out most delightful fragrance, and to turn red. That was a glorious
time for all children round about. The children of the parsonage, too,
undertook daily strawberry-expeditions and every evening belated they
returned home. The order-devoted aunt, who, after a winter's absence,
had returned with the summer to the parsonage, did not leave any remedy
untried to restore at least the usual condition of things.

Below near the Woodbach the berries grew largest and most plentifully.
But to go there they had to wait till Saturday afternoon, when they had
no school, for it was too far to take the walk after afternoon school.
When Saturday came and the sun was shining brightly in the sky, then the
whole company in joyous mood left the parsonage, Sally and Erick ahead,
Ritz and Edi following. All were armed with baskets, for to-day, so they
had decided, Mother was to receive a great quantity of strawberries
instead of their eating all on the spot as usually happened. Having
arrived on the hillside over the Woodbach, the best spots were sought;
if one was found which was plentifully sprinkled over with strawberries,
then the whole company was called together and the place cleared, and
afterwards each went out again for new discoveries.

Erick was a good climber; without any trouble he swung himself down over
the steepest hillsides, and jumped up the high rocks like a squirrel.
Sally saw him, how he swung himself down a rock where he had espied on
the lowest end a spot that shone bright red in the sun, as if covered
with rubies. Were they berries or flowers which were growing there so
beautifully? Erick must see them nearer. Sally shouted after him: "Call
us if you find something, but be careful, it is steep there."

[Illustration: _Churi....unexpectedly gave him such a severe push that
Erick rolled down the rest of the mountain side...._]

Erick answered with a yodel and disappeared. Having arrived below, he
met the Middle Lotters, who were bending in groups here and there, or
lying on the ground, eating the berries which they picked. Erick could
not find the red spot which he had seen from above; but not far away
from him stood Churi, who had seen him coming down. Churi called to him:

"Come here, velvet pants, here are berries such as you have never seen."

Erick went quite calmly to him and when he now had stepped quite close
to Churi, the latter unexpectedly gave him such a severe push that Erick
rolled down the rest o