Randy and Her Friends | Page 7

him, then he said,
"'I'm not likely to incur any bills which I am unable to meet, and as to
Jotham's head, I truly believe it is level.'"
They both laughed to think of Joel's discomfiture, and under the shade

of overhanging branches they sat down upon a large rock at the side of
the road and Randy, turning toward Jotham said,
"There, now I'll tell you what I could not tell this morning, because
dear little Prue cannot keep a secret, and you can, and will."
[Illustration: "I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy.]
"I will if you wish it, Randy," said Jotham.
"Well then, these parcels are not for me, they are for someone else, and
I do not wish her to know where they came from, Jotham, are you
willing to go over to the Wilson farm to-night?" asked Randy.
"I'd go to Joppa if you asked it," answered the boy with a laugh.
"Then go to Molly's house after dark, and leave these bundles on the
doorstep. Knock loudly, and then run away just far enough so that you
will be able to see them taken in, and don't tell anyone about it. It's just
a nice little surprise and you and I will keep our secret."
"It's a pleasure that you are planning, of that I am sure," said Jotham.
"I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy, "Molly Wilson is a nice
girl and she will be sixteen to-morrow."
"Oh ho! A birthday gift! Well, I don't wonder you wish it to get there
to-night, but if I leave it and run, how will they know that the bundles
are for Molly?"
"Oh, I must put her name on the parcels now," said Randy.
Jotham produced a pencil and thinking that Molly might recognize her
writing, Randy printed in large letters this legend:
"For Mollie Wilson, from one who loves her."
After viewing her work with satisfaction, Randy said,

"There, now they are all ready, but Jotham," she added a moment later,
"what will you do with them between now and twilight?"
"I'll take the packages home, and as you wish no one to know about
them, I'll hide them in a safe place in our woodshed. When I start for
Molly's house I have to go in the same direction that I would if I were
intending to stop at Reuben Jenks' door, so I'll leave the presents at the
Wilson's, and stop at Reuben's on the way home; then if I'm known to
have been at Reuben's no one will guess that I was running about
delivering presents."
So at a bend of the road they parted, Jotham happy in the thought that
he had a part in one of Randy's plans, and at the same time doing her
bidding, and Randy wondering if Molly's delight when she looked at
her gifts would be as great as that which she had herself experienced in
sending them.
CHAPTER III
GOSSIP
The sun shone down upon the dusty little "square," and the foliage of
the big willow tree near Barnes' store looked as if frosted, such a thick
coating of dust lay upon the leaves.
At the trough beneath the tree an old gray horse stood alternately taking
a long draught of the clear water, and looking off across the square, as
if lost in meditation.
A dragon-fly with steely wings lit upon the trough and, skilled little
acrobat, balanced upon the extreme edge as if thus to take in the full
beauty of old Dobbin's reflection.
Exhaling a long breath as he lifted his shaggy head, the old horse sent a
shower of bright drops upon the dragon-fly who, considering the act to
be a great breach of etiquette, took zigzag flight across the sunny
square, and up the winding road toward the mill.

It looked as if Dobbin might drink the trough dry if he chose, for an
animated conversation was in progress at Barnes' store, and his master
was one of the leaders in every discussion, whether the topic chanced to
be political, or simply a tale of village gossip.
A chubby urchin made little hills of dust, using a well worn slipper for
a trowel, and Dobbin kicked and stamped impatiently, occasionally
taking another drink, and still the discussion went on.
"Naow I argy, that a leetle deestrict school wus good 'nough fer me, an'
look at me!
"Own my farm free an' clear, got a good lot er stock an' tools on the
place, an' I'm wuth two thousand dollars in cash!"
The speaker was old Josiah Boyden, one of the "_see_lectmen," and a
member of the school committee. His greatest pride lay in the fact that
he was a self-made man, and truly he looked as if constructed