76 THE CORN LADY 



people of our district Daddy, every one 

 of them. They had come to surprise me and 

 tell me good-by. 



Such a dinner as we had fried chicken, 

 cake and ice cream and when we were just 

 finishing, a splendid woman one of my 

 nicest and most helpful mothers arose and 

 made the kindest speech. She said they ap- 

 preciated all I had done for the children; 

 how interested I had been in them in every 

 way; that I had not only helped them but 

 that I had made the whole neighborhood a 

 pleasanter and a better place to live in. She 

 said that all my friends wanted to give some 

 expression to their gratitude, which I could 

 take with me and have all my life. Then 

 she presented me with a gold watch and 

 chain from all the people and children of the 

 district. It was all unexpected, for they 

 hadn't even spoken of it over the telephone 

 for fear I would hear them. Something 

 caught hold of my throat and I thought I 

 just couldn't say anything, but I did manage 

 to say a few words. What they were, I 

 could not tell you now. But all had tears in 

 our eyes until Mr. McCormick, with his 

 jolly good nature, began to joke and tease 

 me and then we felt a little more natural. 



