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We have physical culture exercises every day, too.

They make you graceful and promote digestion."

"Promote fiddlesticks!" said Marilla, who honestly thought it was all nonsense.

But all the field afternoons and recitation Fridays and physical culture contortions paled before a project which Miss Stacy brought forward in November.

This was that the scholars of Avonlea school should get up a concert and hold it in the hall on Christmas Night, for the laudable purpose of helping to pay for a schoolhouse flag.

The pupils one and all taking graciously to this plan, the preparations for a program were begun at once.

And of all the excited performers-elect none was so excited as Anne Shirley, who threw herself into the undertaking heart and soul, hampered as she was by Marilla's disapproval.

Marilla thought it all rank foolishness.

"It's just filling your heads up with nonsense and taking time that ought to be put on your lessons," she grumbled. "I don't approve of children's getting up concerts and racing about to practices. It makes them vain and forward and fond of gadding."

"But think of the worthy object," pleaded Anne. "A flag will cultivate a spirit of patriotism, Marilla."

"Fudge! There's precious little patriotism in the thoughts of any of you. All you want is a good time."

"Well, when you can combine patriotism and fun, isn't it all right? Of course it's real nice to be getting up a concert.

We're going to have six choruses and Diana is to sing a solo.

I'm in two dialogues-'The Society for the Suppression of Gossip' and 'The Fairy Queen.' The boys are going to have a dialogue too.

And I'm to have two recitations, Marilla.

I just tremble when I think of it, but it's a nice thrilly kind of tremble.

And we're to have a tableau at the last-'Faith, Hope and Charity.' Diana and Ruby and I are to be in it, all draped in white with flowing hair.

I'm to be Hope, with my hands clasped-so-and my eyes uplifted.

I'm going to practice my recitations in the garret.

Don't be alarmed if you hear me groaning.

I have to groan heartrendingly in one of them, and it's really hard to get up a good artistic groan, Marilla.

Josie Pye is sulky because she didn't get the part she wanted in the dialogue.

She wanted to be the fairy queen.

That would have been ridiculous, for who ever heard of a fairy queen as fat as Josie? Fairy queens must be slender.

Jane Andrews is to be the queen and I am to be one of her maids of honor.

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