24 MY TEN-ROD FAIIM; 



u Why, yes. That is a bright idea, Johnny ! Now what 

 shall we do ? If we leave them where they are, we shall 

 not have very nice-looking flowers to take to the store in the 

 morning." Just then the village clock struck three. But 

 it is Sunday. We should not work on Sunday. But we 

 must. It cannot be helped. It is a work of necessity. 



Getting my old box, I set the children at it, bidding them 

 be careful and not injure the beds, and yet wprk as fast as 

 they could. Hastily filling the box, I carried it to the 

 house, emptied the flowers out upon the kitchen table, and 

 returned for more. Suddenly I was startled by a loud 

 clap of thunder, and by the noise of persons hurrying past 

 our gate. Oh, here is the rain and the people ! I don't 

 know which I dread most. Calling the children away, I 

 seized the box and darted into the house. Just then the 

 rain came down in torrents, and the sidewalk was filled 

 with friends and neighbors hurrying home. 



" Well, that was a lucky escape ! " 



But perhaps it was a foolish pride. I had no need to 

 fear the opinion of the neighbors. What I had done was 

 a work of positive necessity, and must be done even though 

 it was' Sunday. 



I overslept myself the next morning, and was late to the 

 train. I had hardly time to take the cars before they 

 started. The car I entered was quite full of men and boys. 

 I found an empty seat beside an elderly man, and, as 

 he kindly made room for me, I sat down. Just as I did 



