Year: 1874

her to looking for nests in the bushes on
the shore. Great was the fright of the
birds, who had trusted for safety to the
water in which the alders grew, when
they saw the two children coming out TO
them. The birds did not know how
much courage it took to wade IN that
deep, black water, where you could not
see your feet, and where snake, snag
and swapping turtle might be hiding; SO
the birds called the children all sorts OF
names in the blackbir language, which
nobody understands. Father said we
must not get but one egg out of nest,
said Emma.


81 know it. But we may get all OF
crows eggs Don't you wish these were
all crows nests:'


That was the last thing Jack said for
some time, because he slipped an egg in
each cheek, and if he spoke they might
roll out. On the way back Emma lost
three of her eggs reaching to keep her
dress out of the water, and Jack stubbed
his toe against snag, smashing an egg
in his mouth with the shock. For as
much as ten minutes after getting back
to the land they were very low in their
minds; but Jacks toe stopped bleeding,
lie spit out all the added egg, they found
five whole eggs were still left, and by
the time their shoes and stockings were
on they felt better. Mary was so still
they got up to look for her, and found
her with her hands full of flowers look
ing in silent wonder at a frog. 1t was
not the first frog she had ever seen, but
the biggest The other two children
were surprised, too, rs their eyes went
down his great green back. Mr.. Frog
sat still, never said IA word and did not
wink; but seemed to look over and be-
yond the children with two large yellow
and green eyes set very high on his head.


"He is foot long" said Emma.
Look ut his toes turned in"


Emma had been cured of that habit
with great trouble.


He is the biggest frog ever seen in
this country, am sure said Jack, who
had been reading the newspapers Lets
take him home and snow him to father" "


The frog was much too dignitied to
move when Jack, saying this, slipped
his hand under him. lie only laid his
fore foot ON his vest, with all the toes
spread out, as if to say: " Young man,
handle that vest with care, and dont
punch me in the stomach"


All the way home the three Arabs kept
saying: How surprised father will be
to see him" And SO their father was.
The family were at supper, and the
children went in soquietly that Mr.. Pratt,
who sat with his back to the door, and
was besides little deaf, did not hear
them at all Jack was in such hurry
about the frog that he went up behind his
chair and stretched the hand, with the
giant frog sitting on the palm, over his
fathers shoulder. But the frog must
have wanted his supper too, for as soon
as he saw Mr.. Pratt's cup of tea he gave
great hop, and landed in it kersplash.
Then it burned his stockings SO badly
that he Topped out on the tablecloth and
upset the teacup. To Mr. Pratt, who
had not seen the children, it seemed as
if this green monster had hoped from
nowhere into his tea. He jumped back,
said "Gracious Petcrr' in loud tone,
and, turning round, saw Jack, looking
very scared.


Ibid you bring that fellow here?'


Yes, father He-he-is SO big
stammered Jack


"Bigm roared his father. Il should
think he was | should think he had
come straight down from the ten plaques
of Pharoah What did you put him in
my tea for?'


He-hopped Ididn't mean to-"


The three Arabs looked badly fright
ened The rest of the family began to
laugh and Mr. Pratt, getting over his
surprise little, began to laugh too.
Then, seeing the frog about to plant him
self in the butter-plate, he reached over
and caught him in the very nick of time,
and put him into Jacks hands, saying
" Inefe. axe MIN out 10 CCOl MS neelS.
And you had better keep to birds eggs in
the future"


Matters had been looking so serious
that they were glad to escape with this
slight reproof, and got their suppers with
only the disturbing thought of the flying
sun-bonnet. Perhaps twas up in the air
still


They were tolerably good children,
however, and finished up the day by tell
ing their mother how the bonnet had
been lost. Mrs Pratt blamed Jack be.
cause it seemed as if, when the girls
could not think of ways to destroy their
clothes, he could He was good deal
disturbed that bis mother Looked at
things in this light; but he was good
hearted Arab, and when he went to bed
made a resolution that he never would
give his shirt sleeves for gun-wadding
again, as he had a few days before while
hunting with his brothers in the woods
Emma made good resolutions too, and
then the Arabs slept peacefully in theil
beds-N. r. INDEPENDENT