glish and the American Friends gave his aid in some plans for
their recreation.

12 _mo_. 25.--The evening of this day was a lively and pleasant
scene. The girls' countenances were brightened and their hearts cheered by
the presents made to them by the English Friends present. The "tree" was
new to them; it was beautifully lighted with tapers, and bore a variety of
fruit both for mind and body.

1857. 3 _mo_. 2.--My dear friend ----- proposed my giving the school
girls a treat before I left Nismes. We contrived a visit to the sea,
distant from Nismes about twenty miles. We procured two omnibuses with six
horses, and started at 5 o'clock in the morning. Long before the time
appointed, the little maidens were in the entrance-hall with their
satchels in their hand, containing each her dinner; twenty-seven in all.
The pleasure on the road was novel and great; but when they arrived at the
sea-shore their delight was complete; with light hearts and quick heels,
running and picking up shells, meeting the waves as they advanced and
receded. On our return we visited the ancient town of Aigues-Mortes, near
the sea, famous for having been the place where the Protestant women were
confined and punished even to death. We entered most of the strong and
gloomy cells, and saw the instrument of torture. The tower and fortress
are a perfect model of a feudal castle.

On his return to England, John Yeardley was taken ill with bronchitis,
which produced great bodily weakness, and caused him "many wearisome"
nights and days; but, he says, "my Saviour was near to console and sustain
me." He went for change to Bath, and afterwards to Brighton with Margaret
Pope:--

We made, he says, speaking of this visit many calls, and my hospitable
hostess had many of the Friends to tea and dinner visits. Our social
readings in the evening were often instructive in the conversation upon
what we read, particularly over Hippolytus, who lived and wrote in the
first half of the second century. The Chevalier Bunsen did good service to
the Christian Church in bringing the life and some of the writings of this
good man to light.

On his return home we find him still solicitous, as he had been in former
years, for the intellectual improvement of his young friends.

11 _mo_.--During my stay at home I have renewed my German class for a
few of my young friends. We have also commenced a soiree for German and
French conversation. I love the society of m