Texas, in the early fifties. The girls experienced days of seasickness
when they thought it was better to die than to ride in carriages and
were weary and homesick. But when, at last, they walked again upon
land and were welcomed in Galveston by their relatives, all the
melancholy hours were forgotten. The girls had separated into their
different families on arriving at Houston, but frequently met just as
they had before leaving their home town, and were observing everything
with eagerness and getting their first impressions of America.

One balmy Sunday morning they took a walk and marveled much
that Houston had so many houses and such large ones. While they walked
they chatted and were merry. Finally, they noticed that a great many
looked at them curiously, and some smiled. They were at last spoken to
by an old lady, who reminded them that it was not customary for girls
to walk in the middle of the street. This was a conceit that pleased
them, to walk in the middle of the street just to see people walking on
either side of them.

The ringing of the Sunday morning church bells was a startling
sound and Paula exclaimed, as the three stood still listening: "Oh,
listen to the music box!" Solemnly they walked on and wondered that
the world was so large and full of beautiful things. Itwas a long time
before Renestine realized that they had gone a great distance. "We
will return now," she said. But when they turned to retrace their
steps they found themselves in a wood of large, dark trees with heavy
gray moss dropping from their branches and a solemn stillness over all.
It was growing dusk, too, and the trees looked ghostly in the falling
gloom.

"Do you know which way to go?" asked Yetta.