CHAPTER V. 
THE FOOT ON THE LOWEST ROUND. 
D octor dean desired to make his effort 
to place the feet of his young pupils on 
the first round of Nature’s beautiful ladder both 
pleasant and successful; therefore, in connection 
with his children, he planned a visit and a pic¬ 
nic dinner on the borders of the pond where 
they had met with such a dismal experience, 
which was but the repetition of his own early 
misinterpretation of Nature. Taking his micro¬ 
scope and other requisites, the party repaired to 
the scene of investigation. On their way Ru¬ 
dolph remarked to his friend, 
“Well, Charley, say what you may of Doc¬ 
tor Dean’s arguments, you will not deny that 
his methods are a little more agreeable than 
dull class-rooms and prosy lectures. We did 
not anticipate having a pleasant picnic with the 
girls.” 
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