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by the old man said kindly：
〃Where are you going； my child？〃
I told him。
〃And whose daughter are you？〃 he
inquired。 I told him that with pride。
〃I know people all through the state；〃
he said； 〃but I don't seem to remember
that name。〃
〃Don't you remember my father；
sir？〃 I cried； anxiously； edging up
closer to him。 〃Not that great and
good man！ Why； Abraham Lincoln
and my father are the greatest men
that ever lived！〃
His head nodded strangely； as he
lifted it and looked at me with his
laughing eye。
〃It's a pity I don't know him； that
being the case；〃 he said gently。 〃But；
anyway； you're a lucky little girl。〃
〃Yes；〃 I sighed； 〃I am； indeed。〃
But my attention was taken by our
approach to what I recognised as an
〃estate。〃 A great gate with high
posts； flat on top； met my gaze； and
through this gateway I could see a drive
and many beautiful trees。 A little boy
was sitting on top of one of the posts；
watching us； and I thought I never had
seen a place better adapted to viewing
the passing procession。 I longed to be
on the other gatepost； exchanging confi…
dences across the harmless gulf with
this nice…looking boy； when； most unex…
pectedly； the horses began to plunge。
The next second the air was filled with
buzzing black objects。
〃Bees！〃 said the king。 It was the
first word he had spoken； and a true
word it was。 Swarming bees had set…
tled in the road； and we had driven un…
aware into the midst of them。 The
horses were distracted； and made blind…
ly for the gate； though they seemed
much more likely to run into the posts
than to get through the gate； I thought。
The boy seemed to think this； too； for
he shot backward； turned a somersault
in。 the air； and disappeared from view。
〃God bless me！〃 said the king。
The heavy young man on the front
seat jumped from his place and began
beating away the bees and holding the
horses by the bridles； and in a few min…
utes we were on our way。 The horses
had been badly stung； and the heavy
young man looked rather bumpy。 As
for us； the king had shut the stage door
at the first approach of trouble； and
we were unharmed。
After this； we all felt quite well ac…
quainted； and the old gentleman told me
some wonderful stories about going
about among the Indians and about the
men in the lumber camps and the set…
tlers on the lake islands。 Afterward I
learned that he was a bishop； and a
brave and holy man whom it was a
great honour to meet； but； at the time；
I only thought of how kind he was to
pare apples for me and to tell me tales。
The king seldom spoke more than one
word at a time； but he was kind； too； in
his way。 Once he said； 〃Sleepy？〃 to
me。 And； again； 〃Hungry？〃 He
didn't look out at the landscape at all；
and neither did the bishop。 But I ran
from one side to the other； and the last
of the journey I was taken up between
the driver and the heavy man on the
high seat。
Presently we were in a little town
with cottages almost hidden among the
trees。 A blue stream ran through
green fields； and the water dashed over
a dam。 I could hear the song of the
mill and the ripping of the boards。
〃We're here！〃 said the driver。
The heavy man lifted me down； and
my young uncle came running out with
his arms open to receive me。 〃What a
traveller！〃 he said； kissing me。
〃It's been a tremendously long and
interesting journey；〃 I said。
〃Yes；〃 he answered。 〃Ten miles
by rail and ten by stage。 I suppose
you've had a great many adventures！〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 I cried； and ached to tell
them； but feared this was not the place。
I saw my uncle respectfully helping the
bishop to alight； and heard him inquir…
ing for his health； and the bishop an…
swering in his kind； deep voice； and
saying I was indeed a good traveller
and saw all there was to see and a lit…
tle more。 The king shook hands with
me； and this time said two words：
〃Good luck。〃 Uncle had no idea who
he was no one had seen him before。
Uncle didn't quite like his looks。 But
I did。 He was uncommon； he was dif…
ferent。 I thought of all those people in
the train who had been so alike。 And
then I remembered what unexpected
differences they had shown； and turned
to smile at my uncle。
〃I should say I have had adven…
tures！〃 I cried。
〃We'll get home to your aunt；〃 he
said； 〃and then we'll hear all about
them。〃
We crossed a bridge above the roar…
ing mill…race； went up a lane； and en…
tered Arcadia。 That was the way it
seemed to me。 It was really a cottage
above a stream； where youth and love
dwelt； and honour and hospitality； and
the little house was to be exchanged for
a greater one where though youth de…
parted love and honour and hospital…
ity were still to dwell。
〃Travel's a great thing；〃 said my
uncle； as he helped me off with my
jacket。
〃Yes；〃 I answered； solemnly； 〃it is
a great privilege to see the world。〃
I still am of that opinion。 I have
seen some odd bits of it； and I cannot
understand why it is that other jour…
neys have not quite come up to that
first one； when I heard of Aunt Ellen；
and saw the boy turn the surprised
somersault； and was welcomed by two
lovers in a little Arcadia。
End