'There was a salt-marsh that bounded part of the mill-pond, on the edge
of which, at high water, we used to stand to fish for minnows. By much
trampling, we had made it a mere quagmire.
'My proposal was to build a wharf there fit for us to stand upon, and I
showed my comrades a large heap of stones, which were intended for a
new house near the marsh, and which would very well suit our
purpose.
'Accordingly, in the evening, when the workmen were gone, I assembled a
number of my playfellows, and working with them diligently like so
many emmets, sometimes two or three to a stone, we brought them all
away and built our little wharf.
'The next morning the workmen were surprised at missing the stones,
which were found in our wharf. Inquiry was made after the removers; we
were discovered and complained of; several of us were corrected by our
fathers; and, though I pleaded the usefulness of the work, mine
convinced me that nothing was useful which was not honest.'