sir. I c-c-can climb
anything. I can cl-cl-climb any tree in Aunt Eu-Eu-Eunice's woods. I can
climb any tree in Deacon Meakin's woods. I--I can climb all the trees in
Sq-Sq-Squ-Squire Petti--john's woods, top the mountain. I can climb any
tree in the whole w-w-world! I c-c-co-could climb the church steeple!"

Katharine listened to this boastful statement with interest. She not
only believed it, but had observed that as Montgomery neared his climax
his stammering became less pronounced. This coincided with the
Cyclopedia and suggested the first lesson she should give. But she had
herself "climbed" to this height for another matter besides instruction.
To descend with a quantity of fresh eggs for Susanna's depleted larder
would be to bring one ray of sunshine into that darkened house. For as
the widow had pertinently inquired of the hired man, only the night
before, "How can a body cook good victuals without ingrejunce? An'
what's the greatest ingrejunce in punkin pies if it ain't eggs? Or cake,
uther?" to which Moses had jocularly replied: "It might be punkin or
flour." And again, Susanna: "My suz! But you air smart, ain't ye? Well,
eggs I haven't, an' eggs I shall an' must. An' up that loft I go,
tromple or no tromple the hay, an' before the sun sets another time on
this deceivin' world."

Therefore, eggs Katharine would obtain and then instruct; and,
announcing this decision, Montgomery did his best to aid her in the
search. Nor was it unsuccessful. There were three nests, safely placed
beneath the eaves where their builders had supposed in their hen-minds
that no human being would ever come, while another adventurous fowl had
lazily scooped a hole in the very centre of the mow and deposited her
eggs. In any case, eggs there were in abundance, and, having filled
Montgomery's pockets and Kate's hat with them, they took their own
well-earned rest upon the fragrant hay beneath the slatted window.

Sunshine and air came through it, and the song of birds in the trees;
and beyond another distant wide-opened shutter they could see the roofs
of village homes and the spire of the church which Monty felt he could
so easily climb. There, all anxiety forgotten, they dreamed dreams and
saw visions; and in each and all they were both to be good and great and
world beneficent.

[Illustration: "THERE, ALL ANXIETY FORGOTTEN, THEY DREAMED DREAMS AND
SAW VISIONS"]

"I shall be a great artist some day. As great as my father, or mayb