friends at Honeysuckleville decided that the home education of their
children had been attended with such success as to encourage the hope
that they would "come out" creditably to themselves, and their
parents. Arrangements were accordingly made, and I assure you there
was much talking and no little excitement and bustle upon the
occasion. It was proposed to spend some weeks in travelling, that the
young people might enjoy themselves, and acquire much useful
information, which could be obtained no other way.

The weather was delightful. A few light, fleecy clouds were floating
in the blue sky, continually changing from one form of beauty to
another. The sun shone forth in his splendour, cheering the tender
grass and the up-springing seeds, and drawing them nearer and nearer
to his bosom. They stretched toward him their feeble blades and
diminutive leaves, as if they would gladly be clasped in his arms; but
their growing roots were striking deeper and deeper into mother earth,
and binding them closer and closer to her.

The gentle, cooling zephyrs were playing among the leaves, and
winning sweet music from the tiny voices, which responded in glee to
their salutations. Often they lifted the soft hair from the brows of
the children, and frolicked amid their curls, and fanned their
sun-burnt cheeks. It was a morning which all nature enjoyed. There
could not have been a finer day to start upon a journey. As birds do
not need a change of dress, there was no trunk to pack, and no
travelling-bag to be laden with comforts. All the preparation
necessary was the usual attention to the toilet, and the instruction
and advice which the exigency required.

The hearts of the young adventurers fluttered with excitement. There