A WELCOME invitation: 8 1 



fore they will make any advances, they take 

 long and accurate surveys of physiognomy, 

 contour, and dress, listening with all their ears 

 for an indication of good or bad breeding in 

 the language the object of avoidance or associ- 

 tion may use in addressing a third party, and if 

 such an one be not present, perhaps to the 

 orders given to a waiter at the table. The ice 

 to be broken is much thicker than ours, but 

 when it once is broken, the stream flows on with 

 a rapidity that it is impossible for us to 

 match. 



'* You wdll hardly get to Irvington in time for 

 lunch," said my young friend. '' Here is the 

 avenue leading to our house and I am sure that 

 my mother and family will be glad to welcome 

 you." The invitation was accepted with the 

 cordiality with which it was given and thus a 

 delightful addition was made to the store of 

 my country friends. 



It was through the gate-way of an avenue 

 leading to another mansion like unto that 

 where I had been so pleasantly^ntertained, that 

 as evening was advancing, I turned my horse, 

 arriving under the porte-cochere just as my 

 genial host was driving up in his sleigh from 

 the station, and as the young people were 



