When they had finished, Mary Lee asked Miss James if there was anything she wished to tell the girls.
"Only this," was the response, "What the girls are doing in the way of getting stockings, mittens and shirts is of great value. Thanks to the co-operation of all groups such as this, our soldiers will be fairly well supplied. But I really believe that the girls who are visiting families and making them think of economy are doing just as effective and valuable work. And the gardeners are going to get a lot of satisfaction from their work."
"Before we adjourn, I have one or two suggestions which you may think it worth while to follow," said Mary Lee.
"Our Red Cross Group might suggest to the Mayor that the parks be made, at least such parts as could be used for such purposes, into small gardens to grow cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, squash and other vegetables. Furthermore, a little further out in the suburbs, we might get the consent of the railroad companies to let families use the land that they call their right of way, for planting of vegetables. This would be in line with the work planned for us."
"What capital ideas," said Miss James while the girls applauded.
"I move," said one of the girls, "that Miss James and Mary Lee be appointed a committee to take up both these questions and that we all offer our help should they need it."
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
When Mary Lee reported for work the following Monday, Dr. Payson was waiting for her.
"Didn't Dr. Anderson tell me that you have had some experience in the handling of babies?" he inquired.
"I have had," was the girl's answer. "At the orphanage they arranged it so that the older girls attended to the babies and at Mrs. Quinn's, because she was not well, I had to take almost complete care of the child."