apple-tree. Here they were soon lulled to sleep by the murmuring of the
wind among the leaves, the chirping of the birds in the branches, and the
singing of various insects in the grass; and their dreams were sweet.

When Edwin awoke the sun was high and its rays were streaming down directly
into his eyes. Again he wondered where he could be, but Perry's cold nose
against his cheek reminded him of what had happened before he fell asleep,
and, sitting up, he looked around to see if he was right. Everything in the
yard was just as he had seen it before his nap, and the empty newspaper by
his side brought to his mind the humble lunch that had been given him by
his mother.

Next he gazed around at the landscape before him. His mother's home being
in the very edge of the village, Edwin could look for a long distance in
one direction. But it was not the gardens nor the corn-fields that
attracted his attention; he was considering the sky, which was to him as a
high blue arch, and he wished that he could know what was above it.

Presently he began playing with Perry, throwing a stick as he had watched
his cousin do the day before. He found it great sport. Once when near the
picket fence that surrounded the garden, he noticed some chickens near the
gate scratching in the soft earth. After watching them for a little while,
he saw something smooth and round lying where he could easily reach it, and
he found that it was a pretty white stone with pink stripes in it To Edwin
it was a valuable treasure, and by searching carefully he soon discovered
two other stones that were equally pretty. A number of playthings belonging
to his cousins were scattered about the yard, but thinking that they might
be displeased if he touched them, he let them alone.

When he returned to the place beneath the apple-tree, he carefully examined