112 CONVERSATIONS ON 



M. Humboldt got five, all alive, and very little 

 hurt. But here we are at the bridge." 



" Uncle Philip, suppose we sit down under 

 the shade of this tree, and rest." 



" I am willing, boys ; but take care of the 

 damp ground : there is an old piece of timber 

 that the men have taken out of the bridge, for 

 I see they have been mending it ; we will sit 

 on that." . 



" But, Uncle Philip, what shall we do with 

 the kite ? shall we draw it down ?" 



" Do with it ! Why, just tie the end of 

 your string to that root, and it will take care 

 of itself in this wind." 



" What a monstrous piece of timber this is, 

 Uncle Philip ! It must have taken a great 

 many men to move it ; and see there are 

 some larger ones still in the bridge. It must 

 be a difficult work to build a bridge." 



" Yes, it is so : but there are bridges much 

 harder to build than our little wooden one 

 here. Some are built of stone, and it takes 

 years to finish them. None but a good work- 

 man can plan and build a good stone bridge : 

 but I know a little fellow that can make as 

 good a bridge as anybody ; and yet no man 

 ever taught him the trade." 



