At this season we arose at five in the morning for a long ride on horseback through the beautiful Mohawk Valley and over the surrounding hills.

Every road and lane in that region was as familiar to us and our ponies, as were the trees to the squirrels we frightened as we cantered by their favorite resorts.
Part of the time Margaret Christie, a young girl of Scotch descent, was a member of our family circle.

She taught us French, music, and dancing.
Our days were too short for all we had to do, for our time was not wholly given to pleasure.

We were required to keep our rooms in order, mend and make our clothes, and do our own ironing.

The latter was one of my mother's politic requirements, to make our laundry lists as short as possible.
Ironing on hot days in summer was a sore trial to all of us; but Miss Christie, being of an inventive turn of mind, soon taught us a short way out of it.