Pocket Island: A Story of Country Life in New England

e knew that a good time was in store. Card-playing was considered a vice in those days, and limited to a few games of "seven-up," played by sinful boys on a hay-mow, and dancing was frowned up

a fiddle talk," as the saying was, but "call off" and keep time and head, foot, both arms and entire body as well,

usking came after the corn was disposed of. And how the husks flew! When a red ear was found by a girl the usual scramble occurred, for unless she could run once around the pile before the young man who discovered it could catch her, he claimed a kiss. Manson, who sat next to Liddy, kept a sharp watch, for he didn't intend to have some other fellow steal a march on him. He noticed th

irth, care-free happiness and frolic personified. The floor may have been rough, but what mattered? The young men's boots might have been a trifle heavy, but their hearts were not, and when it came to "balance and swing," with the strains of "Money Musk" echoing from the bare rafters, the girl knew she had

he autumn landscape, the party separated. As Manson drove along the wooded road conveying Liddy to her home, he felt a little curious. He could not qui

ed ear?" he asked her, after

ind, and perhaps they like it. I do not. It cheapens a girl in my opinion, or at least i

after a pause, he added: "I think you

school, I thought it was fun, but it appears different now." Then, after a pause: "If I were a young man I would not want the girl I thought most of kissed a dozen times by every other fellow

ancing go," said Manson, "and now that you put it in the wa

young to discuss the ethics of kissing; but it must be remembered that she was older in thought than in years, and besides, she was ble

den in silence for a time, and were crossing a brook that

years ago, when I went home with you from that party at the

r since?" she said, laughing. "If you ha

party, it is likely I should not have gone to the academy, a

ddy; and then, with an accent of tendern

will laugh at me

ed, "I will not

so you see what resulted from my going to the party. I do not think father intended to send me, and he would not if I had not coaxed him. My first term there was not very pleasant for many reasons, and had

hape a man's plans in life. When her home was reached, and after he had assisted her to alight, they stood for a moment by the gate beneath the maples. No light was visible in the house; no sound of any nature was heard. The sharp outlines of the buildings were softened by the moonlight, and the bold formation of the Blue Hills, vague and indistinct. The near-by brook

hem crept a fair girl's face and tender blue eyes, it was but natural. The magic sweetness of our first dreams of love come but once in their pure simplicity; and none ever afterward seem quite like them. We may s

med touched with a new life. Perhaps the effe