The Summer Holidays | Page 4

better than I can. Sometimes the ore is
almost all iron; John and I have some pieces in our cabinets, in which
you cannot see any stone."
"But did men go down this deep well?" asked Samuel.
"Yes; they were lowered down in buckets. And the water was pumped
out by a machine. The water was so cold, even in the middle of summer,
that one could scarcely hold his hand in it."
The boys began to throw stones down one of the wells, so that they
might guess by hearing them strike the bottom, how deep it was. The
first stones were too small to be heard; then they threw larger ones, and
listened, but could hear no sound. At last, John took up a piece of rock
as big as his head, and rolled it into the well. It fell with a hollow,
rumbling noise, and all was then still. The boys thought it had reached

the bottom; but all at once they heard it splash into water. Then the
boys knew that the well was very deep, for the stone had been falling
several seconds. They then hunted among the piles of ore for some
handsome pieces to give to Samuel; after which, they picked up their
basket, and hurried on toward Daddy Hall's.
On reaching his house, they found the old man sitting at the door, while
his son, a good boy, was preparing to take the donkey to market, with a
cart load of turnips, radishes, peas, beans, and cabbage. Daddy Hall
was pale and thin; but he arose to meet the boys, and seemed very glad
to see Samuel. Although he was sick almost every day, and sometimes
suffered great pain, yet no one ever heard him complain. He loved
children, and was very fond of talking to them; and before he grew so
weak and feeble, many of the farmers sent their little ones to him, to
learn to read. After they had been seated a little while, John asked him
if he did not get tired of staying in the house.
"Sometimes," said the old man, "I wish I could go out, as I once could,
and work for myself; but I do not feel tired. Besides, this is the best
condition I can be placed in; and if you ask me why, I will tell you.
God, my children, has placed me in it; and he knows what is best for
each of us. He has given me many comforts, kind friends, plenty to eat
and drink, and a son, who is one of the best of boys. There is nothing,
John, more cheering to the heart of an old man than the kindness of a
dutiful son; and let me ask each of you, to listen to the advice of one
who owns such a blessing, and always to show honor and respect to
your parents."
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CHAPTER IV.
THE WALK THROUGH THE WOODS.
The boys left their basket with Daddy Hall, and set out on their return
to the house. "Let us go through the woods," said Thomas, and they all

walked toward a thick wood which stood not far from the hill, near
which Daddy Hall's house was built. They were glad to reach its cool
shade; for the sun was now getting warm. Samuel saw a number of
birds among the branches, that he did not know the names of; and many
bright little flowers were growing in the shade, among the roots of oak
and beech trees. A little distance in the wood, they reach a small rock,
near which some large stones were lying, as if they had been thrown
together. Thomas stopped, and said, "Samuel, this is the place where
we killed a big snake last spring. You can see his hole under this rock.
John and I tried hard to move these loose stones, but we could not. I
dare say there are snake nests underneath."
"Perhaps we three can move one of them," replied his cousin. They all
caught hold, and at last pulled the stone from its place. There was
nothing underneath, but some old nut shells; but John said he was sure
they would find snakes if they could but move the other stones. After
much pulling, they raised another one; and under it was a large land
tortoise, with several little ones, no larger than a walnut. After
examining these, they observed a hole running under another stone,
into the ground. Samuel also found two or three snake skins, which his
cousins told him the snakes threw off every spring, after which, a new
and larger skin grew on them. They pulled hard at this third stone, but
could not move it; but while they were going away, Thomas said