springs is supplied by thick layers of straw, while sacks stuffed with the
same material are placed around for seats. Various articles are being
stowed away under the bags, and in the corners among the straw, by
children with bright expectant faces; the said articles having been in
process of collection and arrangement for a month or six weeks previous,
in anticipation of the journey which now lies, in all its length and
brightness, the length and brightness of a long northern summer's day,
before them.

"At last, all their private mysteries of provisions, playthings, and
books, having found places of safety more or less accessible on demand,
every motion of the horse, every shake and rattle of the covered cart,
makes them only more impatient to proceed; which desire is at length
gratified by their moving on at a funeral pace through the open gate.
They are followed by another cart loaded with the luggage necessary for a
six-week's sojourn at one of the fishing villages on the coast, about
twenty miles distant from their home. Their father and mother are to
follow in the gig, at a later hour in the day, expecting to overtake them
about half-way on the road.--Through the neighbouring village they pass,
out upon the lonely highway.

"Some seeds are borne to the place of their destiny by their own wings and
the wings of the wind, some by the wings of birds, some by simple
gravitation. The seed of my story, namely, the covered cart, sent forth to
find the soil for its coming growth, is dragged by a stout horse to the
sea-shore; and as it oscillates from side to side like a balloon trying to
walk, I shall say something of its internal constitution, and principally
of its germ; for, regarded as the seed of my story, a pale boy of thirteen
is the germ of the cart. First, though he will be of little use to us
afterwards, comes a great strong boy of sixteen, who considerably despises