OUT OF TOWN.

extraordinary manner that Mary said they would be strangled with the string,
so the little girls led them by the horns, and they soon learned to go quietly
in this manner.

By-and-by a sad thing happened. Squire Temple, a friend of their father’s,

 

lived near, and Mrs. Temple came and invited them toa strawberry feast in her
meadow. ‘There was a great pond in the middle of the meadow, with a boat
on it, and water-lilies all round. The children had been forbidden to go near
the pond ; but, tempted by the lovely flowers, Lily climbed down the bank, and
reached over to pick one, when her foot slipped, and in a moment she was in
the water. Jem, who was not far off, heard her scream and had her out again,
all dripping in his arms before Mary could reach her; but the little girl was so
dazed by the sudden shock that she did not come quite to herself till she
awoke after a long sleep to find herself in the big oak bed at the farm with
Mary by her side; but next morning she was quite well again, and everybcdy
kissed and scolded her by turns all day.

When the end of the happy visit drew near, Mr. Maynard came down to
Squire Temple’s for a few days, and was then to take the children back to town
with him. They were out in the cornfield on the hillside playing at gleaning
when he arrived at the farm, and Mrs. Holt went out with him to find them.

“ Well,” said he, as he sat on the grass with all four in his arms, ‘‘ you have
gleaned something else besides barley, children; I don’t think the sea-breezes
could have produced brighter roses than these,” and he pinched the plump
sun-browned cheeks as he spoke.

Mrs. Holt laughed. ‘ Deary me, sir, Miss Lily there complained of feeling