Amid so much new life , it was strange and truly pitiful to behold , here and there , in the fields and pastures , the hoary periwig of dandelions that had already gone to seed . They had done with summer before the summer came . Within those small globes of winged seeds it was autumn now ! Well , but we must not waste our valuable pages with any more talk about the spring-time and wild flowers . There is something , we hope , more interesting to be talked about . If you look at the group of children , you may see them all gathered around Eustace Bright , who , sitting on the stump of a tree , seems to be just beginning a story . The fact is , the younger part of the troop have found out that it takes rather too many of their short strides to measure the long ascent of the hill . Cousin Eustace , therefore , has decided to leave Sweet Fern , Cowslip , Squash-blossom , and Dandelion , at this point , midway up , until the return of the rest of the party from the summit . And because they complain a little , and do not quite like to stay behind , he gives them some apples out of his pocket , and proposes to tell them a very pretty story . Hereupon they brighten up , and change their grieved looks into the broadest kind of smiles . As for the story , I was there to hear it , hidden behind a bush , and shall tell it over to you in the pages that come next . THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER . One evening , in times long ago , old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage-door , enjoying the cahn and beautiful sunset . They had already eaten their frugal supper , and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime . So they talked together about their garden , and their cow , and their bees , and their grapevine , which clambered over the cottage-wall , and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple . But the rude shouts of children and the fierce barking of dogs , in the village near at hand , grew louder and louder , until , at last , it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak . `` Ah , wife . '' cried Philemon , `` I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbors yonder , and , instead of giving him food and lodging , they have set their dogs at him , as their custom is ! '' `` Well-a-day ! '' answered old Baucis , `` I do wish our neighbors felt a little more kindness for their fellow-creatures .
And only think of bringing up their children XXXXX this naughty way , and patting them on the head when they fling stones at strangers ! ''
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