A Dear Little Girl At School

a tool or run for a piece of rag to be used in cleaning, or to fill the oil can from the bottle on the shelf upstairs. -Where are you going to-day, Cousin Ben?- Edna always asked this for Cousin Ben-s replies were generally so funny. -I-m going to the woods,- he said, -to see Johnny-jump-up.- -Why will he jump up?- asked Edna in pleased expectancy of something amusing. -Because the dog-wood bark, you know.- -I know dog-wood blossoms,- returned Edna a little doubtfully. -Of course, and I dare say you know the dog-wood bark, too, don-t you?- -Ye-es, I suppose so.- Cousin Ben went on burnishing the metal he was at work upon. -You see,- he continued after a moment, -the catkins will all be out and when I meet one I shall say, -Pussy, will oh, will you tell me the way to the elder Berries.-- -What do you suppose she will say?- inquired Edna settling herself well content to continue this sort of talk, though thinking it was scarcely the season for Pussy-willows. -She will say: -The elder Berry? My dear boy, any dog ought to know the way there.- You see she knows I am a Barker.- Edna laughed. -Go on.- -And I will say, -Yes, madam, but that sassy Fras always tries to get in my path. It is a very easy matter to whip poor Will, but sassy Fras is another matter.- Then she will ask: -Did you ever try to haze L. Nutt?- and I will reply, -Chestnuts!- for I don-t like to talk about hazing, being in a position to expect a little of it any day. Well, Ande, I must be off or I will find Pip-s sis away.- Cousin Ben always called Edna Ande because he declared that was what her name really was but had been turned hind side before. Some persons, Edna-s sister Celia and Agnes Evans, for instance, called Cousin Ben a very silly boy, but Edna thought his kind of nonsense great fun."