"I suppose," said his father, "you never threw any until there were some
to throw."

Johnnie Green appeared much more cheerful when he heard that remark of
his father's. Although Farmer Green's face wore a frown, and his voice
sounded most severe, Johnnie could tell that he was laughing, _inside_.

"Come on!" Johnnie cried to his friends. "Let's get to work. If we
hustle we can get the currants all picked by noon."

So long as Farmer Green stood there they all picked as busily as
squirrels. But after he left them the boys found so much to talk about
that they made little progress. It was a temptation, too, to flick a
currant into the face of another picker and see him jump.

Finally the neighbors' boys announced that they were going swimming.
"Come along over to the swimming hole!" they urged Johnnie. "You can
finish picking these currants later."

But Johnnie Green said that he couldn't leave his work. Though his
helpers left him, he stayed behind the barn and picked currants. Somehow
he felt that he ought to be on his best behavior--at least for a day or
two.

"It was a pity that Johnnie Green's father caught him," old dog Spot
remarked to Twinkleheels after Farmer Green put an end to the boys' fun.
"I enjoyed the sport," said Spot.

"If you're so fond of kicking, just step up behind me!" Twinkleheels