hen we pile into a double pung, ride in the moonlight, have
supper, and a dance."

"How delightful! Have you brothers and sisters?"

"Only a sister, Rachel, two years younger than I."

"Does she love flowers?"

"Yes, she is very fond of them. I make up beds in the garden for her
and she sows bachelor's-buttons, flytraps, pansies, marigolds,
hollyhocks, and has morning-glories running over strings around the
sitting-room window."

"They must make your home very pleasant in summer."

"Yes, and she has asters and sweet peas. I try to keep the weeds down
for her as she has so many things to look after,--the chickens,
goslins, young turkeys, besides washing dishes, spinning, and wetting
the cloth bleaching on the grass. I help a little by drawing the
water."

"It must be very beautiful in the country these September days."

"It is not quite late enough for the woods to put on their brightest
colors; that will be in October."

"Which season do you like best?"

"I hardly know. Sometimes, when the country is covered with snow and
the air is fresh and keen and healthful, I think there is no part of
the year more enjoyable than winter; then when spring comes, and the
buds start and the leaves are growing, I feel like a young colt ready
to caper and kick up my heels. When the flowers are in bloom and the
birds are singing I think there is no season like summer. At this time
of the year, when we are gathering the harvests and the woods are more
beautiful than our Queen Charlotte in her coronation robes, I think
there is no period of the year so delightful as autumn."

"Living in the town." Miss Newville said, "I lose much that I should
enjoy in the country. Sometimes I ride with my father to Roxbury,
Dorchester, and Cambridge. He sits in his chaise while I pick the
flowers by the roadside. A few weeks ago we went sailing down the
harbor, and saw the waves rolling on the beach at Nantasket and
breaking on the rocks around the lighthouse. Oh, it was beautiful!"

"I do not doubt it. As you love the country so much, I am sure you
would be charmed with the view from our home, Miss Newville,
especially at this season of the year."

"Please tell me about it. I am sure from your description I shall be
able to picture the scene."

"You would see a broad valley, fields, pastures, meadows, uplands, the
river flowing between banks fringed with elms and willows, hills
farther away, and in the distance blue mountains; the fores