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Rh of Dexter's Corners. Several folks of the village saw them and waved them a welcome, for the lads were great favorites. Then they started along the country road leading to Valley Brook farm.

"And how are all the folks, Jack?" asked Dick.

"All fairly well, sir," answered the hired man. "Your uncle, he got 'em rather bad last week."

"What do you mean?"

"Some of his new bees stung him—and they stung me, too."

"Too bad!" murmured Dick. "Any other news?"

"I don't know of none. The hay crop is going to be heavy, so they say."

"Well, we need hay for the stock."

"We miss you boys, so we do," went on the hired man. "When you are away the farm is like as if we was havin' a funeral."

"Oh, we'll warm you up," cried Tom. "Eh, Sam?"

"We'll try to, anyway," answered the youngest Rover.

"We are going to have a great Fourth of July celebration," said Tom. "I ordered some fire works for home at the same time I had those sent to the college," he added, to his brothers.