`` What 's the good of it , anyway ? '' asked Ben , who would rather have been set to mowing the big field than to the task before him . `` It tells all about it in my book here , -- ` Gray 's Botany for Young People . ' But I can tell you what use it is to us , '' continued Thorny , crossing his legs in the air and preparing to argue the matter , comfortably lying flat on his back . `` We are a Scientific Exploration Society , and we must keep an account of all the plants , animals , minerals , and so on , as we come across them . Then , suppose we get lost , and have to hunt for food , how are we to know what is safe and what is n't ? Come , now , do you know the difference between a toadstool and a mushroom ? '' `` No , I do n't . '' `` Then I 'll teach you some day . There is sweet flag and poisonous flag , and all sorts of berries and things ; and you 'd better look out when you are in the woods , or you 'll touch ivy and dogwood , and have a horrid time , if you do n't know your botany . '' `` Thorny learned much of his by sad experience ; and you will be wise to take his advice , '' said Miss Celia , recalling her brother 's various mishaps before the new fancy came on . `` Did n't I have a time of it , though , when I had to go round for a week with plantain leaves and cream stuck all over my face ! Just picked some pretty red dogwood , Ben ; and then I was a regular guy , with a face like a lobster , and my eyes swelled out of sight . Come along , and learn right away , and never get into scrapes like most fellows . '' Impressed by this warning , and attracted by Thorny 's enthusiasm , Ben cast himself down upon the blanket , and for an hour the two heads bobbed to and fro , from microscope to book , the teacher airing his small knowledge , the pupil more and more interested in the new and curious things he saw or heard , -- though it must be confessed that Ben infinitely preferred to watch ants and bugs , queer little worms and gauzy-winged flies , rather than `` putter '' over plants with long names . He did not dare to say so , however ; but , when Thorny asked him if it was n't capital fun , he dodged cleverly by proposing to hunt up the flowers for his master to study , offering to learn about the dangerous ones , but pleading want of time to investigate this pleasing science very deeply . As Thorny had talked himself hoarse , he was very ready to dismiss his class of one to fish the milk-bottle out of the brook ; and recess was prolonged till next day . But both boys found a new pleasure in the pretty pastime they made of it ; for active Ben ranged the woods and fields with a tin box slung over his shoulder , and feeble Thorny had a little room fitted up for his own use , where he pressed flowers in newspaper books , dried herbs on the walls , had bottles and cups , pans and platters , for his treasures , and made as much litter as he liked . Presently , Ben brought such lively accounts of the green nooks where jacks-in-the-pulpit preached their little sermons ; brooks , beside which grew blue violets and lovely ferns ; rocks , round which danced the columbines like rosy elves , or the trees where birds built , squirrels chattered , and woodchucks burrowed , that Thorny was seized with a desire to go and see these beauties for himself . So Jack was saddled , and went plodding , scrambling , and wandering into all manner of pleasant places , always bringing home a stronger , browner rider than he carried away .
This delighted Miss XXXXX ; and she gladly saw them ramble off together , leaving her time to stitch happily at certain dainty bits of sewing , write voluminous letters , or dream over others quite as long , swinging in her hammock under the lilacs .
Ben Celia Jack browner day hour right squirrels toadstool week