h grows along the fences and on the edges of the woods. Of
late years the leaves of this bush have been greatly in demand for
tanning purposes, and, in some States, especially in Virginia, sumac
gathering has become a very important branch of industry, particularly
with the negroes; many of whom, during the sumac season, prefer
gathering these leaves to doing any other kind of work. The sumac-bush
is quite low, and the leaves are easily stripped off. They are then
carefully dried, and packed in bags, and carried to the nearest place of
sale, generally a country store.

The next morning, Harry and Kate made preparations for a regular
expedition. They were to take their dinner, and stay all day. Kate was
enraptured--even more so, perhaps, than Harry. Each of them had a large
bag, and Harry carried his gun, for who could tell what they might meet
with? A mink, perhaps, or a fox, or even a beaver! They had a long walk,
but it was through the woods, and there was always something to see in
the woods. In a couple of hours, for they stopped very often, they
reached a little valley, through which ran Crooked Creek. And on the
banks of Crooked Creek were plenty of sumac-bushes. This place was at
some distance from any settlement, and apparently had not been visited
by sumac gatherers.

"Hurra!" cried Kate, "here is enough to fill a thousand bags!"

Harry leaned his gun against a tree, and hung up his shot and powder
flasks, and they both went to work gathering sumac. There was plenty of
it, but Kate soon found that what they saw would not fill a thousand
bags. There were a good many bushes, but they were small; and, when all
the leaves were stripped off one, and squeezed into a bag, they did not
make a very great show. However, they did very well, and, for an hour or
so, they worked on merrily. Then they had dinner. Harry built a fire. He
easily found dry branches, and he had brought matches and paper with
him. At a little distance under a great pine-tree, Kate selected a level
place, and cleared away the dead leaves and the twigs, leaving a smooth
table of dry and fragrant pine-needles. On this she spread the cloth,
which was a napkin. Then she took from the little basket she had brought
with her a cake of corn-meal, several thick and well-buttered slices of
wheat bread, some hard-boiled eggs, a little paper of pepper and salt, a
piece of cheese, and some fried chicken. When this was spread out (and
it would not all go on the