Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/92

 84 INTRODUCTION

flowers in the brook, in what I thought a safe place. After we got down there, we had to adjust some boards, &c., before we could go in, but, preliminaries being ar- ranged, we boldly entered. I at once ducked under, and so I lost the chill which usually accompanies going in. It was a beautiful place, retired and completely shaded by trees, a brook with a gravelly bottom and with water quite warm for the season. Mr. Randall, however, delayed ducking for some time, and I had great fun enjoying his dread, as I had got over it all myself and could afford to laugh. After staying in as long as it was comfortable and prudent, we came out and dressed. I felt better for it all day. We went back to where I left my flowers, but, alas, no flowers were there. I espied them between two rocks, some way down the brook, and I hastily secured them. They were improved by their bath, too. I was glad to find them, you may be sure, fair reader. We went home and lunched, after which Mr. Rea's son drove us down to the station, where I weighed myself, and found I had gained three pounds in eight days. I weighed ninety-six pounds and a half. Now for a few statistics, for which I have the authority of Mr. Randall. While I was at Stow, I walked over fifty miles ; we added it up, and so I can vouch for it ; and we rode in a carriage sixty miles and in the cars sixty-two more, making one hundred and seventy- two miles in all. Now for me this is a good round sum to do in a week. Well, we got into the cars, and went to South Acton, where we got out, as we should have to stop for another train. Here a young lady accosted me, and asked what kind of flowers those yellow ones were. I told her that they were cowslips, so she very prettily inquired if I * would be so good as to give her one, as she had never seen one before.' Of course I did, and I should have

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