.

whittled, and trotted their way to the wood, finding all manner of
interesting things on the road. The wood was full of pleasant sights and
sounds; for wild roses bloomed all along the path, ferns and scarlet
berries filled the little dells, squirrels chattered, birds sang, and
pines whispered musically overhead. "I'm going to stop here and rest,
and make a wreath of these pretty wild roses for baby: it's her
birthday, and it will please mamma," said Polly, sitting down on a mound
of moss, with a lapful of flowers. "I'm going to cut a fishing-pole, and
will be back in a minute." And Ned went crashing into the thickest part
of the wood. "I shall see where that rabbit went to, and maybe I'll find
some berries," said Will, trotting down the path the wild rabbit had
gone. The sound of the boys' steps died away, and Polly was wondering
how it would seem to live all alone in the wood, when a little girl came
trudging by, with a great pail of berries on her arm. She was a poor
child: her feet were bare, her gown was ragged, she wore an old shawl
over her head, and walked as if lame. Polly sat behind the ferns, and
the child did not see her till Polly called out. The sudden sound
startled her; and she dropped her pail, spilling the berries all over
the path. The little girl began to cry, and Polly to laugh, saying, in a
scornful tone: "How silly to cry for a few berries!" "I've been all day
picking 'em," said the girl; "and I'm so tired and hungry; 'cause I
didn't dare to go home till my pail was full,--mother scolds if I
do,--and now they're all spoilt. Oh, dear! dear me!" And she cried so
hard that great tears fell on the moss. Polly was sorry now, and sat
looking at her till she saw her shadow down o

---Adjuntos---