The Adventures of Joel Pepper

n a long while. There was work to do picking rocks for the neighboring farmers; and then came potato-planting time when th

fetch and carry back the coats and sacks that Mamsie was always sewing up. So at it they kept all the pleasant days. And, of course, on the rainy days no one could think of getti

to the woodpile behind the shed. "Now come

m never goin' there," sa

owers?" said Joel

f to the tip of the mount

he sai

here must be such a very great lot up

go a little way; but I'm not going to the cave; only

after Davie got started he could persuade him to

uld put in round pebbles, when he wanted to use it, and punch them out suddenly with

he corner of the woodshed, where he had hid

to eat, Polly, pl

seam in one of the coats Mother Pepper was making for Mr. Atkins, and it bothered her dreadfully, for it wouldn't look like Mamsi

a little while," she said quickly. "Dear

a trice. "Polly, why don't we ever have any?" he called back, twitching off the

sting the end of the thread tighter. "Dear me, this hateful thing won't go in

njured voice; "the old thing fell down. 'Twarn't my fault."

d you're a very naughty boy, Joel, and a

er on the pail, and in a minute or two he came up with his pockets

she laid it down and put her head back against Mamsie's big chair in which she was sitting. "O dear,

" asked Phronsie, laying down Seraphina, where she sat

nd thread. "And I'm a bad, naughty girl, Phronsie, to fret," she added, her ill-humor

ce more, feeling that everything was right, as she had seen Poll

aid Polly, with very red cheeks, "a

ied Phronsie, in a tone of horror.

in and out merrily. Suddenly she laid it down. "I must go out and tell Joel

back she loo

he big chair again, she set to work, and presently the old kitchen was very quiet, except for the little song that Phronsie was crooning to

took her up, and carried her into the bedroom, and laid h

can send the bundle back to-night when she gets home"--for Mrs. Pepper was away helping one of the village housekeepers to make her supply of s

f "Bandy Leg Mountain," so called because the hermit who had lived and died there had short crooked legs. And at l

't any," at last he said,

ere for? Of course you won't find any until you get up nearer the

was only his heart beating and thumping; so he sat down on the moss and pine needles, and waited. Joel would surely com

nd on. "Hooray, we're most there!" he shouted at last. "

see a bear! and, O dear! he must have his gun ready. And Joel soon stopped thinking about David, but bounded ahead

n't talk. And there surely were a number of voices. Joel stopped squirming, and stared with wide eyes into the

and Joel heard some one say, "We're found out." And another one s

t into the light. And he hadn't been there but a minute when something came squirming

e other way, looking around carefully, and whistling away softly to himself, and presently returned to the cave. And as soon as he had gone in again, Joel hopped out of his bush, and ran at

"Dave--Dave!" shouted Joel, shaking him hastily, "wake up! The man that stole ou

raight and blinking. Joel seized his hand and spun him along as fast

David, hot and panting, rush into the field. "I'm so tired

shake his jacket many times. "Hold on there, Joe," he

d Joel, excitedly. "Oh,

Ben told it as well as he could for Joel, who wanted to go

o the other cheek, "bein's he's a Pepper, knows what he's a-talkin'

, hopping up and down in his delight. "D

had a hull pan o' doughnuts took off from the back steps where she'd set 'em to cool, why I'm of the opinion pretty str

egged Joel, "and come." And he

farmer, turning bac

solutely stil

d Deacon Blodgett. "Why, I couldn't look your Ma in

nned Ben

Ben, "but Mamsie woul

man who stole our bread; an' they all b'long

ng so, Joe, you're scaring all Mr. Blodgett's men. Th

ll 'em, s'long as you yell like that

'em," screamed Joel, harder than ever, "so there

nd if we wait here much longer, all those fellows will be slipping off, m

med, bein' Mrs. Pepper's boy, to take on so? Now I'll tell you what I'll do. You've done a g

, and they're mine," said

'll tell you what I'll do. Peter shall go along with you home, an

ins' working, to-day." While Joel screamed shrilly

o," said Deacon Blodgett, sternl

es, and hearing his story, stood quite sti

slowly, "ought to go and see the job finished. Mother can trust you. Run al