THE YOUNG ORNITHOLOGIST. 



A VACATION TRIP. 



Or. Tivn Young Naturalists in Neiv Hamp- 

 sJi.lre. 



By 'Harky Roland. 



chapter v. 



The first thing George did on arriving 

 at the house was to throw open all the 

 doors and windows, to let in the fresh air, 

 as the house had that peculiar musty smell 

 to be found in houses that have been shut 

 up for some time. The next thing to be 

 done was to unload the carriage, and the 

 articles it contained were piled up pro- 

 miscuously on the floor of the dining room. 

 They then turned their attention to the 

 l)arn, which was finally opened after a 

 good deal of prying and pulling to get off 

 a board that was nailed across the large 

 doors. Partly on account of this precau- 

 tion in securely fastening the barn, every- 

 thing inside was found in its place. The 

 hay-loft contained quite a lot of hay, and 

 there was quite a pile of straw on the 

 floor to be used as bedding for the horse. 

 The wood-shed had not faired so well, as 

 it was completely broken down, probably 

 by the heavy storms of the previous win- 

 ter, and as the wood was somewhat de- 

 cayed the boys used it for fire-wood during 

 their stay. 



A well near the house furnished them 

 excellent water for their cooking, but their 

 drinking water they procured from a min- 

 eral spring, a short distance from the 

 house, which was noted for its medicinal 

 qualities, being strongly impregnated with 

 sulphur, iron, magnesia, etc., and both 

 boys had determinjed to drink it exclusive- 

 ly during their stay. Edward at first did 

 not like it, declaring it tasted like gun- 

 powder, but after a few days he got over 

 his dislike for it and even became quite 

 fond of it. This spring is situated at the 



foot of a ridge which extends to some dis- 

 tance to the southwest, but at a short dis- 

 tance from it, to the northeast, it is divided 

 by a large brook, which flows into the 

 Contoocook river. At the place the brook 

 had worn its way through the ridge a mill- 

 dam has been laid, thus forming a small 

 pond, which contains a great many pick- 

 erel, pout and dace, and probably trout 

 years ago, but doubtless the pickerel liave 

 exterminated them all by this time. In 

 the brook, however, a fair number of trout 

 may be caught at the present time. 



To return to the boys, by the time they 

 had unpacked everything and arranged 

 things to suit them it was nearly dark, so 

 they went inside, lighted the lamp (they 

 had cnly one) , started a fire and proceeded 

 to cook their supper ; the table was set; 

 and the remainder of their lunch placed 

 upon it. 



"How much tea shall I put in, a hand- 

 ful?'' inquired Edward who was standing- 

 by the stove, teapot in hand. 



"I guess not," replied George,, laugh- 

 ing, "unless you want it strong enough to 

 bear up an egg, a teaspoonful will make 

 it strong enough for us." 



While the tea was steeping, George cut 

 open the rolls they had brought and dip- 

 ping them quickly into hot water, put 

 them in the oven for a few miniites. In 

 about five minutes the boys seated at the 

 table eating delicious hot rolls, cold corn- 

 beef, and cheese, with a cup of fragrant 

 Japanese and oolong tea for dessert. The 

 boys had the hearty appetite always found 

 in young people who have not spoiled 

 their natural appetites by over indulgence 

 or eating too fast or at irregular hours, 

 thus bringing on dyspepsia, that common 

 disease among the American people at 

 large. 



{To he Conti'imed.) 



