40 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
Soon thirteen pens were scratching away industriously, 
while Eliza and Dave fingered theirs, fidgeted with the 
paper, and wriggled in their seats as if uncertain what to 
say or whether they would write at all. 
Finally the teacher said, “If any one of you is needed 
at home on Saturday or cannot for any other reason go 
to the party, you may write that, but each child must 
send a reply; and be very careful, for I shall send the notes 
as they are written without corrections.”’ 
Sarah Barnes was deputed to collect the papers, and 
after school was dismissed Miss Wilde glanced over the 
notes before enclosing them in one large envelope. Eliza’s 
read : — 
“T would like to go to the party but my ma says to look at 
birds is silly and that when folks looks much at birds they get 
afraid to trim their hats with them, and my ma and me has 
birds on our Sunday hats and they look tastie, and we don’t 
want to get afraid so there’s no use in my going to the party 
*xcept to eat the lunch, which wouldn’t be fare.”’ 
Miss Wilde’s first impulse was to leave out this curi- 
ously worded and badly spelled letter; then, as she read 
it a second time she smiled and said to herself, “‘ Who 
knows but what this note will give Gray Lady a good 
idea of the other side of the question and of the objections 
she will meet?” 
Dave’s note was no more agreeable, though expressed 
rather more clearly : — 
“T’d like to go up to your house, but when I told father bout 
the other day and you wanting us not to get birds’ eggs, he says 
he knows what some people want, and next thing will be to 
