“And I confirm the bargain heartily,” I cried.  “Merton, look out for yourself, or the Bagley boy will get ahead of you at school.”

He laughed and, with Junior, started for the village, to get their powder and shot.

The next morning after preparing a good lot of cartridges before breakfast, the two boys started, and, having all day before them, took their lunches with the intention of exploring Schunemunk Mountain.  The squirrels, birds, and rabbits near home were reserved for odd times when the lads could slip away for a few hours only.

Our new barn, now about completed, gave my wife and me as much pleasure as the nuts and game afforded the children.  I went through it, adding here and there some finishing touches and little conveniences, a painter meanwhile giving it a, final coat of dark, cheap wash.

Our poultry-house was now ready for use, and I said to Winnie, “To-night we will catch the chickens and put them in it.”

The old horse had already been established in the stable, and I resolved that the cow should come in from this time.  In the afternoon I began turning over the fodder corn, and saw that a very tew more days would cure it.  Although I decided not to begin the main husking until after the middle of the month, I gathered enough ears to start the pigs on the fattening process.  Toward night I examined the apples, and determined to adopt old Mr. Jarmson’s plan of picking the largest and ripest at once, leaving the smaller and greener fruit to mature until the last of the month.  The dark cellar was already half filled with potatoes, but the space left for such apples as we should pick was ready.  From time to time when returning from the village I had brought up empty barrels; and in some of these, earlier kinds, like tall pippins and greenings, had been packed and shipped to Mr. Bogart.  By his advice I had resolved to store the later varieties and those which would keep well, disposing of them gradually to the best advantage.  I made up my mind that the morrow should see the beginning of our chief labor in the orchard.  I had sold a number of barrels of windfalls, but they brought a price that barely repaid us.  My examination of the trees now convinced me that there should be no more delay in taking off the large and fine-looking fruit.

With the setting sun Merton and Junior arrived, scarcely able to drag their weary feet down the lane.  Nevertheless their fatigue was caused by efforts entirely after their own hearts, and they declared that they had had a “splendid time.”  Then they emptied their game-bags.  Each of the boys had a partridge, Merton one rabbit, and Junior two.  Merton kept up his prestige by showing two gray squirrels to Junior’s one.  Bed squirrels abounded, and a few robins, brought down on the wing as the boys had promised.

I was most interested in the rattles of the deadly snake which Junior had nearly stepped on and then shot.