2 FIRST STEPS IN GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. 



ing studies, and now driving the hoop, or tossing 

 the ball with much glee. 



An hour quickly passed away in this manner ; 

 but when their father came out to take his morn- 

 ing walk, they hastily laid aside their games, and 

 begged that they might accompany him. 



"The roads are too wet for you at present," 

 said he, " but as you seem tired of play, I will 

 spend a few minutes with you before I take my 

 walk, and we will see if the garden affords an 

 example of the lowest order of plants ; for I have 

 not forgotten my promise to give you the same 

 kind of sketch of the Vegetable Kingdom which I 

 did last autumn of the Animal Kingdom." 



"Oh, thank you thank you, papa/' said all 

 three, and Henry added " that he thought it must 

 be the very best time to learn about plants, now 

 they were all springing up afresh, and now the 

 crocuses and snowdrops and violets were so beau- 

 tiful." He was surprised, however, to see that his 

 father passed by all the flower-beds, and went to 

 a part of the garden where nothing seemed to be 

 growing. There, under the shelter of a wall, and 

 where the path was very damp, he began to take 

 up a portion of the green coating which covered it. 



