A large curious animal laid under one of the stalls. The children's attention was drawn to it. "Do see, mother, what is that!" "It is a Turtle," replied their mother. So they went and looked at it near by. It laid on its back to prevent its crawling away. The fisherman was kind enough to let the young visiters look at it till they were tired—and then away they went to another part of the market. But we will first show them a picture of a Turtle: see there he is on the next page, almost big enough to frighten any body.
These turtles are esteemed a great delicacy. People bring them all the way from the West Indies, and sell them for a high price to the keepers of the hotels, who make soup of them; the signs may be seen hanging at the doors, in large capital letters; "TURTLE SOUP AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK, THIS DAY—FAMILIES SUPPLIED."
After this they went to another part of the building called the Country Market. Here they were delighted with what they saw; and a great many sights there were for such little prattlers. "O see, here is a Rabbit with a white tail! see, see, Susan—do come this way." But Susan had her fine blue eyes also engaged in viewing a cage of Pigeons, some of which had their tails spread like a fan. They saw also a great many baskets of Peaches, Apples, Potatoes, and Pumpkins, Watermelons, Cantaleupes, pile upon pile, enough to make one ask, 'Where are all these to go? Who will buy them?' But we must remember, that there are more than 200,000 mouths to eat three or four times a day in New-York, enough to make way with the loads of vegetables that are brought here every day for sale.
There was a Peacock in one of the coops, with a long handsome tail. This was a great sight for these young visiters. The feathers were beautiful and of many colors; but he did not spread his tail before so many people; besides he had not a suitable place; for they, being a proud bird, like to be where the sun shines, and where they can strut about, with their tail spread, when they make a most striking show.
In short, here were sights enough to keep them looking half the day, if their mother could have spared the time. There were coops of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea hens, bantas, and even quails alive! We have not room to add pictures of all these: but we will one. See here is a gobble turkey, who looks as if he was ready to fly at any body dressed in red.
So they spent some time very pleasantly at the market, and did not seem hardly willing to come home, when their mother had finished supplying all her wants. But at her call, like good obedient children, they turned their faces homeward, and, hand in hand, went up Fulton-street to Pearl-street, then up through Franklin Square, having their little baskets filled with apples and peaches. When they arrived at their home, with what delight and animation did they tell about what they had seen! and long will they remember the morning walk with their mother to Fulton Market.