84 THE COUSINS.

“J like my papa’s home best,” said Mary,
“but I like this better than New York,” she
added, looking around on the green and flowery
fields.

“You like this better than New York, do you*”’
repeated the farmer, smiling with pleasure at the
preference given to hishome. ‘“ Well, since you
like the country so well, I think I must let you
go to the hay-field too.”

“‘ And now,” said Mrs. Nye, ‘‘ suppose you help
me pick some raspberries for tea?”

Both children gave a glad consent, and away
they went to the garden, stopping at the kitchen,
that Mrs. Nye might get a basket. One side of
the garden was hedged with raspberry-bushes,
which were now covered with the rich ripe ber-
ries, and on the other side clusters of the trans-
parent red and white currants were hanging thickly
from their slender stalks. Mrs. Nye soon had
her basket filled with raspberries, though it is
doubtful whether Charles put quite as many in as
he took out. Mary, however, picked very steadily,
and when they were going in, Mrs. Nye gave her
a handful of the berries. She was quite pleased