The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-11-12
a0INa a sTRAWRERRYINo.

laxiiy stirred the leaves 81 the lofty elm
,hs; stretched its protecting arms over
the old farm house.
How stupid w are. yswned Fanny.
throwing down her book and desisting
from the attempt to capture q fly that
persisted in alighting on her nose
How wish II would thunder, or some
thing happen TO waken us up.
oh good there's cousin Kate com
across lots Now for some fun
And dropping her work, away scam
peyed Josie down to the garden gate
10 meet her.
Kate Wilde, or "Wild Kate as ev-
erybody called her and IL mnst be
confessed that bhe had well earned the
title came along, swinging her hat in
her hand, as was her usual custom, her
light elastic step showing that size was
troubled with neither corns nor their
concomitants, tight shoes. She was a
medium sized girl, with clear, bright
complexion, brown eyes, and hair about
the same color, and which, do her best,
would never stay done up. like the
other girls, but deiying the restraint
Of comb and net, persisted in resolving
itself into spiral curls around the neck
and temples-a style of coifure not at
all unbecoming TO the bright, piquant
face Of its owner.
Now, girls, she said, depositing
herself upon the steps OF the piazza,
and crushing back the moist hair from
her temples, don't all Of You begin to
exclaim how terribly hot it is; for one
can sec that by just looking at YOU
/ declare, if you don't look as wilted as
so many cabbage leaves As for me, it
is just such weather as ! like; it fairly
makes me grow.
And she looked as though it did, as
she sat there with her glowing checks
and sparkling eyes, the very picture OF
health, fun and frohc.
I've come to invite you to go a
strawberrying with me as soon as it
gets little cooler / know a place
where they are thick as they can grow,
and as red aud ripe as cherries
Where? inquired chorus Of voices.
Down in Pebblybrook meadow, not
quarter of mile from here. You
know where it is-we went berrying
there last summer.
Yes; but you know Deacon Barnes
owned it then. Squire Graves is SO
cross He told Rob aud the Harding
boys that if he ever caught them in his
grass again he'd set his dog on them
Hump Perhaps he'll set his dog on
me, said Kate, with toss Of her head
I should really like to see him do it,
But pshaw! he won't meddle with us
girls. Not but what he is ugly enough
to do most anything, but he'd be
ashamed to. Say, girls, will you go
/ shall, for one; for ! don't mean al
those delicious berries shall go to waste
for want Of some one TO pick them
After a little more coaxing and per
susding, Kate carried the day, as she
generally did, and it was fnall,
agreed that she was to meet then
there Immediately after tea.
At the appointed time Kate made
her appearance. basket in hand, bu
bareheaded, to the astonishment OF th'
girls, who were waiting for her on til,
porch.
Where's your hat? was the imme
diate inquiry.
The last / saw Of it it was going owe
the dam, was the cool reply. A put
Of wind took it off my head as / wa
crossing the bridge; but ! wasn't goinl
clear home again; ! thought | coul'
borrow something here, or tie q hand
kerchief over my head
i know what III do 7 she exclaime'
triumphantly, as she spiel pile Q
hats that Josie was braiding; III wea
one Of these; it viii be just the thing
so will l so VIII ! 2 was the merr.
response.
After following Kate's example, the
nrrayed themselves in tho coarse strs1
hats very generally worn by men an,
boys during the warm weather IN thei
outdoor labor.
Thus equipped, with many laugl
at the transformation it effected, espec
islly in connection with their jackets
profusely ornamented with buttons
they set out upon their expedition i
high glee:
Square Graves, the owner Of th
Pebbly brook meadow and The ferhl
land adjoining il. had been a residen
~ (yras avsfle bgtf a favs raontha durint