THE BLUEBERRY PARTY. 135

 

Ellen’s good-bye to Beechnut. General arrangements made by the party.

the gate, while Rodolphus drove on. Ellen turned round
twice to nod a good-bye to Beechnut as the wagon went
on its way. Beecnhnut watched the wagon as it receded,
until at last it came to a turn of the road and disappeared.

Beechnut then went to the mill. He spent the day
working there in Rodolphus’s place. This was what he
had proposed to Rodolphus’s uncle, as an inducement for
him to allow Rodolphus to go on the excursion.

It was full three quarters of an hour from this time
before the party were prepared to set out from Mr.
Keep’s,—there were so many preparations and arrange-
ments to be made,—-so many directions to be given and re-
ceived,—so many things to be put into the vehicles, and
50 many things to be taken out after they were in, in order
to be put in some other wagon where they would ride bet-
ter. At length, however, all was ready, and Uncle Ben
held open the great gate while the procession moved
through.

First came Mr. Clarendon and Miss Rose, in a very
pretty four-wheeled, covered carriage. Though it was
covered, however, there was nothing to prevent those
riding in it from seeing the prospect, for the curtains were
up all around. The seats in this carriage were very soft.
Mr. Clarendon and Miss Rose occupied the back seat,
and there was a little child, a sister of Miss Rose, upon
the front seat. Her name was Emma. Emma did not
sit upon the seat, but kneeled upon it, with her face
toward the window, so that she could look out. There
were two horses to this carriage, and a driver outside.

Next to this carriage came a chaise drawn by a hand-
some chestnut horse. This chaise belonged to Mrs.
Henry. Livingston and Caroline rode in it. Next