Back of the orchard and garden stood three big red barns. These barns were full of wonders for Helen. She was always glad to go into them with her father, and see the piles of corn and wheat, the plows and wagons, and the many other things that were there.
One morning in the harvest-time Helen was standing alone upon the door-step. The sun shone bright; the robins were singing in the apple-trees; the grasshoppers were chirping in the lane; but Helen heard only the sound of the far-off reaper, as it came to her through the soft morning air. She knew that her father was with the reaper.
Don't you know what a reaper is? It is that with which the farmer cuts his grain when it is ripe. It is drawn by horses, and it cuts down the grain stalks with many sharp knives, which move back and forth very fast.
"I think I will go out to the field and help father," said Helen to herself.
In another moment the little feet were turned toward the harvest field.
Across the orchard and down the lane she went, carrying her sunbonnet in her hand and talking to the grasshoppers, which would somehow get in her way.
But when at last she came to the field, she saw the men and the reaper far away toward the other side.
Helen kept on across the field, for she thought that she would soon catch up with the men. But it did not take long for the little feet to grow very tired.
Then she sat down on a sheaf of wheat and looked around her, wishing that her father would come.
Just in front of her the tall yellow grain was still standing. Helen wondered why her father had not cut it down.