The four baskets did hold a good deal after all, and the lunch looked so inviting, spread out on a white cloth in the shade of the big oak tree, that the ten hungry children made short work of it.
“Now let’s go to the wishing spring,” suggested Columba, taking a cookie in one hand and a pickle in the other, and starting off across the field.
“I wish you all good luck in your wishing, and I’ll stay here in the shade to wish it the heartier,” said his mother, taking out her knitting and making herself comfortable under the tree.
“And I wish you may not be hungry again for an hour,” added Captain Conn, gathering up the empty plates and cups and putting them in the baskets.
“There’s the spring,” shouted Deena, as they turned into a little lane. “It’s under that big tree in the edge of the woods.”
“Come on, Feena,” called Columba, “here’s the cup. Take a good drink and wish for the moon.”
“I shall do no such thing,” replied his sister. “I shall wish for a book of fairy stories, and I shall get it, too, for Father promised it to me last night.”
“I wish for a new knife,” said Deena, as he took the cup.
“And Hannah and I want a pair of white gloves to wear with our new white dresses,” said Anna, as she and her twin sister took their drink together.
“What is your wish, Kathleen?” asked Princess Feena.