articlesforchristians

“Mother, may I have an egg and some salt? And may Peter and I go walking?”

“Where, Polly?”

“Up the road to the blacksmith’s shop. Then on the hill in his pasture.”

“What is up there, Polly?”

“I am not sure, mother. The big boys say that there is a boiling spring on the hill. Do you think so, mother?”

“You may go to see, Polly. Peter may go, too. Yes, you may have an egg and some salt.”

The children started down the hill. They came to the railroad track.

“Look for the trains, Peter,” said Polly.

“I do not see any, so come along, Polly.”

Next, they crossed the bridge. It was high above the river. Some big boys were fishing from the bridge.

“Have you caught anything?” asked Peter. “I caught a fish once, when I went to sleep.”

The big boys laughed.

“I heard that your cat catches your fish for you,” said one. “I should like such a smart cat.”

“She does not always,” said Peter. “Sometimes I do. Goodbye.”

At the water tub, Polly turned to the right. The other road would take them to father’s store.

“Where are we going, Polly?”

“To find the boiling spring, Peter. It is up in the blacksmith’s pasture.”

“There is the schoolhouse, Polly. When I am as old as you, I am going to school. I am five years old now.”

“Not yet, Peter. Not until October. Your birthday is then. It is only August now.”

“Then I am most five and that is more than half past four. I was half past four a long time. See, there is the blacksmith. Let’s call to him.”

The blacksmith was standing in the shop door.

When he heard them, he said, “Good morning, Polly. Good morning, Peter. Where are you going?”

“We are going to find the boiling spring,” answered Polly. “It is up in your pasture. Do you know just where it is?”

“Yes,” said the blacksmith. “Do you boys and girls call it that, too? When I was a boy, we always called it so.”

“Isn’t it a boiling spring?” asked Polly. “See, here is an egg I brought. I am going to boil it in the spring.”

“It will be fun to try,” said the blacksmith. “Come, and I will show you where the spring is.

“Do you see the path back of the creamery? Follow it up the hill. When you get to that clump of fir trees, stop.

“The boiling spring is there. Come into the shop on your way back. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, and thank you,” said Polly.