I am happiest when I am idle.

I could live for months without performing any kind of labour,
and at the expiration of that time I should feel fresh and
vigorous enough to go right on in the same way for numerous more
months.

This should not surprise you.

Nothing that a modern novelist does should excite astonishment in
any well-regulated mind.

IV.--INDEPENDENCE DAY.

The 4th of July is always celebrated in America with guns, and
processions, and banners, and all those things.

You know why we celebrate this day.

The American Revolution, in 1775, was perhaps one of the finest
revolutions that was ever seen. But I have not time to give you
a full history of the American Revolution. It would consume
years to do it, and I might weary you.

One 4th of July Reuben Pettingill went to Boston.

He saw great sights.

He saw the dense throng of people, the gay volunteers, the
banners, and, above all, he saw the fireworks.