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"Ah, thief!" shoutedits loud call "Why, boys, boys, you ought to have caught

hi itself a rub down

his leg, while he clapped his hand upon my shoulder

"There you are, my hearty It isn't so far for you to stoop as it would

be forat hily

"To be sure Go ahead I'll hold your flowers Only take the ripe

ones, and see here--do you kno to pick strawberries?"

I felt so amused at such a silly question that I looked up at hihed

"Oh, you do?" he said

"Why, anybody could pick strawberries," I replied

"Really, now! Well, let's see There's a big flat fellow, pick hi between ts of plants,

stooped down, and picked the great strawberry he pointed out

"Oh, you call that picking, do you?" he said

"Yes, sir Don't you?"

"No: I call it tearing o to work like that, I should only get half a crop and

my plants would be spoiled"

I looked at him helplessly, and wished he would pick the strawberries