for earth-worms.

When they deemed that they had a sufficient quantity of bait, the lads
seated themselves on the roots of a fallen tree close to the water, each,
with fishing-rod in hand, and Lulu, picking up her basket, wandered off
among the trees and bushes.

"Don't go too far away and get lost," Max called after her.

"No," she answered, "I'll not go out of sight of the pond; so I can easily
find my way back. But don't you go off and leave me."

"No; if you're not here, I'll hallo when we're 'most ready to start."

What treasures Lulu found as she wandered here and there, every now and
then turning to look for the pond, and make sure that she was not losing
herself, there were acorn-cups, lovely mosses, beautiful autumn
leaves--red, orange, golden and green; there were wild grapes too, and
hazel-nuts, brown and ripe. Of all these she gathered eagerly until her
basket was full, thinking that some would delight Gracie, others
propitiate Aunt Beulah.

And now she made her way back to the spot where the boys still sat, each
with his line in the water.

"Have you caught any?" she asked.

"Yes," said Max, "I've caught six and Jim has eight. There! I've got
another!" giving his line a jerk that sent a pretty speckled trout
floundering in the grass.

"I'll take it off the hook for you," said Lulu, springing forward and
dropping on her knees beside it. "And then you'll let me try, won't you?"

"Yes," Max answered in a half-reluctant tone, getting up to give her his
place.

"There are hazel-nuts right over there a little way," Lulu said, pointing
with her finger.

"Oh, then I'll have some!" cried Max, starting on a run in the direction
indicated.

He came back after a while bringing some in his hat, picked up some
stones, and seating himself near the others, cracked his nuts, sharing
generously with them.

Presently Lulu had her first bite, succeeded in bringing her prize safely
to land, and was quite wild with delight.

Max rejoiced with her, taking brotherly pride in her success.

"You'll do for a fisherman or fisherwoman," he said gayly. "I sha'n't be
much surprised if you beat me at it one o' these days."

Then struck with a sudden unwelcome thought, "I wonder what time it is!"
he exclaimed, jumping up from the ground in haste and perturbation. "Do
you s'pose it's noon yet, Jim?"

"Which way's the sun?" queried the latter, glancing toward the sky; "it
ought to be right overhead at noon. Why, it's d