roportion of things lost to those remembered. Mr. Peterkin had
two umbrellas, Agamemnon an atlas and spyglass, and the little boys were
taking down two cats in a basket. All were safe.
"I am glad we have decided upon Plymouth," said Mr. Peterkin. "Before
seeing the pyramids of Egypt we certainly ought to know something of
Plymouth Rock. I should certainly be quite ashamed, when looking at
their great obelisks, to confess that I had never seen our own Rock."
The conductor was attracted by this interesting party. When Mr. Peterkin
told him of their mistake of the morning, and that they were bound for
Gooseberry Beach, he advised them to stop at Kingston, a station nearer
the beach. They would have but four miles to drive, and a reduction
could be effected on their tickets. The family demurred. Were they ready
now to give up Plymouth? They would lose time in going there. Solomon
John, too, suggested it would be better, chronologically, to visit
Plymouth on their return from Egypt, after they had seen the earliest
things.
This decided them to stop at Kingston.
But they found here no omnibus nor carriage to take them to Gooseberry.
The station-master was eager to assist them, and went far and near in
search of some sort of wagon. Hour after hour passed away, the little
boys had shared their last peanut, and gloom was gathering over the
family, when Solomon John came into the station to say there was a
photographer's cart on the other side of the road. Would not this be a
good chance to have their photographs taken for their friends before
leaving for Egypt? The idea reanimated the whole party, and they made
their way to the cart, and into it, as the door was open. There was,
however, no photographer there.
Agamemnon tried to remember what he had read of photography. As all the
materials were there, he might take the family's picture. There would
indeed be a difficulty in introducing his own. Solomon John suggested
they might arrange the family group, leaving a place for him. Then, when
all was ready, he could put the curtain over the box, take his place
hastily, then pull away the curtain by means of a string. And Solomon
John began to look around for a string while the little boys felt in
their pockets.
Agamemnon did not exactly see how they could get the curtain back.
Mr. Peterkin thought this of little importance. They would all be glad
to sit some time after travelling so long. And the longer they sat the
be
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