The oars were not moving , but a veteran , who looked very much like Joe , dropped the one he held , and in trying to turn and pummel the black-eyed warrior behind him , he tumbled off his seat , upsetting two other men , and pulling the painted boat upon them as they lay kicking in the cambric deep . Shouts of laughter greeted this mishap , but George Washington never stirred . Grasping the banner , he stood firm when all else went down in the general wreck , and the icy waves engulfed his gallant crew , leaving him erect amid a chaos of wildly tossing boots , entangled oars , and red-faced victims . Such god-like dignity could not fail to impress the frivolous crowd of laughers , and the curtain fell amid a round of applause for him alone . `` Quite exciting , was n't it ? Did n't know Gus had so much presence of mind , '' said Mr. Burton , well pleased with his boy . `` If we did not know that Washington died in his bed , December 14 , 1799 , I should fear that we 'd seen the last of him in that shipwreck , '' laughed an old gentleman , proud of his memory for dates . Much confusion reigned behind the scenes ; Ralph was heard scolding , and Joe set every one off again by explaining , audibly , that Grif tickled him , and he could n't stand it . A pretty , old-fashioned picture of the `` Daughters of Liberty '' followed , for the girls were determined to do honor to the brave and patient women who so nobly bore their part in the struggle , yet are usually forgotten when those days are celebrated . The damsels were charming in the big caps , flowered gowns , and high-heeled shoes of their great-grandmothers , as they sat about a spider-legged table talking over the tax , and pledging themselves to drink no more tea till it was taken off . Molly was on her feet proposing , `` Liberty forever , and down with all tyrants , '' to judge from her flashing eyes as she held her egg-shell cup aloft , while the others lifted theirs to drink the toast , and Merry , as hostess , sat with her hand on an antique teapot , labelled `` Sage , '' ready to fill again when the patriotic ladies were ready for a second `` dish . '' This was much applauded , and the curtain went up again , for the proud parents enjoyed seeing their pretty girls in the faded finery of a hundred years ago . The band played `` Auld Lang Syne , '' as a gentle hint that our fore-mothers should be remembered as well as the fore-fathers . It was evident that something very martial was to follow , for a great tramping , clashing , and flying about took place behind the scenes while the tea-party was going on . After some delay , `` The Surrender of Cornwallis '' was presented in the most superb manner , as you can believe when I tell you that the stage was actually lined with a glittering array of Washington and his generals , Lafayette , Kosciusko , Rochambeau and the rest , all in astonishing uniforms , with swords which were evidently the pride of their lives . Fife and drum struck up a march , and in came Cornwallis , much cast down but full of manly resignation , as he surrendered his sword , and stood aside with averted eyes while his army marched past , piling their arms at the hero 's feet . This scene was the delight of the boys , for the rifles of Company F had been secured , and at least a dozen soldiers kept filing in and out in British uniform till Washington 's august legs were hidden by the heaps of arms rattled down before him . The martial music , the steady tramp , and the patriotic memories awakened , caused this scene to be enthusiastically encored , and the boys would have gone on marching till midnight if Ralph had not peremptorily ordered down the curtain and cleared the stage for the next tableau . This had been artfully slipped in between two brilliant ones , to show that the Father of his Country had to pay a high price for his glory . The darkened stage represented what seemed to be a camp in a snow-storm , and a very forlorn camp , too ; for on `` the cold , cold ground '' -LRB- a reckless display of cotton batting -RRB- lay ragged soldiers , sleeping without blankets , their worn-out boots turned up pathetically , and no sign of food or fire to be seen .
A very shabby sentinel , with XXXXX bound in bloody cloths , and his face as pale as chalk could make it , gnawed a dry crust as he kept his watch in the wintry night .
Country Liberty bed curtain delay feet others scenes tableau warrior