XXIX 



SAM BLACK 



IN THE grove that had been set aside for a family play- 

 ground was a crabapple thicket around the edge of 

 which grew a tangle of blackberries and ferns. In front 

 of this crabapple thicket was a bed of giant ferns in which 

 tradition said there was a snakes' den. Just beyond the 

 ferns a little brook danced and sparkled. On the oppo- 

 site bank of this brook was a wonderful wild grapevine 

 that had so completely covered two young elm trees that it 

 formed a rain proof roof. On one side this vine hung in a 

 loop making a perfect swing. A few feet away, another 

 vine had started to twine about an old tree trunk and then 

 thinking better of it had bent down again and climbed up 

 an elm tree a few feet away, and this bend made one of 

 the finest steeds a boy ever rode. On the other side of 

 this grapevine house stood a young tree that could be bent 

 over to make the best see-saw in the world, and it promptly 

 straightened up again as soon as it had served its pur- 

 pose, and never once told what had been done. 



This grapevine was a regular bearer of delicious grapes^ 

 and as it formed a rain-proof house it is no wonder that 

 sister and I chose it as our favorite playground. But we 

 never dared venture into the fernery, for was not this the 

 special domain of the bull snakes that had their den there ? 

 True, we never saw any of these snakes; but surely they 



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