48 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
Then everybody pulled a string, and soon there hopped 
about a startling array of birds with human legs and arms, 
for every one entered fully into the fun of the thing, even 
quiet Miss Wilde wearing her Blue Jay cap and calling 
the bird’s note with good effect. 
“Now run about and see all that you can before play- 
time is over, and we go into the study for our first bird 
lesson,” said Gray Lady. 
“T wish we could have a lunch-counter for birds at our 
school,” said Sarah, ‘‘but we haven’t any near-by tree.” 
“Perhaps you may be able to have one — a tree is not 
always necessary. I have several ideas for lunch-counters 
in my scrap-book,” said Gray Lady. 
As the children walked along, some swung their hats 
by the elastics in rhythm with their steps. The elastic 
of Eliza Clausen’s hat was new and strong and all of a 
sudden it gave a snap, and the hat flew into Goldilocks’ 
lap. She had stretched out her hand to return it to its 
owner when she glanced at the hat, and her whole face 
changed and the smile faded from her lips. ‘‘Oh, Eliza!” 
she exclaimed appealingly, “you don’t know that those 
feathers on your hat are wings of dear, lovely Barn Swal- 
lows, or you wouldn’t wear it, would you?” 
“? Course I do,” said Eliza, taken off her guard and at 
heart now provoked and ashamed at having her hat seen, 
“and I’ve got lots more kinds at home. Ma’s got feathers 
on her hat, too — tasty feathers. Miss Barker from New 
York that boarded with us gave ’em to her; they cost a 
lot and stick right up in a nice stiff long bunch. They’re 
called regrets, and they don’t grow round here, but they’re 
ever so stylish.” And Eliza held her nose in the air witha 
