ve a few weeks now with not
very much to do until it's time to gather the fall crops, and I think
I'll try to find some way of giving your Curlytops a good time. Yes,
that's what I'll do. I'll keep the Curlytops so busy they won't have a
chance to think of pulling dolls' legs or taking Nicknack, the goat,
away from his wagon."

"What are you planning to do, Father?" asked Grandma Martin of her
husband.

"Well, I promised to take them camping on Star Island you know."

"What! Not those two little tots--not Ted and Jan?" cried Grandma
Martin, looking up in surprise.

"Yes, indeed, those same Curlytops!"

It was easy to understand why Grandpa Martin, as well as nearly everyone
else, called the two Martin children Curlytops. It was because their
hair was so tightly curling to their heads. Once Grandma Martin lost her
thimble in the hair of one of the children, and their locks were curled
so nearly alike that she never could remember on whose head she found
the needle-pusher.

"Do you think it will be safe to take Ted and Jan camping?" asked Mother
Martin.

"Why, yes. There's no finer place in the country than Star Island. And
if you go along----"

"Am I to go?" asked Ted's mother.

"Of course. And Trouble, too. It'll do you all good. I wish Dick could
come, too," went on Grandpa Martin, speaking of Ted's father, who had
gone from Cherry Farm for a few days to attend to some matters at a
store he owned in the town of Cresco. "But Dick says he'll be too busy.
So I guess the Curlytops will have to go camping with grandpa," added
the farmer, smiling.

"Well, I'm sure they couldn't have better fun than to go with you,"
replied Mother Martin. "But I'm not sure that Baby William and I can
go."

"Oh, yes you can," said her father-in-law. "We'll talk about it again.
But here come Ted and Jan now in the goat-cart. They seem to have
something to ask you. We'll talk about the camp later."

Teddy and Janet Martin, the two Curlytops, came riding up to the
farmhouse in a small wagon drawn by a fine, big goat, that they had
named Nicknack.

"Please, Mother," begged Ted, "may we ride over to the Home and get
Hal?"

"We promised to take him for a ride," added Jan.

"Yes, I suppose you may go," said Mother Martin. "But you must be
careful, and be home in time for supper."

"We will," promised Ted. "We'll go by the wood-road, and then we won't
get run over by any automobiles. They don't come on that road."

"All right.