254 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [v.

 

coursed down her cheeks. Then stopping for a mo-
ment, he turned with the utmost gravity to Harry, and
holding up his forefinger in a warning’ manner, re-
marked, ‘Hush! pray be quiet! don’t mind her! It
will all be right presently. She is often like this in
the fruit-season,’ and then returned to his occupation.

Harry gazed upon the two with increasing wonder.
What connection there could be between his words,
the fruit-season, and May’s tears (for it certainly was
May) he had not the least idea, but as the old
gentleman told him to be quiet, he saw no reason why
he should not obey. So he waited patiently for several
moments while the crying and. tear-drying continued,
when all of a sudden the lady jumped up with quite a
radiant smile upon her countenance, and observed in
a remarkably cheerful tone, ‘Buzzing bumble-bees
bravely beating briary bramble bushes for a burnt
Barnstable baronet :’ say that fast three times after me
without a mistake and I’ll give you a sixpence!’

Harry was extremely surprised at this observation,
which, however, appeared nowise to disconcert the
little old gentleman, who immediately desisted from
his employment, and began to say the words after
May as fast-as he could, failing signally in his attempt
to do so without mistakes.

‘Stupid!’ at length she said, and then turning to
Harry, called out, ‘Now, you try!’

Harry did as he was told, thoughhe didn’t see much
fun in it, and thought that the old words, ‘ Peter Piper
picked a peck of pickled pepper, presented much
greater difficulties to rapid pronunciation. He ven-
tured to suggest this, upon which May pouted and