The Hickory Limb. Fillmore Parker

swimmin'! We're swimmin'!" the little boys kept on shouting inanely until Margery was forced to make some acknowledgment of the information.

      "Oh!" she called out in sarcasm undisguised, "I thought you was flying!"

      That seemed to make the little boys angry. They redoubled their cries and gesticulations.

      "Go 'way from here! Go 'way from here! You're a girl! You're a girl!"

      "Is that so? I'm a girl, am I? I'm so glad to hear it!"

      Margery sat down near the water's edge and gazed across defiantly at the little boys, who were clustered together at the far end of the pond. They were not her match at sarcasm and so were forced to answer with inarticulate jeers. For a few seconds no more words were exchanged. Then one of the boys attempted a parley.