ss the
mill-pond by lying flat on his back, in the water, and allowing himself to
be drawn along by a paper-kite. If Ben could do that, he might certainly
do any thing.

"What is your scheme, Ben?--what is it?" cried they all.

It so happened that they had now come to a spot of ground where a new
house was to be built. Scattered round about lay a great many large
stones, which were to be used for the cellar and foundation. Ben mounted
upon the highest of these stones, so that he might speak with the more
authority.

"You know, lads," said he, "what a plague it is, to be forced to stand in
the quagmire yonder--over shoes and stockings (if we wear any) in mud and
water. See! I am bedaubed to the knees of my small-clothes, and you are
all in the same pickle. Unless we can find some remedy for this evil, our
fishing-business must be entirely given up. And, surely, this would be a
terrible misfortune!"

"That it would!--that it would!" said his comrades, sorrowfully.

"Now I propose," continued Master Benjamin, "that we build a wharf, for
the purpose of carrying on our fisheries. You see these stones. The
workmen mean to use them for the underpinning of a house; but that would
be for only one man's advantage. My plan is to take these same stones, and
carry them to the edge of the water and build a wharf with them. This will
not only enable us to carry on the fishing business with comfort, and to
better advantage, but it will likewise be a great convenience to boats
passing up and down the stream. Thus, instead of one man, fifty, or a
hundred, or a thousand, besides ourselves, may be benefited by these
stones. What say you, lads?--shall we build the wharf?"

Ben's proposal was received with one of those uproarious shouts, wherewith
boys usually express their delight at whatever completely suits their
views. Nobody thought of questioning the right and justice of building a
wharf, with stones that belonged to another person.

"Hurrah, hurrah!" shouted they. "Let's set about it!"

It was agreed that they should all be on the spot, that evening, and
commence their grand public enterprise by moonlight. Accordingly, at the
appointed time, the whole gang of youthful laborers assembled, and eagerly
began to remove the stones. They had not calculated how much toil would be
requisite, in this important part of their undertaking. The very first
stone which they laid hold of, proved so heavy, that it almost seemed to
be fastened