Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-08-13
STRAWBERRYING ON THE NOUN
TAIN.
BY p. THORNE.

BY P. THoRNE.
One Friday night the children all came
racing home from school out of breath
Dinner-pails, sun-bonnet, hats, were all
dropped on the kitchen floor.
where's mother?" was the chorus.
SIN the pantry" and into the pantry
tumbed all the children.
Mother, can we go strawberryin' on
the mountain Tomorrow"
Roy and Lois and Chef are going,
and they want us to go, oh, perfectly
awful"
Roy knows place up in his fathers
pasture where the berries are thick as
hair. You can pick bushel in no time.
Roy said So"
When Mrs. Kendall had said Yes"
the next thing was to hunt up pals and
baskets to carry, for they were to start
right after breakfast, and farmers break
tasts come pretty early in summer time.
Their forethought proved unnecessary,
however, as the next morning they were
all wide awake when the birds began to
sing, and up long before breakfast.
A thick fog made everything look
gloomy at this early hour, especially the
children's faces. Aaron was known to
be "A reliable weather prophet, SO out to
the barnyard they all went, where Aaron
was milking.
Aaron, do you think it's goin' to rain
to-days Aunt Olive says it is, because
the water boiled out of the pot so yes
terday.'
Aaron SAID nothing for minute. Spirit,
spirit, went the straight white streams of
milk on to the pail bottom, while the chill
dren stood anXiousl y around, feeling that
everything hung on Aaron's words
"Wa'al," said Aaron, finally, with de-
liberation, dunno. Praps your Aunt
Olive is right, but / guess that rain won't
come afore to-morrer. Things are fiXin'
that way, but 'twon't come to-day. Too
many cobwebs on the grass--the swal-
lows flew too high last night 1t was
clear as bell when ! went TO bed last
night But it's goin' to be mighty hot
day. If you yOunkers don't sweat some
pickin' berries out on the mountain, I'll
lose my guess"
When the sun was up little higher
his rays began to penetrate the fog, and
presently away it rolled in tleecy clouds
up the mountain side and off into the
blue sky, where it soon dissolved and
disappeared The children could eat
but little breakfast, they were SO excited.
They said they weren't hungry when
their mother demonstrated, and they
didn't believe they should want any
lunch either; but when they were about
starting Mrs. Kendall appeared with a
heavy lunch basket.
Let's not look in il" suggested Mile,
SOS to be surprised bime-by. Mother
always puts in such good things"
Teddy insisted on carrying two big
baskets, in spite of his mothers advice.
"Pooh!" he said, ~ guess | can fill
these easy enough. I'll fill the lunch
basket, too, after we've empticd IT,"
" If you bring home enough so we can
have short-cake for supper Sunday
night, / shall be satisfied" said Aunt
Olive.
At the gate they met Roy, Lois and
Chef, all laden with baskets and tin pals.
Bose seemed TO think he could pick
strawberries too, as he was bounding
around Roy in great delight, evidently
feeling himself one Of the party. They
climbed the rail-fence, and struck into
the field that lay between them and the
mountains foot, feeling as bright and
joyful as the morning itself.
1t was such pleasant morning. Every
thing was flashing with dewdrops, even
w bJG airy tOU"Gpo vi tuC BIhSS, tht
shadows still lay long and cool across the
fields; bird songs rippled from every tree
and bush, and the air was fresh and sweet
with clover fragrance. They heightened
the way by chasing the little yellow but
terfies, by catching humble" in
their hats, by seeing who could walk
longest on top of rail fence without
falling off, by trying buttercups under
their chins to see who loved butter.
Crossing piece of woods, Ralph found a
nice sassafras bush, which they dug up
for its spicy root. Then they came to a
young moosewood tree.
Aaron says the Indians used moose
wood bark for strings" said Ralph.
"We'd better get lot of this"
But finally it was resolved to leave
this, some swamp-apple flowers the girls
wanted, and various other treasures OF
the woods, till they returned. After
crossing the swamp by jumping from
tuft to tuft Of the long grass, they be-
gan to ascend the mountain. Down I'M
der some low bushes in the grass, Ralph,
who always saw everything, discovered
a ground-bird's nest. While they stood
admiring the cunningly hidden nest,
with its four speckled, brown and white
eggs, the ground-bird came, and flew
back and forth as near their heads as she
dared, with pitiful cries Of distress. One