126

THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

 

The Rainy Day.

-* HE parents of Charles

7 and Edward Gleason
resided in New York.
Charles and Edward
had therefore spent
their lives amid bricks
and pavements, and had seen
but little of the country. But
when Charles was ten and Ed-
ward eight, their uncle and
aunt Sanford, who resided in a
pleasant country village, invited them to
spend two or three of the pleasant
summer months with them.

Nothing could have been more pleas-
ing to our city boys than such an invita-
tion. They could hardly speak or think
of anything but their intended visit, for
weeks before the time appointed for it
had arrived. Very glowing were their
anticipations of country life, and of the
rare sport to be enjoyed amid the green
grass, fruits, and flowers. These antici-
pations were destined to be fully realized.
For several wecks, they found unceasing
pleasure and amusement in those rural
occupations which city boys so greatly
enjoy, when permitted to breathe the
pure air of the country, and ramble
amid its ever fresh and delightful scenery.

During some weeks, their out-door
amusements were interrupted only by an
occasional shower. But one morning, as
they awoke, they found the rain was
pouring down, and it was evident they
might expect a regular rainy day. As
neither of them understood how a rainy
day in the country could be of much
value, they indulged, for the first time,
in lying in bed until their aunt called
them to breakfast.

  
 

After breakfast, they stood by the
window watching the clouds, and think-
ing this rainy day was an event for which
they were quite unprepared. They had
come into the country to bask amid sun-
shine and flowers; but a rainy day they
had not once taken into the account.
As their aunt came up, and stood by
their side, Edward gave utterance to
their thoughts, by saying,

«“ Well, aunt, what are we to do now?
I can’t see what employment we can
find in the country, in arainy day. We
have left all our toys, puzzles, and games,
our dissected maps, pictures, and build-
ing-blocks, at home; and I am quite at a
loss to contrive how we are to get
through the day.”

« And here we cannot even have our
Yourtu’s Caziyet,” said the book-loving
Charles. ‘“ How unfortunate! I really
believe, aunt, we shall have to be a little
home-sick to-day.”

“Well, my boys, if you wish to be
discontented and home-sick, I can tell
you how you may make sure of being
so,”

“How? What do you mean, aunt?”
said Charles.

«Stand by the window all day watch-
ing the rain, and wishing every minute it
would clear away.”

‘But we do not wish, aunt, to be
either discontented or home-sick,” said
Edward.

“Tf this is the case,” replied his aunt,
“T think I can put you in a way to
avoid both, if you will enter cheerfully
into the plan I propose.”

The boys promised they would.

“But what shall we do first?” said
Charles.

“You have forgotten, have you not,