Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. SATURDAY AFTERNOON. BRIGHT summer-time had come again, J- when the sweet-scented blossoms beautified the gardens, and the forming fruits gave promise of a rich golden harvest. The school-bell sent out its merry call to the laughing children, and scores of them daily went up to the temple of knowledge for improvement. Saturday afternoon was a season of recreation, when the pupils, released from school, engaged in various sports, or performed some light labor for their parents. On a certain Saturday afternoon, Nat, Charlie, Frank, and one or two other boys, arranged for a " good time " at the house of one of the number. They were all there promptly at the appointed time, together with Frank's little dog Trip — a genuine favorite with all the boys who had any regard for dog-brightness and amiability. " Look here, Frank, has Trip forgot how to play hy-spy ? " asked Charlie. " No; he will play it about as well as you can. Let us try it." " You can't learn him to toxich the goal, can you ? " inquired another boy. " No," replied Frank; " but I expect he will before he takes his degree. He is nothing but a Freshman now." " Did he ever petition you for shorter lessons ? " asked Nat. Charlie and Frank laughed; for they thought of Sam Drake's petition at the winter school. " Never," answered Frank; " but he has asked me for longer ones a great many times. He never gets enough at any sport. He will play ' hide and seek' or ' ball' as long as you will want to havo him, and then wag his tail for more." Trip sat by looking wistfully up into his little master's face as if he perfectly understood the praise that was lavished upon him, and was patiently waiting to give an exhibition of his skill in athletic games. " Let us try his skill," said Charli...