distance from the cabin. Beside the stump a slender birch tree bent
beneath the weight of a large circular piece of wood hung to its top
by a leather thong. This was the samp-mill, where their corn was
pounded into meal. Seizing the birch tree with her hands, she brought
the wooden pestle down into the hollow stump with a resounding thump.
The birch tree sprang back lifting the block with it and again she
pulled it down and struck the stump another blow, then paused to
listen. This time there was, beside the echo, an answering shout, and
in a few moments two heads appeared above the rows of young corn just
peeping out of the ground, two pairs of lively bare feet came flying
across the garden patch, and a breathless boy and girl stood beside
their mother.

They were a sturdy pair of twelve-year-olds, the boy an inch or more
taller than his sister, and both with the blue eyes, fair skin, and
rosy cheeks which proclaimed their English blood. There was a gleam of
pride in Goodwife Pepperell's eye as she looked a her children, but
not for the world would she have let them see it; much less would she
have owned it to herself, for she was a Puritan mother, and regarded
pride of any kind as altogether sinful. "Where have you been all the
morning?" she said. "You were nowhere to be seen and the corn is not
yet high enough to hide you."

"I was hoeing beyond that clump of bushes," said Daniel, pointing to
a group of high blueberries that had been allowed to remain in the
cleared field.

"And I was keeping away the crows," said Nancy, holding out her wooden
clappers. "Only I fell asleep. It was so warm I just could n't help
it."