About noon
Edward 's mother had a sister living in Massachusetts , who was the wife of a farmer , and one beautiful Spring morning , Mr. and Mrs. Jones determined to pay her a visit , and to take Edward with them . The little fellow was much pleased to hear this , you may be sure ; and when the carriage drove up to the door , he could hardly wait for aunt Mary to dress him , comb his hair , and get him ready for the journey . At first Edward 's attention was taken up with the motion of the carriage , and the sight of the horses , as they rode swiftly on their journey ; but after a while he began to notice the different objects which presented themselves , as the road led through the green woods , and on the banks of the broad river , or swept by the pretty villages which lay in their route . About noon they stopped at a retired and shady spot on the banks of the river , to give the horses time to get a little rest and refreshment . So Edward and his mother seated themselves on the green bank ; and she let him take off his cap and dip his fingers in the clear bright stream , which she told him was running to swell the waters of the great ocean . It was a lovely day ; the air was full of the sweet scent of the early flowers , and the grass was green and bright with the freshness of Spring . `` What is that running up the tree , mother ? ''