There's two of 'em!"
"That's what we can!" cried Teddy, as he thought of the boxes his
sister meant. Groceries from the store had been sent to the camp in
them. The boxes were strong, and long; big enough for Jan or Ted to
sit down in them and reach over the sides to paddle, not being too
high.
Mother Martin said they might take the boxes and make of them the
play-boats they wanted, and, in great delight, Ted and his sister ran
to get their new playthings.
Grandpa Martin pulled out all the nails that might scratch the
children, and he also fastened strips of wood over the largest cracks
in the boxes.
"That will keep out some of the water, but not all," he said. "Your
box-boats won't float very long. They'll sink as soon as enough water
runs in through the other cracks."
"Oh, well, we'll paddle in them in shallow water," promised Ted. "And
sinking won't hurt, 'cause we've got on our bathing suits. Come on,
Jan!"
Trouble wanted to sail in the new boats, also, but they were not large
enough for two. Besides Mrs. Martin did not want the baby to be in the
water too much. So she carried him away, Trouble crying and screaming
to be allowed to stay, while Jan and Ted got ready for their first
trip. They pretended the boats were ocean steamers and that the cove
in the lake, near grandpa's camp, was the big ocean.
Pages:
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126