170 LUCY AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

lying on the various by-roads around, and Lucy’s
mother did not know from how wide a circle boys
would gather to get lilies from a pond.

Lucy asked her mother to let her walk Slong
the shore with Robert, and see his raft.

“ How far is it, Robert?” asked her mother.

“ Only a few steps,” replied Robert. “ But,
then,” continued he, “if you would rather not
have her go away, I can bring it along here.” -

“ How ?” said her mother.

“O, I can push it right along,” said Robert.

« Well,” replied Lucy’s mother, “ that will be
the best plan.”

So Robert went off after his raft, around a
point of land which made out a little way into
the pond, while Lucy continued rambling about
upon the sandy beach, near her mother.

A few minutes afterwards, as Lucy was stoop-
ing down to pick up a singular piece of wood,
which had@been curiously worn and bleached by
the water, she heard her mother calling to her, —

“Why, Lucy ! look at Robert.”

Lucy looked up, and saw Robert just coming
into view, with his raft, around the point of land.

“Why, he’s sailing on the raft,” said her moth-
er. “I did not know he meant to come in that
way. I thought he was going to push it alang
by the shore.” ;

Robert said that he was going to push it, it is
true ; but he meant, push it by means of a pole,
with himself upon it. Lucy and her mother
were both a little afraid that he might get in ; but,