Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain. [Illustration: NANNIE.] A DAY IN THE COUNTRY AND OTHER STORIES FROM "THE PANSY" [Illustration] BOSTON D. LOTHROP AND COMPANY FRANKLIN AND HAWLEY STREETS Copyright by D. LOTHROP AND COMPANY 1885 CONTENTS. A DAY IN THE COUNTRY. WHY MADGE CHANGED HER MIND. NANNIE'S LESSON. FOOLISH CHILDREN. SOME CURIOUS FISHES. TIME ENOUGH. A CUP OF COLD WATER. ON NANTUCKET WHARF. LILY DAY. THE GREENLANDER. SOME YOUNG HEROES. THE SECRET OF IT. THE TRUE WAY TO BE HAPPY. THE KING OF THE WHITE LILY. _A DAY IN THE COUNTRY_ _AND OTHER STORIES_ A DAY IN THE COUNTRY. THEY were on their way to Sabbath-school that pleasant September morning. Maggie and Lottie Barnes, Delia and Sallie Shaw. They lived in the city of Boston. Because they lived in a large city, do not go and make a picture in your mind of four little ladies with new fall suits of silk or velvet, or soft cashmere, and new hats with nodding plumes or flying ribbons, and trim boots, very high, and trim gloves very long, and many buttons everywhere, because that will not be at all a true picture. Their dresses were all faded and worn. Maggie wore an old black shawl of her mother's, that trailed a little on the ground. Delia considered herself royally arrayed in a rusty old black velvet sack much too large for her, while Lottie had no protection front the cool autumn air but a soiled and faded blue silk handkerchief spread over her shoulders, her hat, in spite of being loaded down with purple ribbon and red roses, went sailing off her head with every gust of wind that came along, because it had no rubber on it. Then poor Sallie had on low shoes much too large for her. They would keep getting down at the heel and coming off as she clattered along, and she had often to stoop over and adjust them. With these hindrances of hat and shoes of course they could not, you see, go on in a very orderly manner. They were discussing something in very loud tones. Nobody had ever told them it was rude to talk loud in the streets. They were bemoaning the fact that all the girls they knew except themselves, had been to the country to spend a few days. "I wanted to go so much," little Sallie said, tugging at her shoe as she spoke; "I wanted to see some flowers growing. I should think we might have gone as well as the rest," said Delia. "I think it's mean to skip us."