Part 27 (1/2)
”The idea is feasible. Anybody any amendments to offer?” said Bessie.
Then a sudden and brilliant suggestion came to Gwen--one of those lucky flashes of inspiration that occasionally, in our happier moments, strike us.
”May I speak?” she cried impulsively, starting up.
”By all means,” nodded Chairman Bessie.
”It seems to me,” said Gwen, ”that if we're going to do this thing at all, it might just as easily be on a large scale as a small one. Miss Roscoe, no doubt, would be very pleased with a silver tea service, but I know something I believe she'd like far better. Don't you remember how frightfully interested she is in the new Convalescent Home? She urged us all to help it if we could. Suppose we could raise enough money to found a cot, and call it the Rodenhurst Cot, wouldn't that be a nice memorial?”
”After Miss Roscoe's own heart!” gasped Bessie.
”Ripping!” agreed most of the girls.
”But what would it cost? Is it possible?” enquired Olga Hunter.
”I believe it is. We have some papers at the Parsonage about the Convalescent Home. I was looking at them only yesterday. Any donor of 100 is to be allowed to name a cot, and nominate the special children who occupy it. Now in this big school we ought to be able to raise 100.”
”A large order,” said Natalie Preston.
”Not if it's undertaken systematically. As it's for a charitable object we can ask subscriptions from outsiders.”
”I see your point,” said Bessie. ”Yes, we could beg for the Convalescent Home when we couldn't ask for contributions for a personal testimonial to Miss Roscoe. But this would please her far more. A Rodenhurst Cot! She'd love it!”
”If each girl in the school could collect five s.h.i.+llings,” continued Gwen, ”that would be over seventy-five pounds. Then suppose on anniversary day we had a grand gymkhana, and charged a s.h.i.+lling admission. Surely every girl could persuade two people to come, which would make at least six hundred guests. Six hundred s.h.i.+llings mean thirty pounds, so there you are!”
”We could have tea extra and perhaps sell flowers,” added Olga Hunter, as an amendment ”I'm willing to second the proposal.”
”It certainly sounds feasible on these lines. We might even raise more than the hundred pounds,” said Bessie.
”In that case we could add a personal testimonial to Miss Roscoe.”
”Hear! Hear!” shouted several.
”Put the motion in due form, Gwen.”
”I beg to propose that in order to celebrate the tenth year of Miss Roscoe's headmistress-s.h.i.+p, and the seventeenth anniversary of the school, we should endeavour to collect 100 to found a Rodenhurst cot in the Convalescent Home,” proclaimed Gwen.
”And I beg to second that proposal,” said Olga Hunter enthusiastically.
”All in favour please signify!” murmured Chairman Bessie.
Such a chorus of ”Aye!” came in response that the motion was carried unanimously, and nothing remained but to discuss details.
”We shall have to let the Juniors know about it, and start them collecting,” said Natalie Preston.
”We'd better each collect as much as possible in our own district or parish,” suggested Gwen. ”Lesbia and I, for instance, can undertake Skelwick. I'm sure some of the people there would give towards a cot.”
”Then we'll have cards or books to enter the amounts?”
”Of course.”
”What about the gymkhana?”
”We must appoint a special committee to arrange a programme and compet.i.tions, and ask people if they'll offer prizes.”