“Just going over to see if the cherries are ripe,” explained Ted.
“An’ we dassen’t eat no dreen ones,” said Trouble, “’cause if we does we dets de tummy-tummy ache.”
“I’ll be careful,” promised Hal with a laugh.
Up little hills and down little green dales went Nicknack, drawing the wagon load of little children, until, after a while, he came to a stop in the farthest end of the cherry grove, more than a mile from grandpa’s farmhouse.
“Yes, the cherries are getting ripe,” said Hal, as he and Ted walked under the trees. “In another week or so they ought to be ready to pick. My! what a lot there’s going to be!”
“Yes, grandpa will have piles of cherries,” said Teddy. “And I guess he’ll need ’em, too—or the money he can get when he sells ’em.”
“I thought your grandpa didn’t need money because he was rich,” said Hal.
“He used to be,” explained Jan. “But he lost a lot of money when the floods came this spring, and now maybe he’ll lose the farm.”
“Oh, I hope not!” cried Hal. “I wish I could help,” he said softly, as he looked back over the rolling fields of green. “But a lame boy can’t do much.”
“We’re going to help gather the cherries and bring them in with Nicknack’s cart,” explained Janet.