268 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
There was silence for a moment, and Miss Wilde, look- 
ing at Gray Lady, while she waited for her to speak, saw 
tears in her eyes. 
“Tommy’s idea about the fountain is excellent, and 
I think we can build it before spring, but the blind old 
horse and his patient master cannot wait, and they both 
serve us, each and all, in fair weather and foul. 
“ How is it, children? Shall we set aside ten dollars for 
the bird-food for the winter, and then buy Mr. Hanks 
a ton of good hay, a horse-blanket, the three bundles 
of shingles, and the window-glass? And do you think 
that you big boys could put on the shingles if Jacob 
Hughes helped you?” 
“You can just bet we will!” cried Jack Todd, and 
the others nodded approval. 
This matter also was put to vote, and then a committee 
appointed, consisting of Miss Wilde and Jack Todd, to 
purchase blanket, hay, etc., while to Clary fell the inex- 
pressible bliss of stopping at Mr. Hanks’ on her way home, 
telling him the news, and taking a blanket, warm but 
not new, that Gray Lady loaned until the new one could 
be had. 
“Now for the candy!” shouted Tommy, whose spirits 
could keep in no longer. 
“The meeting isn’t adjourned, yet,” said Goldilocks, 
reprovingly, clutching her paper and pounding on the 
table. ‘A motion is in order.” 
“T move that we adjourn,” said Miss Wilde. 
“Now somebody say,‘I second it,’”’ insisted Goldi- 
locks. 
“T second it,” camea chorus. And any further remarks 
