Little Alfred :: CHAPTER XXIII HAPPY CHILDREN.

CHAPTER XXIII HAPPY CHILDREN.

L. A. Holdich

Now I saw in my dream, that by this time

the pilgrims entering into the country of Beulah,

whose air was very sweet and pleasant, the way

lying directly through it, they solaced themselves

there for a season. Yea, here they heard continually

the singing of birds, and saw every day

the flowers appear in the earth, and heard the

voice of the turtle in the land. In this country

the sun shineth night and day.... Here they

were within sight of the city they were going

to: also here met them some of the inhabitants

thereof: for in this land the shining ones commonly

walked, because it was upon the borders

of heaven.—The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Alfred and Flora, soon after this, went with their mamma to a very delightful place. You must read the lines from the Pilgrim’s Progress which I have put over the chapter; for the land of Beulah, which they speak of, was very much like the spot they visited. The kind friends with whom they staid loved God; and there were bright flowers, and pleasant fruits, and blue hills, and a wide, clear river, and a dear little boy for Alfred to play with. Alfred was very happy, running through the garden and orchard, and swinging in the nice swing, and going to school with little Walter. They went to school to a lady who loved them, and taught them many good things.

My dear little readers, I wish you all to see the pretty school-house to which they went every morning and afternoon. So get your caps, for the sun is hot, and stand by me on this large piazza, from which we have so fine a view of the river.

It is nine o’clock, and Alfred and Walter come running out of the house. They turn to the right upon the gravel walk which leads to the river. They take the longest way, because the walk is so pleasant.

How the river sparkles in the sunshine this clear morning! O, how many boats we see! One, two, three, four. The boys get tired of counting them, there are so many.

Now a steam-boat, with many people on its deck, rushes swiftly past. Alfred and Walter stand by the swing on the Catalpa-tree, to look at the steam-boat. Then they must sit down, just one half minute, on that pretty covered bench, standing between two trees. But they will not sit long. They must not keep Miss Lee waiting; and she calls them from the school-house door. Round the lawn they fly, past that large elm, and the plum-tree, bent down with green gages. They have come to the school-house, which well deserves a separate chapter.

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