48 IN THE CORN-FIELDS.

was when Martha took her to the fields, and she
spent the day among the busy reapers. It was
such fun to go in the empty carts, and have her
dinner in a basket, when she could take it just
when she pleased. There was a little girl, a
daughter of Dick's, one of her school companions,
who was sure to be there; and they used to build
such a nice house with the bunches of grain, and
creep under it, where they would eat their dinner,
and sing songs, and be very happy. Then, too,
sometimes she and little Kate staved in the yard
at home, and Dick would hoist them up on to
the top of the great stacks, and allow them to
help him to pack it. Mr. Bevan used sometimes
to pretend he was very angry, and would order
Dick to throw them down; but Dick declared he
really could not get on without their help; and
Mr. Bevan would laugh, and say, "Well, well, I
suppose I must submit."
 It had been a very fine harvest; not a drop of
rain had fallen during the whole time the reapers
were out, and the sun was so powerful, that by
the time all the corn was cut it was ready to be
carried to the stack-yard. On the last day, when
the very last cart-load was to be driven home,
everybody was out; even Mrs. Bevan came down