sonable terms; and soon the party was severally engaged in bathing, unstrapping trunks, and shaving, and the usual employments of travellers for the first hour after arriving in the city; and thus we leave them occupied. RAP CHAPTER II. A BATCH OF LETTERS. AP, rap, rap," sounded on the door of Mr. Percy's room, about an hour after their arrival, as, with toilet duties performed, the whole party were gathered at one of the windows looking out upon the Alsterbasin, covered with little boats, and swans, whose long, white necks were stretched up or plunged deep beneath the surface. "Rap, rap, rap." "I guess somebody wants to get in, pa," said Minnie. "Rap, rap, rap." "Come in." "Ze lettes for von gentlishman, vot sent porter!" exclaimed the servant, as he opened the door. "Ah, yes, I sent to the post-office," said Mr. Tenant, taking a package of letters from the servant's hand. "Hurrah!" was Walter's joyful cry. "A lot of them," chimed in Mr. Percy. "Cut the string, Mr. Tenant," cried Minnie. That gentleman slowly untied the bundle, and looked over the letters. 66 "O, do be quick!" cried Minnie, impatiently. "One for friend Percy." Mr. Percy took the letter. "Two more for Mr. Percy." "Who are the next for? I cannot wait." "One two, three, for Walter." "None for me." "Yes, three for you, Min, and the rest are papers. The children took the precious documents, and hurried away to their rooms to read them. The gentlemen opened theirs, and found them filled with business matters, and family affairs, and kind words from dear ones. But as they will not be likely to interest the reader, we will follow the children to Walter's room, where they are laughing and weeping by turns over the letters they had received. "Here is one," said Walter, "written to you and me." "Who is it from?" "Mother!" "O, do read that first." Walter read his mother's letter, as follows: MY DEAR CHILDREN: Your constant letters are a source of much comfort while you are absent. We read them over and over again, and the children in the neighborhood come and take them away, and read them to each other. I think I can see a constant improvement in the style and construction of your letters. They are more natural and graceful, and win for you many compliments from those who see them. Our dear pastor, Rev. Mr. K, remarked to a friend that week that Walter seems to be realizing more solid benefit from his journey than most men would. I tell you these things to stimulate you to do better still. Only that you are being benefited by the tour you are making, would enable me to endure the prolonged absence of my dear boy and girl. I am also glad to hear from your father such good account of your conduct. He tells me that you do not put yourself forward, or intrude yourselves upon other people. This is well. A bold boy or a brazen girl will not be loved by those ང་གང་ག who come in contact with them. But a modest child will secure a ready way to every generous heart. I feared that hotel life, and a constant contact with travellers of all lands, would take away your humility, and the deference you have always paid to persons older and better informed than yourselves, and am pleased to hear that my fears were groundless. * Among the boys in this neighborhood there prevails a strong desire to visit Europe. Walter's letters are read by them, and not a few are coaxing their parents to take them to the old world. Harry St. Clair seems to be wild with excitement, and his mother told me yesterday that she must prohibit his reading any more of your descriptions of what you see. The boy don't know what to make of what you write. Charlie, I think, has improved as much at home as you have abroad. He and Rover are constant friends, the dog attending him in all his excursions. Charlie says he can catch trout as well as Walter can, and his uncle Winthrop has promised to take him into the country, where he can fish all he knows how to. When you return you will find him much improved. He has grown tall, and at school is making rapid pro |