Alice Hale Burnett

“ Chuck now left the room, returning a moment later with a huge pumpkin
which he placed on a chair in the corner.
"Who's number one?" he asked, at the same time lifting high into the air
the stem of the pumpkin, which had been cut off close to its base.
"Keep perfectly still," whispered Chuck as Hopie came
toward them.
"I am," announced Hopie Smith from his place before the fire where he
had been helping Mother Brown stir the contents of the great black pot. ”

“ I'll turn your slip around so you can't see."
"Here's the stem," said Chuck, placing it in Hopie's outstretched hand.
Father Brown now took Hopie by the shoulders and slowly turned him
around again and again.
"I believe you've had enough turns to wonder where you are," he said,
adding, "now see if you can place the stem on the pumpkin."
Hopie started off, both hands held out before him.
"You musn't feel anything with your hands," called Herbie, "it isn't
fair." ”

“ And
as the lid came off the box, Linn exclaimed:
"A baseball, just what I've been wanting," and he tossed it up into the
air.
"That's as lively as a cricket," commented Herbie, as he caught the ball
and bounced it on the floor. ”