THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 165 



common chain pump ; beside it, along the fence, lay several 

 long wooden spouts. The use of these will be made plain 

 in due time. 



The stones that lay scattered over the ground were also 

 taken up and deposited in a heap by the wall, where a cart 

 could at some future time call and take them away. 



We may here state that the dwelling-house occupied the 

 northern half of the Wellson estate, and that they had no 

 other buildings of any kind, simply a square two-story 

 house, with an L attached, such as can be seen by the score 

 in any modern New England village. 



Before the house, and extending to the street, was a bit 

 of lawn with a few shrubs. The trees on the sidewalk 

 furnished a slight screen from the gaze of passers in 

 carriages, and a pretty wooden fence shut out pedestrians. 

 Altogether it was a simple yet comfortable home. Home, 

 that's it. It was home ; a place endeared to them all, 

 and we cannot wonder at the Wellson aversion to leaving it. 



As Johnny went in to supper that night, he found Kate 

 busily examining a pile of books. 



" I'm digging into the books, my boy. Learned a heap 

 of things already. Father brought these two from Loring's, 

 and I got another from the Public Library." 



" Good for you, Kate ! We'll attack 'em after supper." 



So they did. Tea being .over, the household assembled 

 round the evening lamp, and every one became interested in 



