A closer acquaintance with Nature, which these walks afford, is not the least of their benefits, and to her true lover, Nature has many delightful surprises and secrets to reveal; and as has been said, even for those who cannot read her deeper meanings she has a language which calls attention to her more outward forms of beauty, and which one may study until gradually, with slowly opening eyes, is seen more and more of the exquisite perfection of her work, that long ago might have been seen had one but chosen to look. As a society, the Walking Club is one of the most informal. No officers are needed, although a secretary may sometimes be found useful when any word is to be sent to absent members. The membership of the club should be large enough to insure the attendance of at least twelve or fourteen on each walk; for in this case, as I have said, safety lies in numbers. At a place of meeting previously appointed, the members should assemble, and, before starting on their walk, the route to be taken should be decided by vote; a decision on this point will be more quickly arrived at if a chairman be appointed to keep order. The first walk should not be too long. Three miles is a good walk to start with; a mile and a half out and the same home again. Gradually the distance can be lengthened, and the club be able to take a ten-mile walk without feeling fatigue. [Illustration] [Illustration: TO MAKE THE EXERCISE OF WALKING HEALTHFUL, AND THEREFORE THE MORE ENJOYABLE, THESE RULES SHOULD BE OBSERVED. _1st. Carry the body erect on the hips, the shoulders thrown back, the chest raised, and the head square on the shoulders._ _2d. Breathe through the nose while walking rapidly, otherwise the mouth will become dry and the breath short._ _3d. Wear loosely fitting clothes that will permit a free motion of the limbs, and shoes with broad, moderately thick, soles and low, broad heels. In all cases a girl’s skirts should be supported from the shoulders, and in walking any distance it is absolutely necessary for comfort that there should be no weight upon the hips._] [Illustration] CHAPTER IV. EASTER. EVERYWHERE the children are playing with eggs; eggs colored in every hue—mottled, striped, and gilded; real eggs and imitation ones; sugar, glass, and wooden eggs; for this is Easter-tide, and not only in America, but in many far-away countries, where the habits and customs are very different from ours, does Easter bring to the children the highly prized, gayly-colored eggs. How nice it would be if we could take a peep into these foreign countries, and discover what else Easter brings the little ones besides the pretty eggs, and also how the people of such widely differing nations keep this happy festival common to all.