THE STRAWBERRY PARTY. 207 



seldom went beyond these or similar exploits in wood-craft. 

 His old school-mate, Lionel Morton, was his very antipodes ; 

 for he was an indolent, abstracted, dreamy sort of being, who 

 would lie all day under a tree with a book ; and it really seemed 

 a pity that such " thews and sinews" should be thrown away 

 upon one who was so little disposed to manly exercises. Then 

 we had young Charlie Walton, the handsomest boy I ever saw 

 in my life, with his chestnut locks, his deep grey eyes, and 

 superbly cut features. Two or three of those indescribable 

 sort of men, who have nothing but youth and gay spirits to 

 recommend them, but who make very good companions for the 

 commonplace girls I have just mentioned, and five or six 

 joyous children completed our merry company. 



It was one of those delicious days in summer, when a cool 

 breeze is stirring every leaf, and giving the charm of vivid life 

 to the beauty of nature. The sky was flecked with a few light 

 clouds, whose fleecy folds seemed to hang far below the lofty 

 vault of Heaven, which looked so deeply blue beyond. The 

 air was full of music from the gentle swaying of the forest 

 branches, and the rustling of the leaves, as well as from the 

 hum of insects and the song of birds : 



'Twas one of those sweet days, when summer wakes 



Her gentlest zephyrs and her softest light, 

 Wooing the wild flower in the wood-land brakes, 



And winning the young bird to joyous flight. 



We were all in holiday spirits, for this was none of those 

 premeditated pic-nics, which lose half their charm in the 



