8o Three Young Crusoe s 



"My gymnasium instructor was always talking 

 about sunshine and fresh air," Henry continued. 

 "He said that the sunlight killed germs, stirred the 

 blood, helped digestion, and made people healthy 

 and strong. City boys have to be told about these 

 things; and think of the pale-faced city girls who 

 would change just like those potato sprouts if they 

 lived out in the sunshine ! " 



"But they are afraid of getting freckled," said 

 Edna, "and then the boys wouldn't like them." 



"That's where you are mistaken," Henry ob- 

 jected. "Boys like healthy girls with rosy cheeks 

 and bright eyes, and my gym teacher says that 

 the worst thing that can happen to a man is to get 

 a sickly woman for a wife." 



"Am I intruding?" said William. "What's it all 

 about? Well," he said, after getting the gist of 

 their conversation, "we don't like you any less, Ed- 

 na, because your cheeks are rosy, and, if I could 

 have my way about it, every girl I know would be 

 playing games with the boys and climbing trees un- 

 til she was twenty, instead of sitting in the house 

 and powdering her nose." 



" But what about their clothes ? " 



"O, hang their clothes!" concluded William, with 

 some warmth. 



