Thus cheered by their sister, who was considerably older than themselves, the children scampered towards the house as fast as their little feet could carry them. On the way, Freddy’s hat was taken off by the wind, and away it went, hop, skip, jump, across the field. Geraldine, or Cherry, as she was familiarly called by the family, left Philip, and gave chase to the runaway hat. It was a funny race, for the hat really seemed as if it was alive, and having gained its freedom, was determined to take final leave of its proprietor. At one time it rolled along edgewise, like a hoop, and then it leaped from a little eminence, and skimmed away on the wind, like a hawk with expanded wings. At last, it seemed to pause for a moment, and Cherry, who was close upon it, reached out her hand to take it. But just then a puff of wind lifted it high in the air, whirled it round and round, and with a determined sweep, cast it into the edge of the pond. Cherry still pursued, and nothing daunted by the water, in she went, and seizing the truant hat brought it safely to land. It was dripping with water when she gave it to Frederic, who, greatly distressed at the unaccountable behavior of his hat, stood crying where Cherry had left him. Philip was at his side, and encouraged by the example of his brother was crying at the top of his little lungs. “Don’t cry, Freddy! don’t cry, Philip!” said Cherry; “there’s no harm done!” “I say there is,” said Frederic; “it’s all wet!” “Oh dear, it’s all wet, it’s all wet!” said Philip. “Oh poh!” said Cherry; “that’s nothing; _always make the best of it_, Frederic! We’ll soon be home now: don’t stop to cry about it--come! come! We’ll be all safe in a few minutes, and then what a laugh we’ll have! We’ll tell mother all about it--how the rain and the wind came, and how Fred’s hat ran away, and jumped into the pond, and how I dove in to get it! Come on! come on!” Thus cheered and encouraged, the children hurried forward, and were shortly safe at home. By the time they arrived there they had been put in good spirits by Cherry, and instead of weeping and wailing about their adventures and mishaps, they laughed about them very heartily, and told the story to their mother with the greatest glee. “Oh mother,” said Frederic; “we have had such a funny time!” “Oh! mamma, funny time!” said little Philip, determined to have his share in the glory. “Oh yes,” said Frederic; “it rained big drops, and it blew a hurricane.” “Yes,” said Philip, impatient to speak; “a hallycane, a great big hallycane, as big as a barn!” “Yes, mother,” continued Frederic; “and the hurrycane took my hat, and it went whirling along just like a hoop, and then it went a great way up into the air, and then it went right down into the pond, and ’twould have drownded if Cherry had not gone into the pond, and got it out.”