"That is, downstream," said Frank. "We have never taken the boat up the river beyond the village, on account of the milldam." "There's an island in the river," said Susie, "between here and the village. We have been there." "How large an island is it?" asked Uncle Robert--"large enough to have a picnic there while I am here?" "Oh, yes," said Susie. "It's just the loveliest place for a picnic! There are trees all over it, and all kinds of wild flowers." "Can't you extend your map, Frank, so as to put in the river to the village, showing the milldam and the island?" suggested Uncle Robert. "You might draw it this way, too," said Donald, "and show how the river bends the other way down here." "Now I want to draw my garden," said Susie, when Frank had finished. Just then the clock on the kitchen shelf struck loudly. "It's bedtime now, dear," said Mrs. Leonard. "Can't you draw your garden to-morrow?" "We'll plant those pansies to-morrow," said Uncle Robert, "and see what can be put in all the other beds. Then we'll draw it, and tell just where everything is." So Susie went to bed happy, and Frank and Donald soon followed. And all were glad that Uncle Robert was really come. CHAPTER III. THE NEW THERMOMETER. The next morning as they left the breakfast table Donald said: "It's going to be warmer to-day." "I think not," said Frank. "When I went to the barn it seemed quite cool." "What do you think, Susie?" asked Uncle Robert. "It was cool under the trees when I went to the spring for a pitcher of water," said Susie, "but it seemed rather warm in the sun. I think it is a lovely morning." "What makes it warm?" asked Uncle Robert. "Why, the sun," replied Donald, looking rather surprised at such a question. "But does the sun make it warm in the winter?" asked Uncle Robert. "The sun is nearer the earth in spring and summer," said Frank confidently. "You are mistaken," said Uncle Robert. "The sun is farther from us in summer than it is in winter." "But it's almost over our heads in summer," said Frank. "How can it be farther away?" "The story of the warmth that the sun gives us is not told by distance," said Uncle Robert, "but by the length of the shadows at noon." "How is that?" asked Donald. "When is your shadow the longest?" asked Uncle Robert. "In the evening," said Donald. "In the morning," said Susie. "When is your shadow the shortest?" "At noon!" they all shouted. "When is it coolest?" "Morning," they replied together. "When is it warmest?" "Noon," said Susie quickly. "Now you are wrong," said Frank. "It is often warmer at one or two o'clock." "Frank is right," said Uncle Robert. "How can we tell just how warm it is at any time?" "If we had a thermometer," said Donald, "that would tell, but we haven't." "There's one at the post office," said Frank, "but I never saw any one look at it unless it was very cold or very hot."