Here is a happy family, off for a long holiday. Grandfather usually has to take passengers about in his jaunting-car; but to-day is a holiday for him too, and he is going to take the family all off for a long drive. Have you ever seen a jaunting-car? They are used a great deal in Ireland, and sometimes we see them in America--at Newport or other summer resorts. Before one gets accustomed to riding in them he has to hold on tightly when going around corners; but after a while he gets used to the jolting motion and is not afraid of being tipped out. See the house in the picture. Many cottages in Ireland are like this, of stone or earth with the roof thatched with straw; but a great many have no windows except holes cut in the walls, and the door is so low that one has to stoop to go in. Of course the houses in the cities are different. Dublin is the principal city and is a very beautiful one, with fine houses and buildings. Exquisite lace, made by the peasant women, comes from there, and a kind of cloth called Irish poplin, made of silk and wool. It rains very often in Ireland, so the grass and foliage are bright green, for which reason the island is sometimes called the Emerald Isle. The Irish people say, “In England it rains all day; in Scotland it rains all night; but in Ireland it rains both day and night.” [Illustration: _Off for a Holiday in a Jaunting Car, Ireland_ _From Stereograph, Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, New York_] IN PORTO RICO Here is a whole family out for a drive in their cart drawn by four bullocks. This “horseless carriage” is in Porto Rico, which means “rich harbour.” Did you know that Columbus discovered the island of Porto Rico? It is called the “land of perpetual June,” because the weather is so fine through the whole year. To be sure, they sometimes have terrible earthquakes and hurricanes; but the people are prepared for these and have cellars or caves to which they go when they see signs of a hurricane coming. They have to take food with them, of course, to last until the storm is over, and sometimes whole villages are destroyed. Except at these times Porto Rico is a beautiful place; flowers bloom all the year and the fields are full of growing things. A great deal of coffee grows there on large plantations. You know that Porto Rico belongs now to the United States, and every afternoon at sunset in the large cities a band plays “The Star Spangled Banner.” While it is being played the flag is lowered and the men take off their hats. It is an impressive sight. There are many interesting things to see in the city streets. The men who sell bananas carry them fastened to a pole; the milk-man sometimes carries his large open can of milk on his head; and all of the native people, if they have anything to carry, balance it on their heads, no matter what it is. They are very expert at balancing things in this way. [Illustration: _A holiday Jaunt in a horseless Carriage, Coamo, Porto Rico_