Part 75

However, she did not aggravate Goldilocks by any unnecessary delay, and half-past one saw mother and daughter going through the garden toward the gate of Birdland. Goldilocks, for some mysterious reason, kept her eyes upon the ground, while it seemed to her as if her mother stopped an endlessly long time to admire every shrub and to gather a bunch of delicately pencilled pansies of lilac, mauve, and royal purple to fasten in the belt of her soft gray muslin gown.

As the pair came out from the shadow of the overhanging vines of the garden walk, a low murmur and the distinct words “here she comes” made Gray Lady pause and look toward the rustic gate of Birdland. As she did so, the gate opened, and inside she saw the school children drawn up in line on either side of the grass path that formed a natural aisle to the middle of the orchard, where several of the old trees had crumbled away, leaving an open space.

“We must walk right on,” whispered Goldilocks, clutching her mother’s hand and almost pulling her along. So, wishing every one good day right and left as she went, Gray Lady allowed herself to be led, the children closing in and following.

At first the bright light in the open space blinded Gray Lady, and then she saw that a tall flagpole was planted in the centre of the open,—a slender pole, flawless from bottom to top, polished and smooth as glass. On the top was perched a gilded eagle with wings wide-spread; in the halyards on the pole a loosely folded bundle was caught, and the end of the line was in the hands of Jack Todd.

Gray Lady stood quite still looking from one to the other, her breath coming fast. Then Jack jerked the line, and out of the bundle, fold on fold, fell a large flag; slowly it rose to the top of the pole and floated in the breeze, while at the little click of Miss Wilde’s tuning-fork twenty-five fresh young voices broke into song.

HYMN OF THE FLAG

(Dedicated to the Army and Navy)

North, South, East, and West Rise and join your hands. Native born and Brothers drawn From many Fatherlands. Rise ye Nation of the morn, Land where Liberty was born; Ye who fear no ruler’s nod, Ye who only kneel to God— Rise—Salute your Flag!

Stars upon its azure throng, Stars for states that stride along, Stars of hope that make men strong. Blood-red bars for battle done, Steel-white stars for peace well won. Rise—Salute this Flag!

North, South, East, and West Bring your tribute then. Gold ye have and grain enough To feed earth’s starving men. Ye who tent on distant shores, Ye whose name the ocean roars, Ye who toil in mine and field, Ye who pluck the cotton’s yield, Rise—Salute your flag!

North, South, East, and West Rise and join your hands; Native born and brothers drawn From many Fatherlands. One ye stand in common cause, One to break oppression’s laws, One to open Freedom’s gate, One! Ye re-United States! Rise—Salute your Flag!

Stars upon its azure throng, Stars for states that stride along, Stars of hope that make men strong. Blood-red bars for battles done, Steel-white stars for peace well won. Rise—Salute this Flag!

* * * * *

The singing ceased, and Gray Lady stood with bent head, a smile upon her lips and tears in her eyes, for often when one is happiest, the two go together.

The words of the hymn had been written by a dear friend on one of the anniversaries of the day that the General gave his life for his flag’s honour, and forgetting that Goldilocks knew, Gray Lady had thought that no one remembered the verses but herself.

Tommy and Sarah, to whom it had fallen to explain the occasion in a little speech of Miss Wilde’s wording, stepped forward, then looked at each other and seemed struck dumb. Sarah found her tongue first and also her own wording for the speech; clasping her hands nervously, she began: “Last fall when we had the orchard party, you said ‘some day Birdland must have a flagpole of its own,’ so we thought we would all do it and Miss Wilde said, ‘yes.’ The big boys cut the pole in Haines’ woods (he let them), and they shaped it out and polished it all themselves, and Jacob helped set it yesterday. We were awfully afraid you wouldn’t go to New York so’s they could do it without being seen.

“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 turning 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 General’s” which Miss Wilde had so carefully worded and drilled them to pronounce correctly, she gave a despairing 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 it is perfectly satisfactory to them. Oh! children, do not smother me!”

Then Tommy Todd suddenly realized that he had not only thought of following Sarah’s example and hugging Gray Lady, but that he had actually done so!

THE END

INDEX

Birds, Travels of, 136-153. Blackbird, Red-winged, 333-340. Bluebird, 313-317. Bobolink, 21, 34, 147, 226-228, 403. Bob-white (Quail), 145, 199-202.

Cardinal, 145, 277, 282-288. Catbird, 32, 366, 382, 383. Chat, Yellow-breasted, 403, 411. Chickadee, 25-27, 181, 246, 355-356. Chippy, Winter, see Tree-Sparrow. Cowbird, 333, 336. Creeper, Brown, 184-186. Crossbill, Red-winged, 252. Crossbill, White-winged, 252. Crow, 10-11, 107-109, 114-128. Cuckoo, Yellow-billed, 403, 404. Curlew, Eskimo, 148.

Dove, Mourning, 219-220. Duck, Wood, 213-215.

Finch, Purple, 363. Flicker, 189-194.