"
"I think it is a pretty tree," said Ida, wonderingly; "and now I
notice that there are some fine pears on it."
"Yes, and they are about ripe. Let us see if we can't reverse
the old story with which the Bible commences. The man shall tempt
the woman this time, and this shall be a tree of the knowledge of
good, not of evil. Poor child, you know enough about that already;"
and the old gentleman climbed up on his chair, and with his cane
loosened a large yellow pear with a crimson blush on its sunny
side.
"Take my hat and catch it," he had said to Ida; and she did so.
"Now, I've made you an accomplice already, and so you may as well
eat the pear while I tell you a bit of history concerning this
tree. It may help me to suggest some very encouraging truths."
But Ida held her pear and looked wistfully at the speaker. Her
heart was still too sore to enter into the half-playful manner by
which he sought to give a less gloomy cast to her thoughts.
"Some years ago," said Mr. Eltinge, resuming his seat, "we had a
night of darkness and violent storm like that through which you,
poor child, have just passed. The garden fence was blown down,
and some stray cattle got in and made sad havoc.
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