noon
The great day arrived at last and Nature did her part nobly . It was one of those intensely clear , sunny days which only our Lady of the Sunshine can produce , a day when the thermometer announces that it is very hot , but when Nature denies the slander and the blood dances to the time set by the bracing air . The blood was dancing in Mr. Watson 's veins , at any rate . He was up early and had all his plans laid before noon . He collected his pupils at the school house early in the afternoon and gave them copious instructions . As soon as a sufficient crowd had collected at the picnic grounds , they were to walk in procession with him down to the grove , and just at their entry into the woods to burst into song and march in twos up to the platform , waving their banners and singing of the glory of Canada . After this they were to be given the freedom of the woods until such time as the performance should commence .