diff options
Diffstat (limited to '43249-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 43249-8.txt | 2948 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 2948 deletions
diff --git a/43249-8.txt b/43249-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6bf7a30..0000000 --- a/43249-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2948 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Little Canadian Cousin, by -Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Our Little Canadian Cousin - -Author: Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald - -Illustrator: L. J. Bridgman - -Release Date: July 19, 2013 [EBook #43249] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR LITTLE CANADIAN COUSIN *** - - - - -Produced by Emmy, Dianna Adair and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - -[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic -text is surrounded by _underscores_.] - - - -Our Little Canadian Cousin - - - - - -THE - -Little Cousin Series - -(TRADE MARK) - - - Each volume illustrated with six or more full-page plates in - tint. Cloth, 12mo, with decorative cover, - per volume, 60 cents - - - LIST OF TITLES - - BY MARY HAZELTON WADE - (unless otherwise indicated) - - =Our Little African Cousin= - - =Our Little Alaskan Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - - =Our Little Arabian Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little Armenian Cousin= - By Constance F. Curlewis - - =Our Little Australian Cousin= - - =Our Little Brazilian Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - - =Our Little Brown Cousin= - - =Our Little Canadian Cousin= - By Elizabeth R. MacDonald - - =Our Little Chinese Cousin= - By Isaac Taylor Headland - - =Our Little Cuban Cousin= - - =Our Little Dutch Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little Egyptian Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little English Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little Eskimo Cousin= - - =Our Little French Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little German Cousin= - - =Our Little Greek Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - - =Our Little Hawaiian Cousin= - - =Our Little Hindu Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little Indian Cousin= - - =Our Little Irish Cousin= - - =Our Little Italian Cousin= - - =Our Little Japanese Cousin= - - =Our Little Jewish Cousin= - - =Our Little Korean Cousin= - By H. Lee M. Pike - - =Our Little Mexican Cousin= - By Edward C. Butler - - =Our Little Norwegian Cousin= - - =Our Little Panama Cousin= - By H. Lee M. Pike - - =Our Little Philippine Cousin= - - =Our Little Porto Rican Cousin= - - =Our Little Russian Cousin= - - =Our Little Scotch Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little Siamese Cousin= - - =Our Little Spanish Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - - =Our Little Swedish Cousin= - By Claire M. Coburn - - =Our Little Swiss Cousin= - - =Our Little Turkish Cousin= - - - L. C. PAGE & COMPANY - New England Building, Boston, Mass. - -[Illustration: "TWO CHILDREN SAT ON THE GRASS UNDER THE LILACS" - -(_See page 2_)] - - - - -Our Little Canadian Cousin - -By Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald - - _Illustrated by_ - L. J. Bridgman - -[Illustration] - - Boston - L. C. Page & Company - _Publishers_ - - _Copyright, 1904_ - BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY - - (INCORPORATED) - - _All rights reserved_ - - Published July, 1904 - - Fifth Impression, June, 1908 - - - - -Preface - - -IN "Our Little Canadian Cousin," my intention has been to tell, in a -general way, although with a defined local setting, the story of -Canadian home life. To Canadians, _home life_ means not merely sitting -at a huge fireplace, or brewing and baking in a wide country kitchen, or -dancing of an evening, or teaching, or sewing; but it means the great -outdoor life--sleighing, skating, snow-shoeing, hunting, canoeing, and, -above all, "camping out"--the joys that belong to a vast, uncrowded -country, where there is "room to play." - -This wide and beautiful Canadian Dominion possesses, of course, a great -variety of climate and of scenery. To treat at all adequately of those -things, or of the country's picturesque and romantic history, would -require far more scope than is afforded by this one small story. - - - - -List of Illustrations - - - PAGE - - "TWO CHILDREN SAT ON THE GRASS UNDER THE LILACS" - (_See page 2_) _Frontispiece_ - - FREDERICTON 22 - - IN THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE GROUNDS 28 - - "THE TREE-CLAD SHORES WORE A FAIRY GLAMOUR" 47 - - "A GREAT BONFIRE WAS BUILT" 64 - - "NOTHING, DORA THOUGHT, COULD BE MORE BEAUTIFUL - THAN THOSE WOODS IN WINTER" 99 - - - - -Our Little Canadian Cousin - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -IT was the very first day of the loveliest month in the year. I suppose -every month has its defenders, or, at least, its apologists, but -June--June in Canada--has surely no need of either. And this particular -morning was of the best and brightest. The garden at the back of Mr. -Merrithew's house was sweet with the scent of newly blossomed lilacs, -and the freshness of young grass. The light green of the elms was as yet -undimmed by the dust of summer, and the air was like the elixir of -life. - -Two children sat on the grass under the lilacs, making dandelion chains -and talking happily. - -Jack, a little fair-haired boy of six, was noted for his queer speeches -and quaint ideas. His sister Marjorie was just twice his age, but they -were closest chums, and delighted in building all sorts of air-castles -together. This afternoon, when she had finished a chain of marvellous -length, she leant back against the lilac-trees and said, with a sigh of -happiness: - -"Now, Jack, let's make plans!" - -"All right," Jack answered, solemnly. "Let's plan about going to Quebec -next winter." - -"Oh, Jackie! Don't let's plan about winter on the first day of June! -There's all the lovely, lovely summer to talk about,--and I know two -fine things that are going to happen." - -"All right!" said Jackie again. It was his favourite expression. "I -know one of them; Daddy told me this morning. It's about Cousin Dora -coming to stay with us." - -"Yes--isn't it good? She's coming for a whole year, while uncle and aunt -go out to British Columbia,--to make him well, you know." - -"I wish she was a little boy," said Jackie, thoughtfully. "But if she's -like you, she'll be all right, Margie. What's the other nice thing you -know?" - -"Oh, you must try to guess, dear! Come up in the summer-house; it's so -cosy there, and I'll give you three guesses. It's something that will -happen in July or August, and we are _all_ in it, father and mother and -you and Cousin Dora, and a few other people." - -They strolled up to the vine-covered summer-house, and settled down on -its broad seat, while Jack cudgelled his brains for an idea as to a -possible good time. - -"Is it a picnic?" he asked at last. - -Marjorie laughed. - -"Oh, ever so much better than that," she cried. - -"Try again." - -"Is it--is it--a visit to the seaside?" - -"No; even better than that." - -"Is it a pony to take us all driving?" - -"No, no. That's your last guess. Shall I tell you?" - -"Ah, yes, please do!" - -"Well,--mother says, if we do well at school till the holidays, and -everything turns out right, she and father--will--take us camping!" - -"Camping? Camping out? Really in tents? Oh, good, good!" - -And Jackie, the solemn, was moved to the extent of executing a little -dance of glee on the garden path. - -"Camping out" is a favourite way of spending the summer holiday-time -among Canadians. Many, being luxurious in their tastes, build tiny -houses and call them camps, but the true and only genuine "camping" is -done under canvas, and its devotees care not for other kinds. - -As our little New Brunswickers were talking of all its possible joys, a -sweet voice called them from the door of the big brick house. - -"Marjorie! Jack! Do you want to come for a walk with mother?" - -There was no hesitation in answering this invitation. The children -rushed pell-mell down the garden path, endangering the swaying buds of -the long-stemmed lilies on either side. - -Mrs. Merrithew stood waiting for them, a tall, plump lady in gray, with -quantities of beautiful brown hair. She carried a small basket and -trowel, at sight of which the children clapped their hands. - -"Are we going to the woods, mother?" Marjorie cried, and "May I take my -cart and my spade?" asked Jackie. - -"Yes, dearies," Mrs. Merrithew answered. "We have three hours before -tea-time, and Saturday wouldn't be much of a holiday without the woods. -Put on your big hats, and Jack can bring his cart and spade, and -Marjorie can carry the cookies." - -"Oh, please let me haul the cookies in my cart," said Jack. "Gentlemen -shouldn't let ladies carry things, father says,--but Margie, you _may_ -carry the spade if you want something in your hands very much!" - -"All right, boy," laughed Marjorie. "I certainly do like something in my -hands, and a spade will look much more ladylike than a cooky-bag!" - -The big brick house from which Mrs. Merrithew and the children set out -on their walk stood on one of the back streets of a little New -Brunswick city,--a very small but beautiful city, built on a wooded -point that juts out into the bright waters of the St. John River. Of -this river the little Canadian Cousins are justly proud, for, from its -source in the wilds of Quebec to its outlet on the Bay of Fundy, it is -indeed "a thing of beauty and a joy for ever." - -Our little party soon left the streets, went through a wide green space -covered with venerable maples, crossed a tiny stream and a railway -track, and entered the woods that almost covered the low hill behind the -town. Though it was really but one hill, the various roads that -subdivided it gave it various names, some derived from the settlements -they led to, and some from buildings on the way. It was through the -woods of "College Hill" that Marjorie and Jack and their mother -wandered. Being all good walkers, they were soon back of the fine old -college, which stands looking gravely out over the tree-embowered town -to the broad blue river. - -When the delicious green and amber shadows of the woods were reached, -little Jack at once began to search for fairies. Marjorie contented -herself with looking for wild flowers, and Mrs. Merrithew sought for -ferns young enough to transplant to her garden. - -"I am afraid I have left it rather late," she said at last. "They are -all rather too well-grown to stand moving. But I will try a few of the -smallest. What luck have my chicks had? Any fairies, Jackie?" - -Jackie lifted a flushed face from its inspection of a tiny hole in the -trunk of a fir-tree. - -"No fairies _yet_, mother; but I think one lives in here, only she won't -come out while I am watching." - -Mrs. Merrithew smiled sympathetically. She heartily agreed with the -writer (though she could not remember who it was) who said: "I always -expect to find something wonderful, unheard-of, in a wood." - -"In olden days," she said, "people believed that there were beautiful -wood-spirits, called dryads, who had their homes in trees. They were -larger than most fairies, and yet they were a kind of fairy." - -"Please tell more about them, mother," said Marjorie, coming up with her -hands full of yellow, speckled adder's-tongue. - -"I know very little more, I am sorry to say," their mother answered, -laughing. "Like Jackie with _his_ fairies, I have always hoped to see -one, but never have as yet." - -"Are they good things?" Jackie asked, "or would they frighten little -boys?" - -"Oh, my dear, they were always said to be kind and beautiful, and rather -timid, more apt to be frightened themselves than to frighten any one -else. But remember, dears, mother did not say there _were_ such things, -but only that people used to think so." - -"Please tell us a story about one, mother," Jack pleaded. - -But Mrs. Merrithew shook her head. - -"We will keep the story for some other time," she said. "Let us have a -cooky now, and a little rest, before we go home." - -This proposal was readily agreed to. They chose a comfortable spot where -a little group of white birches gave them backs on which to lean, opened -the precious bag, and were soon well occupied with its crisp and -toothsome contents. Mrs. Merrithew, knowing well that little folk are -generally troubled with a wonderful thirst, had also brought a cup and a -bottle of lemonade. How doubly delicious things tasted in the clear, -spicy air of the woods! - -By the time Jack had disposed of his sixth cooky he felt ready for -conversation. - -"Mother," he said, "I wish you would tell us all about Dora." - -"All about Dora, dearie? That would take a long time, I expect. But it -would _not_ take long to tell you all that I know about her. I have only -seen her twice, and on one of those occasions she was a baby a month -old, and the next time only two years,--and as she is now, I do not know -her at all." - -"But--oh, you know, mother--tell us about her father and mother, and her -home, and everything like that. It makes her more interesting," urged -Marjorie. - -Mrs. Merrithew saw that she was to be beguiled into a story in any case, -so she smiled and resigned herself to her fate. - -"Well, my dears, I know a great many things about Dora's father, for he -is my only brother, and we were together almost constantly until we were -both grown up. Then your Uncle Archie, who had studied electrical -engineering, went up to Montreal, and there secured a good position. He -had only been there a short time when he met a very charming young lady" -("_This_ sounds quite like a book-story," Marjorie here interposed) "by -whom he was greatly attracted. She was partly French, her mother having -been a lady of old French family. But her father was an English officer, -of the strongest English feelings, so this charming young lady (whose -name was Denise Allingham) combined the characteristics--at least all -the best characteristics--of both races. Do you know what that means, -Jackie?" - -Jack nodded, thoughtfully. - -"I think so, mother. I think it means that she--that young lady--had all -the nicenesses of the French and all the goodnesses of the English." - -"That is just it, my dear, and a very delicate distinction, too," cried -his mother, clapping her hands in approval, while Jackie beamed with -delight. - -"Well, to continue: Miss Denise Allingham, when your Uncle Archie met -her, was an orphan, and not well off. She was teaching in an English -family, and not, I think, very happy in her work. She and your uncle had -only known each other about a year when they were married." - -"And lived happily ever after?" Marjorie asked. - -Mrs. Merrithew considered a moment, then: - -"Yes, I am sure I can say so," she answered. "They have had some -business troubles, and a good deal of sickness, but still they have been -happy through it all. And they have one dear little daughter, whom they -love devotedly, and who is named 'Dora Denise,' after her mother -and--who else?" - -"You, mother, you," both children exclaimed. - -"The chief trouble this happy trio has had," Mrs. Merrithew continued, -"has been the delicate health of your uncle. For the last four years he -has not been strong. Twice they have all three gone away for his health, -and now the doctors have ordered him to try the delightful climate of -British Columbia, and to spend at least a year there if it agrees with -him. He needs all his wife's attention this time, and that, my dears, is -why little Dora Denise Carman is coming to spend a year with her New -Brunswick relations. - -"And now, chicks, look at that slanting, golden light through the trees. -That means tea-time, and homeward-bound!" - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -IT was a tired and homesick little girl that Mr. Merrithew helped out of -the coach and led up the steps of his house, about a fortnight after our -story opens. The journey from Montreal had been long and lonely, the -parting from her parents hard, and the thought of meeting the unknown -relatives had weighed upon her mind and helped to make her unusually -subdued. But when the door of the Big Brick House (which had been named -by the neighbours when it was the only brick house on the street, and -the largest one in town) opened, and her aunt's motherly arms closed -around her, while Marjorie's rosy, laughing face and Jackie's fair, -cherubic one beamed on her in greeting, her spirits began to revive. -The greeting was so warm and kind, and the joy at her coming so genuine, -that her fatigue seemed turned, as by magic, to a pleasant restfulness, -and her homesickness was lost in this bright home atmosphere. - -Mrs. Merrithew took the little newcomer to her room, had her trunks -settled conveniently, and then left her to prepare for the late tea -which was waiting for them all. When Dora was ready, she sat down in the -little armchair that stood near a table piled with books, and looked -about her contentedly. - -There was an air of solid comfort and cosiness about this house that -rested her. This room--which her aunt had told her was just opposite -Marjorie's--was all furnished in the softest shades of brown and blue, -her favourite colours. The carpet was brown, with a very small spray of -blue here and there; the wallpaper was lighter, almost creamy, brown, -with a dainty harebell pattern, and the curtains had a rich brown -background with various Persian stripes, in which blue and cream and -gold predominated. The bed, to her great delight, had a top-piece, and a -canopy of blue-flowered chintz, and the little dressing-table was draped -to match it. Just over the side of the bed was a book-shelf, quite -empty, waiting for her favourite books. While she sat and looked about -in admiration, the door was pushed gently open, and a plump maltese -kitten came in, gazed at her doubtfully a moment, and then climbed on -her lap. Then Marjorie's bright face appeared at the door, and, "May I -come in?" she asked. - -"Oh, please do," Dora cried. "Kitty has made friends with me already, -and I think that must be a good omen." - -Marjorie laughed, as she patted the little bunch of blue-gray fur in -Dora's lap. - -"_Jackie_ has made friends with you already," she said, "and I think -that is a better omen still. He told mother he thought you were 'the -beautifulest girl he ever saw.'" - -Dora's eyes opened wide with astonishment. "It is the first time I ever -was called beautiful," she said, "let alone 'beautifulest.' What a dear -boy Jack must be." - -Then they both laughed, and Marjorie, obeying one of her sudden -impulses, threw her arms around Dora's neck and gave her a cousinly hug. -"You and I will be friends, too," she said. "I knew it as soon as I -looked at you." - -Dora's dark brown eyes looked gravely into Marjorie's blue ones. She -seemed to be taking the proposition very seriously. - -"I have always wished for a real friend, or a twin sister," she said, -thoughtfully. "The twin sister is an impossibility, and I have never -before seen a girl that I wanted for a great, _great_ friend. But -you,--ah, yes! You are like my father, and besides, we are cousins, and -that makes us understand each other. Let us be friends." - -She held out her hand with a little gesture which reminded Marjorie that -this pale, dark-haired cousin was the descendant of many French _grandes -dames_. She clasped the slender hand with her own plump fingers, and -shook it heartily. So, in girlish romance and sudden resolution, the -little maids sealed a compact which was never broken, and began a -friendship which lasted and grew in beauty and strength all through -their lives. - -At the breakfast-table the next morning there was a merry discussion as -to what should be done first to amuse Dora. Jackie, who had invited her -to sit beside him and beamed at her approvingly over his porridge and -cream, suggested a walk to his favourite candy-store and the purchase of -some sticks of "pure chocolate." Marjorie proposed a picnic at Old -Government House. This was approved of, but postponed for a day or two -to allow for preparations and invitations. Mr. Merrithew said "Let us go -shooting bears," but even Jackie did not second this astounding -proposition. As usual, it was "mother" who offered the most feasible -plan. - -"Suppose, this morning," she said, "you just help Dora unpack, and make -her thoroughly at home in the house and garden; then this afternoon -perhaps your father will take you for a walk, and show Dora the house -where Mrs. Ewing lived, and any other interesting places. That would do -for to-day, wouldn't it? Then, day after to-morrow we could have the -picnic; and for the next week I have a magnificent idea, but I want to -talk it over with your father," and she nodded and smiled at that -gentleman in a way which made him almost as curious as the children. - -"That's the way with mother," Marjorie said to Dora after breakfast. -"She never ends things up. There is always another lovely plan just -ahead, no matter how many you know about already." - -And Mr. Merrithew, who overheard the remark, thought that perhaps this -was part of the secret of his wife's unfailing youthfulness both in -looks and spirits. - -The walk that afternoon was one which Dora always remembered. Mr. -Merrithew had, as Jackie said, "the splendidest way of splaining -things," and found something of interest to relate about almost every -street of the little city. They went through the beautiful cathedral, -and he told them how it had been built through the earnest efforts of -the well-known and venerated Bishop Medley, who was afterward -Metropolitan of Canada. Then they wandered down the street along the -river, and saw the double house where Mrs. Ewing (whose stories are -loved as much in the United States and in Canada as they are in -England) lived for a time, and where she wrote. - -[Illustration: FREDERICTON] - -She had called this house "Rika Dom," which means "River House," and had -written in many of her letters of the beautiful river on which it -looked, and the gnarled old willows on the bank just in front of her -windows. These willows she had often sketched, and Dora carried away a -spray of the pale gray-green leaves, in memory of her favourite -story-writer. It was one of Dora's ambitions, kept secret hitherto, but -now confided to Marjorie, to write stories "something like Mrs. -Ewing's." - -They saw, too, the picturesque cottage in which a certain quaint old -lady had attained to the ripe age of a hundred and six years,--a record -of which Fredericton was justly proud. This venerable dame had been -addicted to the unlimited eating of apples, and her motto--she was not a -grammatical old lady!--had been (according to tradition), "Apples -never hurts nobody." - -They spent some time in the Legislative Library, where was enshrined a -treasure in the shape of a magnificent copy of Audubon's Books of Birds. -Then in the Departmental Buildings, near by, there was a small but -well-arranged museum of stuffed birds and beasts, all Canadian, and most -of them from New Brunswick. There were other things, too, to see, and -many anecdotes to hear, so that it was a somewhat tired, though happy -and hungry party which trudged home just in time for tea. - -And such a tea, suited to hearty outdoor appetites born of the good -Canadian air! There were fresh eggs, made into a white and golden -omelette by Mrs. Merrithew's own hands; for even Debby, who had cooked -for the family all their lives, owned that an omelette like Mrs. -Merrithew's she could not manage,--"No, _sir_, not if I was to cook day -and night." There was golden honey in the comb; there was johnny-cake, -hot and yellow and melting in your mouth; strawberry jam that tasted -almost as good as the fresh fruit itself; ginger-cake, dark and rich and -spicy; milk that was almost cream for the children, and steaming -fragrant coffee for their elders. - -"It is rather nice to get _good and hungry_," Jackie gravely -observed,--"that is, if you have plenty in the house to eat. I think -life would be very dull without meals." - -These philosophical remarks rather astonished Dora, who was not yet -accustomed to the contrast between Jack's sage reflections and his -tender years. Just now they seemed especially funny, because he was -almost falling asleep while he talked. When Mrs. Merrithew saw him -nodding, she rang, and the nurse--who, like Debby, was a family -institution--came in and carried him off in her stalwart arms, to his -little white bed. When his mother stole up a little later to give him a -final good-night kiss, she heard Susan singing and paused at the door to -listen. "Now the day is over" was ended, and then a drowsy voice -murmured: - -"Now, Susan, my very favourite song!" - -And then Susan sang, in her soft, crooning voice "The maple-leaf, the -maple-leaf, the maple-leaf for ever!" - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -THE day of the picnic was hot, very hot, for June, but that did not -discourage the younger picnickers at all. - -"It will be pretty warm on the river," Mr. Merrithew remarked, -tentatively, as they sat at dinner. The dining-room windows were open, -and the soft air, sweet with the scent of lilacs, blew the white -curtains into the room with lazy puffs. - -"It will be so lovely when we get to Government House, though," Marjorie -cried. "There is always a breeze up there, father, and there are plenty -of trees, and three summer-houses, and that big veranda. Oh, I think it -will be perfect." - -"Yes, Daddy, I do, too! I think it will be _gorlious_!" said Jackie. - -When, after much hurrying about, telephoning to tardy members of the -party, and good-natured discussion as to the arrangement of the -canoe-loads, they were at last afloat on the blue, shining river, they -all agreed with Jack. Dora was charmed with the slender Milicete canoes. -She had seen chiefly canvas and wooden ones. Her father, indeed, had -owned a bark canoe, but it was of much heavier and broader build than -these slim beauties, that glided through the water like fairy craft, -impelled this way or that by the slightest turn of the steersman's -wrist. - -[Illustration: IN THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE GROUNDS] - -They landed just back of Government House, the grounds of which sloped -down to the water. The house is a long, stone building, with a broad -veranda at the back, and in front nearly covered with Virginia creeper. -At the time of the picnic it was empty, and in charge of a caretaker, -who lived in a small cottage on the grounds. When a suitable spot had -been chosen for tea, and the baskets piled close by, Mrs. Merrithew -proposed an excursion through the house, and Mr. Merrithew went with -Jackie to procure the key. When he returned, they all trooped merrily up -the front steps, and soon were dispersed through the great echoing halls -and lofty rooms. Most of the grown people of the party had danced here -at many a stately ball, for in those days Government House had been kept -up in the good old-fashioned way. Marjorie and Jack delighted in hearing -their mother tell of her "coming out" at one of these balls, and how she -had been so proud of her first train that she had danced without holding -it up, which must have been trying for her partners. Dora was greatly -interested in seeing the room where King Edward, then the slim young -Prince of Wales, had slept, on the occasion of his visit to -Fredericton. When the furniture of Government House was auctioned, a few -years before our story opens, the pieces from this room, which should -have been kept together as of historic interest, were scattered about -among various private purchasers. Mrs. Merrithew described them to Dora, -who wished she could have seen the great bed, so wide that it was almost -square, with its canopy and drapings of rich crimson, and its gilt -"Prince of Wales feathers," and heavy gold cords and tassels. - -When they came out of the dim, cool house into the warm air, the elders -looked apprehensively at the heavy black clouds which had gathered in -the west. - -"That looks ominous," one of the gentlemen said. "There will certainly -be thunder before night." - -Thunder! That was Marjorie's horror! Her round, rosy face grew pale, and -she clung tightly to her mother's arm. The men and matrons held a -hurried consultation, and decided that the storm was probably not very -near, and that it would be safe to wait for tea if they hurried things a -little. It would be a terrible disappointment to the children (all, at -least, but Marjorie!) to be hurried away without "the picnic part of the -picnic." So they all bustled about, and in a short time the cloth was -spread, and well covered with good things. The fire behaved well, as if -knowing the need of haste, and the coffee was soon made, and as -delicious as picnic coffee, by some apparent miracle, generally is. By -the time the repast was over, the clouds had drawn closer, the air was -more sultry, and even the most optimistic admitted that it was high time -to start for home. The canoes were quickly loaded, the best canoe-men -took the paddles, and soon they were darting swiftly down-river, running -a race with the clouds. - -In spite of their best speed, however, the storm broke before they -reached their journey's end. The thunder growled and muttered, a few -bright flashes lit up the sultry sky, and just as they landed a -tremendous peal caused the most courageous to look grave, while poor -Marjorie could scarcely breathe from terror. Then the rain came, and the -pretty muslin dresses and flower-trimmed hats looked very dejected -before their wearers were safely housed! Still, no one was the worse for -that little wetting, Marjorie recovered from her fright as soon as she -could nestle down in a dark room with her head in her mother's lap, and -they all agreed with Jackie that it _had_ been "a gorlious time." - -Before the children went to bed Mrs. Merrithew told them about the plan -which she had mentioned two days before, and to which Mr. Merrithew had -heartily consented. He was to take a whole holiday, on Thursday of the -following week, and drive them all up to the Indian Village, about -thirteen miles above town, to see the Corpus Christi celebrations. - -Corpus Christi, a well-known festival in the Roman Catholic Church, is -one which has been chosen by the Indians for special celebration. As it -comes in June, and that is such a pleasant time for little excursions, -many drive to the Indian Village from Fredericton and from the -surrounding country, to see the Milicetes in their holiday mood. - -The day being fresh and lovely, with no clouds but tiny white ones in -the sky, Mr. and Mrs. Merrithew and the three children set off early on -Thursday morning. They had a roomy two-seated carriage, and two big -brisk, white horses, plenty of wraps and umbrellas in case history -should repeat itself with another storm, and an ample basket of -dainties. The road, winding along the river-bank most of the the way, -was excellent, and the scenery Dora thought prettier than any she had -seen. The river was smooth as a mirror, reflecting every tree and bush -on its banks. Little islands, green and tree-crested, were scattered all -along its shining length. - -It was almost time for the service when they reached the picturesque -little village which went climbing bravely up its hill to the chapel and -priest's house near the top. The horses were taken charge of by a sedate -young half-breed, evidently proud of his office as the "priest's man," -and our party at once filed into the chapel. A plain enough little -structure in itself, to-day it was beautiful with green boughs, ferns, -and flowers. The congregation consisted chiefly of Indians and -half-breeds, with a scattering of interested visitors. Most of the -natives were clad in gorgeous finery, some of the older ones having -really handsome beaded suits and beautifully worked moccasins, while -others were grotesque in their queer combination of the clothes of -civilization and savagery. The priest, a tall, good-looking man with -piercing eyes, sang high mass, and then the procession formed. First -came an altar-boy carrying a cross, then six boys with lighted tapers, -and two walking backward scattering boughs. These were followed by the -priest bearing the host and sheltered by a canopy which four altar-boys -carried. These boys were all Indians, and the mild well-featured -Milicete faces had lost their stolidity, and were lit up with an -expression of half-mystic adoration. After them came the congregation, -bare-headed, and singing as they walked. Marjorie and Dora clasped hands -as they followed, their eyes shining with excitement. They went down the -road and entered a schoolhouse not far from the church, where the host -was placed in a little tabernacle of green boughs while the service was -continued. Then the procession re-formed and went back to the church. - -After they had disbanded, the Indians scattered to their houses to -prepare for the various other events of the day. Mr. and Mrs. Merrithew -and the children were carried off by the priest (whom Mr. Merrithew knew -well) to have dinner with him in his house near the chapel. The children -stood a little in awe of him at first, but he was so companionable and -kind that they were soon quite at their ease. His mother, who kept house -for him, was evidently very proud of her son, and did her best to -entertain his visitors worthily. The house was rather bare, but clean as -wax and the perfection of neatness, while the repast, spread on the -whitest of linen, was excellent, and not without some rather unusual -dainties,--such as candied fruits of many colours for the children, and -guava jelly brought out especially in Mrs. Merrithew's honour. - -After dinner the good father offered to show them through the village, -and they set out together on a tour of inspection. All the full-grown -Indians, the priest told them, were holding a pow-wow in the -schoolhouse, for the purpose of electing a chief. "There is no need of -my being there this afternoon," he said, in answer to Mr. Merrithew's -inquiry; "but this evening, when they have their feast and their -games,--ah, then I will keep my eye on them!" - -Evidently this priest held very parental relations toward his people. -The visitors noticed that some boys playing baseball on the green -eagerly referred their disputes to him and accepted his word as final. -He took them into several of the little wooden houses, all of which, -probably in honour of the day, were in splendid order. In one they found -twin papooses, brown as autumn beech-leaves, sleeping side by side in a -basket of their mother's making. In another a wrinkled old squaw had -most dainty moccasins to sell, the Milicete slipper-moccasins, with -velvet toe-pieces beautifully beaded. Mr. Merrithew bought a pair for -each of his party (himself excepted), letting them choose their own. -Mrs. Merrithew promptly selected a pair with yellow velvet on the toes; -Dora's choice had crimson, and Marjorie's blue, while Jackie's tiny pair -was adorned with the same colour as his mother's. - -"You see, mother dear," he said quite seriously, "yours are a _little_ -larger, so we won't be mixing them up!" - -Then, being in a gift-making mood, Mr. Merrithew bought them each a -quaint and pretty basket, besides a big substantial scrap-basket for his -own study, and handkerchief-cases, gorgeous in pink and green, for Susan -and Debby. The small baskets all had broad bands of the fragrant "sweet -hay" which grows on many islands of the St. John, but which very few -white people can find. Dora was much interested in the Milicete women, -with their soft voices and kind, quiet faces. She tried to learn some of -their words, and won their hearts by singing two or three songs in -French, a language which they all understood, though they spoke it in a -peculiar patois of their own. - -The bright summer afternoon went all too quickly. Mrs. Merrithew was -anxious to reach home before too late an hour, so at five o'clock, after -tea and cakes, they "reembarked" for the return trip. The horses were -fresh, the roads good, the children just pleasantly tired. As they drove -on and on through magic sunset light and fragrant summer dusk, Dora -thought drowsily that this was a day she would always remember, even if -she lived to be as old as the dame who ate the innumerable apples. - -"I will have such lovely things to write to father and mother about," -she murmured, in sleepy tones,--and those were the last words she said -till the carriage stopped at the door of "the Big Brick House," and she -and Jackie were tenderly lifted out and half led, half carried up the -steps. Then she opened her eyes very wide and looked about her in -wonder. - -"Why, I believe I _nearly_ went to sleep for a moment," she said. - -And even Jackie woke up enough to laugh at that! - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -THE day before they left for camp, Dora received a letter from her -mother, telling something of their surroundings and of the beauties of -the Western land. As the others were keenly interested, she read them -many extracts, which even Jackie enjoyed. - -"We are now," her mother wrote, after describing the journey by the -great Canadian Pacific Railway, and speaking encouragingly of the -invalid's condition, "comfortably settled in Victoria--which, as of -course you know, dear, is the capital city of British Columbia. It is a -truly beautiful spot, and the climate is delightful. There are great -varieties of climate, we hear, in this maritime province of the West; -Victoria is supposed to enjoy a very mild and even one, with roses and -geraniums blooming outdoors in December, and the cold weather confined -almost entirely to parts of January and February. There is another -delightful part of the country which we may visit later; it is in one of -the valleys which cut across the Coast Range of mountains. These deep -valleys are entirely shut off from the north winds, and freely admit the -warm breezes from the coast, while the rays of the sun are concentrated -on their steep sides, helping to make, at times, almost tropical -weather. We may spend part of next winter there, as it is even drier -than Victoria, and that is very important for your father. Some of our -new acquaintances have recommended the southern part of Alberta, where -the winter is shortened and made almost balmy by the wonderful chinook -winds--so named from the Chinook Indians, who used to occupy that part -of the country from which they blow. These west winds, coming from the -mountains across the plains, are warm and particularly drying. When they -melt the light and infrequent snowfalls of the winter, they also dry the -ground almost immediately, so that even the hollows and ravines are free -from dampness. Your father is greatly interested in these 'warm -chinooks,' and we are almost sure to try their effect later. Another -pleasure to which we look forward, when he grows a little stronger, is a -trip by boat along the coast. The fiords of British Columbia are said to -resemble those of Norway, and the whole coast, with its wooded shores, -snowy mountain-peaks, and flashing cataracts, is marvellously -beautiful." - -Dora went to sleep that night with her mother's letter under her pillow, -and dreamt that they were camping out on the shore of a British -Columbian fiord, when a warm wind came and blew all the tents into -little boats, in which they went sailing away to some wonderful country, -where no one would ever be sick, and where no winds blew but balmy west -ones. She had nearly reached the land, when a soft touch woke her, and -she found Marjorie's happy face bending over her. - -"Hurry up, dear! Hurrah for camp! We want to start by ten at the latest, -and it is seven now, and such a perfect day. Mother says we can take -Kitty with us; won't that be fun?" - -And Marjorie was off without waiting for an answer. Dora heard her -singing, laughing, chatting, as she flashed here and there, helping and -hindering in about equal proportions. - -The whole house was filled with the pleasant bustle of preparation. Mr. -Merrithew was as much of a boy, in the matter of high spirits, as the -youngest of the party. Mrs. Merrithew, blithe and serene, had -everything perfectly planned, and engineered the carrying out of the -plans with quiet skill. It was she who remembered where everything was, -thought of everything that ought to be taken, and saw that every one of -the party was properly clad. The party, by the way, was quite a large -one, consisting of another whole family (the Greys) besides the -Merrithews, Will Graham, a young collegian who was a friend of Mr. -Merrithew's, and Miss Covert, a rather delicate and very quiet little -school-teacher whom Mrs. Merrithew had taken under her wing from sheer -kindness, but who proved a charming addition to the party. The Greys -were six in number: Doctor Grey, a grave professor; Mrs. Grey, a tiny, -vivacious brunette, who had been Mrs. Merrithew's "chum" since their -schoolgirl days; Carl and Hugh, twin boys of fourteen; and two girls, -Edith, just Jackie's age, and Alice, so much older than the rest that -she was "almost grown-up," and Marjorie and Dora looked upon her with -admiring awe. - -Doctor Grey, both mammas, Susan (who was to do the cooking, as Debby did -not dare venture on anything so wild as sleeping out-of-doors), Jackie, -little Edith Grey, and all the provisions, tents, and bedding, were to -go by stage, while Mr. Merrithew, Will Graham, and the twins were to -divide the charge of three canoes and the four girls. - -At ten o'clock the big lumbering stage rattled up to the door, and the -canoeists saw the others properly packed and waved them a cheerful -adieu. Then they gathered up paddles, wraps, and lunch-baskets, and -hastened gaily off to the boat-house on the river-bank. Here the work of -embarking was quickly accomplished, and the four slender birches shot -out into the stream, turned, and swept upward, propelled against the -current by vigorous arms. - -"Please sing, Daddy," Marjorie begged, and Mr. Merrithew promptly began -an old favourite, but could get no further than the first verse. - - "In the days when we went gypsying, - A long time ago, - The lads and lasses in their best - Were dressed from top to toe--" - -So far he sang, and then declared that both memory and breath had given -out, and that the ladies, who had no work to do, must forthwith provide -the music. After a little hesitation and some coaxing from Marjorie, -Dora sang, in a clear, sweet treble, the well-known and much-loved "En -Roulant ma Boule" ("Rolling My Ball"). Then some one started "Tenting on -the Old Camp Ground," and all, even the paddlers, joined in, the little -school-teacher providing a rich alto that took them all by surprise. - -[Illustration: "THE TREE-CLAD SHORES WORE A FAIRY GLAMOUR"] - -The river was deep-blue, reflecting the little clouds that floated in -the azure overhead. Near the town the river was very broad; as they -forged upward, it gradually narrowed, and was thickly studded with -islands. They passed Government House, left the ruined Hermitage behind, -and then began to feel that they were at last out of civilization, and -nearing the goal of summer quiet that they sought. It was slow work, -this paddling against the current, but the time went in a sort of -enchanted way; the tree-clad shores wore a fairy glamour, and the -islands, where masses of grape-vine and clematis were tangled over the -bushes, might have been each the home of an enchanted princess, a dryad, -or any of the many "fair forms of old romance." When about five miles -had been covered, they heard the rush of water hurrying over shallows -and nagging at the rocks. This was what the children delighted to call -"The Rapids," but old canoemen simply dubbed it "a stretch of swift -water." But by whichever name it went, it called for strong and skilful -paddling, and Mr. Merrithew proposed that, before they undertook it, -they should land and fortify themselves with lunch. This suggestion met -with great favour; the canoes were swiftly beached, and soon a merry -little picnic party sat under a clump of gray shore-willows, while -sandwiches, tarts, and cakes of many kinds, vanished as if by magic. -Success to the camp was drunk in lemonade--_not_ ice-cold--and speeches -were made that proved the good spirits, if not the oratorical gifts, of -the group. - -They rested here for an hour, for one of the camp mottoes was, "Time was -made for slaves," and they knew that the ones who had gone on by stage -were resting comfortably in a farmhouse, just opposite their -destination, till the canoeing party should come to ferry them over. The -farmhouse was owned by old friends with whom Mrs. Merrithew and Mrs. -Grey would be glad to spend a little time, and for Jack and Edith the -whole place would be full of wonders. - -When it came to actually facing the rapids, Dora's heart failed her; her -cheeks paled, and her eyes grew very large and dark; but she held on -tight to both sides of the canoe, fixed her eyes on Marjorie's back, and -said not a word. She tried hard not to see the swirling water and the -scowling rocks, but no effort could shut out the confused seething -noises that made her feel as if nothing in the world was stable or -solid. When at last the rush was over, the sounds grew softer, and the -triumphant canoemen drew their good craft in to shore, and paused to -rest their tired muscles, Dora gave a deep sigh of relief. - -Marjorie turned a beaming face to see what ever was the matter. - -"_Frightened_, dear?" she said. "I forgot that you have not had much -canoeing. It's too bad." - -But Dora laughed, and the colour came back to her face. - -"I ought not to mind," she said, "for I have shot the Lachine Rapids. -But I think being in a large boat gives one a feeling of safety. I know -I wasn't half so afraid then as I was to-day. It seemed to me there was -nothing between me and the dreadful confusion." - -"Shooting the Lachine Rapids is a great experience," Mr. Merrithew said. -"I must confess I would not like to try those in a canoe, as Champlain -did! But now, boys, let us set off briskly, or we won't get things -comfortable before night." - -And they did hurry, but for all their speed it was nearly dusk by the -time the five white tents were pitched on Saunder's Island. This was a -fairly large island, ringed by a sandy beach from which the ground rose -steeply to a green bank on which elms, white birches, and maples stood, -with a tangle of raspberry-bushes, and flowering shrubs among them. -Inside the belt of trees was a broad sweep of rich meadow-land, with -here and there a row of feathery elms or a cluster of choke-cherry-trees. -Toward the upper end of the island stood an old stone house, empty and -almost a ruin; not far from this house were two barns, kept in good -repair for the storing of the sweet island hay. - -The tents were pitched about a hundred yards from the house, just inside -the tall bordering trees, so that part of the day they would be in the -shade. These trees, too, would make ideal places for slinging the -numerous hammocks which Mrs. Merrithew and Mrs. Grey had brought. - -Dora and Marjorie greatly enjoyed watching the speed with which the -tent-poles--two stout uprights and a horizontal ridge-pole--were got -into position, and the skill with which the white canvas was spread -over them and stretched and pegged down and made into a cosy shelter. -There was a tiny "A tent" tucked away in the shadiest spot for the -provisions, and a large tent in a central position which Mr. Grey named -"Rainy-Day House," and which was to be used as dining-room and parlour -in case of severe rains; then the other three were called respectively, -"The Chaperons' Tent," "The Boys' Tent," and "The Girls' Tent." - -The chaperons' abode was inhabited by Mrs. Merrithew, Mrs. Grey, Susan, -Jackie, Edith, and the kitten; "The Boys' Tent" was well filled by Mr. -Merrithew and Doctor Grey (who insisted on being boys for the occasion), -Will Graham, and the twins; and "The Girls' Tent" sheltered Miss -Katherine Covert, Alice Grey, Marjorie, and Dora. The beds were of hay, -liberally provided by the friendly farmer,--the owner, by the way, of -island, house, and barns. Under each bed was spread either a rubber -sheet or a piece of table oilcloth, then over the hay a thick gray -blanket was laid. There was another thick blanket to wrap around each -person, and still another to put over him, or her, as the case might be. -In the chaperons' tent only were they more luxurious; there, two large -mattresses took the place of the hay, and made a delightfully -comfortable couch for three grown-ups and two children. - -While the tents and beds were being attended to, Susan, with a little -help from Mrs. Merrithew, had succeeded in getting tea without waiting -for any sort of a fireplace to be constructed. - -She was rather anxious about the reception of this first meal, as it had -been cooked under difficulties. But when she saw the speed with which -her fried beans disappeared, and found Mrs. Grey taking a third cup of -tea, her spirits rose, and she decided that campers were thoroughly -satisfactory people for whom to cook! - -After tea was over, and all the dishes were washed, one of the old -campers proposed the usual big bonfire, whereby to sit and sing, but -every one was too sleepy, and it was unanimously resolved that just this -once the delightful evening of song and story must be omitted. Hearty -"good-nights" were exchanged, and soon each tent for a brief while -shone, like that in the "Princess," "lamp-lit from the inner,"--to be -more absolutely accurate, lantern-lit; but what is a trifle of one word, -that it should be allowed to spoil a quotation? - -Then gently, sweetly, silence settled down over the little encampment; -silence, save for the soft murmur of the river in its sleep, and -sometimes the drowsy chirping of a bird among the branches. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -JACK was the first to wake in the delicious stillness of the morning. -When his mother opened her eyes a little later, she found him sitting up -beside her with a look of delight and wonder on his face. - -"The river talks in its sleep," he said, leaning over her with shining -eyes. - -"What does it say, Jackie-boy?" Mrs. Merrithew asked. - -"I don't know the words,--yet," he answered, "but I will some day." - -"Yes, I believe you will, dear," his mother said, with a smile and a -sigh, for she firmly believed that her boy, with his vivid imagination -and quick apprehension, had the life of a poet before him. - -Just then a shout from the boys' tent proclaimed that the twins were -awake; then Mr. Merrithew's cheery voice was heard, and soon the camp -was alive with greetings and laughter. Under Mr. Merrithew's direction -(and with his active assistance), a cooking-place was soon made, and a -bright fire inviting to preparations for breakfast. The device for -cooking consisted of two strong upright sticks with forked tops, and a -heavy horizontal pole resting upon them. On this pole two pothooks were -fastened, from which hung the pot and kettle, and the fire was kindled -under it. Then a little circle of flat stones was made for the -frying-pan, the pot and kettle were filled with fresh water, and Susan's -outfit was complete. - -Pending the erection of a "camp wash-stand," and the choice of a safe -and suitable bathing-place, faces and hands were washed in the river -amid much laughter, and with careful balancing on stones in the -shallows. The toilets were barely completed when three toots on the -horn announced that breakfast was ready. A long table and benches were -among the furniture which Doctor Grey and Mr. Merrithew had planned to -make; until their construction, they were glad to group themselves, -picnic-fashion, around a table-cloth on the ground. The way that -breakfast was disposed of showed that the true camp appetites had begun -already to assert themselves. Porridge and molasses, beans, bacon and -eggs, and great piles of brown bread and butter, vanished like smoke. -Jackie astonished the party (and alarmed his mother) by quietly -disposing of a cup of strong coffee, passed to him by mistake, and -handing it back to be refilled with the comment that it was "much more -satisfyinger than milk." - -After breakfast they all set to work with enthusiasm to make camp more -comfortable. Susan washed dishes and arranged the provision tent with -housewifely zeal; Mrs. Merrithew and Mrs. Grey brought the blankets out, -and spread them on the grass to air, drove shingle-nails far up on the -tent-poles to hold watches, pin-cushions, and innumerable small but -necessary articles, and superintended the stretching of a rope from one -pole to another, about a foot from the ridge-pole. This last arrangement -proved most useful, all the garments not in use being hung over it, so -that the chaperons' tent, at least, was kept in good order. The -gentlemen busied themselves in building the promised table and seats. -Mr. Andrews had told them to make use of anything they wanted on his -island, so the twins had hunted about till they discovered a pile of -boards near one of the barns. These served admirably for the necessary -furniture, and after that was finished several cosy seats were made, by -degrees, in favourite nooks along the bank. The morning passed with -almost incredible swiftness, and even the youngest (and hungriest) of -the campers could scarcely believe their ears when the horn blew for -dinner. - -In the afternoon some, bearing cushions and shawls, chose shady spots -for a read and a doze; some set off in the canoes for a lazy paddle; and -others organized themselves into an exploring party to visit the -deserted house. Marjorie and Dora, Miss Covert, and Will Graham formed -the latter group. The stone house was a curious structure, with an air -of solidity about it even in its neglected and failing condition. It had -been built many years before by an Englishman, who did not know the -river's possibilities in the way of spring freshets. When he found that -he had built his house too near the shore, and that April brought water, -ice, and debris of many sorts knocking at his doors and battering in his -windows, he promptly, if ruefully, abandoned it to time and the -elements. It might, long ago, have been so arranged and protected as to -make it a very pleasant summer residence, but, instead, it was now used -only for a week or two in haying-time, when the haymakers slept and ate -in its basement,--for this quaint little house had a basement, with a -kitchen, dining-room, and storeroom. Our visitors, having gained -entrance to the hall by a very ruinous flight of steps and a battered -door, descended to the basement first, admired the fireplace in the -kitchen, and looked rather askance at the deep pile of straw in the -dining-room, where the haymakers had slept. There was a rough table in -one corner of the room, and on it some tin cups and plates and a piece -of very dry bread. The haying on the island was about half-done; there -was a short intermission in the work now, but it was to begin again very -soon. - -They found nothing else of especial interest in the basement, so went to -the hall above. Here were two good-sized rooms, one on each side of the -hall. Each had a fine, deep fireplace, and in one were two old-fashioned -wooden armchairs and a long table. The windows--two in each room--were -narrow and high, and had small panes and deep window-seats. - -"Oh, what fun it would be to play keeping-house here, Dora!" Marjorie -cried. - -"Wouldn't it!" Dora answered. "Let us, Marjorie! Let us pretend it is -ours, and choose our rooms, and furnish it!" - -"That will be fine," Marjorie answered, fervently, and soon the little -girls were deep in a most delightful air-castle. - -"Let us play, too," said Will, persuasively, and Katherine answered -without hesitation: - -"Yes, let us! I feel just like a child here, and could play with a doll -if I had one!" - -"Well,--let me see; we will begin by deciding about the rooms," said -Will. "Let us have this for the study,--shall we?--and put the books -all along this wall opposite the windows!" - -And so these two "children of a larger growth" played house with almost -as much zest as Marjorie and Dora,--and greatly to the amusement and -delight of the latter couple when they caught a word or two of their -murmured conversation. Up-stairs were four rather small rooms with -sloping ceilings, and in the middle of the house, just over the front -door, a dear little room without the slope, and with a dormer-window. - -"This shall be our boudoir," Dora said, as they entered, and then -stopped and exclaimed in surprise, for against one wall stood a piano! -Almost the ghost of a piano, or the skeleton, rather,--at the very best, -a piano in the last stage of decrepitude, but still a piano. Its -rosewood frame had been whittled, chopped, and generally ill-treated, -and more than half its yellow keys were gone, but oh, wonder of -wonders, some of those remaining gave a thin, unearthly sound when -struck! It seemed almost like something alive that had been deserted, -and the little group gathered around it with sympathetic exclamations. - -While they were talking and wondering about it, lively voices proclaimed -the approach of the twins. - -"We won't say anything about our housekeeping play," said Dora, hastily, -turning to Mr. Graham, and Marjorie loyally added, "except to mother." - -"All right, if you like," the student agreed, and Miss Covert quickly -added her assent. The twins admired the stone house, the fireplaces, and -the piano, but with rather an abstracted manner. Soon the cause of their -absent-mindedness transpired. Mr. Merrithew had met some Indians that -afternoon, when they were out paddling, and had bought a salmon from -them. This had led to a conversation about salmon-spearing, and the -Indians had promised to come the following night, and show them how it -was done. They could take one person in each canoe, and Mr. Merrithew -had said that Carl and Hugh should be the ones. Of course they were -greatly excited over this prospect, and chattered about it all the way -back to the tents. - -[Illustration: "A GREAT BONFIRE WAS BUILT"] - -That evening, when dusk had settled down, a great bonfire was built, and -they all sat around it on rugs and shawls, in genuine camp-fashion. -First, some of the favourite games were played,--proverbs, "coffee-pot," -characters, and then rigmarole, most fascinating of all. Rigmarole, be -it known, is a tale told "from mouth to mouth," one beginning it and -telling till his invention begins to flag or he thinks his time is up, -then stopping suddenly and handing it on to his next neighbour. The -result is generally a very funny, and sometimes quite exciting, -medley. To-night Mr. Merrithew began the story, and his contribution -(wherein figured a dragon, an enchanted princess, and a deaf-and-dumb -knight) was so absorbing that there was a general protest when he -stopped. But the romancer was quite relentless, and his next neighbour -had to continue as best he could. Even Jackie contributed some startling -incidents to the narrative, and when at last Mrs. Grey ended it with the -time-honoured (and just at present, most unfortunately, out-of-fashion!) -assurance that they all, even the dragon, "lived happy ever after," -there was a burst of laughter and applause. Then some one began to sing, -and one after another the dear old songs rose through the balmy night. -Sometimes there were solos, but every now and then a chorus in which all -could join. Dora sang every French song she knew,--"A la Claire -Fontaine" ("At the Clear Fountain"), "Malbrouck," and "Entre Paris et -Saint-Denis" ("Between Paris and St. Denis") proving the favourites. -Mrs. Grey, who declared she had not sung for years, ventured on "The -Canadian Boat-Song" and "Her bright smile haunts me still." At last, -when voices began to grow drowsy and the fire burned low, they sang, -"The Maple-Leaf For Ever" and "Our Own Canadian Home," then rose and -joined in the camp-hymn,--"For ever with the Lord," with its: - - "And nightly pitch our moving tents - A day's march nearer home." - -The next day seemed to fly, to every one, at least, but Carl and Hugh. -Their hearts were so set on the salmon-spearing that for them the time -went slowly enough till night brought the four Indians with their -torches and spears. Doctor Grey and Mr. Merrithew walked along the shore -to see what they could of the proceedings, but the rest--and even -Will--were content to sit around the fire as before. Carl sat in the -middle of one canoe, and Hugh in the other, both greatly excited and -both trying to think themselves quite cool. Only the steersmen -paddled,--the bowmen kneeling erect and watchful, with their spears in -readiness. (The salmon-spear is a long ash shaft, with two wooden prongs -and a metal barb between them. The spearing of salmon, by the way, is -restricted by law to the Indians, and any white man who undertakes it is -liable to a fine.) Sticking up in the bow of each canoe was a torch, -made of a roll of birch-bark fastened in the end of a split stick. The -red-gold flare of these torches threw a crimson reflection on the dark -water, and shone on the yellow sides of the birches, and the intent, -dusky faces of the fishermen watching for their prey. Slowly, silently, -they paddled up the stream, till at last the silvery sides of a -magnificent fish gleamed in the red light. Then, like a flash, a spear -struck down, there was a brief struggle, and the captive lay gasping in -the foremost canoe. It was too much for Hugh. He had enjoyed with all -his boyish heart the beauty and the weirdness of the scene, but the -beautiful great fish, with the spear-wound in his back,--well, that was -different. He was not sorry that the Indians met with no more luck, and -was very silent when the others questioned them, on their return, as to -the joys of salmon-spearing. When he confided to Carl his hatred of the -"sport," the latter shook his head doubtfully. - -"But you will help eat that salmon to-morrow," he said. - -"Well,--perhaps," Hugh answered, "but, all the same, it's no fun to see -things killed, and I'm not going to if I can help it!" - -The fortnight of camp life passed like a dream, and it is hard to tell -who was most sorry when the day of departure came. Dora, who had written -a regular diary-letter to her father and mother, and begun one of the -stories that were to be like Mrs. Ewing's, said that never in all her -life had she had such a beautiful time. Katherine Covert, with life-long -friends to "remember camp by," and all sorts of happy possibilities in -her once gray life, bore the same testimony with more, if more quiet, -fervour. Mr. Merrithew said that he was ten years younger, and Jackie -opined that, in that case, they must have been living on an enchanted -island,--but added, that he was very glad _he_ had not been made ten -years younger, like Daddy! - -Brown and plump and strong of arm, the campers brought back with them -hearty appetites, delightful recollections, and inexhaustible material -for dream and plan and castles in the air. - -Many pleasant things were waiting to be done on their return; first and -foremost, Miss Covert had come to live at the Big Brick House, to teach -the children when holiday time should be over, and to be a help -generally to Mrs. Merrithew. Also, according to Mrs. Merrithew's plans, -to have a little real home life and happiness,--for Katherine had been -an orphan since her childhood, and for five years had taught school -steadily, although it was work that she did not greatly like, and that -kept her in a state of perpetual nervous strain. Teaching a few -well-bred and considerate children, whom she already loved, would be -quite different, and almost entirely a pleasure. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -IN the delightful autumn days that followed, the children, accompanied -sometimes by Mrs. Merrithew, sometimes by Katherine, spent much of their -time in the woods, and taking long strolls on the country roads. In -October the woods were a blaze of colour,--clear gold, scarlet, crimson, -coppery brown, and amber. The children brought home great bunches of the -brilliant leaves, and some they pressed and varnished, while others -Katherine dipped in melted wax. They found that the latter way was the -best for keeping the colours, but it was rather troublesome to do. They -pressed many ferns, also, and, when the frosts became keener, collected -numbers of white ferns, delicately lovely. Most of these treasures, -with baskets full of velvety moss and yards of fairy-like wild vines, -were stowed away in a cool storeroom to be used later in the Christmas -decorations. - -When the last of October drew near, Mrs. Merrithew made up her mind to -give a little Hallow-eve party. She let the children name the friends -they wished her to ask, and added a few of her own; then they all busied -themselves in preparations, and in making lists of Hallow-eve games and -tricks. At last came the eventful evening, and with it about thirty -merry people, old and young, but chiefly young. All of the Greys were -there, of course; also Mr. Will Graham, who was taking his last year at -college, and who spent most of his spare time at Mr. Merrithew's. So the -whole camping-party met again, and the camp-days, dear and fleeting, -came back in vivid pictures to their minds. - -In the Big Brick House was a large room known as "the inner kitchen," -but used as a kitchen only in the winter. This room Mrs. Merrithew had -given up to the entertainment of the Hallow-eve party. It was -lighted--chiefly, that is, for a few ordinary lamps helped out the -illumination--by lanterns made of hollowed pumpkins. Ears of corn hung -around the mantel, and a pyramid of rosy apples was piled high upon it. -There was a great old-fashioned fireplace here, and a merry fire -sparkled behind the gleaming brass andirons. Every trick that their -hostess's brain could conjure up was tried. Those who cared to, bobbed -for apples in a tub of water, and some were lucky enough to find -five-cent pieces in their russets and pippins. An apple was hung on a -string from the middle of a doorway, then set swinging, and two -contestants tried which could get the first bite,--and this first bite, -gentle reader, is not so easy as you might imagine! A pretty little -ring was laid on a mound of flour, and whoever could lift it out between -their lips, without breaking down the mound, was to win the ring. This -necessitated a great many remouldings of the flour,--but finally the -prize was captured by Miss Covert. A little later, Dora noticed it -hanging on Mr. Graham's watch-guard. - -Some of the braver spirits took turns in walking backward down the -garden steps, and to the end of the middle path, a looking-glass in one -hand and a lamp in the other. What each one saw in the looking-glass, or -whether, indeed, they saw anything, was, in most cases, kept a secret, -or confided only to the very especial chum! Then there were fortunes -told by means of cabbages,--a vegetable not usually surrounded with -romantic associations. Marjorie was the first to try this mode of -divination. Well-blindfolded, she ventured alone into the garden, and -came back soon with a long, lean, straggly cabbage with a great deal of -earth attached to its roots. This foretold that her husband would be -tall and thin, and very rich! - -There were many other quaint methods of fortune-telling, most of them -derived from Scottish sources. After these had been tried, amid much -merriment, they played some of the old-fashioned games dear to children -everywhere,--blind-man's buff, hunt-the-feather, post-towns, and other -favourites. By and by, when the fun began to flag, and one or two little -mouths were seen to yawn, a long table was brought in and soon spread -with a hearty (but judiciously chosen) Hallow-eve supper. - -When the days began to grow short and bleak, and the evenings long and -cosey, the children were thrown more and more upon indoor occupations -for their entertainment. It was on one of these bleak days, when a few -white flakes were falling in a half-hearted way, and the sky was gray -and gloomy, that Jackie had a brilliant idea. Four of them--Katherine, -Marjorie, Dora, and Jackie himself--were sitting by the fire in Mrs. -Merrithew's "Den," the very cosiest room in the house. Mr. Merrithew had -a den, too, but he called his a study. Somehow it looked too much like -an office to suit the children very well. Most of the volumes on his -shelves, too, were clumsy law-books; all the books that any one wanted -to read, except the children's own, were in "mother's den." Then, one -could come to mother's room at any hour of the day or night, while -sometimes no one, excepting Mrs. Merrithew, was admitted to the study. -On this particular day Katherine was reading "Rob Roy," and Jack -building a castle of blocks, while Dora dreamed in the window-seat, -watching the scanty flakes, and Marjorie, on the hearth-rug, tried to -teach reluctant Kitty Grey to beg. - -Now Jack had accompanied his mother on the previous Sunday to the -anniversary service of the Sons of England, a well-known patriotic -society. He had been greatly impressed by the procession, the hymns, and -the sermon, and on coming home had asked his father many questions as to -the "why and wherefore" of the society. It was this episode which -suggested the bright idea to his active little brain. - -"Aunt Kathie," he said,--for Miss Covert was now a fully accepted -adopted aunt,--"why couldn't _we_ form a patriarchal society?" - -"A _what_, dear?" said Kathie, in rather startled tones, laying "Rob -Roy" on the table, for she liked to give her whole mind to Jackie's -propositions and queries. - -"A patri--oh, you know what; like the Sons of England, you know!" - -"Oh, yes! _Patriotic_, dearie; a patriotic society. You know a patriot -is one who loves his country. What sort of a patriotic society would -you like to have, Jack?" - -"Oh, pure Canadian, of course! Let me see,--we couldn't be the Sons of -Canada, because we are not all sons." - -"Not _quite_ all," murmured Dora, with drowsy sarcasm, from the window. - -"Why not Children of Canada?" suggested Kathie. - -"No, Aunt Kathie, that would never do at all, for mother and Daddy and -you must be in it, and you _couldn't_ be called children,--though, of -course, you're not so _very_ old," he added, as if fearing he had hurt -her feelings. - -"Well," said Marjorie, thoughtfully, "how would The Maple-leaves, or The -Beavers, do?" - -But Jackie scorned this suggestion. - -"_Those_ are names that baseball clubs have," he said. "No; I believe -'The Sons and Daughters of Canada' would be the best of all, because -everybody is either a son _or_ a daughter, even twins!" - -This statement, and the name, were accepted with acclamation, and the -quartette, entering thoroughly into the spirit of Jackie's plan, helped -him zealously to put it into execution. They insisted that he should be -president, and requested him to choose the other officers. So he made -his father and mother the honourable patrons, Dora and Marjorie -vice-presidents, and Kathie secretary-treasurer. This office, I may -mention, she nobly filled, and also the informal one of general adviser, -suggester, and planner. It was she who proposed the twins, Alice and -Edith, as members, and the president gave his consent, though he -considered Edith rather too young! - -"For my part," he said, "I should like Mr. Will Graham, if none of you -would mind!" No one seemed to mind, so Mr. Graham's name was added to -the list, which Katherine was making out beautifully, with Gothic -capitals in red ink, on her very best paper. Her next proposal was a -regular course of study in Canadian history and literature, and this was -enthusiastically received. When Mr. and Mrs. Merrithew came home at -tea-time, they found a well-organized "Sons and Daughters of Canada" -club, and Miss Covert already engaged in composing an article on "The -Beginnings of Canadian History,"--with Jackie in her mind as an -important member of her future audience, and therefore an earnest effort -to make it simple in language and clear in construction. - -All through the winter the club flourished, and indeed for a much longer -time. The members met every week, and the history and literature proved -so absorbing that the S. A. D. O. C. night came to be looked forward to -as eagerly by the older as by the younger sons and daughters. Kathie had -the gift of making scenes and people of long-past days live before one, -and Cartier and Champlain, La Salle and De Maisonneuve, and many another -hero became the companions of our patriotic students, both waking and in -their dreams. The works of Canadian poets and novelists began to fill -their book-shelves, and pictures of these celebrities to adorn their -walls. They had regular weekly meetings, at which there were readings -and recitations, and always one short historical sketch. Even Jack -learnt his "piece" each time, and said it with a severe gravity which -seemed to defy any one to smile at a mispronunciation! Mrs. Merrithew -designed their badges,--maple-leaf pins in coloured enamel, with a -little gilt beaver on each leaf,--and Mr. Merrithew had them made in -Montreal. But perhaps the proudest achievement of the club was Alice -Grey's "Sons and Daughters of Canada March," which was played at the -opening and closing of every meeting. - -So much pleasure and profit, many happy evenings, and an ever deeper -love for their country, were some of the results of Jackie's bright -idea. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -NOW there came, warming the frosty heart of December, that delightful -atmosphere of mystery and expectation which forms one pleasure of the -great Yule-tide festival. The Big Brick House seemed particularly full -of this happy spirit of the season. There were many mysterious shopping -excursions, and much whispering in corners,--a thing not usual in this -united family. Jackie showed a sudden and severe self-denial in the -matter of sticks of pure chocolate, and was soon, therefore, able to -proudly flourish a purse containing, he told his mother, "a dollar all -but eighty-five cents," saved toward buying his presents for the family. -He also spent much time at a little table in his own room, cutting out -pictures and pasting them into a scrap-book for a little lame boy of -his acquaintance. - -Mrs. Merrithew and Kathie had each, besides innumerable other matters, a -water-colour painting on hand. Each picture, strange to say, was of a -house. Mrs. Merrithew's, the Big Brick House itself, with its trees and -vines, was clearly intended for Daddy; but for whom, the children -wondered, was Aunt Kathie's? It was a spirited little view of the old -stone house on Saunder's Island; not so pretty a subject as Mrs. -Merrithew's, but set in such a delicate atmosphere of early morning -light that even the sombre gray of the stone seemed etherialized and -made poetic. While Marjorie and Dora wondered for whom it was meant, -Jackie promptly inquired,--but she, his dear Aunt Kathie, who had never -refused to answer question of his before, only laughed and shook her -head, and said that every one had secrets at Christmas-time. - -Marjorie and Dora did not, as was their wont, spend all of their time -together, for each was making a present for the other. Marjorie was -working hard over a portfolio, which she knew was one of the things Dora -wanted. She had carefully constructed and joined the stiff cardboard -covers, and plentifully provided them with blotting-paper, and now she -was embroidering the linen cover with autumnal maple-leaves in Dora's -favourite colour, a rich, vivid red. As for Dora, though she had no love -for needlework, she was laboriously making a cushion of soft, old-blue -felt for Marjorie's cosey-corner, working it with a griffin pattern in -golden-brown silks. Marjorie had a particular fancy for -griffins,--partly, perhaps, because a griffin was the chief feature of -the family crest. - -As the long-looked-for day drew nearer, there was other work to do, -almost the pleasantest Christmas work of all, Dora thought,--the making -wreaths out of fir and hemlock and fragrant spruce. They worked two or -three hours of each day at the decorations for the beautiful little -parish church which they all attended, and which, being very small, was -much easier than the cathedral or the other large churches to transform -into a sweet-smelling tabernacle of green. Then they trimmed the Big -Brick House almost from attic to cellar. The drawing-rooms were hung -with heavy wreaths, with bunches of red cranberries here and there, -making a beautiful contrast to the green. In the other rooms there were -boughs over every picture, and autumn leaves, ferns, and dried grasses -here and there. Mr. Merrithew was sure to buy some holly and mistletoe -at the florist's on Christmas Eve, so places of honour were reserved for -these two plants, which have become so closely entwined with all our -thoughts of Christmas and its festivities. The holly would adorn the -old oil-painting of Mrs. Merrithew's great-aunt, Lady Loveday -Gostwycke, which hung over the mantelpiece in the front drawing-room. As -for the pearly white berries of the mistletoe, they were to hang from -the chandelier in the hall, where people might be expected forgetfully -to pass beneath them. Jackie, who was very useful in breaking twigs for -the wreath-making, begged a few fine wreaths as a reward, and carried -them off to decorate little lame Philip's room. These lengths of -aromatic greenery gave the greatest pleasure to the invalid, and -scarcely less to his mother, who spent the greater part of her time in -that one room. - -Besides all these pleasant doings, there were great things going on in -the kitchen. Such baking and steaming and frying as Debby revelled in! -Such spicy and savoury odours as pervaded the house when the kitchen -door was opened! Marjorie and Dora liked to help, whenever Debby would -let them, with these proceedings. It was great fun to shred citron and -turn the raisin-stoner, and help chop the mince-meat, in the big -kitchen, with its shining tins, and general air of comfort. Jackie liked -to take a share in the cooking, too, and as he was Deborah's pet, he -generally got the wherewithal to make a tiny cake or pudding of his own. -When it came to the making of the big plum pudding, all the family by -turns had to stir it, according to a time-honoured institution. Then Mr. -Merrithew would make his expected contribution to its ingredients,--five -shining five-cent pieces, to be stirred through the mixture and left to -form an element of special interest to the children at the Christmas -dinner. Besides this big pudding, there were always three or four -smaller ones (without any silver plums, but very rich and good), for -distribution among some of Mrs. Merrithew's protégés. - -On Christmas day all the old customs were faithfully observed. It was -the rule that whoever woke first in the morning should call the others, -and on this occasion it was Jackie who, as the great clock in the hall -struck six, came running from room to room in his moccasin slippers and -little blue dressing-gown, shouting "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas," -at the top of his voice. - -Every one tumbled out of bed, as in duty bound, and soon a wrappered and -slippered group, all exchanging Christmas wishes, met in Mrs. -Merrithew's den. Here a fire glowed in the grate, and here, too, -mysterious and delightful, hung a long row of very fat white -pillow-cases! These were hung by long cords from hooks on the -curtain-pole. Each pillow-case bore a paper with the name of its owner -written on it in large letters, and they were arranged in order of age, -from Jackie up to Mr. Merrithew. This had been the invariable method of -giving the Christmas presents in this particular family for as long as -any of them could remember. - -Armchairs and sofas were drawn near the fire, and the party grouped -themselves comfortably; then Mr. Merrithew lifted down Jackie's -pillow-case and laid it beside him, as he sat with his mother in the -largest of the chairs. Every one looked on with intensest interest -while, with shining eyes, and cheeks red with excitement, he opened his -parcels, and exclaimed over their contents. Truly a fortunate little boy -was Jack! There were books--the very books he wanted,--games, a top, the -dearest little snow-shoes, a great box of blocks,--evidently Santa Claus -knew what a tireless architect this small boy was,--a bugle, drum, and -sword, a dainty cup and saucer, a picture for his room, and, too large -for the pillow-case, but carefully propped beneath it, a fine sled, all -painted in blue and gold and crimson, beautiful to behold! - -When Jackie had looked at every one of his presents, it was Marjorie's -turn, and she was just as fortunate as her brother. So it went on up the -scale, till they had all enjoyed their gifts to the very last of Mr. -Merrithew's, and every box of candy had been sampled. And still Aunt -Kathie's picture of the little stone house had not appeared! - -When at last, a merry party, they went down to breakfast, Deborah and -Susan came forward with Christmas greetings, and thanks for the -well-filled pillow-cases which they had found beside their beds. The -dining-room in its festal array looked even cheerier than was its wont. -By every plate there lay a spray of holly, to be worn during the rest of -the day. The breakfast-set was a wonderful one of blue and gold, an -heirloom, which was only used on very special occasions. In the centre -of the table stood a large pot of white and purple hyacinths in full -bloom, the fourth or fifth of Mr. Merrithew's presents that morning to -his wife. - -At eleven o'clock there was the beautiful Christmas service, which all -the family attended, with the exception of Jackie. He was considered too -young to be kept still for so long a time; so he stayed at home with -Susan, trying all the new toys and having samples read aloud from each -new book. Kitty Grey, decorated with a blue ribbon and a tiny gilt bell, -also kept him company, and seemed to take great pleasure in knocking his -block castles down with her soft silvery paws. - -When the churchgoers returned there was lunch; then, for the children, a -long, cosey afternoon with their presents. Mrs. Merrithew and Katherine -early disappeared into the regions of the kitchen and dining-room, for -the six o'clock dinner was to have several guests, and there was much to -be arranged and overseen. But by half-past five the whole family was -assembled in the big drawing-room, and neither Mrs. Merrithew nor Kathie -looked as if they had ever seen the inside of a kitchen. Mrs. Merrithew -wore her loveliest gown, a shimmering silver-gray silk with lace sleeves -and fichu, and lilies-of-the-valley at her neck and in her abundant -hair. As for Katherine, in her fawn-coloured dress with trimmings of -yellow beads, and deep yellow roses, Jackie said she looked like a fairy -lady,--and on the subject of fairies he was an authority. The little -girls were in pure white, with sashes of their favourite colours, and -the gold and coral necklaces which had been among their gifts; while -Jackie, in his red velvet suit and broad lace collar, looked not unlike -the picture of Leonard in "The Story of a Short Life." - -Presently the guests began to arrive. First came Miss Bell, a second -cousin of Mr. Merrithew's, and the nearest relative he had in -Fredericton. She was very tall, very thin, quite on the shady side of -fifty, and a little deaf. Nevertheless, she was decidedly handsome, with -her white hair, bright, dark eyes, and beautifully arched brows. She was -a great favourite with the children, and always carried some little -surprise for them in her pocket. A little later came a widowed aunt of -Mrs. Merrithew's, fair, fat, and frivolous; and a bachelor uncle, who -came next in the esteem of the children to Cousin Sophia Bell. Two young -normal school students, sisters, who were not able to go home for the -holidays, soon swelled the party, and last, but not least, came Mr. Will -Graham, looking very handsome in his evening clothes. - -When they went out to dinner Jackie escorted Cousin Sophia, and Marjorie -overheard him saying, in urgent tones: - -"I _wish_ that you and Uncle Bob would come and live with us,--but I -_don't_ want Aunt Fairley; she is too funny all the time!" - -The Christmas dinner was much like other Christmas dinners, except that -Debby's cooking was unsurpassable. After every one had tasted -everything, and three of the five-cent pieces had come to light, the -chairs were pushed back a little, and while nuts and raisins were being -discussed, they had also catches, rounds, and choruses. Each person with -any pretence to a voice was expected to give one solo at least. Jackie, -who had a very sweet little voice, sang "God Save the King," with great -fervour. But the favourite of the evening was the beautiful "Under the -Holly Bough," with the words of which they were all familiar. - -Presently, Jackie, who had been promised that he should choose his own -bedtime that night, was found to be fast asleep with his head on his -green-leaf dessert plate, and a bunch of raisins clasped tightly in one -hand. He was tenderly carried away, undressed, and tucked into bed, -without once opening an eye. As Kathie turned to leave him, she picked -up one of his best-beloved new books,--"Off to Fairyland," in blue and -gold covers, with daintily coloured pictures,--and laid it beside him -for a pleasant waking sight the next morning. Down-stairs she found the -rest of the party gathered around the fire, telling stories of Auld Lang -Syne. As almost every one had been up early that morning, no very lively -games seemed to appeal to them; but the children thought no game could -be so interesting as these sprightly anecdotes and rose-leaf-scented -romances that were being recalled and recounted to-night. "Do you -remember--" Cousin Sophia would say; then would follow some entrancing -memories, to which Mr. and Mrs. Merrithew, Uncle Bob, and Mrs. Fairley -would contribute a running comment of "Yes, yes! she was a lovely girl!" -"He never held up his head after she died!" and so on. Then Mrs. -Fairley would hum an old-time waltz, and branch off into reminiscences -of balls,--and of one in particular at Government House, where she had -lost her satin slipper, and the governor's son had brought it to her, -and called her Cinderella. She put out a satin-shod foot as she talked, -and Marjorie thought that, though it certainly was tiny, it was not at -all a pretty shape, and began to understand why her mother made her wear -her boots so loose. - -About ten, Susan brought tea and plum-cake, and when this had been -disposed of, they all, according to another time-honoured custom, -gathered around the piano, and sang the grand old words that unnumbered -thousands of voices had sung that day: - - "Oh, come, all ye faithful, - Joyful and triumphant; - Oh, come ye, oh, come ye - To Bethlehem! - - Come and behold him - Born the King of angels; - Oh, come let us adore him, - Christ the Lord!" - -[Illustration: "NOTHING, DORA THOUGHT, COULD BE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN -THOSE WOODS IN WINTER"] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -SNOW-SHOEING is one of the national sports of Canada, in which most -Canadians, big and little, are proficient. Marjorie and her cousin were -no exception to the rule, and Jackie proved a very apt pupil. He soon -learned to avoid striking one snow-shoe against the other, and fell -quickly into that long, easy swing, which makes the snowy miles go by so -quickly. Sometimes the three children tramped on the broad, frozen -river, but that was a cold place when there was any wind, so they -generally chose the hill-roads or the woods. Nothing, Dora thought, -could be more beautiful than those woods in winter, with the white -drifts around the grayish tree-trunks, the firs and hemlocks rising like -green islands out of a snowy sea, and the wonderful tracery of brown -boughs against the pale blue of the sky. Once, Mr. and Mrs. Merrithew -went with them for a moonlight tramp, and that was something never to be -forgotten. - -It was just after a heavy snowfall, and the evergreens were weighed down -with a white covering that sparkled and glittered as with innumerable -jewels. Another favourite amusement was coasting,--not tobogganing, but -good, old-fashioned coasting, generally on College Hill, but sometimes -down the steep bank of the river. Coasting parties were frequent, and it -was a pretty sight to see the hill dotted with blanket-coated and toqued -or tam-o'-shantered figures, and pleasant to hear the merry voices and -laughter as the sleds skimmed swiftly down the road. - -The winters in Eastern Canada, though cold, are wonderfully bright and -clear, and the air is so free from dampness that one does not realize -how cold it sometimes becomes, unless one consults the thermometer. -Canadians, as a rule, spend a great deal of time in the open air in -winter as well as summer, and are as hardy a race as can be found -anywhere, but when they _are_ indoors they like their houses good and -warm,--no half-measures, no chilly passages and draughty bedrooms for -them! - -Mr. Merrithew did not keep horses, but occasionally he would hire a big -three-seated sleigh and take the family for a delightful spin. They -would all be warmly wrapped in woollens and furs, and snuggled in -buffalo-robes; the bells would jingle merrily, the snow would "skreak" -under the horses' feet, and the white world slip by them like a dream. - -One day, about the middle of February, Mrs. Merrithew announced, at -breakfast, that it was high time for the drive to Hemlock Point, which -Mr. Merrithew had been promising them all winter. As the latter quite -agreed with this idea, they decided to go on the following morning, -spend a long day with the friends they always visited there, and return -by moonlight. Hemlock Point was somewhere between ten and twenty miles -up-river,--it does not always do to be too exact,--and their friends -lived in a quaint old farmhouse, on high ground, well back from the -river-bank. - -That evening, when they sat in the Den after lessons were done, Marjorie -told Dora about the good folk who lived there,--an old bachelor farmer, -the most kind-hearted and generous of men, but as bashful as a boy; his -two unmarried sisters, who managed his house and thought they managed -him, but really spoilt him to his heart's content; and an orphan niece, -who had lived with them for several years, and who was the only modern -element in their lives. She graphically described the old loom, the big -and little spinning-wheels, and the egg-shell china, till Dora was as -anxious as Jackie for to-morrow to come. - -The three-seated sleigh and the prancing horses were at the door of the -Big Brick House by eight the next morning, for the drive would be long -and the load heavy, and it was well to be early on the way. The girls -and Jackie wore their blanket-suits,--Dora's and Jackie's crimson and -Marjorie's bright blue,--and Mrs. Merrithew herself, snugly wrapped in -furs, brought a grand supply of extra cloaks and shawls. She was always -prepared for any emergency. Mr. Merrithew said that he never knew her -fail to produce pins, rope, a knife, and hammer and nails, if they were -needed. But the hammer and nails she repudiated, and said it was twine, -not rope, she carried! The sky was a little overcast when they started, -but the prospect of a snow-storm did not daunt them in the least. - -The bells, of which there were a great many on the harness, kept up a -musical, silvery accompaniment to the conversation, as the horses swung -at a good speed along the level. When the hills began to rise, the pace -slackened, and the passengers had a better chance to enjoy the beauties -spread on both sides of the road. - -"But oh, you ought to see it in summer!" Marjorie said, when Dora -praised the varied and lovely landscapes. "There are so many things yet -for you to see all around here. You will have to stay two or three years -more at least!" - -But Dora laughed at this. - -"What about all the things there are for you to see in Montreal?" she -said. "What about the Ice Palace, and--" - -"Please tell about the Ice Palace, Dora," Jack interrupted. "That must -be a gorlious sight!" - -So Dora tried to give her cousins some idea of the great palace of -glittering ice, and the hundreds of snow-shoers, in bright costumes and -carrying torches, gathered together to storm this fairylike fortress. - -"It must be fine," said Marjorie, when the story was done, "but I'd -rather storm Hemlock Point, and get fried chicken and buttermilk as the -spoils of war." - -Marjorie, being a tremendous home-girl, generally tried to change the -subject if Dora made any allusions to a possible visit of Marjorie alone -to Montreal. She could not bear the thought of parting with Dora, but to -part with mother and Daddy and Jack would be three times worse! - -The last part of the road was decidedly hilly, and the horses took such -advantage of Mr. Merrithew's consideration for their feelings, that -Jackie, lulled by the slow motion and the sound of the bells, fell -asleep against his mother's shoulder, and knew no more till he woke on -a couch in Miss Grier's sitting-room. The oldest Miss Grier--whom every -one called Miss Prudence--was bustling about, helping Marjorie and Dora -off with their things, and giving advice to Miss Alma, who was hastening -to start a fire in the great old-fashioned Franklin. Miss Dean, the -niece, was taking off Mrs. Merrithew's overboots, in spite of her polite -protests. Jackie's eyes were open for some moments before any one -noticed him; then he startled them by saying, in perfectly wide-awake -tones: - -"I think, Miss Lois Dean, you are the very littlest lady in the world!" - -Miss Dean, who certainly could not well be smaller and be called -grown-up at all, and whose small head was almost weighted down by its -mass of light hair, looked at her favourite with twinkling eyes. - -"Never mind, Jackie, the best goods are often done up in small parcels; -and I'm big enough to hold you on my lap while I tell you stories, which -is the main thing, isn't it?" - -"Yes, indeed," Jack cried, jumping up to hug her, which resulted in the -pretty hair getting loosened from its fastenings and tumbling in wild -confusion around the "littlest lady," where she sat on the floor. - -"Now you are a fairy godmother! Now you are a fairy godmother!" -exclaimed Jackie, dancing around her. - -"Then I will put a charm upon you at once," Lois said. "No more dancing, -no more noise, no more _anything_, until we get the wraps all off and -put away; then you and I will go and--fry chicken--and sausages--for -dinner!" - -The last part of the sentence was whispered in Jack's ear, and caused -him to smile contentedly, and to submit without a murmur to the process -of unwrapping. - -After dinner,--which did great credit to Lois and her assistant,--they -gathered around the Franklin in the sitting-room, with plates of -"sops-of-wine" and golden pippins within easy reach, and Mr. Grier and -Mr. Merrithew talked farming and politics, while Miss Prudence recounted -any episodes of interest that had taken place at or near Hemlock Point -during the past year. - -Mrs. Merrithew, who had spent her summers here as a girl, knew every one -for miles around, and loved to hear the annals of the neighbourhood, -told in Miss Prudence's picturesque way, with an occasional pithy -comment from Miss Alma. - -Dora sat, taking in with eager eyes the view of hill and intervale, -island and ice-bound river; then turning back to the cosey interior, -with its home-made carpet, bright curtains, and large bookcase with -glass doors. - -After a little while Lois, who saw that the children were growing weary -of sitting still, proposed a stroll through the house, to which they -gladly consented. Katherine asked if she might go with them, and they -left "the enchanted circle around the fire," and crossed the hall to the -"best parlour,"--which Miss Prudence always wished to throw open in Mrs. -Merrithew's honour, and which the latter always refused to sit in, -because, as she frankly said, it gave her the shivers. This was not on -account of any ill-taste in the furnishing, but because it was always -kept dark and shut up, and Mrs. Merrithew said it could not be made -cheery all of a sudden. The children, however, loved the long room, and -the mysterious feeling it gave them when they first went in, and had to -grope their way to the windows, draw back the curtains, and put up the -yellow Venetian blinds, letting the clear, wintry light into this -shadowy domain. This light brought out the rich, dark colours of the -carpet, and showed the treasures of chairs and tables that would have -made a collector's mouth water. There was a round table of polished -mahogany in the centre of the room, a tiny butternut sewing-table in one -corner, and against the wall, on opposite sides of the room, two -rosewood tables, with quaint carved legs, and feet of shining brass. On -the tables lay many curious shells, big lumps of coral, and rare, -many-coloured seaweeds,--for there had been a sailor-uncle in the -family,--annuals and beauty-books in gorgeous bindings, albums through -which the children looked with never-failing delight, work-boxes and -portfolios inlaid with mother-of-pearl; almost all the treasures of the -family, in fact, laid away here in state, like Jean Ingelow's dead year, -"shut in a sacred gloom." - -When this room had been inspected and admired, they lowered the blinds, -drew the curtains, and left it again to its solitude. The rest of the -house was much less awe-inspiring, but it was all delightful. The loom, -now seldom or never used, stood in one corner of the kitchen. Not far -away was the big spinning-wheel. Miss Dean tried to teach them to spin, -and when they found it was not so easy as it looked, gave them a -specimen of how it should be done that seemed almost magical. There is, -indeed, something that suggests magic about spinning,--the rhythmically -stepping figure, the whirling brown wheel, the rolls of wool, changed by -a perfectly measured twirl and pull into lengths of snow-white yarn, and -the soothing, drowsy hum, the most restful sound that labour can -produce. - -Then there was the up-stairs to visit. The chief thing of interest there -was the tiny flax-wheel which stood in the upper hall, and which -certainly looked, as Jack said, as if _it_ ought to belong to a fairy -godmother. In the attic, great bunches of herbs hung drying from the -rafters, and the air was sweet with the scent of them. There were sage, -summer-savoury, sweet marjoram, sweet basil, mint, and many more, with -names as fragrant as their leaves. On the floor, near one of the -chimneys, was spread a good supply of butternuts, and strings of dried -apples stretched from wall to wall at the coolest end of the one big -room. - -"If I lived in this house," Dora said, "I would come up here often and -write,--try to write, I mean!" - -"I come up here often and read," Miss Dean said, with a quick glance of -comprehension at the little girl's eager face. "I love it! And -sometimes, when I feel another way and it's not too cold, I put up one -blind in the best parlour, and sit in there." - -"I wish you were coming down to sit in mother's den, and read--and -talk--and everything!" said Marjorie, and the others echoed the wish. - -"So I am, some time or other," Lois answered. "Mrs. Merrithew has asked -me, and now it's just a question of how soon Aunt Prudence can spare me. -That may be next week,--or it may be next winter!" - -"It may be for years and it may be for ever," Dora quoted, laughing, and -Jackie added, "and then--when you do come--we will make you a Son and -Daughter of Canada right away!" - -The search for the egg-shell china took them back to the sitting-room, -where Lois begged Miss Prudence to exhibit this most fragile of her -belongings. With natural pride, that lady unlocked a china-closet, and -brought out specimens of the beautiful delicate ware which their -grandmother had brought over with her from Ireland, and of which, in all -these years, only three articles had been broken. It certainly was -exquisite stuff, delicately thin, of a rich cream-colour, and with gilt -lines and tiny wreaths of pink and crimson roses. - -"I thought we would have them out for tea," Miss Alma suggested, but -Mrs. Merrithew, with three children, all rather hasty in their -movements, to look after, begged her not to think of such a thing. - -"Your white and gold china is pretty enough for any one;" she said, -"and, my dear Prudence, if you are determined to give us tea after that -big dinner, we will have to ask for it soon, or we will be spending most -of the night on the road." - -"Dear, dear!" said Miss Prudence, putting back her treasures tenderly, -"it does seem as if you'd been here about half an hour, and I do hate to -have you go! But I know how you feel about being out late with the -children, and you won't stay all night. Come along, Alma, let's hustle -up some tea, and let Lois talk to Mrs. Merrithew awhile." - -And "hustle" they certainly did, spreading a board that groaned with the -good old-fashioned dainties, for the cooking of which Miss Prudence was -noted throughout the country. Then the horses were brought to the door, -tossing their heads in haste to be off, wraps were snugly adjusted, -good-byes said many times, and they were off. - -"I believe Grier has given these horses nothing but oats all day," Mr. -Merrithew muttered, as the pretty beasts strained and tugged in their -anxiety to run down-hill; but when it came to the up-hill stretches, -they soon sobered down, and were content with a reasonable pace. Warm -and cosey, nestled against his mother, Jackie soon slept as before; but -the others, with rather a reckless disregard of their throats, sang song -after song, in spite of the frosty air, and dashed up to the door of -the Big Brick House, at last, to the sound of: - - "'Twas from Aunt Dinah's quilting party - I was seeing Nellie home." - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -TO invalids, or to the really destitute, Canadian winters, clear and -bright though they are, may seem unduly long; but for our little -Canadian Cousins, warmly clad, warmly housed, and revelling in the -season's healthful sports, the months went by as if on wings. With -March, though the winds were strong, the sun began to show his power, -and by the middle of the month the sap was running, and the -maple-sugar-making had begun. Jackie persuaded his father to take him -out one morning to the woods, and to help him tap a number of trees. -When they went back later and collected the tin cups which they had left -under the holes in the trees, they found altogether about a pint of sap. -This they took carefully home, and Jack persuaded every one to taste -it, then boiled the remainder until it thickened a little,--a very -little, it is true,--and the family manfully ate it with their muffins -for tea, though Mrs. Merrithew declared that she believed they had -tapped any tree they came across, instead of keeping to sugar-maples. - -Toward the end of the month Mrs. Grey got up a driving-party to one of -the sugar-camps, and though it was chiefly for grown people, Mrs. -Merrithew allowed Dora and Marjorie to go. The drive was long, and -rather tiring, as the roads were beginning to get "slumpy," and here and -there would come a place where the runners scraped bare ground. But when -they reached the camp they were given a hearty welcome, allowed to -picnic in the camp-house, and treated to unlimited maple-syrup, sugar, -and candy. - -The process of sugar-making has lost much of its picturesqueness, since -the more convenient modern methods have come into use. Mrs. Grey -remembered vividly when there were no camp-houses, with their big -furnaces and evaporating pans, and no little metal "spiles" to conduct -the sap from the trees to the tins beneath. In those days the spiles, -about a foot in length, were made of cedar, leading to wooden -troughs,--which, she maintained, gave the juice an added and delicious -flavour. But this their host of the sugar-camp would not admit, though -he agreed with her that the process of boiling must have been much more -interesting to watch when it was done in big cauldrons hung over -bonfires in the snowy woods. When the visitors left camp, each one -carried a little bark dish (called a "cosseau") of maple-candy, -presented by the owner of the camp, and most of them had bought -quantities of the delicious fresh sugar. - -April brought soft breezes, warmer sunshine and melting snow. It seemed -to Dora that people thought of scarcely anything but the condition of -the ice, and the quantity of snow in the woods. Then they began to say -that there would be a freshet, and Debby, who was apt to forebode the -worst, announced that the bridges would go this time, sure! Mr. -Merrithew only laughed when Marjorie asked him about it, and said that -this prophecy had been made every year since the bridges were built, and -that there was no more danger this year than any other. But Mrs. -Merrithew, though she could not be said to worry, still quietly decided -what things she would carry with her in case of a flight to the hills! -The freshet which was talked about so much was, in spite of Mr. -Merrithew's laughter, a remote possibility; certainly not a probability. -In his own and Mrs. Merrithew's youth, it had been so imminent that -people actually _had_ gone to the hills. A tremendous jam had been -formed a few miles above town; but a few days of hot sun had opened the -river farther down, and the danger had passed. Since the two bridges, -however, had been built, some people thought that there was a chance of -the ice jamming above the upper bridge. Usually the worst jams were -between the islands, not far above town. - -Each day some fresh word was brought in as to the river's condition. -"The River St. John is like a sick person, isn't it?" Dora said one -afternoon. "The first thing every one says in the morning is, 'I wonder -how the river is to-day.'" - -The words were scarcely out of her mouth when Mr. Merrithew came in -hastily, calling out: - -"Come, people, if you want to see the ice go out. The jam by Vine Island -is broken. Come quick. It's piling up finely!" - -In a very few minutes the whole family answered to his summons, and they -set out in great excitement to watch their dear river shake off its -fetters. They made their way quickly to the wooden bridge, and found a -good share of the population of Fredericton there assembled. It was -truly a sight well worth going to see. Below the bridge the dark water -was running swiftly, bearing blocks of ice, bits of board, and -logs,--indeed, a fine medley of things. But _above_ the bridge! Jackie -clapped his hands with delight, as he watched the ice, pushed by the -masses behind it, throw itself against the mighty stone piers, and break -and fall back, while the bridge quivered afresh at each onslaught. It -was truly grand to see, and they stayed watching it for more than an -hour; stayed till Jackie began to shiver, and Mrs. Merrithew hurried -them home. - -By the next morning the river was rapidly clearing, so that some -reckless spirits ventured to cross in boats and canoes, dodging the -ice-cakes with skill worthy to be employed in a better cause. In a day -or two more the deep whistle of the river-boat was heard; a sound that -brings summer near, though not a leaf be on the trees. But it was not -until the ice had entirely ceased running, and the river had begun to go -down, that really warm weather could begin, for, until then, there was -always a chill air from the water. - -But after that,--ah, then spring came in earnest, with balmy airs and -singing birds, pussy-willows, silver gray, beside the brooks, and little -waterfalls laughing down the hills. Then came the greening fields, the -trees throwing deeper shadows, and the Mayflowers, pink and pearly and -perfect, hiding under their own leaves in damp woodland hollows! The -children made many excursions to gather these fragrant blooms, and kept -quantities of them in the Den until the season was over. It would be -hard, Mrs. Merrithew thought, to find anything more lovely, and to show -how thoroughly she appreciated their attention, she made for each child -a little Mayflower picture in water-colours. In Marjorie's the flowers -were in a large blue bowl, on a table covered with an old-blue cloth; -for Jackie she painted them in a dainty shallow basket, just as he had -brought them from the woods; and for Dora there was a shadowy green bit -of the woodland itself, and a few of the braver blossoms just showing -among leaves and moss. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -ONCE more the lilacs were in blossom in the garden of the Big Brick -House. The blackbirds called and chuckled in the lofty branches of the -elms, and robins hopped about the lawns, seemingly with the express -purpose of tantalizing Kitty Grey. On the lawn, where the hammocks hung, -a happy group was gathered. Mr. and Mrs. Merrithew were there, Marjorie -and Dora, Katherine and Jack, and two others who evidently formed the -centre of attraction. Of these, one was a tall, thin man, with a frame -that must once have been athletic, and a pathetic stoop in the broad -shoulders. He sat in a deep armchair, with Dora contentedly nestled on -his knee. In a hammock near him sat a lady, with a dark, lovely face, -beautifully arched brows, and soft eyes, so like Dora's that a stranger -might have guessed their relationship. - -Mr. Carman, though still an invalid, was wonderfully better, and both he -and his wife were full of praises of the great, beautiful West, its -scenery, its climate, and its possibilities. - -"I have come to the conclusion," Mr. Carman said, after an enthusiastic -description of a sunset in the Rocky Mountains, "that it is no wonder we -Canadians are proud of our country." - -"Then you and Aunt Denise shall be 'Sons and Daughters,'" cried Jackie, -"and you can read a paper about the West at our very next meeting. That -_will_ be fine!" - -And Uncle Archie and Aunt Denise were accepted then and there as members -of the S. A. D. O. C. - -The travellers had only arrived the day before, so there was still much -to ask and tell; but Dora and her parents had already had a long talk -as to plans and prospects, and the little girl was radiant with delight -over the arrangements that were decided upon. Marjorie, who could not -help being a little cast down at the prospect of a separation from her -cousin, wondered that Dora did not seem to mind at all. But when, by and -by, they strolled off together to the grape-arbour for a talk, she -understood the reason of this cheerfulness. - -"I want to tell you all about our plans," Dora began, as soon as they -were seated in their favourite nook. "You see, mother says that dear -father, though he is certainly better, won't be able to work for a long, -long time. Next winter they will probably go to Barbadoes, where some -friends of mother's are living; and if they do, I am to stay with you -_all winter_ again,--if you will have me, Marjorie! Your mother says -_she_ will!" - -"_Have_ you!" Marjorie exclaimed. "Oh, but I am glad! I don't know what -I will do without you all summer, but it is fine to know that at least -we will have the winter together." - -Then Dora burst into a peal of laughter, and clapped her hands over the -news that she had to tell. - -"Oh, I've got the best to tell you yet," she said. "Father and mother -have quite decided to stay _here_, in Fredericton, all summer! They want -to rent a furnished house, just as close to this one as they possibly -can; and then we will be together almost every minute, just as we are -now. _Won't_ it be lovely?" - -Marjorie sat quiet for a minute, and thought it over with shining eyes. -Then she gave Dora a regular "bear-hug," and cried: - -"I feel just like Jackie does when he dances a war-dance! I was going to -say that it was too good to be true, but mother says she doesn't like -that saying, for there is nothing too good to come true sometime, if it -isn't already. Come and tell Jack and Aunt Kathie, quick! They will be -almost as glad as I am!" - -So these little Canadian Cousins went hand in hand down the garden-path, -full of happy thoughts of the long bright summer days that spread before -them. - - -THE END. - - - - -THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES - -The most delightful and interesting accounts possible of child life in -other lands, filled with quaint sayings, doings, and adventures. - -Each one vol., 12mo, decorative cover, cloth, with six or more full-page -illustrations in color. - - Price per volume $0.60 - - -_By MARY HAZELTON WADE (unless otherwise indicated)_ - - =Our Little African Cousin - - Our Little Alaskan Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - - =Our Little Arabian Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little Armenian Cousin= - - =Our Little Brown Cousin - - Our Little Canadian Cousin= - By Elizabeth R. Macdonald - - =Our Little Chinese Cousin= - By Isaac Taylor Headland - - =Our Little Cuban Cousin - - Our Little Dutch Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little English Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little Eskimo Cousin= - - =Our Little French Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little German Cousin= - - =Our Little Hawaiian Cousin= - - =Our Little Hindu Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little Indian Cousin= - - =Our Little Irish Cousin= - - =Our Little Italian Cousin= - - =Our Little Japanese Cousin= - - =Our Little Jewish Cousin= - - =Our Little Korean Cousin= - By H. Lee M. Pike - - =Our Little Mexican Cousin= - By Edward C. Butler - - =Our Little Norwegian Cousin= - - =Our Little Panama Cousin= - By H. Lee M. Pike - - =Our Little Philippine Cousin= - - =Our Little Porto Rican Cousin= - - =Our Little Russian Cousin= - - =Our Little Scotch Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - - =Our Little Siamese Cousin= - - =Our Little Spanish Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - - =Our Little Swedish Cousin= - By Claire M. Coburn - - =Our Little Swiss Cousin= - - =Our Little Turkish Cousin= - - - - -THE GOLDENROD LIBRARY - -The Goldenrod Library contains stories which appeal alike both to -children and to their parents and guardians. - -Each volume is well illustrated from drawings by competent artists, -which, together with their handsomely decorated uniform binding, showing -the goldenrod, usually considered the emblem of America, is a feature of -their manufacture. - - Each one volume, small 12mo, illustrated $0.35 - - -LIST OF TITLES - - =Aunt Nabby's Children.= By Frances Hodges White. - =Child's Dream of a Star, The.= By Charles Dickens. - =Flight Of Rosy Dawn, The.= By Pauline Bradford Mackie. - =Findelkind.= By Ouida. - =Fairy of the Rhone, The.= By A. Comyns Carr. - =Gatty and I.= By Frances E. Crompton. - =Helena's Wonderworld.= By Frances Hodges White. - =Jerry's Reward.= By Evelyn Snead Barnett. - =La Belle Nivernaise.= By Alphonse Daudet. - =Little King Davie.= By Nellie Hellis. - =Little Peterkin Vandike.= By Charles Stuart Pratt. - =Little Professor, The.= By Ida Horton Cash. - =Peggy's Trial.= By Mary Knight Potter. - =Prince Yellowtop.= By Kate Whiting Patch. - =Provence Rose, A.= By Ouida. - =Seventh Daughter, A.= By Grace Wickham Curran. - =Sleeping Beauty, The.= By Martha Baker Dunn. - =Small, Small Child, A.= By E. Livingston Prescott. - =Susanne.= By Frances J. Delano. - =Water People, The.= By Charles Lee Sleight. - =Young Archer, The.= By Charles E. Brimblecom. - - - - -COSY CORNER SERIES - -It is the intention of the publishers that this series shall contain -only the very highest and purest literature,--stories that shall not -only appeal to the children themselves, but be appreciated by all those -who feel with them in their joys and sorrows. - -The numerous illustrations in each book are by well-known artists, and -each volume has a separate attractive cover design. - - Each 1 vol., 16mo, cloth $0.50 - - -_By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON_ - - -=The Little Colonel.= (Trade Mark.) - -The scene of this story is laid in Kentucky. Its heroine is a small -girl, who is known as the Little Colonel, on account of her fancied -resemblance to an old-school Southern gentleman, whose fine estate and -old family are famous in the region. - - -=The Giant Scissors.= - -This is the story of Joyce and of her adventures in France. Joyce is a -great friend of the Little Colonel, and in later volumes shares with her -the delightful experiences of the "House Party" and the "Holidays." - - -=Two Little Knights of Kentucky.= - -WHO WERE THE LITTLE COLONEL'S NEIGHBORS. - -In this volume the Little Colonel returns to us like an old friend, but -with added grace and charm. She is not, however, the central figure of -the story, that place being taken by the "two little knights." - - -=Mildred's Inheritance.= - -A delightful little story of a lonely English girl who comes to America -and is befriended by a sympathetic American family who are attracted by -her beautiful speaking voice. By means of this one gift she is enabled -to help a school-girl who has temporarily lost the use of her eyes, and -thus finally her life becomes a busy, happy one. - - -=Cicely and Other Stories for Girls.= - -The readers of Mrs. Johnston's charming juveniles will be glad to learn -of the issue of this volume for young people. - - -=Aunt 'Liza's Hero and Other Stories.= - -A collection of six bright little stories, which will appeal to all boys -and most girls. - - -=Big Brother.= - -A story of two boys. The devotion and care of Steven, himself a small -boy, for his baby brother, is the theme of the simple tale. - - -=Ole Mammy's Torment.= - -"Ole Mammy's Torment" has been fitly called "a classic of Southern -life." It relates the haps and mishaps of a small negro lad, and tells -how he was led by love and kindness to a knowledge of the right. - - -=The Story of Dago.= - -In this story Mrs. Johnston relates the story of Dago, a pet monkey, -owned jointly by two brothers. Dago tells his own story, and the account -of his haps and mishaps is both interesting and amusing. - - -=The Quilt That Jack Built.= - -A pleasant little story of a boy's labor of love, and how it changed the -course of his life many years after it was accomplished. - - -=Flip's Islands of Providence.= - -A story of a boy's life battle, his early defeat, and his final triumph, -well worth the reading. - - -_By EDITH ROBINSON_ - - -=A Little Puritan's First Christmas.= - -A Story of Colonial times in Boston, telling how Christmas was invented -by Betty Sewall, a typical child of the Puritans, aided by her brother -Sam. - - -=A Little Daughter of Liberty.= - -The author introduces this story as follows: - -"One ride is memorable in the early history of the American Revolution, -the well-known ride of Paul Revere. Equally deserving of commendation is -another ride,--the ride of Anthony Severn,--which was no less historic -in its action or memorable in its consequences." - - -=A Loyal Little Maid.= - -A delightful and interesting story of Revolutionary days, in which the -child heroine, Betsey Schuyler, renders important services to George -Washington. - - -=A Little Puritan Rebel.= - -This is an historical tale of a real girl, during the time when the -gallant Sir Harry Vane was governor of Massachusetts. - - -=A Little Puritan Pioneer.= - -The scene of this story is laid in the Puritan settlement at -Charlestown. - - -=A Little Puritan Bound Girl.= - -A story of Boston in Puritan days, which is of great interest to -youthful readers. - - -=A Little Puritan Cavalier.= - -The story of a "Little Puritan Cavalier" who tried with all his boyish -enthusiasm to emulate the spirit and ideals of the dead Crusaders. - - -=A Puritan Knight Errant.= - -The story tells of a young lad in Colonial times who endeavored to carry -out the high ideals of the knights of olden days. - - -_By OUIDA (Louise de la Ramée)_ - - -=A Dog Of Flanders:= A CHRISTMAS STORY. - -Too well and favorably known to require description. - - -=The Nurnberg Stove.= - -This beautiful story has never before been published at a popular price. - - -_By FRANCES MARGARET FOX_ - - -=The Little Giant's Neighbours.= - -A charming nature story of a "little giant" whose neighbours were the -creatures of the field and garden. - - -=Farmer Brown and the Birds.= - -A little story which teaches children that the birds are man's best -friends. - - -=Betty of Old Mackinaw.= - -A charming story of child-life, appealing especially to the little -readers who like stories of "real people." - - -=Brother Billy.= - -The story of Betty's brother, and some further adventures of Betty -herself. - - -=Mother Nature's Little Ones.= - -Curious little sketches describing the early lifetime, or "childhood," -of the little creatures out-of-doors. - - -=How Christmas Came to the Mulvaneys.= - -A bright, lifelike little story of a family of poor children, with an -unlimited capacity for fun and mischief. The wonderful never-to-be -forgotten Christmas that came to them is the climax of a series of -exciting incidents. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Note: - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Little Canadian Cousin, by -Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR LITTLE CANADIAN COUSIN *** - -***** This file should be named 43249-8.txt or 43249-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/2/4/43249/ - -Produced by Emmy, Dianna Adair and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at - www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email -contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the -Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |