Miss Patten's School 



me on a clean frill, and polished up my 

 face, and we set out for a ten-mile drive in 

 the gig. 



When we drew up at Miss Patten's gate 

 her day scholars (for she kept the village 

 school) were just coming out of school, 

 and they hung about with their slates and 

 satchels to see us dismount. I remember 

 congratulating myself, poor imp, that I was 

 not old enough to go to school yet. 



Miss Patten was very kind and nice. 

 She patted my head, said I was quite a 

 litde man, and gave me a thick wedge of 

 cake. Then she brought out cowslip wine 

 and biscuits for my Mother and Mary, and 

 they talked about my Father's health, and 

 the weather, and the grand doings at the 

 Pavilion, and then Miss Patten looked 

 meaningly at me and said, 



" I think little pitchers might run out 

 into the garden, if you don't object, 

 ma'am." 



'' That would be nice," said my Mother. 

 '' Run along and play, Harry, but be sure 

 you don't touch anything." 



With the tempting memory of the straw- 

 berry garden clear in my mind, I could not 

 help but wish that Miss Patten would be 

 more explicit in her reply. " Bless him, 

 I'm sure he's welcome," left me with a dis- 

 95 



