
          973.

* Mr. W. had paid her for the cantaloupe.
** She told us that when a watermelon is ripe the (flower end) "curl" is "all dried up" and that a real
good melon is yellowish on the side resting on the ground.
*** We found Sabbatia chloroides while walking along the bank

were welcome to them.  Mr. W. found one that was fairly good
and this we ate.  She* now tried to find a good melon for us
but nearly all were green, and those that were "about ripe" were 
not ripe enough.  Presently, however, she found one which she
thought was good.  Still, when we opened it, we did not find it 
very good.  It quenched our thirst, however, and this was a good
thing for springs were scarce.**

After eating the melon, we continued our tramp.  Not far from the 
house we suddenly came upon a partridge.  At first I thought it was
lame, but I soon understood its peculiar behaviour, when possibly a
dozen little chicks, the tiniest little things, so interesting, ran rapidly
across the path and followed the mother.  We did not wish to cause 
the mother bird any more anxiety, so hastened onward.

We next met a negro grubbing.  He was working for a colored man
whom he called "Fertilizer" Crane.  We were not far from the
head of the Magothy now and presently it came into view.

Mr. W. thought the place very pretty.  We walked along the hillside
overlooking the stream a short distance and then returned to the 
road and crossed the bridge.*** We stopped a few moments at 
Dougherty's and then hastened onward to Waterford.
        