THE LAST LOAD.

Tue last load was packed safely on the cart, and the
girls and men were getting ready to go home, after their
long day's work in the fields. “I am tired,” said Ruth,
the Farmer’s daughter; “I don’t feel as if I could walk
home.” Her sister nodded, and said, “We must walk”;
but saucy Bell pointed to the top of the cart, the ladder
leaning against it, and the men at the other end of the
field. ‘“ What will Giles say?” said Mary. “Lie down,
and he won’t know,” said saucy Bell. When the men

came back to the cart, Giles took away the ladder, and

went to the horse’s head to lead her home. “Where are
the girls?” said the Farmer’s son. ‘Gone home, I
expect,” said Giles. “This last load is a heavy one.”

The Farmer’s son looked up at _the cart, smiled, and
said, ‘“ Very heavy.” The girls sat up on the top of the
load, enjoying their ride, too tired to talk, and Giles
never discovered, until the farm was reached, that the
last load was indeed heavy. Saucy Bell dropped him a
courtesy, and Mary said, “Thank you for the ride, Giles.”

So, of course, Giles had: to say, ‘ Quite welcome.”