THE next morning was one of those days that sometimes come in the summer, when the most desirable thing to do is to sleep. The air was soft and damp, and sleep inviting, and when something awoke me at six o’clock, I drowsily looked at my watch and dreamily realized that I was not compelled to catch any train, but could sink into delightful unconsciousness once more. Just what had waked me I did not know, but before I went off again I heard the voice of James out doors, and then I heard the voice of Minerva, evidently at her open window, saying: “I’ll be down in a few minutes.” And then I dropped off, to be awakened again in what seemed like a moment by these beautiful words: “Oh, de debbil he t’ought he had me fas’. Le’ my people go. But I t’ought I’d break his chains at las’, Le’ my people go. Go down Moses, way down in Egypt la-an’, Tell ol’ Phar’o’ fo’ to le’ my people go.” It was melodious, it was harmonious, but it was also six o’clock in the morning. “Oh, won’t they stop,” said Ethel, sleepily. “Not by my command,” said I. “They are practising for the concert.” “Oh, I’m so sleepy! What time is it?” “Oh, ’twas a dark an’ stormy night, Le’ my people go; When Moses an’ the Israelite, Le’ my people go.” “_Make_ them go,” said Ethel, her eyes wide open, but her mouth passing from the words to a yawn. “And it’s such a beautiful morning to sleep,” said I. But as verse after verse rolled out sonorously, sleep fled from the room in dismay, and we followed, and for the first time since we had come to the country, found ourselves as one might say, up before breakfast. The morning air was delightful, but we knew the danger that lurks in morning air on empty stomachs—or we thought we knew it. If there is no danger in such exposures I make my humble apology to those who hold the contrary opinion. Personally I do not know what is right to do—that is, hygienically right to do, at any given moment. May I be forgiven for digressing at this point, in order that I may touch on a topic that has been near my heart for a long time, but has never had a chance for utterance before. I was brought up to believe that water with meals was a very bad thing, so I went without water at meals, and thrived like a green bay tree. One day a doctor told me that water with meals was the one thing needed to bring out the tonic properties of food.