SUMMER
DAYS.

NEW YORK:
DODD, MEAD & COMPANY,
Publishers.

Copyright, 1880, by Dodd, Mead & Company.

SUMMER
DAYS.

IT was the fifteenth day of June, and the last day of school. Alice Grey had just said her last good-byes to the other girls, and was starting on her homeward way when she heard a voice behind her.

“Alice, Alice, wait a minute.”

Alice turned around and saw Susy Lee running towards her.

“Let’s go on together,” said Susy, overtaking her friend. “There is no use in walking alone when one can have company.”

“No, indeed,” said Alice, laughing, “particularly when the company has a good big sun umbrella, and the one has none. Here, let me take your arm, and creep under your shade, that’s a love.”

“Isn’t it hot?” exclaimed Susy, when they were both comfortably settled under the shade of the umbrella. “See, there isn’t a breath of wind.”

“Hot isn’t the word for it,” said Alice; “why, it is simply scorching. I am so glad we are through with school, for it is really dreadful to study in this weather. I am crazy to get off to the country, aren’t you?”

“Yes, indeed, I am,” said Susy. “I just love the country; don’t you? When I get on my blue flannel sailor suit and my big shade hat, and know that I can get just as mussy as I please, I am too happy for anything. Where are you going this summer?”

“Oh, we are going to Sandy Shore; we go there every summer. Papa has a cottage there.”

“Sandy Shore!” exclaimed Susy. “Why, how perfectly delightful. I am going there, too. Papa has rented a house for the summer, and we are to start off in about a week.”

The children were of course overjoyed to find that they were to be companions for the summer, and had a great deal to talk about. And so busy were they that Alice’s house was in sight long before the important event had been thoroughly discussed.

When they reached Mr. Grey’s it was nearly time for luncheon, however, so Alice and Susy

kissed each other good-bye, and separated, each to confide to her mother the pleasant prospects for the summer.

Alice found the house in rather a confused state. Trunks were in every room; carpets were being taken up; and everything denoted that a change of some sort was about to take place.

Alice flew up the stairs, and, rushing into her mamma’s room, she found her father and mother talking together very earnestly about something.

“Why, mamma,”