Diamond drops sparkled in the cups of the flowers and on the points of the leaves.

In the distance, pines, cedars, and richly-laden cocoa-nut trees filled up the background with their dark foliage.

The swans displayed their brilliant plumage on the lake, the boughs of the trees were alive with parroquets and other winged creatures of the tropics.

Add to the charms of this scene, Mrs.Becker returning from the prairie with a jar of warm, frothy milk--Mrs.Wolston and Mary busied in a multiplicity of household occupations, to which their white hands and ringing voices gave elegance and grace--Sophia tying a rose to the neck of a blue antelope which she had adopted as a companion--Frank distributing food to the ostriches and large animals, and admit, if there is a paradise on earth, it was this spot.
Compare this scene with that presented by any of our large cities at the same hour in the morning.

In London or Paris, our dominion rarely extends over two or three dreary-looking rooms--a geranium, perhaps, at one of the windows to represent the fields and green lanes of the country; above, a forest of smoking chimneys vary the monotony of the zig-zag roofs; below, a thousand confused noises of waggons, cabs, and the hoarse voices of the street criers; probably the lamps are just being extinguished, and the dust heaps carted away, filling our rooms, and perhaps our eyes, with ashes; the chalk-milk, the air, and the odors are scarcely required to fill up the picture.
Breakfast was spread a few paces from Mr.Wolston's bed, whom the two young girls were tending with anxious solicitude, and whose sickness was almost enviable, so many were the cares lavished upon him.
"You are wrong, Mrs.Becker," said Mrs.Wolston, "to make yourself uneasy, the sea has become as smooth as a mirror since their departure." "Ah, yes, I know that, my dear Mrs.Wolston, but when one has already undergone the perils of shipwreck, the impression always remains, and makes us see storms in a glass of water." "I am certain," remarked Mr.Wolston, "the cause of their delay is a concession made to Willis." "Very likely he would not consent to return, unless they went as far as possible." "By the way, madam," said Mary, "now that you have got two great girls added to your establishment, I hope you are going to make them useful in some way--we can sew, knit, and spin." "And know how to make preserves," added Sophia.
"Yes, and to eat them too," said her mother.
"If you can spin, my dears, we shall find plenty of work for you; we have here the Nankin cotton plant, and I intend to dress the whole colony with it." "Delightful!" exclaimed Sophia, clapping her hands; "Nankin dresses just as at the boarding-school, with a straw hat and a green veil." "To be sure, it must be woven first," reflected Mrs.Becker; "but I dare say we shall be able to manage that." "By the way, girls," said Mrs.Wolston, "have you forgotten your lessons in tapestry ?" "Not at all, mamma; and now that we think of it, we shall handsomely furnish a drawing-room for you." "But where are the tables and chairs to come from ?" inquired Mrs.
Becker.
"Oh, the gentlemen will see to them." "And the room, where is that to be ?" "There is the gallery, is there not ?" "And the wool for the carpet ?" "Have you not sheep ?" "That is true, children; you speak as if we had only to go and sit down in it." "The piano, however, I fear will be wanting, unless we can pick up an Erard in the neighboring forest." "True, mamma, all the overtures that we have had so much trouble in learning will have to go for nothing." "But," said Mrs.Becker, "by way of compensation, there is the vegetable and fruit garden, the pantry, the kitchen, the dairy, and the poultry yard; these are all my charges, and you may have some of them if you like." "Excellent, each shall have her own kingdom and subjects." "It being understood," suggested Mrs.Wolston, "that you are not to eat everything up, should the fruit garden or pantry come under your charge." "That is not fair, mamma; you are making us out to be a couple of cannibals." "You see," continued Mrs.Wolston, "these young people have not the slightest objection to my parading their accomplishments, but the moment I touch their faults they feel aggrieved." "I am persuaded," rejoined Mrs.Becker laughing, "that there are no calumniators in the world like mothers." "Therefore, mamma, to punish you we shall come and kiss you." And accordingly Mrs.Wolston was half stifled under the embraces of her two daughters.
"I am certainly not the offender," said Mrs.Becker, "but I should not object to receive a portion of the punishment; these great boys--pointing to Frank--are too heavy to hang on my neck now; you will replace them, my dears, will you not ?" "Most willingly, madam; but not to deprive them of their places in your affection." "In case you should lose that, Master Frank," said Mrs.Wolston, "you must have recourse to mine." "But now, my friends, what do you say to going down to the shore to meet the pinnace, and perhaps the _Nelson_ ?" said Mrs.Becker.
"Ah, yes," said Sophia; "and I will stay at home to wait upon father." "No," said Mary; "I am the eldest--that is my right." "Well, my children, do not quarrel about that," said Wolston; "I feel rather better; and I dare say a walk will do me good.