"But, Tilly, I think we ought to study it," reproved Cordelia, majestically, above the laugh that followed Tilly's speech. "Elsie--I mean, Miss Martin,--what did you find out to-day?" Elsie wrinkled her nose in a laughing grimace at Tilly, then began to speak in an exaggeratedly solemn tone of voice. "I find Texas is so large, and contains so great a variety of soil, and climate, that any product of the United States can be grown within its limits. It is a leader on cotton. Corn, wheat, rice, peanuts, sugar cane and potatoes are also grown, besides tobacco." "And watermelons, Elsie," cut in Bertha Brown. "I found in a paper that just last year Texas grew 140,000,000 watermelons." "I was coming to the watermelons," observed Elsie, with dignity. "Wish I were--I dote on watermelons!" pouted Tilly in an audible aside that brought a chuckle of appreciation from Harold Day. Cordelia gave her a reproachful look. Elsie went on, her chin a little higher. "Texas is the greatest producer of honey in the United States. As for the cattle--prior to 1775 there were vast ranches all over Southwestern Texas, and herds of hundreds of wild cattle were gathered and driven to New Orleans. I found some figures that told the number of animals in 1892, or about then. I'll give them. They're old now, of course, but they'll do to show what a lot of animals there were there then." Elsie paused to take breath, but for only a moment. "There were 7,500,000 head of cattle, 5,000,000 sheep, and 1,210,000 horses, besides more than 2,321,000 hogs." There was a sudden giggle from Tilly--an explosive giggle that brought every amazed eye upon her. "Well, really, Tilly," disapproved Elsie, aggrievedly, "I'm sure I don't see _what_ there was so very funny in that!" "There wasn't," choked Tilly; "only I was thinking, what an awful noise it would be if all those 2,321,000 hogs got under the gate at once." "Tilly!" scolded Cordelia; but she laughed. She could not help it. They all laughed. Even the little boys and girls on the outskirts giggled shrilly, and stole the opportunity to draw nearer to the magic circle. Almost at once, however, Cordelia regained her dignity. "Miss Mack, we'll hear from you, please--seriously, I mean. You haven't told us yet what you've found." Tilly flushed a little. "I didn't find anything." "Why, Tilly Mack!" cried a chorus of condemning voices. "Well, I didn't," defended Tilly. "In the first place I've told everything I can think of: trees, fruits, history, and everything; and this morning I just had to go to Mrs. Miller's for a fitting." "Oh, Tilly, _another_ new dress?" demanded Elsie Martin, her voice a pathetic wail of wistfulness. "But there are still so many things," argued Cordelia, her grave eyes fixed on Tilly, "so many things to learn that--" She was interrupted by an eager little voice from the outskirts. "I've got something, please, Cordelia. Mayn't I tell it? It's a brand-newest thing. Nobody's said it once!"