THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 1G7 



saying, "You are a dreadful good girl, Kate, and you 

 shall go with me." 



" It's quite proper I should," she replied, in a patroniz- 

 ing manner. " You need some one to matronize you." 



Accordingly, to the city, and from thence by horse -cars 

 to Mattapanset, went, the next day, the lively Kate and her 

 wide-awake brother. 



The horse-car passed within a few steps of the place. 

 They both got out and walked down a broad street, having 

 an old, dismantled hotel, with its great courts and broad 

 avenues, on one side, and a low stone wall, with market 

 gardens beyond, on the other. 



A quiet, sleepy place, having an air of age and decay not 

 often seen in New England towns. There were no manu- 

 factories, or even new houses about: nothing but the 

 dull and stately residences of retired merchants, gardens, 

 and peaceful farm-houses. 



Our two young people walked in silence under the tall 

 trees that lined the way, till they came to a side street 

 turning to the right and leading towards a small, unpre- 

 tending house standing alone on a grassy hill-side. 



Not a person was in sight, and they began to be alarmed, 

 fearing the whole place had gone to sleep, or was away on 

 a visit. 



" Dear me ! " exclaimed Kate. " I should not care -to 

 live here. It's so lonely and dull. Every house in 



