The next day father said, "Peter and Polly, will you work for me? I wish to buy your leaves. I will give you a cent for three loads."
"Oh, goody, goody!" said Polly.
"Oh, goody, goody!" said Peter.
"You must put the leaves in a pile in the garden. I will show you where."
"What will you do with them, father?" asked Polly.
"You will see tonight, if you are good workmen."
In the night the wind had blown the leaves about. So the children raked them up once more.
Then they filled the big basket full. They packed in the leaves as hard as they could.
"That is to give good measure," said Polly. "Father always gives good measure at his store. So you and I must, too."
Every time they took a basketful to the garden, Polly made a mark on a piece of paper.
At last the yard was raked clean. They had taken to the garden twenty-nine loads. They had worked nearly all day.
At supper father said, "You are good workmen, chicks. Our yard looks very clean. It is ready for winter.
"You piled the leaves carefully in the garden, too. Now, how much do I owe you?"
"We took twenty-nine loads, father," said Polly. "I wish there had been one more to make thirty."
"Why do you wish that, Polly?"
"Because three goes in thirty better than in twenty-nine."
"Well," said father, "we will call it thirty loads, Polly. I saw you packing the leaves into the basket very hard.
"You are honest workmen to give me such good measure. Now, Polly, three goes in thirty how many times?"
"Ten times, father. So you owe us ten cents. We shall each have five cents."
"Very good, Polly. Here is your money. I have a surprise for you. Put on your coats and come to the garden. Mother will come, too."
In the garden they found father beside the pile of leaves. He had thrown many things upon it.
He said, "I came home early and cleaned up the garden. Now, what shall we do with all this stuff?"
"Burn it, burn it!" shouted both children at once. "A bonfire, a bonfire!"
"Very well," said father. "You may burn it. Here is a match for you, Polly. And here is one for you, Peter. Light your fire."
Polly and Peter lighted the great heap. Soon the red flames were leaping up. They made the garden bright. Farther away from the fire it was very dark.
"Oh, see, see, mother!" cried Polly. "The flames are as pretty as the red and yellow leaves. Have they taken the color from the leaves? How hot they are!"
The children danced around the fire until it died down. Then mother took them into the house. It was bedtime.
Peter and Polly gather leaves for their father for 1 cent per 3 loads. The children are good, honest workers. They make sure to pack the leaves tightly in baskets to give their father good value for his money. The children gather twenty-nine loads, which their father rounds up to thirty. This means Peter and Polly receive ten cents for their work, or five cents apiece. The family has a bonfire with the leaves. The children dance around the fire until bedtime.
Vocabulary
Load: A large amount of something placed in a container. Bonfire: A large, outdoor fire for parties, celebrations, or burning yard waste.
Concepts
In the story, the Howe family has a bonfire with leaves. Fire is a reaction between oxygen and fuel, such as wood or gas. Fire also requires heat.
Fire is a reaction that produces heat and light.
Fire produces red, orange, yellow, white, and blue flames that we can see, where red is the coolest and blue is the hottest.
Fire is very dangerous. Children should never play with fire and should only be around fires when responsible adults are present.
Enrichment
Activity 1: Narrate the Story
After reading or listening to the story, narrate the story events aloud using your own words.
Activity 2: Colorful Fire
Objective:
Color all of the colors of fire, in order, from coolest to hottest.
Materials:
Crayons or markers, paper
Procedure:
Study the image below. The colors range in order from orange-red (coolest) to blue (hottest).
Using the image as a guide, color a flame using the correct order of colors.
Review
Question 1
What do Peter and Polly do for their father?
1 / 3
Answer 1
Peter and Polly pack leaves in baskets for their father.
1 / 3
Question 2
Why are Peter and Polly good, honest workers?
2 / 3
Answer 2
Peter and Polly are paid for each basket of leaves that they pack. Peter and Polly pack the leaves tightly to ensure their father gets good value for his money.
2 / 3
Question 3
What does the Howe family do with all of the leaves?
What do Peter and Polly do for their father?
Peter and Polly pack leaves in baskets for their father.
Why are Peter and Polly good, honest workers?
Peter and Polly are paid for each basket of leaves that they pack. Peter and Polly pack the leaves tightly to ensure their father gets good value for his money.
What does the Howe family do with all of the leaves?
The Howe family burns the leaves in a bonfire.
Peter and Polly Series
Peter and Polly
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