Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-06-15
TALES AND SKETCHES.
GOING A-sTRA synERRY1NG.

1t was warm afternoon in July, and the
Dexter girls, Mary, Josie, Fanny and Sue,
were out upon the broad piazza to catch the
faint breeze that lazily stirred the leaves of
the lofty elm that stretched its protecting
arms over the old farmhouse.
How stupid we all are !" yawned Fanny,
throwing down her book and desisting fl ON
the attempt to capture fly that persisted in
alighting on her nose. How | do wish it
would thunder, or something would happen
to wake us up"
80, goody there's Cousin Kate coming
across the lots. Now for some fun p
And dropping her work, away scampered
Josie down to the garden gate to meet her.
Kate Wilde or wild Kate, as everybody
called her-and it must be confessed that
she had well earned the title-came along.
swinging her hat in her hand, as was her
usual custom, her light elastic step showing
that she was troubled with neither corus nor
their concomitauts, tight shoes. She was
medium-slZed girl, with clear, bright COM
plexlon, brown eyes, and hair about the
same color, and which, do her best, never
would stay done up" like the other girls,
but, defying tue restraint of comb and ret,
persisted in resolving itself into spiral curls
around the neck and temples; style of
couture not at all unbecoming to the bright,
piquant face of its owner.
Now, girls" she said, deposi:ng herself
upon the steps of the piazza, and brushing
back the moist hair from her temples, don't
all OF you begin to exclaim how terribly hot
1t is; for one can see that by just looking
a. you. l declare, if you don't look as will
ted as so many cabbage leaves! AS for me,
it is just such weather as l like; it fairly
makes me grow.
And she looked as though it did, as she
sat there with her glowing cheeks and spark
ling eyes, the very picture of health, fun and
frolic.
"I've come to invite you to go straw ber-
rying with me as soon rs it gets little
cooler. know place where they are AS
thick as they can hang, and as red and ripe
as cherries"
"Where 2" inquired chorus of voices
Down in Pebbly- brook meadow, not a
| quarter of a mile from here. You know
where 1t is, Josie we went -berrying there
last summer" -
| Yes but you know Deacon Barnes own
&c it then. Squire Graves is so cross He
told Bob and the Harding boys that if he
ever caught them in his grass again he'd set
| his dog on them"
"Humph! Perhaps he'll set his dog on
me " with II toss of her head. II should
really like to see him do it ! But pshaw he
won't meddle with US girls. Not but that
he's ugly enough to do most anything, but
he'd he ashamed to. Say, girls, will you go2
| shall, for one; for don't mean that all
those delicious berries shall 90 to waste for
the want OF some one to pick them"
After little more coaxiug and persuad
ing, Kate carried the day, as she generally
did, and 1t was finally agreed that she as
to meet them .here Immediately after tea.
At the appointed time Kate made her APP
pearance, basket in hand, bh bare headed,
to the astonshmeut of the gris, who were
waiting for her on the porch. .la ..n .
"Where's your hat s' was the inmedia at
inquiry.
The last saw of it, it was going over
the DAM" vas The cool reply. "a puff of
wind took it off my head as I was crossing
the bridge. But wasn't going clear home
again l thought that could borrow some
thing, or else tie handkerchief over my
head" ... .a...t
~ know what I'll do ~ she exclaimed tri-
umphantly, as she spied pile of hats that
Josie had been braiding; "l'll wear one OF
these it will be just the thing"
80 will l SO will l J" was the merry
response. .- .s. sfs. t-4s..4..- =.
And following Kate's example, they ar
rayed themselves in the coarse straw hats.
very generally worn by men and boys, during
the warm weather, in their outdoor labor.
! Thus equipped, with many laugh at the
transformation thus effected, especially in
connection with their Jackets, proiusely
ornameEted with buttons, they set out upon
their expedition in high glee.
Squire Graves, the owner of Pebbly brook