Aleck, too, under the supervision of his teacher, had prepared a fitting and patriotic response which he had committed to memory and had rehearsed many times. Pupils taking part in the rest of the program had been carefully and patiently drilled, and every one looked forward to an occasion which would be marked as a red-letter day in the history of the Chestnut Hill school. The exercises opened with the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner," by the school. There was a brief prayer by the pastor of one of the village churches. Next came a recitation, "Barbara Frietchie," by a small girl. Then another girl read a brief history of the American flag. She was followed by James Garfield Morrissey, the crack elocutionist of the school, who recited, in fine form, a well-known patriotic poem, written to commemorate the heroism of American sailors who cheered the flag as they went down with the sinking flag-ship _Trenton_ in a hurricane which swept the Samoan coast in 1889. THE BANNER OF THE SEA By wind and wave the sailor brave has fared To shores of every sea; But, never yet have seamen met or dared Grim death for victory, In braver mood than they who died On drifting decks in Apia's tide While cheering every sailor's pride, The Banner of the Free. Columbia's men were they who then went down, Not knights nor kings of old; But brighter far their laurels are than crown Or coronet of gold. Our sailor true, of any crew, Would give the last long breath he drew To cheer the old Red, White and Blue, The Banner of the Bold. With hearts of oak, through storm and smoke and flame, Columbia's seamen long Have bravely fought and nobly wrought that shame Might never dull their song. They sing the Country of the Free, The glory of the rolling sea, The starry flag of liberty, The Banner of the Strong. We ask but this, and not amiss the claim; A fleet to ride the wave, A navy great to crown the state with fame, Though foes or tempests rave. Then, as our fathers did of yore, We'll sail our ships to every shore, On every ocean wind will soar The Banner of the Brave. Oh! this we claim that never shame may ride On any wave with thee, Thou ship of state whose timbers great abide The home of liberty. For, so, our gallant Yankee tars, Of daring deeds and honored scars, Will make the Banner of the Stars The Banner of the Sea.