Two or three of the boys backed out when Bobby explained that they must
ask people for the things to be sold at their fair. But enough
promised to go with him after school that afternoon to make it worth
while to go on with the planning.

"Aunt Polly and Mother and Norah have promised to fix the 'freshment
table," explained Bobby. "We're going to sell ice-cream and lemonade
and cake. And Meg and Dot and the girls are going to get the things
for the fancy work table. So we only have to get enough for one table."

"What kind of table?" asked Bertrand Ashe practically.

"All kinds I guess," returned Bobby. "Let's go to all the stores.
And, oh, yes, we're going to rehearse the stuffed animal play to-night.
Aunt Polly says as many as can, come over to our house."

After school that afternoon Bobby and his committee started out to get
the things to sell at their fair. Now, no one likes to ask for things,
perhaps, but Father Blossom had explained that it was very different
when one is asking for something for some one else and not for one's
own gain or pleasure.

"When you go into a store, remember that you are doing something for
poor Paul Jordan and think bow you would feel if you were poor and
lame," he had said to Bobby. "When you ask Mr. Barber for something
from his shelves you're not asking for Bobby Blossom, but for Paul.
That will make asking easy for you."

The first store the boys went into was the hardware store. Mr. Gobert,
the proprietor, came forward when he saw the six boys.