Royal and Lucy formed a plan to go for blueberries in a wild piece of pasture land, not very far from where they lived. They got several other children to go with them. There was Rollo, who was then quite a small boy, and a boy named Thomas, and Marielle.
They took some luncheon in a basket. Their plan was to eat their luncheon, out of the basket, as soon as they got to the blueberry ground. Then they were going to fill the basket with blueberries, to bring home. Each one took a little tin mug to pick in, because they could not conveniently all pick into the same basket.
They walked along very pleasantly together, till they came to the pasture. Then they had to clamber along up rough and precipitous paths, and among rocks and brambles. At last they came to the place where the blueberries were found. Before they began to gather them, however, they went into a little copse of trees, near the borders of a brook, and sat down upon the stones to eat their luncheon.
The brook was pretty large, and it flowed among rocks and bushes; and just opposite to where the children had stopped, it divided into two parts, which formed an island between them. Royal and Thomas said that they meant to go over to that island, and eat their luncheon there. So they began to step along from one stone to another across the brook.
“I mean to go too,” said Rollo.
“And I,” added Lucy. And they rose from their seats, and attempted to follow the two boys.
“Royal, stop for me,” said Lucy; “stop and help me over this deep place.”
“O, you must jump over yourself,” said Royal, “as I did.”
“But it is too far for me to jump,” said Lucy. “I wish you would just come and help me across.”
“Yes, come, Royal,” said Rollo.