436 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
“Miss Wilde fitted the music to the words, and Mrs. 
Wilde cut out the flag, and the rest of us all sewed on 
it, the little boys too. The stripes were easy, but some 
of the stars wiggled in the points, because it’s hard turn- 
ing sharp corners. 
“We all bought the eagle, not in a store,—they cost 
too much,—but of the junk pedler, and it’s been done 
over. It’s a good strong one, better than they make 
nowadays, grandma says.’”’ Then, as Sarah realized 
that she had forgotten all the expressions of thanks 
for the happiness that had come to them at ‘the Gen- 
eral’s’”? which Miss Wilde had so carefully worded and 
drilled them to pronounce correctly, she gave a despair- 
ing look at their friend and, seeing something in her face 
that invited her, cast herself into Gray Lady’s arms. 
* * * * * * * 
After the flag had been lowered, duly examined, and 
praised, and the crooked stars declared to be quite natural, 
because, as Goldilocks truthfully remarked, “real stars 
twinkle and always look crooked, you know,’ Gray 
Lady said: ‘‘Now that I know the beautiful surprise 
you had for me, I will tell you a little secret of my own. 
It is true, as rumour says, that Miss Wilde is going to leave 
Foxes Corners school at the term end, but not to go to 
Bridgeton. 
“She is going to have a little school all of her own in 
the big room at Swallow Chimney, with Goldilocks and 
as many of you for pupils as wish to go to the High 
School by and by and are ready for the eighth grade. 
Yes, I have arranged it with the school committee, and 
