The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-05-04
FOr,fhe "a 1fsxA
Younger 1nrrIN
TI2.:O

DleW fresh and cool from the river
lying beyond the garden. First there
were flowers and grass, then fruit
trees and currant bushes, raspberry
bushes and ounces. then vegetables,
then more grass and little dock pro-
1ecting Into the blue breadth of wa
ter. They turned their flushed faces
to catch the air.
"Bonnets are hot" they said.
"Will 1t be weeks and weeks before
she comes?" questioned Mary. Sue
was doubtful. Harriet said Seventh
month came after Sixth month. They(
always had cherry pie on the Fourth,
and 1t was holiday. ut would be
fine IL she came then. Maybe father
VIII take us In the boat" That was
something else they longed for-.to
be big, to stand on the dock and
watch the water and to sail In boat.
They were little now and the currants
were to be gathered, and mother
would not like them to stand on the
dock alone.
Seventh month followed Sixth
month and the cousins came to spend
the afternoon and take tea, as mother
had said. Things were apt to happen
as mother said. They saw tall Cousin
Benjamin, and Cousin Caroline in her
silk gown. and other people, and
Cousin Jane. Mother welcomed in
her silk gown In the cool parlor.
Cousin Jane promised to sit on the
same side Of the table as the little
girls. Then they were sent into the
garden-three little girls in quaint
white frocks, low in the neck and
short In the sleeve. showing the bare
arms. Mother had said they were to
play quietly, to keep clean and not to
get wet in the river, else they must be
sent to bed. That would be dire, in
deed, to miss Cousin Jane. They
looked at the flowers behind the
hedges of box and picked a straw
berry shrub flower apiece to hold in
a warm hand and smell the delicious
fragrance; and then they were at the
end of the flowers. They walked un-
der the trees and talked about the
pears and the peaches that would
drop on the grass; and always they
were little farther from the house
and little nearer to the river. How
pretty 1t was, glinting in the sun and
running, running past tt dock. Gyp
scampered about, inviting a chase.
They we're quite at the end of the
garden now. Beyond lay only the
dock and the river. Gyp ran on,
turned his head, wagged his tail and
barked. He ran farther and barked
again.
Hes going to the dock" said Sue.
81 suppose we might stand there"
said Harriet, 'if we did not get wet
or muddy"
The three walked on. Gyp was
delighted. He jumped and ran and
barked and begged for stick. Sue
threw one into the river. With a
joyous plunge he swan and brought
it back.
ut is low tide" said Sue. 1--WE
could wade to-day"
She threw another stick. Then
Harriet threw and Mary tried. OH!
oh! oh! she slipped on the edge and
her plump little self in her clean.
white frock went right down, down
into the shallow water! Harriet flew
to the steps and pulled her out. Sue
wiped her off and hushed the crying.
They were all safe. Alas! also they
were wet and muddy, and mother had
said
Three draggled little girls walked
slowly under the fruit-trees, through
the flower garden and into the kitch-
en-. Mother found them there with
their wet frocks, and mother had
said So the maid took them up
stairs and put them into dry, white
nighties and left them, with the sun
high in the sky.
Harriet, Sue and Mary lay dismally
in the big bed. They could hear the
tinkle of china and silver and catch
the sound of voices. They supposed
there would be preserves and three
kinds of cake and Cousin Jane had
promised to sit on their side. Then
they heard gay laughter; and, by and
by, step on the stair.
"Oh! Cousin Hannah" Cousin Car
oline had pleaded, hearing of the chill
dren's plight, "did thee send them to
bed?"
'I infer" remarked Cousin Jane,
as tea ended, that their fare is pru-
dent. Thee could not Justly send
them these jumbles, though, other
wise thee would be willing"
Great-grandma and great-grandpa
were smiling at Cousin Jane and at
each other.
Sponge cake would be more
observed great-grandma.
"It certainly would" assented Cou-
sin Jane, piling three large pieces on
a plate.
Jane" said great-grandpa, thee
is perversive STILL"
And then they all laughed.
Harriet, Sue and Mary sat up in
bed.
"Lookl" cried Cousin Jane. coming
lightly in with the plate. Her brown