in a Garden.
35. ALCOTT, L. M. Spinning-wheel Stories.
36. ALDEN, W. L. Trying to find Europe.
37. WHITNEY, Mrs. The Gayworthys.
38. TOOLEY, Mrs. Life of Mrs. Stowe.
39. ROE, E. P. Nature's Serial Story.
40. ALCOTT. Recollections.
41. STOWE, H. B. Minister's Wooing.

* *
* A New Illustrated List of Books for Boys and Girls,
with Portraits of Celebrated Authors, sent post free on application.

London: SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY, LTD.,
St. Dunstan's House, Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, E.C.

PREFACE.

There is a sort of fate about writing books of travel which it is
impossible to escape. It is vain to declare that no inducement will
bribe one to do it, that there is nothing new to tell, and that nobody
wants to read the worn-out story: sooner or later the deed is done, and
not till the book is safely shelved does peace descend upon the victim
of this mysterious doom.

The only way in which this affliction may be lightened to a
long-suffering public is to make the work as cheerful and as short as
possible. With this hope the undersigned bore has abstained from giving
the dimensions of any church, the population of any city, or description
of famous places, as far as in her lay; but confined herself to the
personal haps and mishaps, adventures and experiences, of her wanderers.

To explain the undue prominence given to Miss Lavinia, it should be
stated that she is an old and intimate friend of the compiler of this
frivolous work; and therefore her views on all subjects, though less
valuable, were easier to obtain than those of the younger and more
interesting shawl-strappists.

L. M. A.
_November 1872._

CONTENTS.

PAGE
I. OFF 1

II. BRITTANY 24

III. FRANCE 92

IV. SWITZERLAND 175

V. ITALY 205

VI. LONDON 265

SHAWL-STRAPS.

I.

_OFF._

'On the first day of February we three will sail from Boston for
Messina, in the little fruit-ship "Wasp." We shall probably be a month
going, unless we cross in a gale as I did, splitting sails every night,
and standing on our heads most of the way,' said Amanda, folding up her
maps with an air of calm decision.

'Hurrah! what fun!' cried Matilda, waving a half-finished dressing-case
over her head.

But Lavinia, with one sepulchral groan, fell flat upon her be