But thou, Affection, human art, and true! Fitted for every day's most urgent needs; Warm-glowing ever, all the seasons through; Mother of tenderness and selfless deeds. Clear-seeing thou, nor like that other blind; Clear-burning on the hearths of all mankind. Three Girls go Blackberrying By Samuel Smyth Grandpa told Mary that he saw a few blackberries in the pasture. Mary hastened to inform Mina that there were bushels of ripe blackberries in the pasture. Mina hurried to tell Jane, and almost breathlessly suggested that they go and get them before anybody else found them. Jane thought it would be more comfortable after sundown. Mina said that they would be gone before that time, and insisted that they go at once. Outnumbered, Jane reluctantly consented. Mary must change her dress; so must the other two. Much time was spent in that operation, for it included the special dressing of the hair, also. There was much impatience manifested by Mary, the first to declare herself ready; but after the others appeared she suddenly thought of several things that she must attend to. At last each inquired of the others, "Well, are you ready?" "Yes, in a minute," said Mina. "I forgot to put on cold cream to prevent sunburn." "So did I," said Jane; "and, Mary, you had better use some, also, or you will regret it." "I think I will," said Mary; and a good half hour has passed before they are all downstairs again, when the old question was asked again, "Are you ready?" "Had we better wear rubbers?" asked Jane. "No," answered Mary, "but I am going upstairs to put on an old pair of shoes." "That is sensible," said Mina. "I think we all had better follow Mary's example, as it won't take a minute." Upstairs they all went again; much talk and another half hour passed when each made the declaration, "Well, I am ready, are you?" with much emphasis on the personal pronoun I. "Are you coming with me?" said Mary, and she started in the direction of the pasture with great animation, when Jane inquired, in a loud voice, if she were not going to take something along to put the berries in. "To be sure I am. In my hurry I entirely forgot it. What shall I take?" asked Mary. "We ourselves have not yet decided. Which do you think would be better, Mary, a basket or a pail?" "I don't know and I don't care what you take, I am going to take a paper bag," replied Mary. "It is light and convenient, and we can easily destroy all evidence of failure in case we fail to get any berries." "Thank you, Mary, for the happy suggestion. We will take paper bags. What size will be suitable?" "I think," said Jane, "that if we each fill a flour sack, that will be sufficient for once. It is such a job to carry so many or to make them into jam."