Abroad | Page 3

to Paris and through Normandy." Then all exclaimed, "Oh! glorious!"--"But may not Bertie go with us?--" Said Rose--"We can't leave _him_ at home." Then Father said he too should come.?Turn to the Frontispiece and see the children packing busily. The next page shows them in the station at Charing Cross. Their great elation?Is written plainly on their faces.--Bell rings--"Time's up--Come, take your places!"

The "Folkestone Express" sped on like a dream,?And there lay the steamer fast getting up steam.
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Then at the Folkestone harbour, down they go?Across the gangway to the boat below;?Mabel and Rose just crossing you can see,?Each holding her new doll most carefully.
Nellie, Miss Earle, and Bertie too appear,?Whilst Dennis, with the rugs, brings up the rear.?May looks behind her with an anxious air,?Lest Father, at the last, should not be there.
Our children once on board, all safe and sound,?Watch with delight the busy scene around.?The noisy steam-pipe blows and blows away,--?"Now this is just the noise we like," they say.
But while the turmoil loud and louder grows,?"I'm glad the wind blows gently," whispers Rose.?And as the steamer swiftly leaves the quay,?Mabel and Dennis almost dance with glee.
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CROSSING THE CHANNEL.
The sea is calm, and clear the sky--only a few clouds scudding by: The Passengers look bright, and say, "Are we not lucky in the day!" The Mate stands in the wheelhouse there, and turns the wheel with watchful care:?Steering to-day is work enough; what must it be when weather's rough? Look at him in his sheltered place--_he_ hasn't got a merry face-- 'Tis not such fun for _him_, you know, he goes so often to and fro. Nellie and Father, looking back, glance at the vessel's lengthening track--?"How far," says Nellie, "we have come! good-bye, good-bye, dear English home!"?Dennis and Rose and Mabel, walking upon the deck, are gaily talking-- Says Mabel, "No one must forget to call my new doll 'Antoinette'; Travelling in France, 'twould be a shame for her to have an English name."?Says Dennis, "Call her what you will, so you be English 'Mabel' still." Says Rose, to Dennis drawing nigher, "I think the wind is getting higher;"?"If a gale blows, do you suppose, we shall be wrecked?" asks little Rose.
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While chatting with Dennis, Rose lost all her fear;?And the swift Albert Victor came safe to the pier?At Boulogne, where they landed, and there was the train?In waiting to take up the travellers again.?But to travel so quickly was not their intent:?On a little refreshment our party was bent.?Here they are at the Buffet--for dinner they wait--?And the tall _gar?on_, André, attends them in state.
At a separate table sits Monsieur Legros,?And behind him his poodle, Fidèle, you must know,?Who can dance, he's so clever, and stand and on his head, Or upon his nose balance a morsel of bread.?Mabel takes up some sugar to coax him, whilst Nell?Calls him to her--Fidèle understands very well--?"Why! he must have learnt English, he knows what we say," Mabel cries, "See!--he begs in the cleverest way."
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Then to the Hotel on the quay they all went;?To remain till the morrow they all were content:?After so much fatigue Father thought it was best,?For the children were weary and needed the rest.?Pictured here is the room in that very Hotel,?Where so cosily rested Rose, Mabel, and Nell.
Mabel dreamed of the morrow--of buying French toys:?Rose remembered the steam-pipe, and dreamed of its noise. Nellie's dreams were of home, but she woke from her trance Full of joy, just to think they were _really_ in France.
Very early next morning, you see them all three
Looking out from their window that faces the sea.
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THE FIRST MORNING IN FRANCE.
Here they see a pretty sight,?Sunny sky and landscape bright:?Fishing-boats move up and down,?With their sails all red and brown.
Some to land are drawing near,?O'er the water still and clear,?Full of fish as they can be,?Caught last night in open sea.
On the pavement down below,?Fishwives hurry to and fro,?Calling out their fish to sell--?"What a noisy lot," says Nell,
"What a clap--clap--clap--they make?With their shoes each step they take.?Wooden shoes, I do declare,?And oh! what funny caps they wear!"
After breakfast all went out?To view the streets, and walk about?The ancient city-walls, so strong,?Where waved the English flag for long.
Toy shops too they went to see,?Spread with toys so temptingly:?Dolls of every kind were there,?With eyes that shut and real hair--
And, in a brightly-coloured row,?Doll-fisherfolk like these below.?Prices marked, as if to say,?"Come and buy us, quick, to-day!"
One for Mabel, one for Rose,?_Two_ for Bertie I suppose,?Father bought.--Then all once more?Set off travelling as before.
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[Illustration]
To Rouen next they went, that very day,?And heard strange places called out by the way,?Where bells kept tinkling while the train delayed:?At Amiens