This subject is so important, that I propose to tell my young reader something more about Cheerful Cherry; thus hoping to impress her example on the mind, and render the lesson I would teach enduring and effectual.
Cherry’s father, whose name was Larkin, removed from his home in the country, and lived in Boston, where he pursued the business of a merchant. Now, when spring comes, we all know that it is a delightful thing for city people to get out into the country, where they can see the green fields, gather wild flowers, and hear the birds sing.
Well, two or three years after the storm I have described, once when spring had come, Mr. Larkin told his children, on a Friday evening, that it was his intention to take the whole family in a carryall, the next day, to Chelsea Beach, about five miles from Boston. This promise delighted the children very much, for they wanted to go into the country, and above all they wished to go to Chelsea Beach. Frederic was in ecstasies, and Philip, as usual, echoed his older brother’s thoughts, words and feelings.
When it came time to retire to bed, the two boys could not go to sleep for a long time, so excited were they by their hopes and wishes and expectations for the morrow. At last they sunk to repose, but they woke as early as the lark, and talked of their enterprise till the time came to be dressed, and go down to breakfast.
What was the disappointment of the family, and especially of Frederic and Philip, to find that the weather was chill, cloudy and rainy, so as entirely to forbid the idea of taking the proposed excursion! Frederic pouted, and Philip cried.
“Oh dear, dear, dear!” said Frederic; “I wish this ugly rain would stop!”
“Oh dear,” said Philip; “wish ugly rain go away!”
“Father,” said Frederic; “why can’t we go to Chelsea Beach?”
“Why, it rains very fast! my son,” was the reply.
“Well, I don’t mind that! we can go as it is.”