was to be left in Vermont."

CHAPTER IX.

A Picnic at Croton Dam--The Waterworks--A Game of Twenty
Questions--Gabrielle as a Logician--Evangeline's
Betrothal--Marguerite's Letter--Description of
Chappaqua--Visitors--Edmonia Lewis.

_June 26_.

Gabrielle and I have just returned from spending the day at Croton Dam.
A large party from the prominent families of Chappaqua was organized by
Miss Murray, the pretty daughter of one of our neighbors, and at nine
o'clock a number of carriages, packed to overflowing with young people
and lunch-baskets, and led off by a four-horse wagon, started
caravan-wise from the place of rendezvous, Mr. Murray's elegant grounds.

The drive was a very pretty one, skirting for some distance the
beautiful little lake that supplies the great thirsty city of New York;
and the spot chosen for the picnic--shady, terrace-like heights, with a
gradual slope to meet the water, and a rough bench here and there--was
declared the most suitable place in the world to lay the cloth. One or
two members of the party remained behind to unload the carriages, count
the broken dishes, and estimate the proportion of contributions--many
people fetching salt in abundance but forgetting sugar, whilst others
furnished elaborately frosted cakes, but omitted such necessaries as
knives and forks. Meantime, we climbed the stone steps leading to the
waterworks, and after a glimpse of the seething dark-green water
through the heavy iron grating, we hunted up the overseer and asked him
to unlock the doors for us, that we might have a nearer view. He
assented, and admitted us very obligingly, giving us meantime a graphic
description of the yearly journey of the Inspector in a boat down the
dark passage to New York, and pointing out the low narrow place of
entry from the water-house where they must lie down in the boat.

Dinner hour is generally a most interesting moment in a picnic, and
this was the time when the young gentlemen showed their gallantry by
partaking only of such viands as had come from the baskets of their
favorites among the young ladies.

A cloth was spread upon the ground; seats were extemporized for the
ladies out of carriage cushions, waterproofs and wraps; the knives,
forks and plates were dealt out as impartially as possible, and we
passed a very merry hour.

When the repast was over, the party dispersed--some to play croquet,
others to row upon the lake, or to stroll about under the tr