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SEVENTH DAY

"Now, children," said Uncle Jack the next day after breakfast, "we four are to go sight-seeing to-day, while your mother and father are visiting a friend in Brookline."

"Where are we going first, Uncle Jack?" asked Belle.

"Let us go to Concord first, returning by way of Lexington, and stopping at Cambridge on our way in. Later we can go to see the Bunker Hill Monument.

Off the party started, reaching Concord in due time. Here they went first to the battle ground. They found seats from which the bridge could be seen, and Uncle Jack recited for the children Emerson's poem:

THE CONCORD HYMN

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,

And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And time the ruined bridge has swept

Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On the green bank, by this soft stream,

We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare

To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare

The shaft we raise to them and thee.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

After they had seen all that was to be seen at the battle ground, they went to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau, and Louisa M. Alcott are buried. After a little time at the graves, it was time to start on the return journey, if they were to get back in good season. So they boarded a trolley car for Lexington. Here, too, they found so much of interest that Uncle Jack had hard work to persuade the children to leave. Finally he said:

"Let us find the bowlder that marks the spot

where the minute-men stood, and then we simply must go."

"All right," said Ben. "But where is it?"

"It is near the bronze statue of a farmer with a gun in his hand," was the reply.

"Oh, there it is," said May, pointing to the

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They walked over to the bowlder, on which were inscribed the words of Captain Parker: "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let them have it here."

After reading the inscription, Ben said: "I should like to copy that, Uncle. May I take the time?”

"Certainly, Ben. We surely have time for that,' was the reply.

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After Ben had finished (he made a copy for Belle, too), they took the car for Cambridge.

"In Cambridge," said Uncle Jack, "we can see some of the buildings of Harvard University, and we can also take a look at the Longfellow house, on Brattle Street. You will remember that Longfellow was for many years a professor in Harvard."

An hour was spent in rambling around. Then the quartette went to the State House to see the historic codfish in the Chamber of Representatives. A trolley trip to the Bunker Hill Monument completed the day.

At dinner, there was much talk among the children about what they had seen during the day and what was to be seen on the following day,Faneuil Hall, King's Chapel, Old South Church, and other points of interest.

"But," said Father, interrupting the conversation, "we are to spend the week end at 'The Wayside Inn.' Uncle Jack has asked us to be his guests there. And how you are going to be in two places at once, Boston and Sudbury, passes my

comprehension," he added with a twinkle in his

eye.

"But, Father, we can't be in two places at the same time," said May. "That's impossible."

"If that is the case, May, then we shall have to go to Sudbury," said Father, smiling.

"Won't that be fun!" exclaimed Belle.

"When are we to start?" asked Ben.

"To-morrow morning we leave for Sudbury town," was Uncle Jack's answer.

"I am sorry the children cannot see some of the pictures in the Museum of Fine Arts, Father. There is a very good de Hooch. There is also a Franz Hals I should like them to see," said Mother.

"We shall have to take another day for sightseeing," was Father's reply. "We shall come back to Boston on our way to visit Cape Cod."

"Hurrah! Hurrah!" cried Ben, dancing around. "We are going to Cape Cod, too! Plenty of good swimming and good fishing! Oh, what fun we are going to have, Belle!"

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