COUNTRY PLEASURES; OR, VISITS TO BEECHWOOD FARM. SPRING. Beautiful gems, that on the brow of earth Are fix'd as in a queenly diadem, Though lovely ye, and 'most without a name, ROBERT NICOLL. "GOOD news, Caroline, such good news!" said little Agnes Mitchell, as she bounded into the room where her sister and her governess were at work together; "guess what it is ?" B "Papa is going to take us to the theatre, perhaps, or we are to have a dance this Easter?" "No; better, much better!" "I do not see how it can be much better," said Caroline, peevishly, "but tell us at once, and do not be tiresome." "Papa is going to take us to Beechwood Farm, and we are to go by the railway, and we are to have a week's holiday, and you are to go with us, dear Miss Horton, and-and-I am so happy," and the joyous child danced about the room. Her sister, however, did not seem to enjoy the prospect so much as she did, and instead of expressing any pleasure, said, "I do not see anything so very delightful in it; I remember once going there for a day or two when mamma was ill there, and it was dull; there was nothing to do but to walk in the garden or the fields all day long, and Aunt Jane is always very stupid, and grandmamma is very old. I wish we were not going; we shall miss all the Easter dances !" "Oh! but, Caroline, think of running about in the fields and gathering real primroses and cowslips and I'm sure Aunt Jane must be very good, or papa would not be so fond of her, and it's because she's so good and won't leave grandmamma that she never comes to see us; do you know Aunt Jane, Miss Horton ?" "Yes, my dear, she was my best friend, and I do not know anybody that is fonder of children, or does more to please them, and I have no doubt you will be very happy there. I am sure it will be a great treat to me to go into the country; I am much obliged to your papa for thinking of me.” "Oh! papa knew I should not be happy without you," said Agnes; "besides, he said he thought it would do you good, and bring a little colour into your pale cheeks," and the affectionate child kissed the cheek, the very pale cheek of her governess. Caroline and Agnes were the only children of Mr. Mitchell, a rich shipbroker: they had lost their mother when Agnes was only two years old, and had been educated by Miss Horton a young person, who united a very sweet disposition and engaging qualities to a well cultivated mind. The girls were both very fond of her; Agnes, who had hardly known a mother's care, could not bear to be separated from her: Caroline was five years older than her sister, and having had her own way very much during her mother's illness, looked upon Miss Horton more as a governess than as a friend: she was now thirteen and Agnes eight. They lived in a narrow street in London; their school-room window looked upon high walls, and they heard the constant din of carts and coaches: well might Agnes long to run in the fields, where she had never been since she could remember, and do what she had never done before, gather the "real primroses." Miss Horton had been brought up in the country, and during the six years of her confinement in the narrow, dark street, had found great pleasure in describing to Agnes the beauties of the country, its sights, its sounds, and its pleasant scents. Caroline's tastes were more for the town, and a forced tulip pleased her better than the sweetest violets gathered on a mossy bank could have done. She was too fond of her father to show that she was disappointed in the prospect of this journey, but she prepared for it with far less pleasure than either of her companions. It was a bright beautiful morning in the early part of April, when the party set out |