"Bright, fancy-formed ferns were growing here and there from beneath the edge of the big rocks, and johnny-jump-ups were lifting their tiny blue heads aloft to the fresh morning breeze, wherever an occasional dead tree allowed the rays of the sun to fall unshadowed upon the rich soil below. All through the woodland they noticed the poison-oak vine, as it slowly began its long summer climb up the trunks of the stately oak trees. "'Alas!' thought the two children as they journeyed along, 'there is no pennyroyal.' "Then looking up with affright at the sound of a familiar voice, they were greatly surprised, for there stood 'Aunt Twaddles' before them. "At once the object of their journey was forgotten and they buried their grief for a time as the kind-hearted old lady drew forth a handful of her sweet candy, and all three sank upon a green, moss-covered mound for a rest and a feast and a chat. "When they were comfortably seated, 'Aunt Twaddles' glanced carefully about her, and, as she measured the moss-covered mound with one sweep of the eye, she suddenly exclaimed: "'Perhaps this mound is the grave of some long dead but great Indian chief;' and while the two children sat gazing about, she continued: 'But he can't scalp us now, children! He can't scalp us now!' "And with a loud, harsh laugh that rang through the woodland, she leaned her fat back against the trunk of a tall tree that towered ever so high above them. "'And where are you going, my dears?' at last she inquired. "'After pennyroyal for grandfather,' replied little Arthur, and his words were followed by a deep sigh. "'Have you found any?' she asked, as her fat face lighted up with a broad smile that drove all thoughts of sorrow and care from their minds. "'Not yet, Ma'am!' exclaimed little Maud. 'I don't think it has come up out of the ground, for we have searched so far very carefully.' "'Aunt Twaddles' laughed outright. 'Oh yes, it has, dear,' she replied. 'Pennyroyal is the second flavoring herb of the spring-time.' "And she reached her hand down deep into her herb bag and drew forth quite a quantity of fresh plucked pennyroyal and laid it before their envious gaze on the ground. "'And what is the first flavoring herb, Aunt Twaddles?' inquired little Arthur, as he glanced up from the pennyroyal. "'Mint, darling,' she replied with a laugh, and continued: 'On the south side of the mountain, where the springs moisten and soften the soil, it lifts its green head out of the earth as soon as the frost leaves the ground.' "She lowered her hand to her big pocket as she ceased speaking and drew from its mighty depth two great, round pop-corn balls, that were dripping with honey and of the deep crimson color of ripe cherries. Placing one in the hand of each of the children, she glanced down upon them with a happy smile, as she exclaimed: "'There, darlings. These are flavored with mint that I gathered only yesterday. Taste them and see what you think of the flavor.'