What Might Have Been Expected

cing B

t Matilda for several days. This Harry procured and carried down to the old woman that day. He also gathered and piled up inside of h

n earnest the next morning, and, as this was not the season f

is bush have been greatly in demand for tanning purposes, and, in some States, especially in Virginia, sumac gathering has become a very important branch of industry, particularly with the negroes; many of whom, during the sumac season, prefer

for who could tell what they might meet with? A mink, perhaps, or a fox, or even a beaver! They had a long walk, but it was through the woods, and there was always something to see in the woods. In a couple of hours, for they stopped very

"here is enough to

ever, they did very well, and, for an hour or so, they worked on merrily. Then they had dinner. Harry built a fire. He easily found dry branches, and he had brought matches and paper with him. At a little distance under a great pine-tree, Kate selected a level place, and cleared away the dead leaves and the twigs, leaving a smooth table of dry and fragrant pine-needles. On this

ere to cook

xed look upon her countenance, and said, "

y. "Here is a splendid fire. What's the goo

ing is cooke

eautiful fire for nothing? "We ought to have brought along something raw," sai

sh," said Kate; "we sho

rry, "but I br

ring, where they could get a drink. In about half an hour they found a spring, and some wild plums, and some blackberries, and a grape-vine (which would surely be full of grapes in the fall, and was therefore a vine to be remem

her bag. Harry followed her example, but somewha

and see what that was that made the tracks. If it was anything with fur on it, i

t go a little way up the creek. I needn't be gone long.

d Kate; "I think

off to find the tracks of the mysteri

very interesting, and she hoped that Harry would soon find his animal, whatever it was. Then, after picking a little longer, she thought she would sit down, and rest awhile. So s

of the leaves. It ought to weigh fifteen pounds. And they will be a cent a pound if we take pay in

own the bag, and b

s; and if we pick for two hours longer, when Harry comes back, we may get ten pounds more apiece, which will make it pretty heavy; but then we won't have to come again for nearly five days; and if Harry shoots an ott

frightened, for he might be lost. But soon she reflected that that was very ridiculous, for neither of them could be lost in that neighborhood which they knew so wel

followed that thing up the creek ever so far, and there is no knowing when he will g

ng and forgot to return, and also the piece of paper on which she had made her calculation of the

came. Your sumac-bag is in the bushes between the tree and the creek. Bring t

a

Then she hid her brother's sumac-bag in the bushes and, shouldering her own bag, wh