They were very warmly welcomed, for both Guy and Aggie were great favorites of them all, and after they were all quietly seated, Guy pointed to the desert of alkali that shone like crystal beneath the beams of the moon, and asked Mr. Graham if he could tell them of what it was composed, and how it came there.
"Of the last I can say nothing," returned Mr. Graham, "except that it was placed there by an all-wise Creator for some good purpose. The substance itself is a sulphate of soda, and is generally found near sulphur, and soda springs. A fall of rain usually brings it forth from the earth it impregnates in great quantities, and it looks very beautiful. The white particles often assume the most delicate shapes, like flakes of snow for instance, or most delicate leaves, and ferns."
"I shall be very glad when we get there," said Aggie, "I shall think we are passing a winter in fairy lands."
"Then I am afraid you will think it a very disagreeable winter," returned Mr. Graham, laughing.
"Why?" asked Aggie, opening wide her eyes in astonishment. "Is it cold there? I thought that the sun shone as warmly there as it does here."
"So it does," replied Mr. Graham. "It will not be of the weather that you will complain, but of what you call the beautiful snow."
"Ah! yes, perhaps the glare will hurt my eyes."
"I think it very likely, Aggie," said Amy Graham, "but my brother was not thinking of that, but of something much worse. These alkali salts are very poisonous, and often kill people if they are partaken of even slightly."
"Indeed!" ejaculated Aggie and Guy at once.