with a large roll in her hand , and Demi escorted Daisy , both evidently brimful of some delightful secret . The museum was all in order , and the sunshine among the hop-vines made pretty shadows on the floor as it peeped through the great window . On one side sat Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer , on the other was a little table on which the compositions were laid as soon as read , and in a large semicircle sat the children on camp-stools which occasionally shut up and let the sitter down , thus preventing any stiffness in the assembly . As it took too much time to have all read , they took turns , and on this Wednesday the younger pupils were the chief performers , while the elder ones listened with condescension and criticised freely . `` Ladies first ; so Nan may begin , '' said Mr. Bhaer , when the settling of stools and rustling of papers had subsided . Nan took her place beside the little table , and , with a preliminary giggle , read the following interesting essay on , `` THE SPONGE `` The sponge , my friends , is a most useful and interesting plant . It grows on rocks under the water , and is a kind of sea-weed , I believe . People go and pick it and dry it and wash it , because little fish and insects live in the holes of the sponge ; I found shells in my new one , and sand . Some are very fine and soft ; babies are washed with them . The sponge has many uses . I will relate some of them , and I hope my friends will remember what I say .
One use is to XXXXX the face ; I do n't like it myself , but I do it because I wish to be clean .
believe flourish let looked looking pick rang shut subsided wash