Chapter IV

MIKE AND MUFFY VISIT A PEACH ORCHARD

        The next day as Mike and Muffy sat in the school lunchroom they talked about their visit to Mr. Tony's tomato farm.  " The tomato he gave me tasted so good, " Mike said, " but I didn't find any treasure in it."

        " Mine was good too, but I didn't find any treasure either, " Muffy agreed. " I guess we'll have to pay Mr. Alvin another visit. Let's go now. "

        " Well, " Mr. Alvin told them, " I was  certain you'd find treasure by this time. But why don't you look in a peach orchard near Clanton, Alabama.  The orchard is a hill covered with trees.  If the treasure isn't there, look in some other places where things are growing. "

        As Mike Muffy walked along, they saw a hill covered with small trees up ahead of them.  As they got closer to the hill, they saw a large sign that said CHILTON COUNTY PEACH COMPANY. " This must be the place, " Muffy said. " The sign says they grow peaches here. "

        " And look what's on the trees ! Round pink fruit ! " Mike shouted. " Let's ask about it."

        " Hello.  I'm Mr. Jimmy, and these are peach trees.  They look like an umbrella turned upside down, don't they?  I'll let you each taste a peach, but we must wash them first because they are covered with a fuzz. "

        " Yum ! Yum ! These are delicious ! " exclaimed Mike and Muffy. " We'd like to work here and eat peaches every day ! "

        " It's hard work because the peaches are all picked by hand and loaded into trucks.  We take them to grocery stores where they are sold to moms and dads and grandparents so boys and girls can have fresh fruit to eat, "  Mr. Jimmy told them.

        " Maybe we could come back and help sometime, " the children said.

        " And I'll ask my mother to buy Chilton County Peaches,"  Muffy told Mr. Jimmy.