Whenever a wayfarer paused beneath it , he heard a pleasant whisper of the leaves above his head , and wondered how the sound should so much resemble words like these : -- `` Welcome , welcome , dear traveller , welcome ! '' And some kind soul , that knew what would have pleased old Baucis and old Philemon best , built a circular seat around both their trunks , where , for a great while afterwards , the weary , and the hungry , and the thirsty used to repose themselves , and quaff milk abundantly out of the miraculous pitcher . And I wish , for all our sakes , that we had the pitcher here now ! THE HILLSIDE . AFTER THE STORY . `` How much did the pitcher hold ? '' asked Sweet Fern . `` It did not hold quite a quart , '' answered the student ; `` but you might keep pouring milk out of it , till you should fill a hogshead , if you pleased . The truth is , it would run on forever , and not be dry even at midsummer , -- which is more than can be said of yonder rill , that goes babbling down the hillside . '' `` And what has become of the pitcher now ? '' inquired the little boy . `` It was broken , I am sorry to say , about twenty-five thousand years ago , '' replied Cousin Eustace . `` The people mended it as well as they could ; but , though it would hold milk pretty well , it was never afterwards known to fill itself of its own accord . So , you see , it was no better than any other cracked earthen pitcher . '' `` What a pity ! '' cried all the children at once . The respectable dog Ben had accompanied the party , as did likewise a half-grown Newfoundland puppy , who went by the name of Bruin , because he was just as black as a bear . Ben , being elderly , and of very circumspect habits , was respectfully requested , by Cousin Eustace , to stay behind with the four little children , in order to keep them out of mischief . As for black Bruin , who was himself nothing but a child , the student thought it best to take him along , lest , in his rude play with the other children , he should trip them up , and send them rolling and tumbling down the bill . TANGLEWOOD PLAY-ROOM .
The golden days of October passed away , XXXXX so many other Octobers have , and brown November likewise , and the greater part of chill December , too .
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