As the Mayor came down the aisle the little ones cheered and cheered,
and the big people joined them, and waved their handkerchiefs, and it
was quite an exciting moment.

Then the party mounted the decorated stand, and in a few pleasant words
the Mayor presented the gift of the city to the people.

He was followed by several other speakers, among them Mr. John Proctor
Clarke, who said some very nice things to the children.

He began by leaving the benches where the guests were seated, and
walking across the stand until he was as near to the children as
possible, for he said that what he had to say was intended for them, and
not for the grown-ups, and so he wanted them to hear him clearly.

"The Mayor," he said, "has given this pier to you; but do not think he
has given it as a charity. He has given it to me as well as to you, he
has given it to all the people who are here to-day, and all the people
in the city of New York, not as a charity to us, but because now that
the city has finished it, it belongs to us by right as citizens of this
town.

"The city has given us the use of this pier, and promises to keep it
swept and clean, and in good repair for us, but it is ours; we own it,
it belongs to us as citizens.

"Now what do we do with the things that belong to us? Do we throw them
away, or destroy them? We take care of them so that they may last, don't
we?