Year: 1874




Jack and Emma and Mary. Jack wa:
the oldest, Emma next and Mary next
They were the youngest of ten children
vino had all been Arabs until they were
twelve years old, and these youngest hao
now come into the title.


Here are some big words coming; bu
I'll explain them, so don't be scared
They were Arabs because they were
nonlddic that is, fond of rambling about
and they looked upon houses only rs
places where one must go only when
forced in by hunger or dragged in to &C
to bed They were preddtory in that they
made war upon snakes and hornets and
crows; also they sometimes took the
pantry by storm and got bread, cookies
and cups of milk. And they were hos
pitablc because they always liked to
have II friend along when they were
rambling. They lived in a big, low,
brown house by the sea, and had grca'
deal of trouble and Il great deal more o
fun. Their mother insisted that they
should have their hair brushed and theil
nails clean when they came to the table;
and then there was the multiplication
table, and Mary could not get it into
her little nOddlc how the earth could be
round and yet have no upper or under
side to it. And then they never knew
what to do with their hats or bonnets.
Most people would say the proper place
was on the head. But my three Arabs
were quite above that. a hat was good
to hunt butterflies with and Il sun bonnet
would hold chestnuts and little fishes,
but otherwise must be carried i'll the
hand. Can't hear anything said
Emma, with your ears all tied up
Cant see anything" said Jack, with
the rim of hat in your way"


Emma commenced the spring of her
eighth year by tying her bonnet to the
tail of a-guess, and then I'll tell you.
Jack made Il great kite, taller than him
self, and then went round to the bald top
of Il hill, long way from the house, to
fly it, But the kite behaved badly
wabblcd and plunged and danced, and
wanted Il balance at the end of its tail
to make it sail up into the sky with that
stately sweep they hoped to see The
children's hearts were almost broken
They thought of everything they could
The united handkerchiefs of the party
amounted to one-very dirty and ragged
indeed, it was only IA hole with hem
round it. Jack looked at his hat; but it
was of straw and too light. Emma's
sun bonnet lay on the ground; of course
it was not on her head. The cords run
through TO puff it and shape it would
make it heavy enough and not too heavy
for so big Kite. He jumped at it like a
tiger, and then said, in very mild tone
EN-, there is your bonnet; it would be
first rate. You can have it back again
when we pull the kite in, and what is go
ing to hurt it up there? It's mile back
to the house, and nobody wants to go
Come, now!'


1t is to Emma's credit that she hung
back at first But Jack begged, and the
kite gave two or three kicks and dives,
rs if to say: Really, you see l can,
get on without it"


"Ill tie it on strong" said Jack; and
she gave in.


Then how splendidly the kite went up
up into the sky, tugging at the string, fol
conscience she had about using her bon
net in that way, and they all danced and
hurrahcd with delight The next thing
was to send up ii mcssenger-a piece OF
paper skittering along up the string
on which, with great deal of labor
they printed the question: " Does the
wind blow up there? Take care of the
bonnet" Then Jack gave the string !;
sly pull, which made the kite nod up in
the sky, and called out; There, the
messenger has got to him. Didn't yor
see him bow? That means yes"


That made them all hurrah again. Blu



strong, or else Jack did not tie the kno
tight, for in a moment more the kite-tal
parted, the bonnet filled out with the
wind until it looked as if it had Il littl,
girls head in it, and then, with all sort:
of friskings and rollings, it sailed oil OF
the wind, and likely enough landed in tho
next county. Emma never saw it again
The kite came in now easily enough
Jack hauled it down without saying ;
word; Emma put her finger in the corner
of her mouth and thought of her moth
Ell; and little Mary gave wild yell
Oh, your bonnet, Emma! your bon
nett"


Lets 90 over to the Black Cave
Pond" said Jack, and see if wecan ge
some blackbrds' eggs" -.
You see Jack did not like to speak o
the bonnet because he felt himself t'
| blame about it, SO he offered the mos
tempting plan Ire could think of, hoping
| to make Emma forget about 1t.


| PART II.


The children were all very much en-
| gagged in making collection of birds
| eggs, and Emma took her finger out o
| her mouth. 1t might make it easier tt
tell her mother about the loss of the bon
net if in the meantime she had a goo'
many eggs to add to the large collection
\


they hoped to make.


| I'm help YOU tell mother" said Jack
''Wc'H all take the blame" II wa
plcasanter to put oil the evil hour for
| little; so Emma said yes in Il rather low
spirited way But Jack was glad to gc
| anything, and they set out for the pond
| 1t was II long way off, but when they go
| to the little hill that sloped down to TIL
pond they could see the fringe of alders
| above which the blackbirds chattcre
and wheeled. 3" can see dozen nests,
called out hawk-cycd Jack. This mad
them start on IL run, and they tore dow
the hill at "A fine pace. Little Mary wa
too small to wade out, and had to b
kept quiet with a promise of the egg
they should bring back; and Emma Sc
her to looking for nests in the bushes o
| the shore. Great was the fright OF III
| birds, who had trusted for safety to til
| water in which the aldcrs grew, whe
| they saw the two children coming out t


them. The birds did not know ho'
much courage it took TO wade III tina


deep, black water, where you could ne


see your feet, and where snake, sna


and Swapping turtle might be hiding; s


the birds called the children all sorts ,


names in the blackbird language, whic


nobody understands "Fathcr said "


must not get but one egg out of nest,


said Emma.


Il know it, But we may get all of