Front matter

BON VOYAGE Last year, Dear Friends, we met "At Home," And now "Abroad" we mean to roam: With all who choose to spare the time We'll wander to a neighbouring clime. Nor need you leave your own fireside, For with fair Fancy for our guide, Our winged thoughts, in swallow-flight, Shall cross the Channel smooth and bright: And in despite of wind or weather, We'll make our little tour together. Now on our Pictures you shall look:— To you we dedicate our Book.

CONTENTS PAGE "Bon Voyage"3 London: "Packing"—Frontispiece " The Departure—Title-page On the Way8 Folkestone: Going on Board9 Crossing the Channel10 Boulogne: The Buffet12 " The Hotel13 " The Quay14 " The First Morning in France15 Rouen: "Good-night"16 " Church of St. Ouen17 " Blind Pierre19 " Rue de l'Epicerie20 " The Crèche21 " The Schoolroom22 " School Drill23 Caen: The Arrival24 " The Hotel25 " The Hotel Kitchen26 " The Washerwomen27 " The Knife-grinder28

PAGE " Chocolate and Milk29 " The Lacemakers31 En Route—A Railway Crossing32 " A Railway Station33 Paris: The Gardens of the Palais Royale34 " On the Boulevard35 " The Tuileries Gardens36 " Punch and Judy37 " Musée de Cluny38 " Staircase of Henry II.39 " The Man in Armour40 " The "Zoo"41 " The Pony Tramway42 " The Swans43 " A Flower Stall44 " A Day at Versailles45 " La Fontaine des Innocents47 " The Markets49 " The Luxembourg Gardens51 " The Merry-go-round52 The Night Journey to Calais53 Calais: The Water-Gate54 Dover: Homeward Bound55 "Bon Retour"56 THE VERSES ARE BY VARIOUS WRITERS

My readers, would you like to go abroad, for just an hour or so, With little friends of different ages? Look at them in these pictured pages— Brothers and sisters you can see,—all children of one family. Their father, too, you here will find, and good Miss Earle, their teacher kind. Three years ago their Mother died, and ever since has Father tried To give his children in the Spring some tour, or treat, or pleasant thing. Said he, last Easter, "I propose, for Nellie, Dennis, Mabel, Rose, A trip abroad—to go with me 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.

Then at the Folkestone harbour, down they go Nellie, Miss Earle, and Bertie too appear,

Across the gangway to the boat below;Whilst Dennis, with the rugs, brings up the rear.

Mabel and Rose just crossing you can see,May looks behind her with an anxious air,

Each holding her new doll most carefully.Lest Father, at the last, should not be there.

Our children once on board, all safe and sound,But while the turmoil loud and louder grows,

Watch with delight the busy scene around."I'm glad the wind blows gently," whispers Rose.

The noisy steam-pipe blows and blows away,— And as the steamer swiftly leaves the quay,

"Now this is just the noise we like," they say.Mabel and Dennis almost dance with glee.