AIARY'S VISIT TO THE COUNrTRY 217

tens were a never-failing source of inter- whose knowledge of numbers, and the
est, besides the lambs and chickens, art of computing by them,' was quite as
which she visited occasionally with Aunt limited as her companion's, but very
Tabby; and it was such fun to stand wisely concealed the fact.
under the apple-trees when a light breeze "He goes to school, and I'm goin'
stirred the branches, and sent down a some day," continued Carrie. "I know
shower of petals, filling the air like so all my letters, and I can spell dog-d or g,
many snow-flakes. And then everybody dog," she added, to verify her word.
was so kind. James, the farm-hand, Of course, Mary was overwhelmed by
brought her the sweetest violets, and such a list of accomplishments, as was
Tempy Ann, the cook, when frying quite proper she should be. In this
doughnuts, always made one for Mary, manner the afternoon passed so rapidly
cut in an image, said to be that of a that they could hardly believe their own
sailor-boy, only his figure was so much ears when Aunt Tabby said it was "time
injured by swelling in the lard kettle, for Carrie to have her supper and go
that his own mother would not have home."
known him. It so happened, after this, that scarcely
 One day, Aunt Tabby invited a little an afternoon passed that did not find
girl about Mary's age, named Carrie Par- Mary at Mrs. Parker's, or Carrie at Aunt
ker, to spend the afternoon with her. Tabby's, and right merry times they had,
Mary was delighted at the prospect of too, for they agreed in everything, as all
having a companion, and the little girls little girls should, and were most charm-
soon became warm friends. ing companions.
 Be you dre'fully stuck up ? said Car- One day, when Carrie was visiting
rie ; "Gus said you'd be." Mary, Tempy Ann made each of them a
 No," said Mary, looking carefully at little pie, and while they were waiting for
her finger, for, having a very vague idea them to be baked, Aunt Tabby said they
of what stuck up meant, naturally con- might go down to the stable yard and
eluded it referred to candy or molasses. feed the chickens. Off they started, in
 "Who's Gus ? such haste that Carrie burst her bonnet-
 He's my brother; he's great big, strings, sending the unlucky bonnet fly-
cause he's so old," said Carrie, looking ing into space. But they were too happy
down at her own small person, as though to care for that. Arriving at the yard,
the statement, somehow, contained an they found the barn-door open. Less
apology for her size. look at the bossy-calf," said Mary; so
 How old is he ? inquired Mary. they ran into the barn.
 "Oh, he's fifteen -'leven or some- "Oh, what a clean, funny place; less
thin'," said Carrie. play hide and seek! cried Carrie, who
 "He must be extremelyold," said Mary, held to one idea about as long as we
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