fences and houses to which you have not been used, you think them very
odd indeed: but it occurs to you that the geographies speak of very
various national characteristics, and you are greatly gratified with
this opportunity of verifying your study. You see new crops too, perhaps
a broad-leaved tobacco-field, which reminds you pleasantly of the
luxuriant vegetation of the tropics, spoken of by Peter Parley, and
others.

As for the houses and barns in the new town, they quite startle you with
their strangeness: you observe that some of the latter, instead of
having one stable-door have five or six,--a fact which puzzles you very
much indeed. You observe further that the houses many of them have
balustrades upon the top, which seems to you a very wonderful adaptation
to the wants of boys who wish to fly kites, or to play upon the roof.
You notice with special favor one very low roof, which you might climb
upon by a mere plank, and you think the boys whose father lives in that
house are very fortunate boys.

Your old aunt, whom you visit, you think, wears a very queer cap, being
altogether different from that of the old nurse, or of Mrs.
Boyne,--Madge's mother. As for the house she lives in, it is quite
wonderful. There are such an immense number of closets, and closets
within closets, reminding you of the mysteries of "Rinaldo Rinaldini."
Beside which there are immensely curious bits of old furniture--so black
and heavy, and with such curious carving!--and you think of the old
wainscot in the "Children of the Abbey". You think you will never tire
of rambling about in its odd corners, and of what glorious stories you
will have to tell of it when you go back to Nelly and Charlie.

As for acquaintances, you fall in the very first day with a tall boy