He stood for a long time staring at the ceiling, then he said, "I guess
I'll have to give it up."
The children looked dreadfully disappointed. "Perhaps you will remember
it by our next meeting," said the president, anxiously.
"Possibly", said the boy, "but probably not. I think it is gone
forever." And he went to his seat.
The next thing was to call for new members. Miss Laura got up and said
she would like to join their Band of Mercy. I followed her up to the
platform, while they pinned a little badge on her, and every one laughed
at me. Then they sang, "God Bless our Native Land," and the president
told us that we might all go home.
It seemed to me a lovely thing for those children to meet together to
talk about kindness to animals. They all had bright and good faces, and
many of them stopped to pat me as I came out. One little girl gave me a
biscuit from her school bag.
Mrs. Wood waited at the door till Mr. Maxwell came limping out on his
crutches. She introduced him to Miss Laura, and asked him if he wouldn't
go and take tea with them. He said he would be very happy to do so, and
then Mrs. Wood laughed; and asked him if he hadn't better empty his
pockets first.
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