Mary Erskine

ched the great pine-tree, Phonny proposed to climb up, for the purpose of examining a small bunch which he saw upon one of the branches, which he thought was a b

ake the attempt. There was a log fence at the foot of the tree, and the distance was not very great from the uppermost

foolish as the boy that Beechnut had told them about, who nipped his own nose; and that she s

ng the lower branches of the tree he succeeded at length, by dint of much scrambling and struggling, in lifting himself up among them. He climbed out to the limb where he ha

shout out for Malle

e!" said he. "Wait a minut

ng. There are a great many accidents which may befall a boy in coming down a tree. The one which Phonny was fated to incur i

lar about his clothes, and he was very unwilling to go to Mary Erskine's, and let her and Bel

ng me so. It is all her fault." Then starting off suddenly

her, he called out for her to sto

ing at the rent, while Phonny stood with his fo

nny,-"because y

id Malleville, lookin

s her fault that he had torn his clothes, and was prepared to insist strenuously that it was; but this unlooked

said Malleville in a conciliato

"It was not any b

n the bed, and then drawing up her chair near to him, she took his foot in her lap

es, asked where the children were. Mary Erskine said that they had gone out into the fields with Thomas, to make hay. So Ph

m. From the end of the trellis's walk the children entered a garden, and at the back side of the garden they went through a narrow place between two posts into a field. They walked along the side of this field, by a very pleasant path with high green grass and flowers on one side, and a wall with a great many raspberry bushes grow

er which was formed by a group of trees, and t

nny. So saying he set off as fast he could run,

art, treading down the hay as fast as Thomas pitched it up. As soon as Phonny and Malleville reached the place, Malleville stood still with her hands behind her,

ace. Phonny was extremely pleased with this plan. He climbed into the cart, Bella helping him up by a prodigious lift which she gave him, seizing him

upon the top. They then slid down the hay to the ground, Thomas receiving them so as to prevent any violent fall. Thomas then forked up as much more hay a

e window opened into the bay, so that the hay, when Thomas pitched it in, fell down into the place where the children were standing. They jumped upon it, when it came down, with great glee. As every new forkful which Thomas pitched in c

ere was a large earthen pan full of such things, and there were more over the fire. There were also around the table four bowls full of very rich looking milk, with a spoon in each bowl, and a large supply of bread, cut into very s

t the door, and Mary Erskine came out, bringing mugs and baskets to put the strawberries in. There were four mugs made of tin; such as were there called dippers. There were two pretty large baskets besides, both covered. Mary Erskine gave to each of the chi

ke," sai

n," said Ma

," said

n," said Ma

guessed right y

Mary Erskine. "Only you may

r, there were a great many cool and shady places that were very pleasant. Mary Erskine led the way down to one of these where there was a large flat stone near the water. She hid her two baskets in the bushes, and then directed the children to go up into the field with her and get the strawberries. The strawberries were not only very abundant, but also very

tone, with their dippers before them. Mary Erskine then brought out one of her

strawberries with. Now take up the bunches from your dippers, and pu

f this treasure of course awakened in all the party the utmost enthusiasm and delight. They went on hulling their strawberries very industriously, and were so

ee several, and became greatly excited in consequence, calling eagerly upon the rest of the party to come down and look. He said that he wished very much that he had a fish

new pleasure accidentally coming into view, which the whole party cannot share. Besides, Phonny left his dipper for Mary Erskine or Malleville to ca

ll at once Malleville was surprised to see Beechnut coming in. Beechnut, was returning from the mill, and as the children had had to walk nearly all the way to Mary Erskine's, he thought it very pr

story, but I will go for the sake of the ride. I am too tired to

he gone?" s

brook," repli

d find him,"

he brook. Very soon he saw Phonny coming out from among the bushes with his pole over his shoulder, and walki

hes?" said Beechnut, a

Phonny, d

of that," s

p surprised, and somewhat disp

of the fishes,

her day, when I did catch some,

your sake. There is always a chance to be g

did not appear to be just at that

oon," said Phonny, in a pettish tone. "That grea

ce brightening up at the same time, as

, and I laid down my fishing-line, and went up to the horse, an

eechnut, "I am v

ee whose sake you can be glad of that for.

o learn that when a horse takes up his foot, he will put it down again wherever it happens, and if a boy's foot is under it, it will get trod upon. There is no possible way for boys to learn that but by experien

honny. "It was very heavy. Wha

took their lesson in keeping out of the way of horses' forefeet, could not s

ready to go. Mary Erskine said that she would go with them a little way. Bella and Albert then wa

oing to have a new road?" sa

asked Pho

ng to make it very soon. It will be a very good wagon road, and when it is made you

rty?" repeated Pho

at I know, to come here some day when the raspberries are ripe, and have a raspberry party,-l

Malleville. "When are

road will not be done until the fall. They have just begun it

they could hear the sound of axes and the voices of men shouting to oxen. Phonny wished very much to go and see. So Mary Erskine led the way through the woods a short distance, till they came in sight of the men at work. They were engaged in felling t

ould pry up the end of a log with crow-bars or levers, he would pass the chain under the end so raised, and then hook it together above. Another man would then back up a pair of oxen to the place, and sometimes two pairs, in order that they might be hooked to the chain

and dragged out of the line of

y Erskine said that she would bid her visitors good-bye, and telling them that she would not forge

skine knows, are invited to that party," said Ph

nut, "it will be

E