HOW WE PASSED A RAINY DAY. 19 



It rained in torrents all day ; there was no 

 cessation of the steady, straight downpour 

 from early morning until late at night. We 

 were a houseful of visitors, young and old, 

 and we were weatherbound. I might, it is 

 true, have gone a-fishing, as I have done 

 before on a wet August morning ; but then 

 there were glimpses of hope, bits of blue 

 breaking now and then through the clouds. 

 On this occasion there was no such hope ; 

 the sky was leaden all around, and so we 

 stayed at home. 



There were a dozen girls and boys, ranging 

 from seven to fourteen ; a country parson 

 and his wife, on a visit from a distant 

 county ; and two other married couples. 

 What could be done to amuse such a party 

 on such a day in such a place ? 



A bright and enthusiastic youngster of ten 

 suggested that we should all go to the barn 

 and have a swing ! and to the barn we went. 

 The distance was only across the fold, but 

 mackintoshes and umbrellas were needed 

 for the short excursion of a hundred yards. 

 The barn floor was soon cleared ; a strong 

 waggon rope was attached to the crossbeams 

 on either side, and so a capital swing was 

 made, a wisp of straw being tied on to form 

 a comfortable seat. 



