"They followed the ridge of the mountain for some time; but the journey was made so delightful and charming by the wonderful scenes beneath them that the two children did not seem to notice just how far they had travelled, although they had gone a great distance and everything about and beneath them seemed new and changed. "Suddenly they turned to the left from the mountain ridge and passed down into a dark ravine, the sides of which were so very high that 'Aunt Twaddles' said the sun never shone anywhere within its dark bounds, not even during the noon hours of midsummer. "It was a dark and gloomy place indeed, filled with great pitfalls of slimy, green liquid, from which arose an unpleasant odor; while there was barely enough light for them to see that the steep sides of the ravine were covered with a damp mould. "With a feeling of relief they emerged from this horrible place to find themselves entering a beautiful and heavily wooded glen. "'Aunt Twaddles' informed them that the gloomy ravine through which they just passed was called 'The Valley of Dry Bones,' for the reason, as she said, that the bird or animal once entering it scarcely ever came out alive, and that what few did escape death were mere skeletons. "'And how is it that we are not skeletons, Aunt Twaddles, now that we have passed through the valley?' exclaimed Arthur, with an inquiring glance. "'Because we have used the power of reason, my dear, which no bird or animal except man possesses,' she replied. Then, pausing to glance back, she continued: 'Knowing the dangers of the valley, I used the power of reason and laid my course. If you do not use the power of reason, my boy, you will often find yourself in the Valley of Dry Bones as you journey along through life.' "Arthur would have questioned 'Aunt Twaddles' further, but they were now in a beautiful glen; and as they journeyed along he turned about to behold the lovely creations of nature that lay on every hand. "The glen was not very wide, and the leafy branches of the tall, overhanging trees were so mingled together that the bright sunlight could not break through, while the beautiful wild flowers seemed striving to outdo each other in spreading their perfume about on the balmy air. Yet search as they might, there was not a spray of pennyroyal anywhere to be seen. "A second glance over the glen proved it to be a most picturesque spot indeed; for the rocks that arose here and there from the flower-covered soil were not dark and weather-stained like those along the Shenandoah River, and the wild ferns and perfumed flowers tempted the observing children to stay their steps. "'Now,' exclaimed 'Aunt Twaddles,' as they walked slowly along, 'this beautiful glen, my darlings, is called Temporary Delight, which means short pleasures; for, as you see, we are near its end.' "Looking up, the children were surprised to behold in front of them a mountain of solid stone.