206 A SNAIL’S RACE.

There were damson trees in the garden which sent down
purple showers when they were shaken. It was a cosy cottage;
Betty had the key of it in her pocket, and she wanted to make
haste back again.

As she went along the road as fast as she could, she heard

a light patter of footsteps behind her;—in a minute a small

 

hand touched hers, and Johnny's bright face was looking up
into her own.

“Oh, Betty!” he cried, “what do you think? Father has
trusted me to run all the way to the town by myself to post this
letter for him. Bob is gone out with the horses and there was
no one else, for father is so tired. And I am to have a bright
new sixpence if I get there in time for the post. I have run
so fast!—as fast as—as anything. I am sure to be there long