"The last people you'd ever think of—the women in the Old Ladies' Home."
"Why should you think them the very last to be interested?" asked Mrs. Emerson who happened to be at the Mortons' and whose fingers were carrying the flying yarn that her needles were manufacturing into a sock. "Most of them are mothers and it doesn't take a mother to be interested in such a cause as this. Every human being who has any imagination must feel for the sufferings of the poor children."
"It seemed queer to me because I've never seen them do anything but just sit there with their hands in their laps."
"Poor souls, nobody ever provides them with anything to do."
"Now all of them say that they'll be delighted to sew or knit or do anything they can if the materials are provided for them."
"Here's where we can begin to spend the money Mother has offered to advance us," cried Ethel Brown. "Can't we go right after school to-morrow and buy the yarn for them, Mother?"
"Indeed you may. Has Della sent you the knitting rules from the Red Cross yet?"
"We're expecting them in every mail. If they don't come before we take the wool to the Home we can start the ladies on scarfs. They're just straight pieces."
"Mrs. Hindenburg and Fräulein are knitting wristlets for the German soldiers. They could give the rule for them, I should think," suggested Roger, "and our old lady friends can just cut it in halves for the kids."
It was the next day that Helen came in from school all excitement.