The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-27
PETS COMPOSITION"
hats the matter, Pet?n

w NAT inc mdIJeT, Iet!
go Aunty, tomorrow is compost
tion-day and l can't think of anything to
write"
Let me see what you have on your
slate"
go Aunt Kate, Pm ashamed 1t is
so stupid. But you may read it if you
like"
Aunt Kate glanced over the slate that
Pet held up for ner inspection, and then
stopped to kiss the tear-stained face of
the young " composer"
All! yes, see. Trying to make brick
without straw. Put up your slate now,
dear, and come with me for a walk"
Aunt Kate was all ready to 60 out,
with basket on her arm and Pets scar
let cloak in her hands. The cape was
soon wrapped around Pets plump
shoulders and the hood drawn up over
her curly head, and then they were off
in a jitfy; for Aunt Kate is one of those
brisk people who are never long ADDING,
and who stir up lazy folks as you have
seen the wind whisk dry leaves about.
Where are we going, Aunty?" asked
Pet, as she shut the cottage gate behind
them.
"To the woods, for wild flowers"
"Oh, how nice!" and Pet gave little
scream of delight, and, with skip, hop
and jump was off down the grassy lane.
At the end of the lane there was a stile,
and when you crossed that you were in
the woods. Here Pet sat perched like a
red bird on the topmost step when Aunt
Kate came up.
Well, Red Riding Hood, have you
seen the wolf to-day"
mo; but | was afraid I might, so
waited for you. But I've seen two blue
birds, and crow, and oh! the cunning
est little squirrel! He ran up that big
beach tree and popped into a hole, as
quick as flash"
By this time Pet had jumped off the
stile and was scuftiing among the dead
leaves, making them crackle and fly like
mad, unu ,.nr ,,,xnv, NM mn,
first flowers on this southern slope. Next
month this bank will be ablaze with In
dian pinks. Columbines grow higher up
on that rocky ledge; but it is too soon
for them yet"
go Aunty, come quick, before I
touch them. The lovely little things!
See how they are cuddled up together,
to keep warm. What are they?"
Chat is very fine cluster of Hepatica
triy0b0, commonly called heart-liverwort.
In some parts of the country, l believe,
children call them squirrel-cup."
They do look like little cups when
half open. What pretty color they
are-such a bright blue they almost
sparkle. What are you doing, aunty?"
II am going to fasten this bit of white
paper to stick and leave it here, so that
we can find them when we come back"
"Oh, how funny! That is like the
discoveries used to do when they found
new country. They always planted a
flag first thing. Here are some more
just like those; only they are white. How
close they cling to the big roots of this
great tree, as if they were afraid and
wanted the tree to take care of them.
Are there any more sorts besides blue
and whittier"
Yes, some are Of pale rose color
and there are several varieties of blue"
How odd the leaves look-so brown
and battered, as if they had been out in
all the storms of last winter"
"And so they have. After the bios
SONS have passed away the new leaves
come, and they are quite pretty. Many
of them are variegated."
What beautiful ferns! Are they
evergreen, too?"
&" Yes; these large ferns all grew last
year. But here are a few tiny new ones
just coming up"
And Aunt Kate set down her basket
and took out trowel, and began to dig
up some of the finest of the ferns, taking
care to disturb the roots as little as pos
sible While she was thus engaged Pets
scarlet cloak fitted hither and thitheI
among the leafess trees, quite lighting
up the somber woods with its brilliant
coloring. Presently Aunt Kate called to
Pet that it was time to go home, The
little girl came running up, with hel
hands full Of flowers, and her cheeks as
red as her cloak, and her blue eyes
sparkling.
What lovely little wood-nymph il
is" thought Aunt Kate. "Quite an i'm
prevement on the heavy-eyed, white
checked young slave of the slate"
have found some violets, and some
other flowers that look little like thu
white liverworts, but they are more deli
cate and have new leaves"
"These are wood anemones. The,
are dainty little things"
" Do you know, aunty, they make mi
think of Cousin Alice. They are so fail
and tender"
And these sturdy hepaticas are lik
Alice's little country cousin, are they not
But here is the white flag, and my blu
beauties quite safe"
While Aunt Kate took up the hepatica
: Pet hunted for partridge berries anon!
the moss under IA clump of pines close a
hand.
Just as Aunt Kate was ready to start
r Pet called out: Don't you smell some
: thing good, unty-something spicy an
? fresh and woodsyY Oh, I've found il