He good-naturedly agreed, and I found that the chief stage of our journey would involve less outlay than I had expected.

Thus far all had gone so well that I began to fear that a change must take place soon, in order that our experience should be more like the common lot of humanity.  When at last I took all the children out on the afterdeck, to remove the first edge of their curiosity, I saw that there was at least an ominous change in the weather.  The morning had been mild, with a lull in the usual March winds.  Now a scud of clouds was drifting swiftly in from the eastward, and chilly, fitful gusts began to moan and sigh about us.  A storm was evidently coming, and my hope was that we might reach our haven before it began.  I kept my fears to myself, and we watched the long lines of carts converging toward the gang-planks of our own and other steamboats.

“See, youngsters,” I cried, “all this means commerce.  These loads and loads of things will soon be at stores and homes up the river, supplying the various needs of the people.  Tomorrow the residents along the river will bring what they have to sell to this same boat, and by daylight next morning carts will be carrying country produce and manufactured articles all over the city.  Thus you see commerce is made by people supplying themselves and each other with what they need.  Just as soon as we can bring down a crate of berries and send it to Mr. Bogart we shall be adding to the commerce of the world in the best way.  We shall become what are called the ‘producers,’ and but for this class the world would soon come to an end.”

“‘Rah!” cried Bobsey, “I’m goin’ to be a p’oducer.”

He promised, however, to be a consumer for a long time to come, especially of patience.  His native fearlessness soon asserted itself, and he wanted to go everywhere and see everything, asking questions about machinery, navigation, river craft, the contents of every box, bale, or barrel we saw, till I felt that I was being used like a town pump.  I pulled him back to the cabin, resolving to stop his mouth for a time at least with the contents of our lunch basket.

Winnie was almost as bad, or as good, perhaps I should say; for, however great the drain and strain on me might be, I knew that these active little brains were expanding to receive a host of new ideas.

Mousie was quiet as usual, and made no trouble, but I saw with renewed hope that this excursion into the world awakened in her a keen and natural interest.  Ever since the project of country life had been decided upon, her listless, weary look had been giving place to one of greater animation.  The hope of flowers and a garden had fed her life like a deep, hidden spring.

To Merton I had given larger liberty, and had said:  “It is not necessary for you to stay with me all the time.  Come and go on the boat and wharf as you wish.  Pick up what knowledge you can.  All I ask is that you will use good sense in keeping out of trouble and danger.”