16. Just at that instant George caught sight of a frog, and immediately he threw his stone with all his force. "My!" he ejaculated. "I came within an inch of him. I took aim right between his eyes. That's the way to take aim, right between the eyes." 17. The boys evincing thus a disposition to go on pelting the frogs, Mary Osborne was very much inclined to go out and try the effect of her remonstrances upon them. But Augustina dissuaded her from any such attempt. 18. In a few minutes they heard the sound of wheels. At the same moment they heard Johnny say, "Here's somebody coming, George." Johnny was afraid it might be somebody coming to give them another scolding for pelting the frogs. 2 STONING THE FROGS. 19. "I don't care," said George. "Look and see if you know who it is," said Johnny. 43 So George looked up. "No," said he, "I don't know who it is." 20. The wagon was now turning down toward the watering-place, and the girls could see that there was quite an agreeable-looking young man in it. He was well dressed, and he had a frank and open countenance. 21. As soon as the horse came to the margin of the water, the young man said, Boys, will one of you be good enough to unhook the check-rein, so that my horse can drink?" 22. The boys threw down their stones, and ran at once to the horse. George, being the tallest, unhooked the rein, and the horse began to drink. 23. "I knew you were clever fellows the minute I put my eyes on you," said the young man. Now jump up into my wagon. I want you up here." As 24. The boys immediately scrambled up into the wagon. The young man made room for them upon the seat. soon as they were comfortably settled, George looked up at the young man, and asked, What do you want of us?" 25. "O, only your company up here, while my horse is drinking," said he. "What is there here on the pond that you were looking at when I came along?" 26. "Frogs," said George. "Pond-lilies," said Johnny. Johnny seemed to have an instinctive feeling that it was better to turn the conversation toward the pond-lilies than to the frogs. 27. "Would you like some of those pond-lilies?" asked the young man. "Yes, indeed," exclaimed both the boys. 28. Then we will drive out and get some," replied the young man. You are not afraid to go with me, are you?" "No, indeed!" said the boys. peep-hole windows and went down around the rocks, by the little pathway near the water, followed closely by Augustina, and came out suddenly into view before the boys. They seemed amazed at this sudden apparition. 17. " Here is a cake you may have to feed the frogs with," she said, at the same time holding out the cake toward them. The boys hesitated a moment, appearing not to know what to do. At length George took the cake into his hand and looked at it. 18. Presently, after a moment's pause, he said, “I wish you would let Johnny and me eat it, instead of giving it to the frogs." it." "Well," said Mary Osborne, "Johnny and you may have 19. "And we 'll give you some of our pond-lilies," said Johnny. "Yes," said George, "so we will." 20. Accordingly George broke the cake in two, and gave each of the girls two or three pond-lilies, as many as they were willing to take. 21. Soon after this the two parties separated; the boys going away by the road, and the girls setting out on their return home by the pathway in which they came. Jacob Abbott. EXERCISE. [See Directions on page 38.] 1. Johnny is a small boy, but he will do as the big boy says. 2. Augustina began gently to push away some of the leaves. 3. The boys evinced a disposition to go on pelting the frogs. 4. "My!" he ejaculated. "I came within an inch of him." 5. In a few minutes they heard the sound of wheels. 6. The horse came to the margin of the water. 7. The boys immediately scrambled up into the wagon. 8. The girls forgot their desire to keep themselves concealed. 10. You don't know how elegantly a frog can swim. 11. The girls came out suddenly into view before the boys. 12. They seemed amazed at this sudden apparition. [Appearance.] |