rs. She was all alive with thoughts of what she should see and do
during the day. Indeed, she was so full of happy excitement she ate
scarcely any breakfast; and I am afraid she thought too much about the
ride while her good father was offering his morning prayer at the family
altar. This was hardly right; but Minnie was only a little girl, and we
must excuse her for feeling like a child.

After family prayer was ended, aunt Amy's carriage, with its fine horses
and fat coachman, drove up to the door. Minnie smiled, as she glanced at
the jolly-looking driver, while on her way to the carriage. When she
was seated opposite to her aunt and mother, and the horses began to
move, she said,--

"Aunt Amy, how good natured your fat coachman looks!"

"Yes, Minnie, John is a Christian, and that makes him cheerful. He is a
good, careful driver too, and that, with my heavenly Father's care,
makes me feel safe while I am riding."

By this time, the carriage was rattling rapidly along over the smooth
village street. It soon carried them beyond Rosedale into a pleasant
road, and Minnie was busy all the rest of the ride pointing to the
pretty scenery they passed, and asking many questions about the
mansions, cottages, and farms which met her eye. Thus occupied, it
seemed but a few moments to her before the carriage drove up to the
hotel at which they were to stop for the day.

Very gayly did Minnie trip along at aunt Amy's side, as that lady walked
down with her to the beach. Mrs. Brown, not being very well, did not
walk with them. Minnie was charmed with the broad, calm sea, sparkling
so brightly in the sun. The splash of the waves, as they came rolling in
upon the sand, and the constant hoarse murmur of the great sea, sounded
like grand music in her ears.

"Hark!" she said to her aunt; "hark, aunt! The sea roars to-day, yet it
is very calm."

"Yes, Minnie, that is old Ocean's mildest voice you hear to-day. In a
storm, he speaks in a voice of thunder. You would tremble before it
should you stand where you do now."

Minnie now amused herself and her aunt by picking up shells, by running
down to the edge of the water, and allowing the returning wave to chase
her, and by digging holes in the sand. Her good aunt sat upon a rock,
watching her movements, answering her numerous questions, and rewarding
her playfulness with smiles. She was a sensible woman, and knew that
children not only need time to play, but that they should also be