﻿266 PICTORIAL MISCELLANY. 



Seeing my kind host and his lady approaching, I arose and left 

 the arbor, to meet them. They wished to look in upon the young 

 folks, whose glee seemed of no ordinary kind. There stood William, 

 making a very awkward appearance, in doubt whether he ought to 

 give up or not. At last, finding he was waiting only to provoke 

 laughter, he jumped down. 



Leaving the children for a time, I accompanied Mr. S to a 



neighboring orchard, where his men were gathering apples. I soon 

 discovered the foreman among them, none other than that boy whom 

 I had rescued years before. He received me with a grateful welcome. 

 He said his duties made it impossible for him to speak to me in the 



house, but that Mr. S had promised to bring me out to see 



him. I told him I was glad he had obtained so good a situation, 

 and that he would show his regard for me by being faithful to his 

 employer. 



I was pleased to notice the handy manner in which he prepared 

 the barrels, and the cautions he gave the other men to be careful 

 and not bruise the apples. After spending an hour in the orchard 

 enjoying an interesting conversation, which the sight of the beauti- 

 ful fruit suggested, we returned to the house. 



The children were playing a curious game on the lawn, near the 

 garden. As we drew nearer, I discovered what it was. They had 

 driven a stake down in the middle of the lawn, on which a shawl 

 had been thrown, and the company were trying, one at a time, to 

 see who could walk to it blindfolded. Each one thought he could 

 do better than his predecessor, until he had tried. One boy, stepping 

 off, as he supposed, in the proper direction, turned a somerset over a 

 hencoop. Another one started, and brought up against the pump. 

 A little girl begged to try, and finished her journey in a currant-bush. 



I was escorted to the cars by the whole party, receiving many 

 invitations to " come again." As the cars whistled away, I heard 

 their " Good-byes " growing fainter and fainter. 



After reaching my home in the evening, I distributed a part of the 

 basket of pears and grapes, they had insisted on my taking, to some 

 little Forresters, who believed, readily, that their grandfather had 

 "had a good time." 



