be patriotic," he said.

"They all want to know what it's for, then they're all right," said
Bobby, as the boys hurried along to another shop. "Talking takes a lot
of time, though."

The boys were really surprised to find how interested people were, and
how generous. The grocer gave them six glasses of bright red jelly
which, he said, would make their table look pretty as well as sell
readily. The baker promised them a plate of tarts the morning of the
fair. Steve Broadwell, the druggist, and a special friend of Bobby's,
not only gave them three fascinating little weather-houses, with an old
man and woman to pop in and out as it rained or the sun shone, and two
jars of library paste, but told Bobby that he would save some bottles
of cologne for Meg's table. The jeweler gave them four small
compasses. Even kind Doctor Maynard, whom they met driving his car out
toward the country, when he learned what they were doing, promised them
a dollar as his admission to the fair "whether I get a chance to come
or not."

"I'll bet we had better luck than the girls," boasted Palmer, as they
started for their homes. "And we have more places to go to next week.
What kind of play is it going to be, Bobby? Can we all be in it?"

"Aunt Polly said as many as wanted to could," replied Bobby. "She
calls it a stuffed animal play. I don't know what that is, but Aunt
Polly is lots of fun."

The boys promised to be over "right after supper," and Bobby ran in to
find his family and tell them his afternoon experiences. He had to
wait a few moments, because Meg and Dot were busy telling what had
happened to them.

"We've got ever so many things," bubbled Meg enthusiastically. "The
drygoods store gave us yards of ribbon; and Miss Stebbins said she had
six pin-cushions she didn't want." (Miss Stebbins kept a small
fancy-work store in the town.) "We saw Miss Florence, and she is going
to dress two dolls for us. And we've got belt buckles, and sachets,
and bags, and aprons, and, oh, ever so many things."

"Mr. Broadwell says to tell you he is saving some cologne for you,"
reported Bobby. "Say, isn't getting ready for a fair fun? And the
boys are coming over to-night to see about the play, Aunt Polly."

"I'm all ready for you," said Aunt Polly capably.

CHAPTER XI

BOBBY'S MEANEST DAY

Four boys and four girls rang the Blossom door-bell that night after
supper, eager to take part in the stuffed animal play. With the