he pale woodbine,
formed a sweet and fragrant canopy to the arched bower, while the
flowery tendrils hung down on all sides. Large bunches of roses,
intermixed with the silver stars of the jessamine, were stuck into the
moss on the inside as a temporary decoration only. The finest plants had
been brought from the green-house for the occasion. It was a delicious
evening, and the little fairy festivity, together with the flitting
about of the airy spirits which had prepared it, was absolutely
enchanting. Sir John, always poetical, exclaimed in rapture,

"Hesperian fables true,
If true, here only."

I needed not this quotation to bring the garden of Eden to my mind, for
Lucilla presided. Ph[oe]be was all alive. The other little ones had
decorated Kate's flaxen hair with a wreath of woodbines. They sung two
or three baby stanzas, which they had composed among themselves, in
which Kate was complimented as queen of the fete. The youngest daughter
of Lady Aston, who was about Kate's age, and two little girls of Dr.
Barlow's, were of the children's party on the green. The elder sisters
of both families made part of the company within.

When we were all seated in our enchanting bower, and drinking our tea,
at which we had no other attendants than the little Hebes themselves, I
asked Kate how it happened that she seemed to be distinguished on this
occasion from her little sisters. "Oh, sir," said she, "it is because it
is my birth-day. I am eight years old to-day. I gave up all my gilt
books, with pictures, this day twelvemonth, and to-day I give up all my
little story books, and I am now going to read such books as men and
women read."

She then ran to her companions who ranged themselves round a turf seat
at a little distance before us, to which were transferred a profusion of
cakes and fruit from the bower. While they were devouring them, I turned
to Mr. Stanley and desired an explanation of Kate's speech.

"I make," said he, "the renouncing their baby books a kind of epocha,
and by thus distinctly marking the period, they never think of returning
back to them. We have in our domestic plan several of these artificial
divisions of life. These little celebrations are eras that we use as
marking-posts, from which we set out on some new course."

"But as to Kate's books?" said Lady Belfield.

"We have," replied Mr. Stanley, "too many elementary books. They are
read too much and too long. The youthful mind, wh