CHAPTER III.
FINE TIMES UP STAIRS.
One Saturday in July the children had expected to take a ride with Abby Mapes and her brother Mark. Mr. Mapes's man Sam was to drive the wagon, and they were going to the "Silver Spring," as it was called, a beautiful spring of water about three miles from Mr. Bondy's house, and not far from Mark Mapes's uncle's, where the children were all expected to take tea, and Sam was to bring them home by dark.
They had talked it over for several weeks; but at last, when the long-looked for day came, rain came with it.
Rain was very good for the gardens, but not very good for visiting; and the children had to stay at home disappointed.
They were very sorry they could not go, but they made no noise about it. They tried to make the best of it. They hoped it might stop raining by noon. They would still be in time, for they had not expected to start before three o'clock.