Let my first years be past;
That I may give, for every day,
A good account at last.
CHAPTER XV.
An Evening Stroll.
As the weather was remarkably pleasant, Mrs. Mansfield proposed having tea earlier than usual, that they might afterwards have time for a walk; and the rest of the party approving the scheme, they set off in high spirits, the moment that meal was concluded. Mrs. Mansfield was not a very good walker, but she leaned upon her husband’s arm, and enjoyed the fineness of the evening. It was not their intention to go to any great distance from home; so when they came to a stile, or the stump of a tree, she sat down to rest herself, and take a view of the country; during which time, the little boys amused themselves by running backwards and forwards, and would frequently pick up some flower or curious little pebble, and bring it to their grandpapa, to inquire its name and use. As they were proceeding gently by the side of a large pond, they saw a great number of birds skimming over the surface in all directions. In answer to Arthur’s inquiries, Mr. Mansfield replied that they were swallows, and that they were flying about in quest of food.
“What food,” asked Charles, “can they possibly expect to find growing upon the pond?”
“Flies and insects,” answered his grandfather, “are the proper food for swallows; and many of them constantly sport on the water.”
“And swallows,” said Mrs. Mansfield, “are thought to be of great use, by destroying so many millions of them, which would otherwise multiply so fast, as to be quite a nuisance to the world.”