horses in Gideon's wagon. Now, the grays, at a word, shot ahead, and Judge Peters could only bow his acquiescence.

Danie clapped her hands. "Let us stay at Cherry Farm all summer," cried she. "Don't go to the mountains at all."

CHAPTER XV.

FARMER YATES'S BOARDers.

HE farmer put his horse to a trot, and

TH

the wagon followed briskly. They whirled through the village, past the swinging tavern sign, where they had intended to stop; and so out into an open country road again, with farm-houses scattered along, at intervals, on either side.

Out in the fields, all glorious with their summer's greenness, men were at work. All the way along the low stone walls were completely covered with thickets of wild grape vines and blackberry tangles.

Presently they came to a house standing back a good distance from the road, shaded by two enormous elms.

"That's where the Downs live," remarked the driver to Judge Peters, pointing to

wards the house with the handle of his whip.

"A pretty situation," said the judge.

"But dreadfully in need of paint,” exclaimed his wife.

"Do look at those boys," cried Danie, laughing, and directing their attention down the road.

Coming towards them were four boys. Three were barefoot; the fourth had his pants tucked into his boots. Each carried a hoe. The three barefooted ones were practising soldiery. They shouldered their hoes like guns. They stopped to mark time, beating up the dust with their feet till they were enveloped in a cloud. Then they ran forward, all abreast, in a quick-step. Then they fell down flat on the ground, as if lying in ambush. They raised themselves cautiously, danced backwards in a doubleshuffle, and with a shrill cry of, "Charge Bayonets!" "Liberty or Death!" "Union Forever!" they made a headlong rush forward again, and ended by throwing down.

their hoes and turning two somersets with

out stopping.

"Here, you wild Injuns," shouted Farmer Yates. "Git out of the road, or I'll drive right over ye."

The three looked up hastily. They had been so absorbed in their antics that they had not noticed anybody's approach. The one behind, who was walking along steadily, nodded to Farmer Yates, who pulled up his horses just beside her.

"It's time them peas of yourn were got to market," said he. "They bring stiff prices now."

"I'll have some ready for you in the morning," returned the boy.

"That's the talk!" exclaimed he, approvingly. "How's them kidney-beans gittin' along?"

"Very well," was the answer. "I went down to the turf bog last night, and there's any quantity of cranberries there."

As he spoke, the boy removed his straw hat, and commenced fanning his flushed face with it.

At this movement Danie and her father exclaimed at the same instant, "Why, it's Becky Down!"

The judge motioned Gideon to drive up alongside Farmer Yates's team, and bending forward to the astonished girl, who recognized him at once, said, "How do you do, Becky? I have driven twenty miles this morning to make you a visit. Are you not glad to see me?"

Becky looked at him, then at Danie and her mother, and then down at her clothes. It was plain that she was embarrassed at being seen by them in such guise.

"Never mind," said Farmer Yates; "you're only dressed 'cording to your work."

"That's it, exactly," exclaimed the judge. "You musn't stand on any ceremony with us. Besides, your working clothes are an honor to you. We all know what they mean. We all know about your working the farm.” Becky glanced at Mr. Yates.

"I didn't tell 'em," he asserted, with a smile. "They had got wind of it afore."