or vehicle of some kind, or his next neighbor has, and is willing to be
neighborly.

But we must leave Honolulu parties, and go to an American supper.

XIX.

Honolulu again.

Wee little Alice came for me, with her bright face, at four o'clock next
day, to lead me to my accustomed seat in the sitting-room, where my
happy little group were always awaiting me.

* * * * *

The general meeting occupied most of the days until three o'clock, and
we ladies took our sewing and listened to the grave debates. It was an
interesting season to all present.

Half a dozen of us started on horseback one afternoon, to visit Kalihe
valley, one of the beautiful gulches near Honolulu; but when we reached
the entrance of the valley, it rained so that we could not explore its
charms. But we turned off to the residence of an aged blind man, and
rambled in his garden among peach, orange, and mango-trees, and then sat
on the piazza eating mangoes and chatting for an hour. One of the most
valued trees in this whole garden was a little dwarf apple-tree, with
two good-sized apples on it. Those were some of the first ever grown on
the islands, I believe. After our mango feast, we had a brisk gallop
back to the town.

One day we occupied in making wreaths and mottoes to decorate the
schoolhouse, where the annual meeting of the Cousins' Society was to be
held in the evening. Over the middle window, opposite the door, were the
letters "X L C R" [Excelsior], and below were a wreath and festoon,
with pendants intermixed with beautiful flowers. On either side, was
"UNITY, 1852" [when the society was formed], and "HARMONY, 1863." In the
arch of each window hung a wreath of maile, a pretty green vine. Between
each window was a tin candle-stand, trimmed with the vine and flowers.
Over the door were four small American flags intertwined with one
Hawaiian flag. The reports of the officers were read, and various
addresses made, and "Unity" and "Harmony" were the watch-words of the
meeting. We had one more meeting at the schoolhouse, when grandpa
addressed the Cousins, reminding them of the responsibility resting on
them; that as their fathers laid the burden down, they must take it up,
and be to the Hawaiian people a help and support. They answered that
they were ready and willing, and, God helping them, they would try and
be faithful to the people committed to their care.

The last part of our stay in Honolulu