“Children,” he said at dinner, that night, “I saw that the strawberry beds at Kayuna were in prime condition to-day. The vines are laden with fruit. Would you like to make a picnic out there in a day or two, and gather some? You won’t see Kayuna strawberries this summer, you know.”
“I don’t think they need that argument,” said mamma, smiling at the exclamations of delight that greeted this proposal.
“How shall we go, papa?” asked Marjorie, who was always practical.
“Take the street-cars out to Porter’s Inn,” said papa, “and then walk the rest of the way. You won’t mind the two miles. Or you can go by rail, and get out at East Wellsboro’, only you can’t get there very early that way.”
The children voted for the street-cars and Porter’s Inn.
“Shall the kidlets go?” asked Eunice. This was Donald’s name for the twins, for Eunice and Cricket were the kids.
“No,” said Marjorie, decidedly. “It’s too far altogether for the twins.”
Zaidee and Helen immediately set up a wail, at being thus put aside.
“It’s really much too far for you, my pets,” said mamma. “You and Kenneth shall go to the park with Eliza and have a fine time. You can sail around the pond, and feed the swans.”
“And we’ll bring you lots of strawberries,” added Cricket, comfortingly.