“Sometimes,” pursued Carolyn May in reminiscence, “we went to a very, very early morning service in a church. It was held pertic’lar for folks that worked at night. It wasn’t like our church where I went to Sunday-school, for there were boys in long dresses, and they swung little dishes on chains, with something burning in ’em that smelled nice, and the minister did all the talking——” “Humph!” snorted Mr. Stagg, who was just as startled as was the Reverend Mr. Driggs by any new idea. “And then we walked,” sighed Carolyn May. “Of course, we had often to take a ride first before we could get a place to walk in—not on pavement. On real dirt and grass! Under the trees! Where the birds sang! And the flowers lived! Oh, Uncle Joe! do you know how pretty the woods are now? The trees and bushes are all such lovely colours. I don’t dare go very far alone—not even with Prince. I might get lost, Aunty Rose says. “But if you would go with me,” the little girl added wistfully, “just this afternoon, seems to me I wouldn’t feel so—so _empty_.” That “empty” feeling from which the little girl suffered when she thought of her parents and her old life she did not often speak of. Mr. Stagg looked down at her earnest face and saw that the blue eyes were misty. But Carolyn May was brave. “Humph!” said Uncle Joe, clearing his throat. “If it’s going to do you any particular good, Car’lyn May, I suppose I can take a walk with you. I expect the chestnuts are ripe.” “Oh, they _are_, Uncle Joe! And I’ve wanted to get just a few. But whenever Princey and I go to any of the trees near by, there are always squirrels—and they do quarrel so! I s’pose that’s all they’ll have to eat this winter, and maybe the winter is going to be a hard one. That’s what Tim, the hackman, says. I don’t want to rob the poor little squirrels. But couldn’t we give ’em something instead to eat, and so take a few of their nuts?” “The squirrels always were piggish,” chuckled Uncle Joe. “I don’t believe they are entitled to more’n a bushel apiece. Anyway, we’ll take a basket with us.” This they did. Although Aunty Rose was very strict with herself on Sunday, she did not disapprove of this walk. And certainly Prince did not. Once off his chain and realising that they were bound for the woods, he acted like a mad dog for the first few minutes. As they crossed the already browning fields he dashed back and forth, now far ahead, now charging back at them as though determined to run them down. Then he rolled on the grass, crept on his stomach, tearing up the sod with his strong claws, and barking with delight. “That fool pup hasn’t got the sense he was born with,” declared Uncle Joe, but without rancour. “He’s just happy,” explained Carolyn May. “You see, he’s happy for himself and happy for us, too. So he just has to show off this way. It isn’t really that he hasn’t good sense, Uncle Joe.”