208 POETRY AND SCHOOLS.

tasks, and loved to renew the old associations, by
surrounding herself with little folks. It was for this
reason that she gave the strawberry feast on the 10th
of June; and it was for this reason that she invited all
the Academy teachers, as well as Dr. Newman, who
was there on a visit. Carl, of course, was there ; and
in a retired part of the lawn sat a grave, but arch
personage, surveying the scene with gray, twinkling
eyes, who was none other than King Donald. He
could not refrain from asking leave to visit Mrs. Barry,
or “the young mistress,” as he named her, and the
doctor could not find it in his heart to refuse him.
Let us leave the boys at their gambols on the broad
grassy lawn behind the cottage, while we listen to the
talk of the elder group under the vines. They have
books on the garden-table, and seem to be turning up
pages which apply to the matters under discussion.
This is not seldom the case, even in rural interviews,
with bookish people. Dr. Newman, especially, was a
great quoter of poetry, both Latin and English ; and
knew how to hit the nail on the head with an apt
citation.

Mrs. Smith, Some of Gray’s verse I never could
enjoy ; but how often have I looked upon such a group
as that near us, and found myself repeating, —

‘‘ Gay hope is theirs, by fancy fed,
Less pleasing when possessed ;
The tear forgot as soon as shed,
The sunshine of the breast.