14000 MILES 



A friend in cultured Boston said, "Why, how will Jerry 

 look in the Transcript?" 



We did not go until September, and, like every one 

 else, you may wonder why we waited so late, when we 

 have often started as soon as the "crackers" were fired 

 off. Well, Jerry had not become used to our climate, 

 although July was hot enough for any Southerner. Then 

 the company season came, and various things made it 

 advisable to wait until September. We were quite recon- 

 ciled, because you know all those "conjunctions" of the 

 planets were to culminate in August, and it seemed likely 

 the world was to be turned upside down. We thought 

 it would be so much pleasanter to be swallowed up by 

 the same earthquake, or blown away by the same cyclone 

 as our home friends. 



Jerry waxed in strength, the world still stood, the last 

 summer guest had departed, and on the afternoon of 

 Sept. 8, we started for Stow. "What on earth are you 

 going there for?" and similar comments reveal the 

 impressions of our friends ; but we knew why, and do not 

 mind telling you. We were going to Boston to begin our 

 journey, and we could not go beyond Stow that after- 

 noon, without going farther than we liked to drive Jerry 

 the first day, for he is young and we were determined to 

 be very considerate of him. We knew we should be com- 

 fortable at the little, weather-beaten hotel, and that Jerry 

 would have the best of care. 



How lovely that afternoon drive ! It was the day after 

 those terrific storms and gales, the final "conjunction," 

 probably, and there was an untold charm in everything. 

 As we drove leisurely along, gathering flowers to press 



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