The spirited air came
to them with a new meaning that had never been plain before.
Dick felt the tears in his eyes. Foolish, o course, but
he couldn't help it! And choky Dave furtively wished that he
dared reach for his handkerchief with all those hundreds of eyes
turned on him.
As the music came to an end the High School boys filled their
lungs for a mighty cheer. Quick as a flash, however, the leader
of the orchestra tapped his baton, then swung it once more, and
the instruments leaped on into:
"_Columbia, the gem of the ocean_!"
That was for the Navy, of course, and one didn't have to keep
quiet, either. Words of the song, and cheers, mingled with the
musicians' strains.
And then it wound up in a cheer and a mad rush of yelling that
must have been heard for a mile.
An impromptu reception and hand shaking followed, but to Dick
and Dave, and their partners, it had more the look of a mob.
It was a joyous and big-hearted mob, though, and in time it quieted
down. After a very long interruption the dancing started again,
and Dick and Dave were able to whirl away with their partners.
As the next dance after that, started there was a sudden halt
by many of the couples, and soon a roar of laughter ascended.
For the orchestra had chosen, as the air, "The Girl I Left Behind
Me."
This air will always be associated with the United Service---the
Army and Navy. It is a rollicking, jolly, spirited old tune,
as it needs must be for "The Girl I Left Behind Me" is the tune
that is played when the country's defenders, in war time, are
marching away for the front, after just having said the last goodbye
to mother, sister and sweetheart.
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