This is a fine, warm day in July. The children are having a picnic in the wood. Mamma was willing they should go. Friends and playmates go with them. What a merry party they are! Dash is on hand, as he always is. They take along baskets full of good things to eat. They place their baskets under an oak tree to stay until dinner time. To-day they can do as they please. They play games, make bough houses, and dance under the trees. One good game was "Hide and Seek." Dash sees a rabbit and chases it, but the rabbit runs faster than he. The squirrels in the trees make sport of him. The best time is the dinner hour. They sit under the trees, talking and laughing while they eat. All are sorry when the time comes to See what a good time Fred is having. He is helping the men get in the hay. He is driving two horses to-day. Fred sits on his load of hay and drives like a man. See how he holds the reins, and how well the goats obey. What a fine pair of horses for Fred! How sweet the new-mown hay smells! obey pair mown Fred's load is small beside the one in the hayfield. Would you not like to ride on top of that great load of hay? Or would you rather ride on Fred's load and drive the goats? I should rather be in Fred's place. What will Fred do with the hay? He is taking it to the barn to be stored away for winter. The horses and the cows and the sheep will eat it. Men harvest the hay in summer. |