it once, try it twice,
And then once more, and that makes thrice."

The third time Malleville seemed to be endowed with some new and
supernatural strength in her jumping: for she bounded so high that her
feet rose almost to a level with the top of the seat, and then, as she
came down gently upon the floor of the cart, Beechnut released his
hold upon her, and she walked to her chair and sat down. Beechnut then
mounted to his place by the side of Phonny, and the whole party rode
away.

[Illustration: GOING OUT THE GATE.]

After riding along for some distance, Phonny asked Beechnut if he
really thought that he was childish.

"Why no," said Beechnut, "not particularly. You are a little boyish
sometimes, and I suppose that that is to be expected, since you are
really a boy. But you are growing older every year, and I see some
marks of manliness in you, now and then. How old are you now?"

"I am nine years and five months," said Phonny. "That is, I am about
half-past nine."

"That is pretty old," said Beechnut, "but then I suppose I must expect
you to be a boy some time longer."

"Beechnut," said Phonny, "did you know that my cousin Wallace was
coming here pretty soon?"

"Is he?" said Beechnut. "From college?"

"Yes," said Phonny, "it is his vacation. He is coming here to spend
his vacation."

"I am glad of that," said Beechnut. "I like to have him here."

"And my cousin Stuyvesant is coming too," said Phonny.

"Stuyvesant is my brother," said Malleville.

"How old is he?" asked Beechnut.

"He is only nine," said Phonny.

"Then he is not so old as you are," said Beechnut.

"Not quite," said Phonny.

"And I suppose of course, he will be more of a boy than you," said
Beechnut.

"I don't know," said Phonny.

"We shall see," said Beechnut.

Just then, Phonny heard the sound of wheels behind him. He turned
round and saw a wagon coming along the road.

"Here comes a wagon," said he. "I am going to whip up, so that they
shall not go by us."

"No," said Beechnut, "turn out to one side of the road, and walk the
horse, and let them go by."

"Why?" asked Phonny.

"I'll tell you presently," said Beechnut, "after the wagon has got
before us."

Phonny turned out of the road and let the wagon drive by, and then
Beechnut told him that the reason why he was not willing to have him
whip up and keep ahead was, that he wanted to use the strength of the
horse that day, in hauling wood, and not to waste it