The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-27

white, and looks like wax; and it grows
close to the ground under the leaves.
Oh, how sweet"
I That is the celebrated May-fower or
| trailing arbutus. We are lucky to find
1t, for it is rare in these woods"
20 Aunty! your basket does look
100 sweet! Let me put in my May-how-
ers, and then it will smell sweet, too"
wish painter could have seen Aunt
Hates basket after Pet added her rose
colored May-fowers and bright berries
to It's store of woodland treasures.
1t would have made lovely picture,
with its fringe of graceful ferns, it's
dainty wild flowers and exquisite lichens
OF all the delicate wood-tints.
They heard the tea bell ring as thew
entered the cottage gate, and Pet said
she was as hungry as the wolf that ate
Red Riding Hood. After tea Aunt Kate
asked Pet to come to her room. Aunt
Rates room was the cosiest place inn
aginable, and Pet was always glad of an
invitation to visit it.
This evening a CHEEKY fire burned in
the open CRATE, and lighted lamp, with
a pretty green shade, stood on the table.
Aunt Hates easy-chair was drawn up at
one side of the table and Pets little
rocker at the opposite side. There was
bow window, full of plants and hya-
clnths, blooming. in glass. And two
sides of the room had book cases, from
the floor to the ceiling ooh, how nicer
cried Pet, as she sat down in her little
chair and began to rock herself, as if she
had been very cross baby.
Now, dear, what are you going to
do until bedtime? You will have two
whole hours to spend as you please"
i don't know, aunty. What do you
think I'd best do?"
Suppose you write to Cousin Alice
and tell her about our ramble. She will
be glad to know that the wild flowers are
in bloom"
Thank you, aunty. Pm glad you
thought it. Poor Alice, / wish she lived
in the country Unjust be so dismal shut
up in that great town"
And Pet ran to get her slate and pen
Gil, and was back again directly and writ
ing away as fast as her fingers could
move, with smile on her lips and an
eager light in her eyes. Aunt Kate was
knitting, with an open book on the table
beside her; but she looked at Pets bright
face oftener than at the pages of her
book. Long before the two hours were
up Pet had written closely over both sides
of her slate and laid it away in one of
the drawers Of Aunt Hates table, to be
copied on the morrow. She sat looking
thoughtfullY into the fire while Aunt
Kate turned the heel in the tiny scarlet
sock that she was knitting for Pets baby
brother. As Pet drew long breath, Aunt
Kate looked up and said:
"A penny for your thoughts, my
dear"
" They're not worth a penny. But l
would give something to be rid of them.
It's that old composition again. I don't
believe shall sleep tonight for thinking
of it,"
Aunt Kate laughed softly, and tapped
with her knitting needle on the drawer
in which the slate was so safely slowed
away. Pet is very bright, although she
doesn't like to write " compositions, and
in minute she had her arms around
cheeks N ahG kissing hsah her, half iaGghfng
and half crying at once.
ooh, you darling duck of an Auntyl
To think of me writing composition
without knowing it. l never heard of
such thing. And so easy, too! ! wish
all the girls had an Aunt Kate. "-Helen
Matters.