He was spending the summer in the old town of Billerica, at his Aunt Ridley's. A fine old farm she had, and there she had lived through many years. Nearly alone too, she was, for Uncle Ridley had passed away a long time before, when they were young married people; but it was her home, as well as her property, and so she carried on the farm by herself. Generally she had a hired man; but Aaron had friends in the neighborhood, and often went away on a Sunday, or of an evening, after the chores were done, or on a winter's day, when there was no special work. In the summer Mrs. Ridley had a half-dozen men there haying, but otherwise she and Aaron had the place all to themselves.
They were both glad, therefore, when the Ambletons proposed coming there to board for the season. The Ambletons lived in Boston, where Mr. Ambleton was a merchant; but Mrs. Ambleton's mother was a Billerica Danforth, and the family cherished an affection for the ancient town. Harry and the baby brother stayed there from May to October, and once a week Papa came out, generally to spend Sunday.
All the week Harry was busy. He watched the mowers. He had the oversight of the cows. He went about with Aaron. He asked questions on various subjects, which Aaron could not answer to save his life. Harry watched the formation of hazelburrs, and Aaron promised to send him some hazel-nuts in the fall. Harry wanted awfully, as he said, to gather the nuts now, for himself; but he opened one burr, and found the kernel was unripe and bitter, unfit to eat, so he had to give up the attempt.
