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City-bred people have a pious horror of the country in winter, and no great regard for country visitors at any time, however much they may “let on” to the contrary.

In rushing hot weather, when the bricks and mortar, the stagnated, oven-like air of the crowded city threatens to bake, parboil, or give the “citizens” the yellow fever, then we are very apt to think of plain Aunt Polly, rough-hewed Uncle John, and the bullet-headed, uncombed, smock-frocked cousins, nephews, and nieces, at their rural homes, amid the fragrant meadows and umbrageous woods; the cool, silver streams and murmuring brooks of the glorious country. Then, the poetic sunbeams and moonshine of fancy bring to the eye and heart all or a part of the glories and beauties, uses and purposes in which God has invested the ruraldom.

Now, our country friends are mostly desirous, candidly so, to have their city friends come and see them–not merely pop visits, but bring your whole family, and stay a month! This they may do, and will do, and can afford it, as it is more convenient to one’s pocket-book, on a farm, to quarter a platoon of your friends than to perform the same operation in the city, where it is apt to give your purse the tick-dollar-owe in no time.

It was not long since, during the prevalence of a hot summer, that Mrs. Triangle one morning said to her stewing husband, who was in no wise troubled with a surplus of the circulating medium–

“Triangle, it’s on-possible for us to keep the children well and quiet through this dreadful hot weather. We must go into the country. The Joneses and Pigwigginses and Macwackinses, and–and–everybody has gone out into the country, and we must go, too; why can’t we?”

“Why can’t we?” mechanically echoed Triangle, who just then was deeply absorbed in a problem as to whether or not, considering the prices of coal, potatoes, house-rents, leather, and “dry goods,” he would fetch up in prison or the poor-house first! It was a momentous question, and to his wife’s proposal of a fresh detail of domestic expense, Triangle responded–

“Why can’t we?”

“Yes, that’s what I’d like to know–why can’t we ?”

“We can’t, Mrs. Triangle,” decidedly answered her lord and master.

Now Mrs. T., being but a woman, very naturally went on to give Mr. T. a Caudle lecture half an hour long, winding up with one of those time-honored perquisites of the female sex–a good cry.

Poor Triangle put on his hat and marched down to his bake-oven of an “office,” to plan business and smoke his cigar. Triangle came home to tea, and saw at a glance that something must be done. Mrs. Triangle was to be “compromised,” or far hotter than even the hot, hot weather would be his domicile for the balance of the season. Triangle thought it over, as he nibbled his toast and sipped his hot Souchong.

“My dear,” said he, pushing aside his cup, and tilting himself upon the “hind legs” of his chair–“business is very dull, the weather is intolerable, I know you and the children would be much benefitted by a trip into the country–why can’t we go?”

“Why can’t we?–that’s what I’d like to know!” was the ready response of Mrs. T.

“Well, we can go. My friend Jingo has as fine a place in the country as ever was, anywhere; he has asked me again and again to come down in the summer, and bring all the family. Now we’ll go; Jingo will be delighted to see us; and we’ll have a good, pleasant time, I’ll warrant.”

Mrs. Triangle was delighted; soon all the clouds of her temper were dispersed, and like people “cut out for each other,” Triangle and his wife sat and planned the details of the tour to Jingo Hill Farm. Frederic Antonio Gustavus was to be rigged out in new boots, hat, and breeches. Maria Evangeline Roxana Matilda was to be fitted out in Polka boots, gipsey bonnet, and Bloomer pantalettes, with an entire invoice of handkerchiefs, scarfs, ribbons, gloves, and hosiery for “mother,” little Georgiana Victorine Rosa Adelaide, and the baby, Henry Rinaldo Mercutio. After three days’ onslaught upon poor Triangle’s pockets, with any quantity of “fuss and feathers,” Mrs. Triangle pronounced the caravan ready to move. But just as all was ready, Bridget Durfy, the maid-of-all-work, who was to accompany them on the expedition as supervisor of the children, threw up her engagement.