und advice.

"You must keep that letter," she told him, "for you cannot always trust
people. I have heard some queer stories of mean tricks which have been
done. Then, you had better read the market prices every day in the
paper, and cut the piece out, so you will know just exactly how much
your berries are bringing. How I wish I could help you pick them."

Monday morning Rod began to pick his first berries. The patch was not
a large one, but it seemed big to him. Hour after hour he worked, and
at times his back ached. The day was hot, and the perspiration poured
down his face. But he kept faithfully at his task, stopping only long
enough to eat his dinner. When supper time came he had twenty boxes of
nice ripe berries lying side by side upon the kitchen table. He could
not eat a bite until all had been placed safely in the crate, and then
he stood back and gazed upon them with admiration. In fact, he had to
come out several times before he went to bed to view his treasures.
But at last the cover was placed on, nailed down, and the ticket tacked
upon the top.

Early the next morning Parson Dan and Rod took the berries to the wharf
in the carriage, in time to catch the first steamer of the day. Thus
at last his precious berries were off on their way to the city, and as
Rod watched the _Heather Bell_ as she glided away from the wharf he
tried to catch a glimpse of his box where it was lying among the rest
of the freight. He pictured Mr. McDuff's delight when he saw what fine
berries he had received.

That day Rod picked twenty more boxes, fifteen in the morning, and five
during the afternoon. They were becoming scarcer now, and it would be
necessary for him to let them ripen for a day before he could expect to
fill a third crate. The rest of the afternoon he spent with the
scouts. It was their regular meeting, at which they were to tell how
they were getting along with the raising of money for their suits. The
reports were by no means encouraging from most of the boys, as they had
accomplished nothing. Rod alone told what he had done, and how much he
hoped to make out of his berries.

"I am going to earn every cent myself," he said in conclusion, "and I
am not going to get my suit until I can pay for it."

"Good fer you!" the captain exclaimed. "That's the kind of talk I like
to hear. And look here, you fellows," he continued, turning to the
rest of the scouts, "if ye want to remain in this troop