“Oh, that’s a mountain maple.”
“What was the grove we came through last night?” said she.
“Sugar maples for maple syrup! Don’t I know! I’ve tapped them enough when out with Fred,” giggled Billy.
While they were all engaged in cutting rushes some of the girls gazed about now and then. In one of these wayward glances, May saw some green leaves growing in the brook.
“What are they, Miss Miller?”
“That is water-cress—would you like to gather it?”
“Water-cress! Oh, I love it in salad!” cried May.
“Then pull off your shoes and stockings and wade in and gather all you want. We’ll have it instead of lettuce this noon.”
Two of the girls preferred to help May gather cress as they thought they had enough reed and rush for a mat, so by the time the cutting was done, the three girls had a large basketful of water-cress.
That afternoon, they began weaving mats on the looms constructed that morning. As they were working for coups they applied themselves carefully to the work. Even the Little Lodge tried the mat weaving but soon wearied of it.