Tired teacher had dismissed them for eight wholeweeks, and gone away to rest; the little school-housewas shut up, lessons were over, spirits rising fast,and vacation had begun. The quiet town seemedsuddenly inundated¹ with children, all in such arampant state that busy mothers wondered how theyever should be able to keep their frisky² darlings outof mischief³; thrifty⁴ fathers planned how they couldbribe the idle hands to pick berries or rake hay; andthe old folks, while wishing the young folks well,secretly blessed the man who invented schools.

 

　　The girls immediately began to talk about picnics,and have them, too; for little hats sprung up in thefields like a new sort of mushroom, -- every hillsidebloomed with gay gowns, looking as if the flowershad gone out for a walk; and the woods were full offeatherless birds chirping⁶ away as blithely⁷ as thethrushes, robins⁸, and wrens⁹.

 

　　The boys took to base-ball like ducks to water,and the common was the scene of tremendous battles,waged with much tumult¹⁰, but little bloodshed. Tothe uninitiated, it appeared as if these young menhad lost their wits; for, no matter how warm it was,there they were, tearing about in the maddest mannet,jackets off, sleeves rolled up, queer caps flung onany way, all batting shabby leather balls, and catchingthe same, as if their lives depended on it. Everyone talking in his gruffest tone,

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