gathered as much as twenty-five pounds of leaves in a day. But they had
their bad days, when there was a great deal of walking and very little
picking.

And then, in due course of time, school began and the sumac season was
at an end, for the leaves are not merchantable after they begin to turn
red, although they are then a great deal prettier to look at.

But then Harry went out early in the morning, and on Saturdays, and shot
hares and partridges, and Kate began to sell her chickens, of which she
had twenty-seven (eighteen died natural deaths, or were killed by
weasels during the summer), they found that they made more money than
they could have made by sumac gathering.

"It's a good deal for you two to do for that old woman," said Captain
Caseby, one day.

"But, didn't we promise to do it?" said Miss Kate, bravely. "We'd do
twice as much, if there were two of her."

It was very fortunate, however, that there were not two of her.

Sometimes they had extraordinary luck. Early one November morning Harry
was out in the woods and caught sight of a fat wild-turkey.

Bang!--one dollar.

That was enough to keep Aunt Matilda for a week.

At least it ought to have kept her. But there was something wrong