there are three banks, one after another, just covered with wild
flowers. And as true as I live there's a scarlet tanager on that
bush! Don't startle him, Stella."

Molly laughed at the idea of Stella startling anything, and softly
the girls crept nearer to the beautiful red bird, but in a moment
he spread his black-tipped wings and flew away.

"It is Blossom Banks, Miss Midge," said Carter, who now came up to
the girls, and who was carrying a mysterious-looking basket. He
had secured the boat, and seemed about to climb the banks.

"What's in the basket, Carter?" cried Midge. "Is it a picnic? Is
it a truly picnic?"

"Well, just a wee bit of a picnic, Miss Midget. Your Grandma said
that maybe some cookies and apples wouldn't go begging among yees.
But ye must climb the banks first, so up ye go!"

Gayly the girls scrambled up the bank, and though Stella was not
as impetuous as the others, she was not far behind. At every step
new beauties dawned, and Marjorie, who was a nature-lover, drew a
long breath of delight as she reached the top of the Blossom
Banks.

They trotted on, sometimes following Carter's long strides and
sometimes dancing ahead; now falling back to chatter with Stella
and now racing each other to the next hillock.

At last they reached the dearest little picnic place, with soft