Rollo’s mother advised him, when he went to bed the evening before the
day fixed upon for the blueberrying, to rise early the next morning,
and take a good reading lesson before breakfast. She said he would
enjoy himself much more, during the day, if he performed all his usual
duties before he went. Rollo accordingly arose quite early, and, when
he came in to breakfast, had the satisfaction of telling his father
that he had read his morning lesson, and prepared his basket, and was
all ready to go.
He wanted Jonas to go too, and as, the last time when he asked his
father’s permission that he should go, he lost his request by asking it
in an improper manner, he determined to be careful this time.
So he was silent at breakfast time while his father and mother were
talking, and then, watching an opportunity when they seemed disengaged,
he asked his father if Jonas might not go with them.
“I do not think he can very well, for there is no room for him. Both
the chaises will be full.”
“But could not he ride on Old Trumpeter?” said Rollo.
Old Trumpeter was a white horse, that had served the family some time,
but was now rather old, and not a very good traveller.
Rollo’s father hesitated a moment, and then said, perhaps he might.
“You may go and tell him that we are going, and that if he thinks Old
Trumpeter will do to carry him, he may go. He will be of great help to
us, if we should get into any difficulty.”
Rollo thought of the bears that he expected to see on the mountain, and
ran to tell Jonas. Jonas was glad to go. So he went and gave Old
Trumpeter some oats, and got the saddle and bridle ready. He also got
out a pair of saddle-bags that he always used on such occasions, and
put into them a hatchet, a dipper, a box of matches, and some rope. On
second thoughts, he concluded it would be best to put these things into
the chaise-box, and to put the saddle-bags on his horse empty, as he
might want them to bring something home in.
After breakfast, Lucy and her father, Rollo’s uncle George, drove up to
the door, for they were going too; and in a short time you might have
seen all the party driving away from the door—Rollo’s father and mother
in the first chaise, uncle George, and Rollo, and Lucy, in the second,
and Jonas on Old Trumpeter behind.
They rode on for a mile or two, and then turned off of the main road
into the woods, and went on by a winding and beautiful road until they
came in sight of a range of mountains, one of which seemed very high
and near.
“Is that Benalgon?” said Rollo.
“I do not know,” said his uncle; “I have never been to it before; but I
suppose Jonas can tell.”
“I will call him,” said Rollo. So he turned round, and kneeled up upon
the seat, so that he could look out behind the chaise, for the back
curtain was up. Lucy did the same, but Jonas was not to be seen. They
looked a little longer, and presently saw him coming along round a
curve in the road. They beckoned to him, and as he rode up, they saw he
had a bush in his hand. He came up to the side of the chaise, and
handed it to Rollo. It was a large blueberry-bush, covered with
beautiful ripe blue berries. Rollo took them, and admired them very
much; and at first he was going to divide them between Lucy and
himself; but they concluded, on the whole, to send them forward to his
mother. Jonas told them the mountain before them _was_ Benalgon, and
rode on to carry the blueberry-bush to the other chaise. Presently he
came back, bringing it with him, except a small sprig which Rollo’s
mother had taken off. The rest she had sent back to the children.
“Well, Jonas,” said uncle George, when he got back, “I do not see but
that Old Trumpeter is strong enough to carry you yet.”
“O yes, sir,” said Jonas, “he is strong enough to carry half a dozen
like me.”
“O, uncle George,” said Rollo, “let him carry me too with Jonas. I can
ride behind.”
“Very well; if you want to ride with him a little while, you may, if
Jonas is willing.”
Jonas was, and Rollo got out, and climbed up upon a stump, by the side
of the road. Jonas drove up to the stump, and Rollo clambered up behind
him, with a switch in his hand.
“Now, Jonas,” said he, “whenever you want him to go any faster, you
just speak to me, and I will touch him up with my switch.”
Jonas said he would, and they jogged along behind the chaise. Lucy
kneeled upon the cushion, and looked out behind, talking with Rollo.