came the great business of packing up. This is no trifling matter
when a family of six persons are going to make a move to a new
country. Mr. Hardy had at first thought of taking portable
furniture with him, but had been told by a friend who knew the
country that every requisite could be obtained at Buenos Ayres, the
capital of the Argentine Republic, at a far less price than he
could convey such heavy articles from England. Still the bulk of
luggage was very large; and the boys, who had now left off their
farming and carpentering lessons, worked at home at packing-cases,
and had the satisfaction of turning their new acquirements to a
useful purpose. In addition to the personal baggage, Mr. Hardy was
taking with him plows and agricultural implements of English make,
besides a good stock of seeds of various kinds. These had been sent
on direct by a sailing ship, starting a fortnight before
themselves. When their heavy baggage was packed up it too was sent
off, so as to be put on board the steamer by which they were to
sail; and then came a long round of visits to bid farewell to all
their friends. This was a sad business; for although the boys and
their sisters were alike excited and delighted at the thought of
the life before them, still they could not but feel sorrowful when
the time came to leave all the friends they had known so long, and
the house they had lived in ever since they could remember.

This over Mrs. Hardy and the children went to Liverpool, where they
were to embark; while Mr. Hardy remained behind for a day or two,
to see to the sale of the furniture of the house. The day after he
joined the family they embarked on board the Barbadoes, for Rio and
Buenos Ayres. Greatly were the girls amused at the tiny little
cabin allotted to them and their mother--a similar little den being
taken possession of by Mr. Hardy and the boys. The smartness of the