_drop_initial_letter_I.png)
T'S the very finest ball I ever had in all my life," said Dicky, turning the smooth, white sphere over and over in his hands. "It's a fifty-cent base-ball, and I never had one better than fifteen cents before. Isn't it a fine one, Cousin Will?"
Cousin Will took the ball and felt it all over carefully and then bounced it on the step. "I never saw a better one," he said. "It's hard and it's springy, too. Let's try it. You stand over there by the fence and we'll pitch."
Dicky ran to the fence by the meadow and Cousin Will stood on the lawn near the flower beds, ready to throw. "Here she comes!" he shouted, and in a moment the smooth white ball was in Dicky's waiting hands. It was a delight just to feel it, and Dicky gave it a little squeeze and thought how good Uncle Charley was to send it to him.
