s so early in the spring, the
wheat fields were every where very green, and in the hedges, and along
the banks by the road side, multitudes of flowers were blooming. For a
considerable portion of the way, where our travellers passed, the
occupation of the inhabitants was that of braiding straw for bonnets;
and here every body seemed to be braiding. In the streets of the
villages, at the doors of the houses, and all along the roads every
where, men, women, and children were to be seen standing in little
groups, or walking about together in the sun, braiding the straw with a
rapid motion, like that of knitting. They had a little bundle of
prepared straw, at their side, and the braid which they had made hung
rolled up in a coil before them. They looked contented and happy at
their work, so that the scene was a very pleasing, as well as a very
curious one to see.

After leaving the frontiers of Tuscany, the party entered the Papal
States--a country occupying the centre of Italy, with Rome for the
capital of it. The Papal States are so called because they are under the
dominion of the pope. Of course the Catholic religion reigns here in
absolute supremacy.

While passing through this country, the children, or rather, as Rollo
would wish to have it expressed, the young people of the party, were
very much interested in observing the crosses which were put up here and
there by the road side, with the various emblems and symbols connected
with our Saviour's death affixed to them. The first time that one of
these crosses attracted their attention, Rosie was riding in the _coupe_
with Mr. George and Rollo. There was room enough for her to sit very
comfortably between them.

"See!" said Rosie; "see! Look at that cross, with all those images and
figures upon it!"

The cross was pretty large, and was made of wood. It was set up by the
road side, like a sign post in America. From the middle of the post out
to the left hand end of the arm of the cross, there was a spear fixed.
This spear, of course, represented the weapon of the Roman soldier, by
which the body of Jesus was pierced in the side. From the same part of
the post out to the end of the opposite arm of the cross was a pole with
two sponges at the end of it, which represented the sponges with which
the soldiers reached the vinegar up for Jesus to drink. Then all along
the cross bar were various other emblems, such as the nails, the hammer,
a pair of pincers, a little ladd