"Almira, just remember that.
They can have it as often as they please." She asked them, too, how they proposed to spend their afternoon, and smilingly explained, as to Dick Lee, that,-- "Saturday is one of my busy days, and he will have to stay at home and help.

Errands to run, and I want him to learn how.

He's a bright, active little fellow." That was all "according to contract;" but Dick did not come in for his dinner until the rest had eaten theirs; and then he barely had time to say to Dab Kinzer,-- "Did you ebber shell corn ?" "Course I have.

Why ?" "'Cause dar's a bigger heap ob corn out in de barn dan you ebber see." "Bigger'n Ham's ?" "Well, no, not so big as his'n, mebbe; but dar's more ob it.

I's got it to shell." Dab went off with the other two, vaguely beginning to ask himself if shelling corn came fairly into the proper meaning of the word "chores." All that sort of thing was quickly forgotten, however; for there were a dozen groups of boys scattered here and there over the broad expanse of the "green," and Ford Foster at once exclaimed,-- "Boys, let's examine that crowd.