The day before Washington's Birthday something happened at the Wolcotts' house. The telegraph office telephoned to say that father couldn't come home until the day after to-morrow. He was detained on business in Boston. All day it had rained. The flag was not out on the piazza, so it did not matter about that, but Billy and Betty were so sorry not to have father to go with them to the parade.
The morning of Washington's Birthday something else happened. Grandmother sent mother a letter asking if she would come over to Greendale and help her entertain the company; ever so many of the relatives were coming to spend the holiday with her, more than she expected.
So Betty held mother's coat for her, and Billy telephoned for a cab to take her down to the station.
"Be good children and don't disturb cook; she will be very busy to-day," mother said as she kissed Billy and Betty good-bye. It was not until she had gone that they thought of what had happened to them.
"We can't go to the parade," Betty said.
"Our flag isn't out!" Billy said.
"We must put it out ourselves then," Betty said, but that was not very easy to do.
The Wolcott flag was very large and very tender because it was so old. It had to be handled with great care, and Billy and Betty were not very big.
"We must hang it all ourselves because it is the flag of our country," Billy said. So they carried it out to the piazza, and unfolded it there very, very carefully.
"Now how are we going to get it up to the top of the piazza?" Betty asked.