THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 59 



" How glad Annie will be to see her," said Johnny. 

 "She always encourages Annie by telling her that some 

 day her foot will be well, so that she can walk." 



Maggie was Tom's sister. She was several years older 

 than he was. The year before, she had visited her cousin 

 Rose, and had become a general favorite with all the 

 young folks in the village. 



By and by girls' voices were heard, and soon the boys 

 saw Rose and Maggie standing at the foot of the steep 

 path which wound up on one side of the Rock. On the 

 other side, the Rock could be reached by a carriage path, 

 but the children almost always chose the steep way. 

 They liked the fun of climbing up on the roots and 

 clinging to the branches to keep from sliding back. Rose 

 and Maggie carried little baskets, and Johnny and Hal 

 swung themselves down the path to bring them up. The 

 girls followed, and soon they were all on the top of the 

 Rock. 



" How pretty it is here," said Maggie. " Rose, let us 

 imagine ourselves Fairy Queens, and these boys here shall 

 * be our imps in waiting." 



The boys took off their caps and freely offered them- 

 selves as humble slaves. 



Pretty soon the other girls came trooping to the summit 

 of the Rock. They all brought little baskets, which Gilbert 

 received and placed together under a clump of Poplars. 



