r^:^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A ^ .^ >V 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^ UL ™1A U 116 ♦, i ^ / v^ /i >^^ 'bscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont AtA filmies A nouveau de fapon A obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 10X >t,UIII sill a Bl III 1119 O U MM X ua raau uiiun 18X inuii ^UB c i-aaa SUUB 22X 26X m y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: National Library of Canada L'exemplaire fllm6 fut reprodult grdce d la g6n6rosit6 de: Bibliothdque nationale du Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol —»- (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet6 de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimde sont filmds en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'imprestion ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film^s en commengant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE ". le symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds d des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reprodult en un seul cliche, il est filmd d partir de ('angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 6 e A hand wao seen to wave in answer to Harry's cheer. Page 47. .k ti M«; IfuCSF OK. K ■- 'i X » ■^y '^1% ^f. 1^. Ki^^^^t,,^^ ^« m. \,^" «f.(.«R '.,. . 'a- :■ »>«ft>'*.' irlr:- i# iJ^iiil^; '■-S •< •*»?■ .i?^Li»''--J*ur€.J* tV^ ^ ^. ^ I .Hir ->.•- ':\-%'^^ K ., .;#■ .,!* • •'»'*M-. ^^^"^^ ' ■'■•Jut; Aii^i,'----' -'K'i^ '<'■■*■"■ ■ ■'■■ . ■ : : ■S>*i •■ • ■ ^k'';^' ^ ■*- . T- . ■ - -1- - -- .\ hantl w.'U-: seen t.o »vu\ ^ In uj..-iv< .-r '.t , Batry'd chotr. Ti-gc 47. ;\ I THE LOG HOUSE; OB ADVENTURES IN CANADA By W. H. G. Kingston. Boston: Published by ^. jlothrop & Co. drover, J7. H,: G. T. (Day & Co. I "^jiik-^ '•'7 t / t< THE LOG HOUSE. CHAPTER I. <9M.T was late in the afternoon when Mr. Philip Ash ton walked up to the door of his residence in Portman Square. His hand touched the knocker irresolutely. " It must be done," he said to himself. " May strength be given to all of them to bear the blow ! " His hand shook as he rapped. The hall door flew open, a servant in handsome livery stood ready to take his hat and gloves. As he entered the drawing-room his wife and daughters rose to welcome him, with affection beaming in (8) The Log House, their eyes, as did his three sons, who had just arrived at home from different directions. '* Dear papa, you are not well," exclaimed Sopliy, his eldest daughter, leading liim to a seat. "Pliilip, what is the matter ? " asked his wife, leaning over him. — " Sit down, dears, and I will tell 3^ou," he answered, pressing her hand. '' A severe trial has come upon us, but — " * * ♦ ♦ *' Dear Leonard, nothing lias happened to him, I pray ? '* gasped out Mrs. Ashton. Leonard was a sailor son, the only one now absent. — " Thank Heaven he is well ; I had a letter from him only to-day," answered Mr. Ashton. "Many mercies are granted us, and I trust, therefore, that you will all submit to be deprived, without murmur- ing, of the wealth we hitherto have thought our own. Dear ones, the law-suit has been decided against us ! " The young Ashtons were silent for some min- utes, but presently recovered themselves. " We can all work," exclaimed the three sons, in a breath. '* Our happiness does not consist in # Or, Adventures in Cauuiht. this,'* said Sophy, glancing round the room. ** We will make the sinaUcst cottage conirortalde for vou, maninia." " I am sure we can, and do all the work ourselves," cried Fanny, her next Bister. " I can make a pu(hling, and churn, ai: I could soon learn how to milk a cow," said Agnes, tlie third dau^jhter, lauffhin'^. ** I have alwavs wished to live in a cottage in the country." " I've arranged it," said Fanny. ^^ Agnes shad be cook, I will be waiting-maid, Sophy house- keeper, Philip bailiff, Harry gardener, and Charley — oh, let me consider — general I'aiin- servant : won't that be excellent ? '* *' But you place your mother and me on tho shelf," said Mr. Ashton, his spirits reviving from seeing the way in which his children bore tlie announcement he had so dreaded making. " What are we to do ? " — " Oh, papa, of course you and mamma are to do nothing. We are all to work for you," exclaimed Harry, a fire youth of fourteen, who looked as if there was indeed work in him. " Of course," added Char- 6 The Log Home; ley. •* How we ought to thank yon, papa, for luiving ns taught carpentering, and that wo all liave such a fancy for gardening. John says, too, tliat I know ahiiost as much ahout pigs and cowd und sheep as he does ; and as for Phil, he knowa more about everything than all of us put to- gether." Philip — Mr. Ashton's eldest son — had not spoken after lie had first expressed his feelinga with his brothers. His thoughts were elsewhere. A bright airy castle he had lately raised, had just been hurled rudely to the ground, and he was Btunned by the crash. Mr. Ashton retired to rest that night with a mind greatly relieved. He had not doubted the affection of his children, and he was assured that it would enable them to bear their reverse of fortune with cheerfulness. When he rose in the morning he prayed earnestly for strength to go through the work required of him, and that is never denied to those who seek it from Him who can alcne afford it. In all the work he received '■*» Ory Adventitres in Canada. al)lo nssistance from his son. Philip had n(»t left a single; (U'l)t unjuiid at the University, by whieh, under his altered circumstances, he miglit over afterwards have been liampered. Mr. Ashton having never allowed household bills to run on, was coinparatively free from debt. All his affairs arranged, he found himself with an income — arising from a settlement on his wife — of two hundred pounds a year, and about fifteen hundred pounds in ready money. Once more his family being assembled, he pointed out to them that though their plans were very good, if they wei e to remain a united family they must look to the future, and seek in another country the opportunity of developing their energies. " What do you think of Canada ? " he asked. — *' a capital country 1 " cried Charley, who, as the youngest, spoke first. " I know all about the sleighing, and the skating, and the ice-boats, and the coasting down snow-hills, and the shooting huge deer, and the snow-shoeing, and the sailing on the lakes, and the fishing, and the sporting of all sorts, — nut a country like it, I should say." ^M \ IM i ! 8 The Leg House; " It's a country for hard work, I know," said Harry. " Nothing I should fancy so much aa cutting down trees, building log huts, fencing in fields, and ploughing and reaping. Ever since I read ' Laurie Todd ' I have wished to go there.'* Philip and his sisters expressed themselves equally ready to emigrate. No time was lost in making the necessary preparations, after it was resolved that they should go to Canada. It was highly gratifying to them to find that several of their servants wished to accompany them. Two only, however, could be taken. Of these Mrs. Summers had been the nurse of all the younger children, and had lately acted as housekeeper. **It would break my heart, marm, if you were to go out to a strange country, and I, who am still strong and hearty, not to be with you to help you in all your troubles," she said, with tears in her eyes, to Mrs. Ashton. " Though you take them like an angel, marm, they are troubles." The other, Peter Puckle by name, had been first stable-boy, m Or, Adventures in Canada, 9 »» then pn,;^e, and lately footman. He engaged Harry to plead his cause. " The wa^es and the passage-mone}^ shan't stand in the way, Master Harry," he urged. ** I have not been in the family all these years without laying by some- thing, and it's the honor of serving your good father still is all I want." The surface of the broad Atlantic was scarcely ruffled by a breeze as the steamer with the Ashton family on board rushed across it. " Well, Sophy, I declare it is worth being ruined for the sake of the fun we have on board," exclaimed Charley, to his eldest sister, who was sitting reading on deck, at a short distance from the rest of the party. A gentleman standing by heard the re- mark, and tinding Charley by himself directly afterwards, he observed, smiling, " Why, my young friend, you do not look as if you were ruined. I have never met a happier family than yours appears to be. What did you mean by saying that ? " — *' Well, I do not think that we are ruined really, sir," said Charley, artlessly ; ii 10 The Log House; •* still, my papa had many thousand pounds a yp'i.r till lately, and we lived in a large house in London, and had another in the country, and Philip was at Oxford and Harry at Eton, and I was going there ; and now we are to live in a log hut in the backwoods in Canada, and that makes us all so jolly, because it will be such capital fun. Don't you think so ? " ** I have had some experience of life in the backwoods," answered the gentleman. " It has its advantages and its disadvantages, though I have little doubt but that you will find it pleasant." " What, do you live in Canada, sir ? " asked Charley. — " Yes ; I have lived there all my life," said the stranger. "But, my young friend, you say that you are ruined, and yet I see you have servants attending on you : how is that ? " — '* Why, they insisted on coming, and would not leave us,'* answered Charley. " Would more have accompanied you ? " enquired the stranger. *' I am afraid, though, that my questions may appear impertinent." — < Or, Adventures in Canada. n ** If pnpa would have let them," said Charley. »* That fact speaks volumes in favor both of master and servants," said the stranger to him- self. From that day Charley looked upon the stranger as an especial friend, though he could learn little more about him than that his name was Norman. At length the St. Lawrence was reached, and the Ashton family landed safely at Quebec, the chief port of the superb province which the gallantry of Wolfe won for England, and which, mainly by the perseverance and energy of Anglo-Saxon inhabitants, has become one of the brightest jewels in tho British crown. Ill lii ■ €^J CHAPTER II. »E have gained the day, Mrs. Ashtonr W 7^ '^^« ^-'-d the day, girf., ; .. ,, ^Ul<^ claim «rJ T\/r>. * , . ^'*- ^t?^ , . - -~ -.« uaj, girls : " ex- this wnexDeptP,! ""^^es Ash ton at "uexpected aisnouncement P best known to himself Mr rT , '''*'°"^ infonned his wife ad , . '" ''' "°' wite and daughtew of the law „„v go.ng on between himself and his Jr ' PW'ip Ashton. .. Guess th ""' """ u^uess the aniounf r " i. exclaimed. That was imnn •. , ^* (12, ""possible. "What do f '4 0?% Adventures in Canada, 13 you think of six thousand a year ? Every sliill- in'^' of it, and under my management it will become ten thousand ; aye, and more than that, probably." It was some time before the Ash tons could realize the fact of this good fortune, as tliey called it ; but as they realized it their ideas expanded, their aspirations increased. Their eldest son, John, lately articled to an attorney, must be entered at Oxford ; the second, appren- ticed to a draper, was sent off to Germany to grow whiskers and a moustache, lest any of the country gentry should recognize him as having measured out ribbons for them from behind the counter ; while the youngest was taken from the Grammar School and sent off, much against his will, to form aristocratic acquaintances at Eton. The great ambition of the Miss Ashtons was to shine in London society. Their father boasted that money could do everything. It enabled him to obtain a handsome house, equipage, and establishment, and then to com- mence their career in * the world of fashion. 14 '■f t 'i ^he Log House; There were three Miss A«hto„,. The two eM est were considered beinh'^o *u had been absent 0? '""=""'• ''"'•^• n absent on a visit, and did not retmn home till her father was on th. ■ off for London. ' ^""* "' ^«"'"S W^on the even., of her arrival. Mr.A..,to„ Jcd the way «« bis office at fi i , what T „ . 'eiiained from writing , "' I now wish to tell you" she I gentleman of o'ur name . . ™"-"'' ^ there with ' " ^^^^"''^^ ^ he ® with some members of hi, f ; -*-1uoed to me. Mrs L, "^^ "" Pleased with him -w! aw Irr^"""^"^ «f 1 ,, ^^ ^^^ frequently -^ ha ; ^ir"^ ■" "■- -■' '-'". ..'. .M Or, Adventures in Canada. 15 ^"0 eldest ii Mary, t return settiijnj u" said Ash toil of the Mai^, ther, I } been ^ntinor o iegan. 3(]di d hile I ?h, a :o be was nuch -he that •* What is his name ? ** asked Mr. Ashton, sharply. ** Philip Ashton ; — he is most worthy — most excellent," answered Mary, trembling at her father's tone. " He is all 1 " " He is a beggar ! " exclaimed Mr. Ashton, vehemently. *' You will have nothing more to say to him ; you understand me clearly ; it is not a matter I wish to discuss." Rising from his seat he led the way out of the room. Two days afterwards Mary received a letter from Philip Ashton, freeing her from her en- gagement to him in consequence of their altered circumstances, but couched in terms which more than ever convinced her that he was worthy of her best affections. The family arrived in Lon- don, and by dint of perseverance, managed to engage in a whirl of dissipation, which they called pleasure. Mary's cheeks grew paler than they were wont. Her sisters said that it was the effect of the London season. John, voting Oxford a bore, came to London, and without much difficulty, obtained the character of a tt It 1, 16 The Log House, fashionable young man about town. It mif^lit have been doubted whether Mr. Ash ton himself derived full advantage from his large income. Few of his guests knew him by sight, and he had often to steal off to bed fatigued with his labors as director of numerous promising specu- lations in which he had engaged to increase his fortune. Altogether the Ashton family were very busily employed. Some might say that they were like those who '* sow the wind to reap the whirlwind." We gladly quit them to follow the fortunes of their emigrant cousins. It mi(T]it n himself ■ incorno. t, and he with his ig specu- rease his ilj were 5ay that to reap o follow CHAPTER III. AN AD A is now traversed from one end to the other by railways, with numerous ramifications to the north and south, while steam-vessels run not only on its main artery — the St. Lawrence — and the great chain of lakes, but also on numerous other rivers and lakes in every direction on the lines of the highway to any inhabited district. Notwith- standing this, the romance of travelling through Canada is not altogether done away with. Al- though several of the chief cities contain very large populations, Montreal having one hundred thousand inhabitants, and Quebec and Toronto S (17) "*^m\ ^ ; i i 18 The Log House; not many thousand less, and possessing likewise all the advantages required by civilized comnm- nities, yet a very few miles away from them tho stranger may find himself in some wild district where he might suppose tliat the foot of man had never trod. In the summer, steamers on water compote with locomotives on land in con- veying passengers ; and when time is not of cen- Bcquence, the route by water is generally preferred. A few days only were spent at Quebec by tho Ashtons after their arrival, before they embarked on board one of those wonderful constructions, an American steamboat, to proceed up the St. Lawrence to Montreal. The entrance was in the ^ide of the vessel, and on the main deck, which appeared lumbered up from one end to the other with casks, chests, and packages, a flight of steps led to an upper deck, which had the appear- ance of a long gallery, fitted up as a drawing- room, with sofas, easy-chairs, and every luxury. The glazed roof was supported by pillars, but no Otj Adventures in Cunadu. 19 ^ likewise d comniii- tlicm tho Id district •t of limn amers on id in con- ot of con- general ly ec by tho embarked ructions, ) the St. "^1 \ ''-'A', vas in the ■ ■->''' k, which ;he other flight of > e appear- clrawing- Sv^ ' luxury. i s, but no ■'1?^ 'M access could be discovered to any spot where helmsman, captain, or crew might be posted. Harry, after many enquiries, found that tho wheel was on a platform on the roof forward, where the captain and pilot stood. lie pro- nounced the vessel to be constructed on two huge arches, having a vast Thames wherry below, with a superstructure of picture galleries on a wide platform extending far over her gunwale on either side. Montreal, the head of the ocean navigation, was reached ; and then by a series of magnifi- cent canals the rapids of the St. Lawrence were avoided ; the lake of the Thousand Isles, with their rocky bases and tree-covered summits, was passed, as were several larger and thriving towns, and Lake Ontario was entered. At Kingston they embarked on board another steamer, which was far more like an ordinary vessel than the one they had just quitted. Who should come on board, just before she left tho wharf, but Mr. Norman. A few hours after- M so The Lo(j House; Wttids, when Harry and Charley came on deck, they uttered an exclamation of surprise as they looked around. "What, is this called a lake, Mr. Norman ? Why, where is the land ? '* ♦* Out of sight,*' answered their friend, laugiiing. ** North, south, east, west of us. It is rather hazy to the north, or you would see the pine- fringed shore. We shall soon again see it, as we have to touch at several towns on our way »» Several large vessels were met under all sail, with numerous crews, steering for the St. Law- rence. "Where can they be going to?'* said Harry. " To Liverpool, perhaps, or to some other English port, laden with wheat from the Western States," answered Mr. Norman. " Ves- sels have sailed all the way from Lake Superior to England." They saw, however, more things to jvonder at that can well be recounted. Not the least, in the eyes of the boys, was the fine city of Toronto, with its numerous public buildings. " Why I '»^> Or, Adventures in Canada, 21 on deck, I as tlioy i a lalvo, land ? " augliing. IS rather he 2)ine- see it, on our all sail, t. Law- ?'* said o some om the " Ves- uperior nder at ast, in oronto, Vhy I thought wo were about to enter the backwoods by the time we got thus far west, and here wq an- ill the middle of as civilized a city as any we have seen," exehiimed Harry, on their return from an excursion through Toronto. ** VVe have many other fine towns still further west," said Mr. Norman, who had stayed at the same hotel. *' If we go into the States we shall find, several hundred miles off, Chicago, which has sprung up as if by the wand of the enchanter. The se- cret of this rapid increase is its peculiar position at the head of a great navigable lake, with a background unrivalled in its corn producing powers. In the course of years we may hope to see cities, towns, and villages, rising at intervals on British territory, directly across our vast con- tinent, united to those which have already ap- peared in British Columbia." Mr. Ashton having made all the enquiries in his power as to eligible localities, set off with Philip to select a spot for the future abode of the fam- ily. He was advised to rent a partially cleared \ nr 1 '■ \ 22 The Log House; farm, but his sons especially entreated that li6 would purchase a tract of wild ground, that tiny might have the satisfaction of feeling that with their own hands they were bringing their own property from a state of nature into one of culti- vation. He yielded to their wishes, though, perhaps, the plan he was advised to adopt would have more rapidly afforded them a return for their outlay, and some of the luxuries of civili- zation. Mr. Norman casually enquired the di- rection in which they proposed prosecuting their search, and on hearing that it was to the north, he remarked that he might possibly meet them. We need scarcely say that the» Ashton family employed their time profitably in seeing all that there was to be seen in Toronto, and that they made excursions to Hamilton, and to several other towns accessible by railway. Mr. Ashton lost no time in searching for the desired locality, and he and Philip soon came to the conclusion that it was not a thing to be done in a hurry. Fortunately Mr. Norman did meet them, and Or, Adventures in Canada, 23 that he that tlicy liat with leir own of cult i- though, )t would turn for f civili- the di- ng their north, them. family ill that tt they several Ashton )cality, elusion hurry. 1) and with his assistance they at last found a spot to suit them. *' The next thing you will have to do is to get fixed^^' he said, laughing. " You will soon find out the meaning of that term, I guess. '»» CHAPTER IV. OWARDS the close of a bright summer day, several wheeled vehicles were pro- gressing slowly along a broad but rough- ish road cut through the forest in the northern part of the peninsula of Upper Canada. In colonial phrase, they were all wagons ; but some carried luggage only, and one of them hu- man beings, with a small amount of personalities, in the shape of carpet bags and hat boxes be- tween their feet. This vehicle was a long, shal- low box, or it might be called a tray on wheels, with four sei'ts across, each calculated to hold three persons, and with a box for the driver. The baggage-wagons were of the same build, without the seats, and were heavily laden with Or, Adventures in Canada. 25 ^. summer ere pro- '■ rough- in the is; but :ii hu- ahties, 3s be- , shal- heels, hold 3uild, with chests, casks, bales, and bedding, wiih otlior household furniture. They must have been stronger than they looked, to withstand the vio- lent bumpings and jerks they received as they progressed along the chief highway as yet opened up in that part of the country. The nature of the road varied very much, ac- cordinor to the character of the land over which it passed ; now it was of corduroy — that is to say of trees laid across it, the interstices filled up with clay or sand. In a few places in the neigh- borhood of saw-mills, planks had been placed diagonally across the road, secured to sleepers beneath, and over these bits the horses dragged the vehicles at a speed which made the travel- lers wish that the whole road was formed in the same manner. This they found was called a plank road. How the machines could hold to- gether, or the limbs of the occupants escape dis- location, seemed surprising as they surged over the first mentioned style of road. Now and then the foundation of the road was of rock ; and this, ' i I i 26 The Log House ; though even rougher, caused no fear of its letting the carriages sink through. Here and there gravel appeared and allowed of firm footing; but the worst parts of all were those iindelightful spots called cedar swamps, across which neither plank nor corduroy had been thrown, and which caused the travellers to doubt considerably whether they and their vehicles would get across or shik beneath the treacherous surface. In such cases, however, all hands uniting with ropes and poles, the wagons were dragged across. No one could complain that the road did not go direct for its object : on it went, up and down hill, and across bog and stream, with the same vanishing point between the dark tall, thick -growing trees ever ahead. Most people would have become very weary of what they had gone through and of the prospect before them, but the travellers now proceeding along the road were the Ashton family ; and Mr. Norman had prepared them fully for what they were to expect, besides which they were i Or, Adventures in Canada. 27 8 letting d there ng; but flight i'ul neither I which derably lid get urface. : with across. d did ip and with dark Most what spect jdinsr and ^vhat svere always inclined to make light of difficulties of every sort and kind. Their last day's journey was drawinj]^ to a close. As they mounted to the top of a ridge of hills over which the road led, in the distance was seen the blue surface of Lake Huron, "while below them appeared, surrounded by trees, a small piece of water, unnoted on most maps, though covering an area as large as all the Cumberland Lakes put together. In the smaller lake were several wooded islands, and there were promontories, and bays, and inlets, with hills of some height near it, adding to its picturesque beauty. A wood-crowned height separated the smaller from the larger expanse of water, except in one place, where a river or an inlet it might be called, formed a junction, which settles on the shores of the former would not fail to prize. " There is our future home," said Mr. Ashton, pointing to the side of the small lake nearest Lake Huron. " Philip and Peter, with the two 28 The Log House; men Mr. Norman sent up, will, I kope, have miide some progress by this time, and have ^ot a roof ready under which you may creep. We shall soon be at the village, and from thence wo must cross the lake in a boat, as the road round is impassable, or rather there is no road at all." Harry, who had a small telescope slung at his back, said that he could make out a wide clear- ing and a shanty in the middle of it. His parents hoped that he was correct, though his younger sisters and brother dechared that they should be delighted to camp out in the bash for the remainder of the summer. It was growing dusk as the travellers entered the village, which consisted of a store, three or four log huts, and half a dozen shanties or sheds, some the abode of man, and some of beast, and some shared by both. The store being covered in with planks, and having three stories, was the building of by far the greatest pretensions. One of the Bhanties was the future hotel of the place, at present, however, affording accommodation to Or, Adventures in Canada, 29 pe, hare have g^ot 'p. We 'lice we I round t all." ■ at his e clear- t. His igh his it they sh for ovvinir which •5, and ibode 3d by anks, ^^ of the S at 1 to neither man nor beast. The landlord stood at the door with his arms akimbo, and the air of a man perfectly satisfied with himself and his belongini^s, as he watched the approach of the wagons. He was active enough when they stopped before his abode, hoping that some of the party would become his customers. ** Well, strangers, you look spry after your journey. Glad to see you. We'll become good neighbors, I guess,'* was his familiar but not surly salutation. Mr. Ashton took it in good part. " Thank you, my friend, we have come along very well," he answered. " Can you tell me, have my son and his servant been here lately ? " " Your two young men were up here not ten minutes ago. They've gone back to the boat, I guess. K you shout they'll hear you.'* *' Philip a-hoy I '* shouted Harry and Charle}'', their shrill voices sounding clearly through the dark pine forest which shut in the settlement on either side, and sweeping over the calm waters of the lake. IrtlllHIMIi il »► , li so The Log House; tt Ay, ay ; all right! " was the chooiful repl\% and Philip, accompanied by Peter, came rushing up in time to help his mother and sisters to un- pack from their somewhat uncomfortable convey- ance. '* It does not do to be idle out here, and so, having our fishing gear, we were employing ourselves while waiting your arrival in catching some fish for your supper," he said, as he helped his mother to the ground. " Mr. Job Judson here did not quite approve of our proceeding, as he would rather we had spent the time in his bar; however, I have brought him up some of the proceeds of our sport to propitiate him, for he is an obliging, good-natured fellow, at bottom. I wish him a better calling." After all the family had alighted, and their affectionate greetings were over, Philip exhibited the fine white fish he had brought for Mr. Jud- son, weighing some four or five pounds. " Wo have half-a-dozon similar fish for our family sup- per, so we shall not starve," he said, with a tone of satisfaction. " We have not broached a cask Or^ Adventured in Canada, 81 il rep!\% I to un- convey- le, Hiid ploying afchiriir helped Judson eeding, in liis )me of ni, for )ttom. their ibited Jud- \Vo sup- tono cask u of beef or pork since we came here." •* And we shall not, I hope, while a bird or beast re- mains to be shot, or a fish to be caught," cried Hairy. As there was not a hut vacant in which to Btoie the lading of the wagons, Philip arranged to take the family across in the boat, with their bedding and other necessary articles, and to re- turn at once for the remainder. " I am sure that if D'Arcy knew it he would help, but we shall have a full moon up presently, and I would rather get the work done now than wait for day, when the heat on the lake will be considerable," he observed. Mr. Judson undertook to watch the luggage. *' Not that there's much need of that," he re- marked, "for the Injuns about here is honest fel- lows, and there isn't a white settler who'd touch as much as a h'apporth of baccy, 'cept maybe a newly-arrived Irishman, who hasn't learnt the ways of the country." The boat was of good size, calculated for Ill i 82 The Log House; I » il the waters of Lake Huron, and fitted with masts and sails, though these were not now usod. The lake was smooth as glass, reflecting tlie bright stars from the clear sky, and broken only by the fish which here and there rose to the sur- face, showing their size by the loud sound of the splashes they made. The irregular borders of the lake rose clear and well-defined on every side ahead, appearing to be of considerable height, almost mountains, in the doubtful light of morning. Philip, with Harr}^ and Charley, and Peter, with a lad they had hiied, pulled, while Mr. Ashton steered. " Row, brothers, row," sang out Harry. " Our home is ahead, and daylight is past. I am glad that the rapids are not near, though, for with our well-freighted craft it would be a ticklish job running them, I guess.*- The moon soon rose large and clear, a brilliant globe floating in ether rather than the pale- colored disc which it appears in England. As it shot upward in the clear sky it shed a silvery tlL Or, Advgnturet in Canadd, sa liglit over the soene, which became perfectly fairy-like in its beauty. " It Is well worth leav- ing all the glare and busilo of London for Iho sake of enjoying such a scene as this," said Sophy, and her sisters echoed the sentiment. *♦ I remember just such an one on Como,*' ob- served Pliilip, who had made a tour on the Con- tinent during the last long vacation. ** But even if the scene we have left equalled this in beauty, I should prize this far more," replied his sister. " 1 will tell you why. I feel that this is our own ; we are at home here, and may admire it without regret, because we know that we may enjoy it over and over again." *' Hillo ! what boat is that? " shouted a voice from some distance, and a dark object glided from behind a tree-covered islet they were pass- ing, and crossed the bright pathway which the moon cast athwart the lake. *' What, D'Arey ! is that you ? " shouted Philip, in return. " It's myself, unless I happen to be changed into another gintleman," was the Irish-like reply, 8 a^ The Log House; '■ tl II *' All light, old fellow, come along. I want joiir promised aid," said Philip. '* 1 have somo lew cargoes of goods to bo transported across the liiivo before the moon sets, and you are the very man I was wishing for." ** Why, Philip, are you not asking too much of a gentleman who must be almost a stranger to you ? " enquired Sophy, in a doubtful tone. *' Not at all ; we all help each other out here ; I have found out that," answered her brother. ** He is a capital fellow, a gentleman to the backbone, and knows that I will do tho same for him with equal pleasure. We are fortunate in having such a neighbor, and from what he tells me, he hopes to have his mother a"»'^ sisters out when he has got things a little square." D'Arcy's boat was soon alongside. When he heard who had arrived, he volunteered at once to go to the settlement to begin loading his boat, that he might assist Philip when he wanted to load his. " A capital idea, D'Arcy, just like you ; do so, old fellow," was all Philip said aa •miamrmmmitk Or, Adventure* in Canada, 85 I want ive soiiio cross llio the veiy 00 much stranger ful tone. Lit here ; brother. 1 to the ame for nate in he tells ers out hen he at once |is boat, nted to U like >uid as -''i they parted. In a short time the boat was along- side a small wooden pier, which afforded a convenient landing-place. ** The house is some way up the hill ; I will steer you between the stumps," said Philip, offering his arm to his mother, while the rest followed in their wake. A few minutes' walk brouijfht them in front of a plunk edifice of the Swiss cottage style ; the defects of which, whatever they were, were not vi-ible by moonlight. There were four doors, an*(l as many rather diminutive windows. ** This is but a summer-house, remember," said Philip, as they stood before the long low building. " We had to build our house according to our planks ; your room is at one end, then comes the sitting-room, and then ours, and the girls'. Remember, five days ago the foundations were not commenced. We don't take long to raise a house in this country ; — but, enter.'* All were delighted, for although the cottage was but a long, narrow shed, by means of three divisions and a liberal use of canvas and paper, •h ! r if 86 The Log House; Philip and his assistants had formed a neat sitting-room and two bedrooms, besides a * rougher one for himself and his brothers. In the sitting-room was a tabic covered with a most attractive-looking meal, though decked with neither china, glass, nor plate. A bright lamp hanging from the roof lighted up the little room, and gave it much of the appearance of a cabin. " We have only to fancy," said Philip, *' that we are on board ship without the danger of shipwreck, or being tumbled about in a storm, and we may congratulate ourselves on the extent of our accommodation. We have twice as many cubic feet of air for each person as the passengers on board an emigrant ship, and can admit as much more as we please. There, make yourselves at home. Father will now do the honors, and Jem is boiling the kettle for tea in the kitchen. I must be ofP, and hope to be back soon with D'Arcy and your traps." Away went Philip down to the boat, whence his father with the rest had been bringing up her Or, Adventures in Canada, 87 a neat sides a • lers. Ill witli a decked \. bii-hfc he lilllo nee 01 a . Philip, > danger it in a on tlie e twice as the nd can , make :lo the : tea in to be whence up her ladinc^. Who could ha\e recognized in the energetic, high-spirited bade woodsman Philip had become, the refined and somewhat sedate and stiff young student of a year ago. By-the- bye, the kitchen of which he spoke was a lean-to ot birch bark, under which a can^.p stove had been placed : near it was a shed prepared for the reception of the stores, among which Peter proposed to take up his abode. Philip's plan of fitting up the cottage was much admired. To the walls 'and roof he had first nailed some common canvas, on this he had pasted news- papers, which he had again covered with a common, cheerful-looking paper, such as is nsed generally for covering walls. The table itself consisted of some rough planks nailed to tressels, and the bedsteads were formed of rough pine poles with canvaa stretched across them. Shelves and pegs round the rooms vvould enable their inmates to keep them as neat as cabins. The voices of the rest of the party were heard sooner than was expected. ** We pressed the Tf-r i|ii — y ;; ' ! i f 1 88 TAe Zo^ House; ill ^! third boat on the lake into our service and have brought everything,** said Philip, entering with a slight young man, who, in spite of a very rougli, much- worn costume, looked the gentleman. " I have the pleasure of introducing my friend Mr. Lawrence D'Arcy, my fellow laborer, who, let me tell you, made every inch of the furniture of our mansion in a wondrous brief time. He had not begun it yesterday morning, for he was help- ing me to paper the walls till nearly noon.'* " It is the work of a self-taught artist,'* said Lawrence D'Arcy. " But, really, there is little to boast of in having put together a few rough poles. The plan is the only thing to merit com- mendation.'* Of course everybody thanked Mr. D'Arcy, and he at once felt himself perfectly at home. Never did the finest baronial mansion afford more satisfaction to the occupiers than did Philip's quickly-built cottage. It stood on a platform on the side of the hill, looking south over the lake, and sheltered by the ground above it from the Or, Adventures in Canada. ki rough com- icy blast of the north. There was not space on the platform for a larger building ; but a little way off was a much wider piece of level ground, and here already logs were laid for a log house. " The cottage was an after-thought," said Philip, showing the plan of the log house. " I knew that we could not get this fitted up in time, and planking being abundant and, cheap, I bethought me of running on a plank cottage which will serve you till you can get into the more substantial mansion. With a stove and ad- ditional banking up outside it may be made warm enough even for winter.'* Never was a family more busy, or one more contented and happy. ** Our present abode will make a magnificent dairy when we get into the big mansion," cried Agnes, as she saw the walls of the log house quickly rising. "How clean and nice the pans will look arranged round the walls and the churn in the middle.'* Your notions are rather too grand, I fear, dear," said her mother. ** We have only got one cow, 't ll iS il 40 The Log House; and there will be room here for the milk of fifty.'* " Ah ! hut the clay will come when we may have fifty. That heautiful iiieadow by the side of the stream to the ri!»ht will feed almost that number," said Agnes. " I should be content with four or five, so that we may make our own butter and cheese, and have cream and milk in abundance." observed. Fanny. " I should like to have time to attend to our garden, and poultry, and pigs ; and then, remember, we are not to grow into savages, so we must have reading, and keep up our music and drawing, and then there will be all sorts of household work to attend to." Sophy sided with Fanny, and Philip put an end to the discussion about the dairy, by telling them that he had calculated on using up the planks of the cottage for the flooring of part of the new house. That building got on with wonderful rapidity. Day after day Mr. Lawrence D'Arcy came over with his man Terry, a faithful fellow, born on his father's estate in Ireland, who had been his Or^ Adventures in Canada, 41 servant in the army for several years. Pliilip had, for the purpose of economizing heat and and saving roofing, resolved to make the house of two stories. The walls were formed of hori- zontal logs ; the upper part of each log was scooped out so as to admit the round of the one above it to fit in, and the ends were deeply notched for the logs forming the walls at a right ftn-> from over the hill, and swept across the lake. Ice had formed around the ed(j:e3 in shallow pools, but the hot sun had come out and completely thawed it. Often among the pine woods the heat was excessive. Had it not been for the rich-growing tints of the trees which fringed the lake and covered its islets, it would have been difficult to suppose that summer had passed away. There were the bright reds and yellows of the maple, the pale straw-color of the beech, the copper hues of the oaks ; and, indeed, Sophy found that she could exhaust all the (43) 44 The Log House; 'I iX 1 brightest colors of her paint -Lox, and j-et not give sufficient varieLy or brilliancy to portray correctly the gorgeous tints of the landscape spread out before the Window ; nor was there blue to be found equal to the blue of the lake, still less of the sky above it. She was glad that she had finished her drawing in time, for a strong north wind sprang up, and a sharp frost sent every leaf, pinched off, flying away, and the next morning a few only hanging to dead boughs gave a somewhat warm tinge to the otherwise dark green and dark brown appearance of the lake shore. *' Excellent ! it would give my dear people at home some idea of the beauties we have out here," exclaimed D'Arcy, who happened to look in the day Sophy had finished her sketch. " I should be so thankful if you could make a copy for me ; still more so if I might aspire to possess the original.'* "What could have made Sophy blu^h so just now? " said Charley to Agnes, after D'Arcy had ■i; i Or, Adventures in Canada. 4.") tals'en his leave. There the de:ir thin,;- slaiitU looking- at the lake : what a woiulcr to slu her doiiiL^ iiothiiiG;'.'* _ D'Arcy leaped gayly into his boat, hoisted tlie main-sail, a large one for her size, cast off iho painter, and hauling aft the main-sheet as she paid-off with the fore-sail, waved an adieu to his friends on shore. The lake sparkled brightly as miniature waves curled over its surface ; faster and faster the boat flew amid them, seeming to delight in her freedom. The breeze freshened; a blaek cloud came up along the course of the river from Lake Huron ; it rushed across the sky, followed by others, casting a shadow over the lake. A shriek from Sophy made Philip rush out from his workshop, saw in hand, followed by Harry. The white sail of D'Arcy's boat had disappeared, and a dark mass was alone visible on the spot where she had been. " He is a good swimmer, and will have got upon the bottom," cried Philip; but his heart misgave him, for the cold wind had made D'Arcy 46 The Log Home; put on his thick coat and hoiivy boots. Il.irry run towards tiieir large boat. The sails and oars ,weie on shore. ** No, no, — the canoe!" cried m Piiilip. An l4i(lian hunter, a friend of DArcy s, had left his canoe on the beach in the morning*. The paddles were in her. To launch her and step gingerly in was the work of an instant ; and as fast as Philip and Harry could ply their pad- dles, the light canoe flew across the lake. The rest of the family were soon on the shore, Mr. Ash ton, who saw the danger to which his sons were exposed in their eagerness to save their friend, watching their progress with the greatest anxiety. He unfortunately did not understand the management of a boat as did his sons ; nor did Peter, or he would have gone after them. The canoe tossed up and down, apparently scarcely able to buffet with even the small waves, to the lashing of which she was exposed. Still Philip and Harry bravely pursued their course, their eyes straining ahead, and utterly regardless of the danger they themselves were running. i* Or, Adventures in (-anada. 47 •* Phil, can you see him?" cried ILuTy. "I tlunk I do. Yes, surely, there's soinethiii;^ mov- ing on the i)OiiL's keel." ** Yes, I hope so : he'3 lying his length alon^^ it ; he could not sit up,'* answered Philip. ** How bitterly cold the wind blows out here." "Yes, he will be almost frozen, poor i'ellow ; he will lose his boat, too," said Harry. " Shall we carry him back to his place, or back to our own ? " ** Certainly, to ours. In his own hut he has no one to look after him properly ; while with us he will have no lack of nurses," remarked Philip. "Paddle away, Harry; he sees us." ** Hurrah, D'Arcy I" cried Harry, " we are coming to you, old fellow." A hand was seen to wave in return to Harry's cheer, " All right — all right I " cried Harry, delighted, " he is there and alive I " D'Arcy had managed to get one of his boots off, but he had great difficulty in clinging to the keel. He did not cry out to his friends to make haste, for he knew that they were doing their utmost to reach him. They encouraged him, 48 The, Lo(j House ; I however, to hold on ; for they judjjjed, by the chilly hliist whieh svepl iicross the lake, that ho must l)e nuinhud and fanitinLT. At leii.th tlicy got alongside the boat ; and now the greatest caution was necessary, lest, in taking him in, the canoe should be ca[)sized. The boat likewise, on being touched, might roll up, ami with hor mast stave in the fragile side of the canoe. It seemed almost impossible to accomplish their ob- ject without upsetting themselves. Those who know wliat a birch-bark canoe is like will best understand the difficulty. " Take me in by the head," said D'Arcy ; '' I'll crawl in." Tliey ac- cordingly paddled round to the stern of the boat, to which Philip made the bow of the canoe fast, and he was then able to reach over sufficiently to take hold of D'Arcy's hands, and to drag him on till he could place one foot on each gunwale of the canoe, and then, by drawing himself back, he took the weight off the bow and gradufdly drew his friend on board. D'Arcy's knees, how- ever, very nearly went through the thin bottom. I: Or^ Adventures in Canada. 49 IIo asked thorn to continue on to his clcarin;^, thiit he might get off attain nnd try to .save liis boat; but Pliilip would not hear of it. *' No, no," lie answered, ** she will drift on shore not far off, and we shall easily be able to find her; and you will catch your death of cold if you are not looked after immediately." " But poor Terry will go out of his mind if he supposes that I am lost," argued D'Arey, " We will try to let him know," said Philip. ''Besides, at our place, if we go on, they will not know whether we are all lost, or you are saved." This settled the question. " There, lie down at the bottom, and we will cover you up with our jackets," said Philip. "Give wav, Harry." To paddle back in the teeth of the freeze n 7 wind was no easy work, and more than once Philip wished that, for his friend's sake, he had gone on to his clearing; still, he guessed rightly, that every means to prevent injurious effects would be got ready. Manfully they paddled on, ! 50 The Log House; m m \ I !. but the spray from the small but quick-corning waves dashed in their faces, and the slightest cessation of exertion allowed the light canoe to be blown back again like a feather before thv^ breeze. Nobly they persevered. Once under the lee of the land, they knew that their progress would be more rapid. At last they caught sight of their own landing-place. Philip gave a flour- ish with his paddle, and pointed to the bottom of the canoe. The communication was under^ Btood, and a door, with blankets, were ready to carry D'Arcy up to the house. He begged, how- ever, to be allowed to walk up, declaring that he was well able to do so, though he did not object to having a couple of blankets thrown over his shoulders. He found, however, that he had miscalculated his strength, and without help he could scarcely move. The next morning the effects of the wetting and exposure were more conspicuous, and all the skill of Nurse Summers was required to bring him round. For several days he was kept in bed, and even when he was Or, Adventures in Canada. 61 loming \re tlifl under rogres3 it eight a flour- bottom •under« >ady to d, how- that he object ver his le had elp he ins: the more immers [several lie was able to get itp, the Ash tons would not let him leave I hem. " You are utterly unfit for work, my dear fellow," said Pialip. *' You will get well here much faster than sitting over the fire in your own shanty, and leave Terry more at liberty to go on with your house. He is con- tented enough now he knows we have you ia safe keeping." It was wonderful with what equanimity Mr. D'Arcy consented to remain the guest of the Ash tons. He was not idle, for he read while the ladies worked, taught Charley to net, and took Philip's place as his school-master in the even- ing, and imparted a large stock of backwoods- man's lore to all the family. Philip and Harry had, directly they returned after rescuing him, set off in their big boat, and arrived at his clear- ing in time to prevent poor Terry from going out of his mind, which he was nearly doing at seeing his master's boat drift by, and believing he was lost. They found him wringing his hands, and uttering a truly Irish lament as he contemplated m 52 The Log House; i the boat which had driven on shore a Bhort dis- tance from the cottage shanty. So occupied had he been in watching the upset boat that he had not observed their approach. " Och ! sad's the day ; and I'll never more be after seeing him again, the dear young masther, barrin' it's his corpse is sent up by the cruel waves on the shore, and I'll be left all alone in this desart counthry t j bury him, the last hope of the D'Arcy's, instead of in the tomb of his ancestors in ould Ireland. And what'U the poor mistLress be doing when she hears the news ? sorrow a bit could my hand write the words ; I couldn't do it even if I had the 'art, nor my tongue tell it, I'd sooner cut it of my mouth ; and sweet Misthress Katharine and Misthress Lily, they'll cry their pretty eyes out, they will." Again he set up a long, melancholy howl, not linlike that of a dog baying at the moon. The sound of the Ashtons' boat touch- ing the shore made him look up, with an ex- pression of hope in his countenance, as if ha Or, Adventures in Canada. 63 ex- lif ii0 expected to see his master, but it suddenly changed to one of still greater sorrow when he discovered that he was not of the party. Philip eager to soothe his anxiety, shouted out, as he St e[)ped on shore, " Rouse up, Terry, we Ii'avo hi in all safe on shore, only rather wet and cold.'* *' Is it the thruth ye are spaking, Masther Pliilip ? Arrah, an' I'm shure it is," cried Terry, rushintj towards him with frant?" ^T^stures of de- light. *' Just say that word again, he's safe, au* hlessin's on yer honest face, for I'm shure ye could not dosave a poor gossoon like myself.'* Philip repeated his assertion, and was not a lit- tle astonished to find liini>elf seized in Terry's arms, and hugged till the breath was nearly out of his body. The honest fellow's feeling then gave way in a burst of tears, which flowed while he a[)ologized for the liberty he became conscious ha had taken. D'Arcy's stay with his friends was prolonged over several days, and it was not till he was per- 54 The Log House, ii fectly recovered that they would allow him to go back to his clearing. He found several sub- jects to ponder on when he got there. W'--'' CHAPTER VI. HE south wind blew softly, the air was pure and balmly, the sun shone brightly, and the waters of the lake vied with the sky in the clearness of its azure tints. The birds, too, were warbling forth a happy song ; not, however, with the full swelling chorus of spring, but yet sufficiently to give cheerfulness to the otherwise silent woods. It is a calumny on the feathered tribes of Canada to assert that they have no song ; the blackbird can sing when he is inclined, as sweetly as his brother in Eng- land, and the Canadian robin's notes are as full (55) 66 The Log House; of glee as those of his smaller namesake in the old country. *' By turning our eyes from the bare maples, beeclies, and oaks, towards the pine trees, we mii,^ht fancy that summer had come back again," said Philip; " the Indian summer at all events. Sliould to-morrow be like this, I propose look- ing up D'Arcy. It's some days since we heard of him, and he will be feeling that we got tired of him wilh his visit here, poor fellow." *' Oh ! don't let him think that ! " exclaimed Sophy, earnestly. '' No, that I will not," said Pliilip. " Who'll go ? A little recreation will do some of us good, and we'll work all the better when we come back.'* Something kept Sophy from volunteering to be of the party, but her younger sisters jumped at the proposal. *' I know that you are careful- ness itself, Philip," said Mrs. Ashton ; *' but I entreat you to have but very little sail set.'* " Indeed, mother, I will carry only what is absolutely necessary," answered Philip. " We 11 ^Z^'ifif' Or, Adventures in Canada. 57 need be in no hurry — if the breeze holds, we shall have a soldier's wind, fair each way.'* The breeze did not hold, and towards evenin<^ a thick fog came on. During the night a curious crackling sound was heard, and when daylight returned, the whole lake appeared frozen over. The entire household was soon on foot and brav- ing the keen, frosty air, to observe the change which a few short hours had wroulightly inclined to one side, now to the other, like ships making short tacks. It was exhilarat- in ; exercise. Their spirits rose to the highest pitch as they glided on — they shouted and laughed with glee — Charley managed to keep up, but what was sport to his brother's, was rather hard work to him ; still he would not beg them to slacken their speed, but kept on bravely till his legs began to ache. They had heard Philip say that they were not likely to have many such days during the winter for skating ; for though there would be no want of ice, it would be soon so covered with snow, that it 62 The Log House; I would 1)6 impossible to get over it. Tlicy m\^\i easily, to be sure, sweep a space in the ice clear of snow, but that would be very tame work compared to flying over miles of ice as they were now doing. Charley, therefore, would not, if he could help it, ask his brothers to stop. At last he found himself behind. With his utmost exertions he could not keep up with them. While he was thinking whether he should call out, his foot struck something (it was the thick part of a branch which had been floating when the lake froze), and down he came. ** Oh Harry, Harry I " he cried out. Harry heard him, and circling round, skated back to his assistance. Philip had gone some way, when not hearing his brother's voices, he swept round on a half circle to ask them why they had become so suddenly dull. What was his dismay to find that they were not near him. Both were stretched their length, as it seemed, on the ice, at a considerable distance. As he turned he was conscious of a cracking noise, which seemed to 4 Or, Adventurer in Canada, C3 pass from one end of the lake to the other. Still lii3 must reach his brothers, or attempt to do so, even should the ice be givmg way every stroke he niiide. *' Oh, the ice is giving way I the ice is giving way ! " cried Charley ; but though the cracking sound incrjBased, Philip did not perceive any other sign of this being the case. '* Wliat is the matter with you, Harry ? " he asked. " Oh, I went to help Charley, and tumbled over the same log which capsized him," was the answer. ♦' lie says the ice is giving way, and certainly the water does look terribly near to it." Such in- deed was the case. Philip, from having kept his eyes fixed on the land-marks about D'Arcy's clearing, had not observed this so much as Harry now did, with his nose close down to it. Wisely keeping at a little distance, he advised them to ciawl away from the spot where they had fallen, and then, a little apart from each other, to get on their feet and proceed. Once more they were on their couise, but Philip made them keep one 64 The Log House; ill on each side of hira, going at a less speed than before. It was nervous work, though, for the cracking noise increased in loudness till it rivalled that of thunder — seeming to pass under their very feet. Speed and lightness of tread was everything. For himself Philip had no fear. He dreaded only lest Charley should again fall, and so did his best to keep up his spirits, and to banish the nervousness from which he saw that he was suffering. As they neared the shore the noises ceased and their spirits rose, though they were not sorry to see D'Arcy standing on the beach to receive them. His greeting was cordial. " I have been watching you for some time, and did I own a pair of skates I should have come out to meet you," he said. " When you all stopped, I began to form a sleigh to push off to your assistance, in case any one of you should have been hurt, when I observed that you were all on the move again. Instead, therefore, of going on with it, I sent in Terry to cook some dinner, which you will be wanting after your long %." Or^ Adventures in Canada, G5 The dinner was the usual bush fare — pork and potatoes (forming an Irish stew), fish, caught before the frost began, and a dumpling, which probably had been thought of only when the guests were first descried in the distance. The young men did ample justice to the feast, and perhaps spent a longer time over it than they intended. They had plenty to say, .about their own experiences especially; and wlien the young Ashton;s compared notes with D'Arcy, thoy hiid reason to consider their own trials far less [\ia\\ Ills. He had been left alone to fiirht the biilile of life, or rather with a mother and sister de- pending on him. After a once fine propeity which he had nominally inherited had been ^old in the Irish Incumbered Estates Court, he had found himself with the merest pittance on which to support them. With a small sum he had embarked for Canada, and was now forming a home for those he loved so well. There were numbers of men in similar positions, of whom he knew in the neighborhood and in different parts ^'1 66 The Log House; of the province — not all, however, doing eqiuilTy well — so:ue were successful, and they were tho sober, indusstrious, and judicious ; others were in a bad way, mostly for the beat of reasons, be- cause they were idle, and had taken to drinking, perhaps. " That is not necessary to ruin a fel- low," said D'Arcy. " I know several of the description I speak of, — gentlemen of birth and education. There -is one especially, who, prob- ably, begins the day after breakfast by smoking A pipe or two, then takes axe or spade in hand, aid coming in to an early dinner feels his soli- tude, and that he must have a talk with some- body. Instead of continuing his work, he mounts his cob, after taking a glass or two of rum or whiskey grog — the more out of spirits he feels the stiffer it is — and rides off to some neighbor, perhaps his equal, or perhaps utterly unfit to be Ills companion, as far as social intercourse is con- ccined. On the way he looks in at the store- house ; he has an account, and takes a glass or two more, dusiiing that it may be put down to (?/*, Adventures in Canada, G7 ig eqiiaNy were tlio s were in isons, he- drinking-, lin a fel- i of the )irth and o, proh- smoking n hand, lis soli- 1 some- mounts rum or le feels ighbor, to be s con- store- iiss or wn Lo him. Of course he never recollects how many glasses he has had, nor how his account is swell- iu'j^. He finds his friend, brings him in (prob- ably not unwillingly) from his work, and the two spend the rest of the day together. He may find his way home at night, or he may take a shiike-down, and, rising with a splitting head- ache, finds himself utterly unable to do anything. He is going to the bad very rapidly. His friends in England send him out money occasionally, under the belief that it is spent on the farm, but it all goes to pay off the storekeeper's account. Had it not been for this assistance he would have knocked up long ago. As it is, I expect he has already mortgaged his farm, for a small amount, may be; but it's a beginning — a second will follow — it is so easy an operation, and the end .-^annot be far off. Now poor Jack Mason will go back to England, his friends helping him, and abuse Canada, and say that it is a country totally unfit for a gentleman to live in — that hardy, rou^h fellows may subsist, but that no one can do more — no one can make a fortune." 68 The Log House; " A man must have energy, talent, and perse- verance to succeed here, as well as at home," said Philip. " The difference is, that in Eng- land, possessing them, he may not succeed ; here, possessing them, he must succeed. To commence the life of a backwoodsman, he must have health and strength, with the other qualifi- cations you have mentioned. Once having got a footing in the country, he must watch the open- ings which are sure to present themselves ; the man of talent will take advantage of them, and rise to wealth ; the man without talent will go on slowly improving his condition, and will be happy and respected. What more can a man desire ? '* " I agree with you, Phil ; at the same time that I intend to look out for the openings, and walk in if I can,'* answered D'Arcy. " When my guardians decided that I was to emigrate, or rather that they could do nothing for me at home, they liberally gave me the choice of Aus- tralia, New Zealand, the Cape, or British North Or ^* Adventures in Canada, 69 I perse- home," n Eiig- icceed ; d. To e miTst quidifi- ng got i open- s; the n, and ill go ill be man time and ^hen e, or e at Aus- orth America. I have an idea they cared very little where I went, so that I went away and gave them no further trouble. I had been dining the (lay before, at Dublin, at the mess of the — KcLiJment, which had just returned from Canada, and they were all high in its praise ; — such pleasant quarters, such gayety, such sleighing, sliooting, fishing, boating. Several declared that they would sell out and settle there. Naturally I chose Canada, without weighing its advantages with tliose of the other provinces; and though I found the reality of a settler's life very different to the fancy picture I luid drawn, having made up my mind to go througli with it, and have great reason to be thankful tliat I did so. Still, I fan- cy that people can make fortunes in Australia much faster than one can here." *' May be so ; but fortune is not the only thing desirable," said Philip. "All settlers do not make fortunes in Australia, — we hear only of the successful ones ; and then I caunot help thinking, that our Canadian climate, with its 1 i 70 The Log House; wonderful changes, our varied scenery, our insti- tutions, and our society, — I don't mean in such an out-of-the-way place as this, but such as are found at Toronto and else where, — are items which may be placed to the credit of this Province, and give it a superiority over every other. I have often fancied that there must be something mo- notonous and depressing in Australian bush-life ; the very uniformity of the seasons and of the face of the country must produce this effect. How- ever, old fellow, here we are ; and whether the land be a good, bad, or indifferent land compared with others, you and I have made up our minds to make the best of it. But it is time that we were off; we had not intended remaining so long." Philip and his brothers started up. " You must have coffee before you go ; it is a home manufacture, and so are all the ingredients.'* Terry poured it out of a veritable big coffee-pot — hot, with plenty of sugar and milk. It was pronounced excellent. ** See, Harry, you and W f u,. Or, Adventures in Canada, 71 •nr insli- in such as are IS wliich ice, and I have [ig mo- sh-life ; he face How- ler the ipared minds at we ng so ^'You home nts." 'e-i)ot was and Charley may supply your family with first-rate coffee," said D'Arcy. " We shall have a thaw before the winter sets in ; dig up all the dande- lion roots you can find ; dry them in the sun or in your oven for keeping ; roast tliem before use ; jiiid cut them up and grind them as you would coffee-berries. This is the result. By-the-by, Phil," he added, *' you told me that you had not caught any fish lately. It is just possible that a change may be pleasant ; and if you don't mind carrying a couple each of you, will you present tlieui to your mothor with my best compliments ? I luive got them slung ready for you, so that you have only to throw over your shoulders as you are starting." He did not consider that even a few pounds weight makes a considerable differ- ence to a skater. Philip, however, did not like to refuse his kind offer, knowing that it gave him pleasure to send the fish, and would give those at home [ileasure to receive tliem. Terry accord- inL;ly was diiected to bring out the fish, which were hard frozen, and were slung with ropes of Mil' m 72 The Log House, grass, and packed with pads of grass to keep them off the back. D'Arcy assured thera that the cracking sound they liad heard was no sign of danger, but, on the nonfroiy, el: vvcd that the ice had taken in every part CHAPTER VII. S the hut was close to the lake the skates were buckled on in the warmth, and to- gether the whole party issued forth, D'Arcy promising to come across the next day in a sleigh he had built. During the brief period they had spent in the hut the wind had changed, and with it the weather. Thick clouds floated overhead low down, lightish in color the air was sensibly warm- er. Philip looking at his younger brother said, " Charley, I have a great mind to leave you be- hind J it will be harder work than coming." But (73) 74 The Log Huuse; w yoy e„n«Me.ec. that hU „.a„.ine.3 was dta I-.-,, „..a i„.si«te., on atuHing. . w, may rpnnh h 1 n ^ ^>mi, we "J' xL.icii Ijonie befrup fi. 7., i^eioie the snow fill^ " -i i^i..li,, «,,,,,., ^,^,.^ J- -"N -M ^'-" ^e g,Hd to see you." "''' " ''° ■^Wiiy tlicy wont- l,„f passed be/o, *''° ""'""'''^ '""I I seU be/ore snow-flalcea bejfan (o /„„ , ,■ "■"y «euli„g o„ ti.eir faces T, ' fomunners of others . t ''"^ --«"'» ' ""'^ "'ey rushed dow„ I,,,,,,-,.,,, '^ f'e surface of the lal-P """"^' '"'^'«'-'"S Di.- ,he broth. , " ' "'"'^ ■•*'•--''• bi others hoar D'A rev's v.; • • ^'■"'' 'J--'y« shouting to til . """■' I'iK^y had, however .ot o """^' ''"' ' J^ oeen certain of f ho ^ ^ -"'d not have l,ked to do so o '"' ''^^ events went Ph;,; . "'"^ "' '''" '1, but the outline soon became very di,n Thicker and thicker fell tl,P c - the,r proper eour.e, PhiHp thou-ht C- you make out the hill, Harrv." -'-'• "No, Phil, cannot you-. 1 " /ou r answered Or, Adventures in Canada. 7r> as dis- j11, we said " Wo s luid a few 3 the tlioy eriiijr KJOt. iiu-'d k? J at, all his in. ey It. 3e »d ■i- c li Il.'irry: ** wliat's to be done?" ** Push on, of course, the snow may stop fulling, and we may Bce our way agani," said Philip. The snow, however, did not stop falling, but rather came down thicker and faster. Charley held out bravely, workhig on his way through the snow. Skating was far greater labor than before. Tliis should not have been : hard snow would have easily been pushed aside; a part of this melted as it fell. Philip did not express his his fears to his brothers, though he became very anxious. " What can we do ? " he k'ept saying to himself. " We must keep on ; we may hit our home or some parts of the shore which we know, and liom which we may reach it either walking overland, or by coasting along on skates." His greatest fear was approaching the commencement of the channel or river whit communicated with Lake Huron, where, as the stream was rapid, the ice probably was not iormed, and their destruction would be nearly inevitable. The dangerous point was to the 7« Ml! "if HI The Log House: "■«'" of their cou.,e • h« \^. c ■■"^''-d to the ieft. .:,.;. '""•^f"- "»'"-„, «"id Charley at ]en<.th • '"' ""'' ""-■'•'^•" t'-ey went • 1 ^T' '" * '''"^'"' '""«• 0„ J' Tvtnt, the pace became slower an.l , "'« youngest brother ken^ "-''' ' •' «-"r I think Jellrrr"" "''"'•''• - ^-^ate,'. observed Ch r '^^ """-" J"d.-ecl rightly that skates would «•„ '^ "-^- They went on -oT!!^"""^"""-"' «>'"ed that they ou^ht to h """ """'^ ''*■ • ^-=" before thl . n /" ,^^^, ^-"-' ""- - ^'^' not e.p,.ess hi Ct" ^^ "^-^- to keep up his K „ ' '' ^""^ ""I'onant y "P "IS mothers' si>iM>>, ir , •»'— strong .i„j,,,„.^J^"'^- «-' there ^-P on a strai,ht course ; He """""' " ^-*. and the snow el "" "°' ^ <^'-io„.s, as Harry obsTved :: /'•°'" "''' «-k of geese were bein. T\ " '' " The flakes were .J "'" '''-'''''■■''^■" -%vei,. Brave ChaX^t: -'"''"'' ^'^ ^- - --g very^tiS^ I:;"^; Or^ Adventures in Canada, 77 6ai>l nothing ; but he could not help uttering low sij^iis as he worked on, and wishing that he had n pair of wings to lift up his body. No one could speak except about their hopes or fears. At la 4 Charley felt that his knees were fail- in.? under him. ** Oh, Phil, I must stop," he cried out. Philip took him by the hand and cheered him up. ** Hold out a little longer, dear Charley ; we must be near the shore," he cxelaiuied. Charley said he would try, and supported on each hjind by his brothers went on. lie was again nearly giving in, when Philip cried out, " Land ahead! — land ahead! High land with tall trees close down to the lake. ' It must be near home." They pushed on vigorously. In less than a minute they ran up against a rock ; the tall trees changed into low bushes, and the high land into a clump of trees in the middle of a small island. Bitter was their disappointment. A moment's consideration made Philip and Harry certain that it was an island they had visited at tLa • !• 5^" I ' I t !i lIlH I I! ' 1 78 The Log Uou8e; southern end 'J f^e j^k, ^ , -••es distant both ■;.;'. "' '""^ »' '•"" ootn ticTT-. their own and D'AirvV "--""g.".. On examining the bark of 1 -d U^e direction in .hieh the, bl t ' -vineed that the, had been I'D, ',"" they had lan^. i ™aicing a circle, as bably mode mor. .^ ' ^' ^'''^ P^*«' J "-ue more than one cirolp. ;f ^u off acrain K. ^^''^'^^®- ^^ they started again, how could they gyhpo^ . i-he respomibility resting on Philin'. ^ , , --ver,great..„ottbahe e I al-out hi. brothers and bi,nse f W I' "'""" that the dear one^ at h ''"' ^"^« oiiLo at home wonlrl k« •about them. Had ^^ be., , "'""""' '""'" on the inland durmt. th. • > '" ^'•" "^' ami llie, should be Or, Adventures in Canada, 79 '\^ al)le to see their way across to the main shore. Ko time, however, was to be lost to prepare for the night before daylight should altogether depart. Philip was too good a backwoodsman to have left home without his axe and match- box. " D'Arcy little thought how useful his fish would prove to us," said Philip, as he looked about for the best spot on which to put up a shed. *' We shall not starve ; for that we should be thankful." •* And look here, we may have a plentiful dessert," cried Charley, coming up with his hands full of brilliant scarlet berries of a long ovid form. ** See, I know these are good to eat ; S(ti)hy was preserving them two days ago, and said so." The berries were the high-bush cran- berries which grow on a shrub about the height of the guelder rose. Charley had soon collected many more than he and his brothers could pos- sildy '.nit, especially as they had no sugar to eat them with. *'('ome, Charley, as you are able to move Hj 'u again had a hut raised of sufficient size to afford them all shelter. The younger brothers were, however, not inciijied to I f I 86 T%e Lo(/ House; Bleep, but they entreated Philip to rest, which he promised to do if they would undertake to keep awake. At present there seemed no chance of their getting away. As soon as Philip had lain down, Harry and Charley armed themselves with long burning sticks with which to receive the bear should he return, taking care to hang their fish up inside, out of his way. He was, how- ever, not likely to come back again, after the warm reception he had received. " I thought bears always shut themselves up in winter, and lived by sucking their paws," ob- served Charley. ** As to sucking their paws, I don't know," said Harry ; " but 1 fancy that the brown bear of this part of the world shuts him- self up for the greater part of the winter, and only occasionally comes out on a mild day to forage for food. I conclude that our friend had his nest somewhere near and v/as disturbed by the fire, and his olfactories excited by the smell of the broiled fish. I wish that we had caught him, we might have taken home something worth Or, Adventurea in Canada, 87 liavin":^." ** Do you think tliat he has left tlje island?" aiiked Cl)ailc3% '* Couldn't we hunt him up ? " *' Without consulting Philip ! and I slu»uld not like to awake him," said Harry, " IJut, I will tell you what ; we will make Bonie spears in the meantime, and harden their points in the fire, and if we can find him we'll tiike him, dead or alive." There were some tough young saplings grow- ing just outside, of siiffiuienL length for the pro- posed object ; three o^ these were quickly cut, and being pointed were hardened in the fire, and then again scraped, till they became rather for- midable weapons. " Don't you think Phil has slept long enough ? " said Charley, who was anxious to make trial of his spear. " I am afraid Master Bruin will be sneaking off, and lea\ing us to whistle for him." *' Very uncivil not to stop and be killed," said Harry ; " but we need be in no hurry ; if he didn't go off at first he is safe enough somewhere near here, depend on it." The snow continued to fall, but it could not ^, m m /a / o^ ■em J>i ? y //a IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 ISO 1^ ^ .^ ... 1^ I.I lb u. 1.8 Hiotographic Sciences Corporation // <.^.^*$^ %^ 4l i^jf V.A a '^ V'- -6 ^ 6" ^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 nrr 88 The Log House % have fallen so thickly as at first, or it would have covered the ground with a thicker coat than it appeared to liuve done. Daylight dawnud at last, and Philip woke up. He was amused by the preparations for a combat made by his brothers, for he did not believe that the bear would be found. Before going out all three knelt down and offered up their prayers and thanksgiving for the protection afforded them. Under no circumstances did they ever omit that duty. Philip then advised that they should take some breakfast, that they might be ready fur any emergency. Another fish was accordingly cooked, of which Charley, in spite of his eager- ness, was ready enough to partake. He was hoping all the time that Bruin would smell the savory meal, and would be tempted to return. Probably, however, he had already had quite enough of their company and mode of proceed- ing to wish again to encounter them. It snowed still, but not the dry, hard snow oF the previous evening, and Philip felt more than : Or, Adventures in Canada, 89 ever anxious on account of the warmth of the weatlier. Before the sun could have quite risen, rain came, mixed with snow, and gradually there was more rain and less snow, till the rain came down so fast that they were glad to get into their hut for shelter. They well knew that nothing so rapidly causes ice to become rotten as does rain. They might be prisoners, therefore, till it had sufficiently melted to allow of a boat being pu.shed through it. **But it cannot be rotten yet," said Harry. "Let us look out for the shore, and, if we can see it, push across to the nearest point ; never mind the rain." "Agreed." They crept out of their hut, anil worked their way to the shore of the little island. The land round them across the water was very faint ; still, as they fancied that they could distinguish their own home, and D'Arcy's clearing, and the settlement, they determined to try to reach one or the other. The settlement was the nearest, and if they reached that they might easily find their way home. There was a nominal road, If 90 The Log House; h. ■ though scarcely passable, except when covered wiih snow in winter. They were debatini^ whether it would be better to attempt to skate or to walk across the ice. " We can but pull our skates off if we do not make good progress,'* said Philip; so they were sitting down to put them on when Charley exclaimed that he must have a look for the bear; if he was there he would find him out. Off he ran with his spear. He had not been absent half a minute when ho came running back, crying out, ** Here he is, Bure enough, for he does not seem inclined to move. I suspect the tap you gave him, Phil, with your axe, hurt him more than v/e fancied." The latter remarks were uttered as the three brothers, with their spears ready for action, hur- ried towards the spot Charley had indicated. There, indeed, Wds a brown heap, from out of which a set of sharp teeth and a pair of twink- ling eyes appeared. " There, what do you think of that ? " asked Charley. The bear lay in a sort of root-formed cavern, under the bank. Som« Or^ Adventurer in Canada, 91 r*i' Biiow had drifted into it, which had been pro- tected from the rain ; on the snow were wide stains of blood. His wound would certainly make the bear more savage, and might not have much weakened him. Still, forgetting the risk they were running, they all three made a rush at liim with their spears. He attempted to get up, seizing Charley's spear from his grasp, and biting furiously at it, but Philip's and Harry's pinned him to the bank. Still his strength was great, and jt was not till Philip was able to get a blow at his head with his axe that his struggles ceased. " Hurrah, hurrah ! now we may live here for a week, like Robinson Crusoe," shouted Charley, highly delighted with their success. " And leave those at home to believe that we are lost," said Philip. "No, no, I don't mean that; only if we were obliged to stop we might contrive to be very jolly," said Charley. They had no little trouble in dragging the bear up the bank, and it then b^ijcame a question what they si ould do with ■( ,.^' 92 II! It; >). !il i!:' "■ I 11^^^ 1? 1 The Log House; him. They could not carry him away, that was very certain Cutting him up was not a pleas- ant operation, yet they could not hang him up whole. "We will secure his tongue, and we must come back for him as soon as we can," said Phil. They had been so busy that they had not observed that the rain had ceased, and that in- stead of it a thick fog had sprung up again, com- pletely obscuring the shores. It was so warm that there could be no doubt that the ice must be rapidly melting. Had this happened at the jcnd of winter it would not have signified, as it would have required many days then to weaken the ice materially. Still, if it had not been for the fog they could have pushed across without fear at once. " Why did we come without a compass ? " cried Philip, not for the first time. " Rememher, you fellows, never to leave home without one. You do not know when you may require it in this country." After sitting down on the bank for some time, Philip started up, exclaimuig, Ot'y Adventures in Canada, 98 *' They will be breaking their hearts abt)iit us. I must go. You two have plenty of food, and if you will promise me that you will not stir irnii the island till a boat comes for you, or till the weather clears and the ice hardens thoroughly, I will go across to the settlement; and send on home overland. I know that I can hit it, as there is a breeze blowing, and I took the bear- ings before the rain came on. Harry and Char- ley were very unwilling to let their brother go, but at length, when he had persuaded them that there was no danger to himself, they agreed to obev his wishes. Having disencumbered himself of his axe and an overcoat, as well as of the remainder of D'Arcy's fish, which he left for his brothers, Philip buckled on his skates, and taking one of the spears in his hand, away he glided ; his brothers, standing on the shore, watched him — his figure growing less and less distinct, till ho disappeared in the thick mist which hung over the lake. ** I wish that we iiad not let him go," m '^•■*" iT^ 94 The Log Houu; cried Cbarloy, " Suppose any accident shouM Jijippen to him, how dreadiul. Couldn't we call him back ? He would hear us if we shouted.'* " No, that would annoy him, as we have no rea- Bon lor calling him bfick. We must let him go," said Harry. ** Well, at all events, we can pray for him," exclaimed Charley, in a tone which showed that the thought was consolatory. Tliey did so immediately, and felt far greater confi- dence than before. For themselves, they hud no cause to fear. They had food enough for a month or more, should the frost return, and they had the means of building a hut, in which they could be perfectly sheltered from the weather. They had abundance of fuel, and the bear's skin '*' would keep them warm at night. There were the cranberries, and probably some other berries, and they knew of several roots which they thoug'.it they should find. ** Really, we are very well off," Baid Charley, after thgy had reviewed their re- sources. " I don't think there is another part of the world where, in a little island like this, we L Or, Adventures in Canada, 9,3 •i ^> could find such ample means of support. I shouldn't mind spending a month here at all." *' Ah ! but we could not expect always to find a bear in such a place as this ; and as 'or the fish, we brought them with us," said Harry, by way of argument. "But I dare say, if we were to hunt about, we should find some racoons ; and if the ice melted we should catch plenty of fish — or we might make a hole in the ice and fish through it," argued Charley. " By-the-by, I have got some hooks and a line in my pocket ; I vote we try." No sooner was the proposal made than exe- cuted ; two fishing lines were fitted — with their spears a hole was made in the easily yielding ice — the bear furnished bait. Scarcely was a line in than a tug was felt, and a small fish was haided up. They did not know the name, but as its appearance was prepossessing, they had no doubt that it was fit for food. Another and another followed ; they were delighted with their sport, and even Harry felt that he should < t» 96 The Log House, be sorry to have to go away. "If we had but some bread and some tea, with a pot to boil it in, we should do capitally," he observed. *' We may dig dandelion roots for coffee, we can boil water with hot stone in a wooden jug, which we can make, and there are roots which will serve us for bread," said Charley. *' If we could but get a few heads of Indian corn, we might thrive just as we are." " We might live, certainly," said Harry ; " but I doubt if we could do more." I V lad l)ufc oil it in, " We fin boil ich we lerve us 3ut get ive just " said ). it CHAPTER VIII. E must follow Philip in his perilous ad- venture. He felt more doubtful as to ?JX^ the strength of the ice than he had ex- pressed ; but should it break beneath him, he relied on his long pole to extricate him- self. He looked back every now and then, and he appeared to be taking a straight course ; he felt the breeze also always on his left cheek. Tins inspirited him, though he could not see the shore. The snow was yielding enough, though rather clogging about his heels ; the fog, how- ever, grew thicker than ever ; it was evidently the fog caused by a warm thaw. He had seen ? (97) 'f mm ( I f 98 The Log Uoune ; many such in Eni^'^ljind. lie; piisliod on holdly — raster tliiin lio liiui gone with his hrollicrs — 1m) wjirt lij^litly 'iliid and curried no woii^ht. Did 1m! hear soMiiifs coiniijg from the slioie — slci^h- ht'lls — or shc'op-lx'lls — men's voices also ? If so, Ik; was j)r()l)al>ly n(!ar the scitUMncnt. lie was tryioL,' to pi(;rce the mist, when su(hlciily he Iclt liis liM't sinkiiif; under liinx, and hel'ore he could sprinj^ l)iicU, he was sent j^lidint^ down a slab of ice, and plurr^ed in tlie water. For several yards bcloie him there was not]iin<^ but water. Hohl- iiiLj his })()le he swam on. He reached the edge of the ice: it broke as he clutched it. It is a difficult operation to get out of water on to a slab of ice. lie lound it so. If he got one end of the pole on the ice the other slipped oif. IIo saw tlie danger of exhausting his strength by useless struggles. He had heard voices. IIo miiiht make himself heard, so he shouted — ■ *' Help ! help ! the ice has broken in — help ! " It was a sad fate which seemed about to over- whelm him. Life had many charms in spite of Or, Adventures in Canada, iii) the one disappoint m(mt, wliich had rather ^dvcn a gravity to his iiianiier tlian in any way cinltit- teicd his existence. lie had hoped to do Honie- thin;^^ in the woild — his duty, at all events. lie had many, too, dependinj,^ on him. lluw would they bear his loss ? He looked upward. A thick veil hunj^ over his liead. Below was the daik water — on every side the wide expanse of treacherous ice and snow. Ilis lind)s were getting chilled ; still he would struggle on while consciousness was allowed him. Had the hole been smaller into which he had fallen, he might have got his pole across it. It was, however, of much assistance, as holding on to it, he could rest without breaking the edge of the ice. He was certain that he heard sleigh-bells. He shouted louder than before. The bells ceased. He insti.ntly shouted again. A voice replied, " We'll be with you directly, friend. His heart leaped within him. The voices sounded louder. He discerned objects dimly moving over the ice, here and there. They must be looking for him. m I- 1 100 The Log House ; ■ hi I m_ ".4 , r I He shouted again. They resolved tliemselvca into the forms of two men. They approiiclie I 128 The Log House; li ! !i of the Indians, who had a fowling-piece, fired, and hit Mr. Bruin in the brain, whereon Mrs. Bruin trotted off with one of the cubs; while the other Indian with his bow shot the cub which had remained with his father. *' I was eager to exhibit my prowess, so fol- lowed the retreating bears, hoping to kill the cub with my stick. Fortunately they took the way near the camp, when the squaws, seeing me, ran out and took hold of me, telling me that as surely as I had killed the cub the motiier would have turned round and torn me to pieces. Though I still wished to go, they held me tight till the bears were out of sight. I believe fully that they saved my life, and certainly it was pleasanter supping on a bear than making a supper for one. *' At last we reached Pentanquishine, and so thankful was I to get there that I gave the hon- est Indians two dollars instead of one and a, half. I fear that they spent the greater part, if not the w^hole of the sum, at the grog-shop before they left the settlement. red, Mra. 1 the hich fol- } cub way. ;, ran at as vould ieces. t^ht fully was ing a Ind so hon- half. lot the they Or, Adventures in Canada. 129 '"What! who are you, you little raganuiffin?' exclaimed my fatlier when he saw me, for by that time so torn had become my graments by the thorny shrubs, that th-y literally were iu shieds. * You are no child of mine ; gee out with you, you little ill-conditioned cub.' I ought not to have been surprised at this greeting, though it was not pleasant to my feelings. " I had considerabia difficulty in persuading him who I was, and of the truth of my state- ment as to the cause of my leaving. At last he did believe me, and declared that he would break Dick's head and stop his allowance for the fol- lowing half. Dick, when he came home for the holidays, made me beg him off, not the getting his head broke, for that he laughed at, but the having his allowance stopped, which he guessed might be done. " When I went back at the commencement of the next half, the doctor took no notice oi" w hat had occurred, and from having been the most ragged, I became one of the best-dressed boys in 9 \k m hi 135 The Log Rouse; i! the school. This was not always to last. My el(Ur brothers went home to begin life, leaving me and Arthur. We were very glad when they vent, for they bullied us terribly. A year passed and then came a letter with a black seal, and we heard that our father was dead. Dick, who had come of age, inherited his property, and it seemed had the power of doing with us just what he liked. It arose thus ; our poor father had been seized with the desire of having his eldest son a gentleman of fortune, and thinking that by leav-* ing him all his property he could do so, he beg- gared the rest of us. Dick wrote us word that we must earn our own living, but that he would be a brother to us, and to show his affection he a]3preniiced me to a chair-maker, and my slight, delicate young brother Arthur to a blacksmith. ** Mine was not a bad trade, for furniture was in great demand. * If that is to be my calling I ''A'ill go at it,' said I to myself. 1 did so, and soon could turn a chair very neatly cut of hand. Arthur could make no hand at the blacksmith I 1 My Or, Adventures in Canada, 131 work - his arm had not strength to wield a ham- mer ; I went to his master and asked him to let him off. « No, I never does anything without an equivalent/ was his answer ; * but I'll tell you what, youngster, I happen to want some chairs for my woman and children to sit on: now, if you'll make them for me, slick off-hand, your brother shall go free, I guess.' The bargain was struck. I was anxious to get poor Arthur free, for every day was killing. him with labor for which he was so unfit. I set to work at once, and each moment that I could, spare from my proper duties to my master I employed in making the chairs. I was determined that he should not say that they were not good chairs — strong and handsome. The blacksmith was highly pleased with them, and instantly freed my brother and made me a present of a couple of d(;llars. " With this sum and a little more I had made by working out of hours, I set Arthur to trade on his own account, to k^ep him till my term was out, which was to be very shortly. From M'ii I. J Ri ! iai 132 The Log House; I the day I had left school I had not neglecied my studies, and I used to read all the books I could lay hands on during every spare moment. Lite is short enough as it is, and people make it still shorter by idling away their time. I knew that I had plenty of work to do, and I found out early that to get it done I must not lose a moment. I consequently not only kept up the knowledge I obtained at school, but got a fair amount besides. "We worked on for three years, I making chairs and Arthur selling them, saving money, but not very fast. I had no fancy to go on chair- making all my days, and I wished for a more ac- tive life. ** I had paid a visit to Holland's Landing a few months before this, and I found that my friend, Jack Johnson, was still driving a thriving trade with the settlement along the shore? of the lake ; but he had not a good head for business, and I saw that a great deal more might be made of it than he made. A steamer was building to run on the lake. She was to commence running in a Or, Adve7iture8 in Canada, 133 few [lend, trade |iake ; ind I of it run in a few vlaya. I applied for the office of purser, or steward — call it which you will. I obtained it, at a low salary, stipulating that I would be al- lowed to trade, to a certain extent, on my own account. That was all I wanted. My plans were at once formed. Jack was to purchabe and bring up the articles from Toronto, and Arthur and I to go round to the farms, as far as wo could reach, and to obtain orders, large or small. All were fish which came into our net, from an ounce of tobacco to the furniture of a house or the machinery for a saw-mill, provided we could get security ; it would have been folly to trade without that, especially with some of our custo- mers. * " We paid considerable suras to the steame. for freight and, pleasing the owners, were able., with their aid, to increase our credit and our business. It is extraordinary how reckless some of those we dealt with were in givin'- orders for goods and in mortgaging their property as security, without a prospect, as far as we could '■iil m I'' Slif I i! m Id U I. 134 The Log House; judge, of their being able to pay us witboiit allowing the mortgage to be foreclosed. That you may not think ill of me on that account, I may say that we thus had an opportuuity of l)eing of considerable service to many of these improvident gentlemen. Our trade throve, and I soon found that it would be convenient to es- tablish a store at the principal place at which the steamer called. Arthur took charge of it, and the flourishing condition of the concern showed that we were right in our expectations. " Our capital increased. We were compelled to foreclose some mortgages ; and as we did not wish to keep the farms of which we thus be- came possessed, we sold them at more or less profit. We were in the way of hearing when land was to be sold at a cheap rate, either improved or unimproved, and by purchasing such land and re-selling to newly-arrived settlers, who became good customers, we profited considerably. We '.:ot the best of everything, and our desire was to supply those who bought of us with what we Or, Adventures in Canada^ V6b ithont That lint, I itv of these ;, and to es- which of it, oncern ions, ipelled id not Ills be- or less 3n land proved nd and became J, We re was hat we knew they would most require, and which would give them satisfaction. " As soon iis f had established a business I left the steam-boat and went to live on shore, at the store, having first taken to wife the daughter of my old master. A very good wife she has made me, and 1 should like, some day, to bring her over to see you, Mrs. Ashton ; but you mustn't expect to see a fine lady, such are not the good wives of this Province. For many 3ears she was a hard-working housewife, when helps were beings not to be procured for love or money. The station of life which T then occu- pied was different to what I now fill, but my good wife has had no ambition to change her style of dress or living with our change of cir- cumstances, from the feeling that she might ap- pear out of place. In fact, my dear madam, you will understand that she is not vulgar, and is essentially free from all vulgar ambition. Hero I must bring the sketch of my early life to a conclusion, remarking that what my brother and m BF 136 The Log House* I did, hundreds of others have done in this Province, and thousands more will do if they will practise self-control, labor industriously in what- ever station they are placed, and be ready to step into any opening which may present itself, always doing their duty, and praying for strength and guidance from above.** CHAPTER X. LTHOUGH the Canadian winter imperleg ^^^,_^ agricultural operations, there is plenty ^r^ of work to be done both out-of-doors, and in-doors, especially on a newly- cleared farm. Chopping down the trees goes on, and if the brushwood has been collected before the snow falls, the huge trunks can be dragged together and piled in heaps to be burnt off. It may seem a sad waste of good timber, but it is the least expensive way of getting rid of what cumbers the ground ; besides which, the ashes very much assist to fertilize it. The Ashtons, however, found that they could dispose of theirs (137) <■ 138 The Log House; m m at the nowly-erected saw-mills, if they could be moved, however, by any force they could com- mand, till the snow fell and hardened. Tlio logs then were draji'-ged down over it ou to the ice, where they were easily formed into a raft and floated across the lake to the mills at the break- ing up of the ice in spring. The first fall of snow had entirely disappeared, and the lake had become free of ice, to be covered again, however, by a far thicker coat tlian before, and equally smooth. Harry and Charley were eager to have an ice-boat, and they persuaded Philip, in spite of his many avocations, to assist them in making one. The great point was to have good runners. These should have been made of iron, but as that was not to be procured, they got some hard wood of sufficient length, which being slightly curved up at the ends, served admirably. The boat had, there- fore, what Harry called two keels. This was the most important part ; — the boat was simply 4 long box with seats across it. The rudder, I Or, Adventures in Canada, 139 i U M be com- Tho to tlio ift and bieiiU- icfired, to be ir coat y and id they lations, t point 1 have t to be fficient at the , there- his was simply rudder, which was an oar fixed in the stern, had a sharp iron blade which wouhl dig into the ice. The craft was rigged as a schooner, and had a very creditable appearance. A long pole with an iron head helped to steer her and to put her about. - With eager haste she was launched on the glass-like expanse. *' Let us stand across to D'Arcy and astonish him," cried Harry. " We can carry him the invitation to spend Christmas- day with us." There were no dissentient voices. Philip took the helm, Harry managed the head- sails, Charley the main. The wind was on the quarter. The sails could not be hoisted till they were ready to start, as the ice offering no resis- tance, she would either have blown over, or run away before the wind. Philip was not quite so sanguine of success as his brothers. The word was given — Harry shoved lound the head of the strange-looking craft, and far enough off to allow the rudder full play. The sails were hoisted — the sheets hauled aft — a fresh breeze ii Ml n : ' 1 110 The Log House; filled them, to the delight of her architects, away she shot in splendid style. She answered liei* helm admirably. It seemed but a few minutes before D'Arcy's clearing hove in sight. Philip fired off his gun to draw his friend's attention to them, and they had only time to haul down their sails before, with the impetus the craft had attained, she glided up to the landing-plaee, and sent them all tumbling forward, as she made a bold attempt to run up the bank, only prevented by Harry with his iron-shod pole. D'Arcy required no great pressing to embark with them. They all looked, they declared, like veritable Arctic voyagers, with their fur caps, flaps over their ears, and bear-skin and buffalo- skin coats, kept in by sashes or belts. The settlement was first to be visited. Such a craft as theirs had never been seen there, and created no little interest; though on Lake Ontario, before Toronto, ice-boats of a more elegant con- struction are constantly used when the ice will allow of it before the snow falls. Or, Adventures in Canada, 141 away id liei' inutcs Philip ion to 1 their b had e, and nade a vented ml )ark d, like r caps, uffaio- The a craft created ntario, nt con- nce will Tlio store was visited, find commissions, the list of winch filled two columns of Philip's note- book, were executed, and then, with a consider- able addition to their lading, they once more got under way. They had now to beat back ; but the boat lay closer to the wind than if she had been in water, and thouijh she made some lee- way, they beat back in a wonderfully short space of time. They were so delighted with their sail that they could scarcely keep '>ut of their boat. The whole circuit of the lake was visited, and they talked of taking her into Lake Huron, when, perhaps fortunately, down came such a fall of snow as to make rapid progress over the ice impossible, and they once again returned to their more serious occupations. The snow became every day harder, till a n*ust formed on the top of it, which made walking over it where it was not beaten down, both difficult and painful. Some Indians had encamped in the neighborhood for the purpose of trading with the pale faces, and obtaining • I r^- 142 The Log House; 4) food and clothing. Two of them at this juncture came with some slight oblong frames, between three and four feet in length, with net-work filling up the inner portion. What they could be, none of the younger members of the family could guess, till the Indians fastened one to each of their feet and began to move along over the snow on the lake. " Snow-shoes ! snow-shoes ! " cried Charley; and foithwith a bargain was struck for several pair. The squaws brought some the next day of a lighter construction for the ladies of the family, and a new source of amusement was found, enabling them also to take the exercise so necessary for health. Bravely Sophy and her sisters faced the cold, bitter and biting as it was, and with their brothers made their first attempt to walk in snow-shoes on the lake. They were all thus engaged, laughing and shouting and enjoying the amusement, when an ol)j'_'ct was seen in the dist;>ni;e approaching them, and the silvery cheerful sound of sleigh- Or, Adventures in Canada, 143 iture ween work could aniily ► each er the oes 1 L was rought Lon for irce of to take Bravely iter and •s made s on the ing and when an roachin'^ )f sleigh- bells floating up to them through the calm air. '* Bravo • — excellent ! — that is what I like to see. We should hear nothing of sick headaches in Canada, if all the young ladiei' would put their pretty little feet on to snow-shoes, and step over the country as you are doing, or rather will be doing before long, for you are on the ice just now," cried Mr. Norman from a handsome sleigh which drove up to them. The horses' harness, surmounted by a belfry, as Harry called the frame to which the bells were suspended, was covered with bright-colored braiding, and rich skins filled the sleigh itself and hung over the back. From among them a lady's head was seen. " Allow me to introduce my wife," continued Mr. Norman. " She has just told me that she has already fallen in love with you all ; but do not let us bring you in — we will wait for ^--ou at the house." Sophy, however, soon began to find that she had had snow-shoeing enough for one dd\^ hiuI the rest of the party discovered, when they took IM 't; !ll n i jj-r!- ' ^ ' iV T . !' j ' ; 'fT i g " B "5 - -u ' ' . '» !- ■ 144 The Log House; ' 1 »< tl ': 2 ^ the shoes off, that their insteps ached more than they had ever before done. Still they were all ready to try again the next day. Mrs. Norinan proved to be exactly the sort of person her hus- band had described her i though homely, she was entirely free from vulgarity, and as she had lived all her life in Canada, she possessed and was glad to impart a large amount of informa- tion most valuable to Mrs. Ashton and Soph^. She promised to remain a week with them, to give them instruction in numerous departments of domestic management of which they were ignorant. *• It's a pleasure, ma'am, to tell you these things," she remarked to Mrs. Ashton ;; •' you take them in so kindly, and don't seem to fancy that your own ways are better, and that you know more than the person teaching you, as some people do." The winter passed by pleasantly and usefully. There were some days when even the most hardy of the party had no inclination to go out ; this was when there was a strong northerly wind 1'^ II Or, Adventures in Canada, 145 1^1 1 1 hail B all man Uus- s was had I and )rma- oph^c. m, to inents were you titon ;; !em to that ou, as efully. hardy ) out ; wind and an intense frost, and the finer particles of enow were carried through the air and struck the face like so many Liliputian arrows discharged by an army from that far-famed land of Liliput. There was, however, abundance of work to be done in the house, and plenty of hard exercise in sawing up logs for the stove fires. These, while the severer frost lasted, were never allowed to go out, and no one had reason to complain of the want of warmth inside the house ; indeeu, the walls were so thick, that they retained the heat in the way an ordinary brick or plank building could not have done. Old and young declared, that in spite of cold and snow, they had never spent a happier or pleasanter winter. Probably the happiness of the elders arose from seeing their children contented and well employed around them. There was one absent — Leonard, the midshipman. They almost wished that he would give up the sea, and come and live with them. Mr. Ashton had not even suggested that he should do so, though his necessary allowance I E'i H ' 146 The Log House; ?if \ took away a large portion of the slender income on wliich the family had mainly to depend. Ilia piiients were amply rewarded by hearing of the high cliara(;ter he wasgainingfor himself. D'Arcy was a freqnent visitor ; he would have been more frequent, but duty kept him laboring at homo. Occasionally Philip went over to help him in re- turn for the assistance he gave them. The winter passed away so rai)idly that they could scarcely believe that spring had really come. Tlie snow melted, the green grass appeared, tiie leaves burst forth, the flowers bloomed and gave their fragrance to the air, the birds warbled forth their notes of joy, and all nature seemed alive and busy. If time passed quickly during the months of winter, it flew by still more rapidly now when there was so much to do that every moment of the twenty-four hours was fully occu- pied, a very small portion only being devoted to sleep ; but then, as Harry declared, they all slept very fast, so that they really got as much as they required. They were all up at dawu of day, and Or, Adventwea in Cariada, 147 Ilia the Arcy moro lome. in re- they come, ftd, the gave forth alive T the apidly every occu- oted to U slept as they ay, and y but a short time was allowed for meals till they asi-enibled round the supper-table by the light of tlu'ir home-made candles, the most social and pleasant meal in the day, when the hard work was over and any light in-door occupation could be engaged in. Even then there was no light or frivolous conversation ; constant, steady work had sobered their minds, and they had no taste for what was not real and earnest. Generally Mr. Ashton or Philip read some interesting book, the Kuhject of which was afterwards talked over, while comments were generally made as they proceeded. It is not necessary to describe the various oc- cupations in which the family were engaged. One of the most amusing and not the least im- portant, was the sugar-making from the neigh- boring sugar-bush or maple grove, before the snow had disappeared from the ground. They were surpiised at the large amount of sap which even a single tree gave forth. This being collect- ed in wooden troughs placed under the spouta n '-.^■mmmm if Ml'! 148 The Log House; formed in the trunk, was next transferred to a liuge cauldron, where it was boiled, and i\\v\\ turned out to cool and cystallize. They wei e in this way able to obtain an ample supply of Bugar for their tea or coffee, for preserving fruits, and for their puddings during the year. The de- mand for it became considerable, when, as the Bunnner advanced, all sorts of wild fruits were found in the woods, and strawberries and rasp- berries in prodigious quantities. The Canadian spring soon merges into full- blown summer. The boat had been for some time launched, and Philip acting as captain, with Sophy and their mother as passengers, and Harry as crew, started in her to pay their visit of wel- come to D'Arcy's mother and sisters, who had just arrived at his clearing. The Ashtons were very much pleased with them. They were just what they expected D'Arcy's relatives would be. Sophy had not been to the clearing for some time ; D'Arcy invited her to accompany him over it. On one side stood a cottage almost com- [ to a I then r weio ply of r fruits, riie de- as the s wore d rasp- ito full- er some in, with d Harry of wel- tvho had JUS were Fere just ould be. or some him over ost com- Makiug Sugar. Page 148. I * Or, Adventures in Canada, 149 pleted. D'Arcy produced a plan. "That ia what it will look like when it is finished," he observed. *' For whom is this ? " asked Sophy. *' For my mother and sisters,'* was the answer. *' Then who is to inhabit your house?" asked Sophy, though the moment she had uttered the words she wished that she had kept silence. " I shall be very miserable, if you are not its mis- tress," said D'Arcy. They were the first couple married in the new church at the settlement, mainly built by Mr. Ashton's exertions. He had hitherto, from his first arrival, conducted a service at his own house, open to all who would attend. Mr. Norman wrote to Mr. Ashton to say that he would pay him a visit. " I have come on business," he said, after the usual greetings were over. " I am a patriot, and I am anxious for the improvement of the country. Your sons are ex- cellent young men, with talent and sense. The educrttion of the two younger is not complete, and Piiilip might improve his agricultural knowl- T 150 The Loy Uou^e; edge with advantage to liimself as well as to tlie Province. On tlicse grounds I beg to invite tlicui to take up their residence at my house at To- ronto, while they take advantage of the very liberal means of instruction which that city affords. There are some important lectures on agriculture which are about to comuK'nce. Charley should go to U[)per Canada College, and Ilarry to the University ; and, my dear sir, as I have no young people depending on me, you must allow me to defray all expenses." Mr. Ashton could not decline so generous an offer. It is possible that Harry and Charley were : slightly disappointed at having to go to school I again, but Philip was most thankful for the ad- vantage offered him. D'Arcy undertook to assist Mr. Ashton in his labors on the farm durinor Pliilip's absence. The three brothers started to- gether. Their life in Toronto was very different to what it had been in the bush — round hats, frock-coats, and Wellington boots, superseded wide-awakes, shoo ting- jackets, and hobnailed Or, Adventures in Canada, lol fihoes or moccasins rand tlieir ham mors, saws, ftud axes, were exchanged for books, while social meetings of various sorts occupied many of the evenini^s when tliere were no lectures to attend. Hurry and Ciiarley now and then sighed for tiie wootls and their lake, hut as they took long walks eveiy day, their health in no way suffered from the chunge , — indeed, they could not help confessing, that however pleasant it might be to CJirpenter, and dig, and look after their horses and cows, and to sail and row on the lake, they had brains which might be employed to some bet- ter purpose, if those brains were properly culii- vated ; so they stuck manfully to their studies, and made a progress which surprised even them- selves. **I believe that it is the fine, clear weather of this climate which helps us," ob- served Harry ; " I know that I feel twice as bright as I used to do in England. ' Philip fouml ample occupation in a variety of ways, and said that he felt as if his old college days had come b^ck, as he sat in the study hid 152 2'he Log House; kind friend had f,nven him, surrounded by liia bo()i\.s iind pii[)ers. Duty had made him turn backwoodsiiiiui ; liis inclinalion would ccrlHinly liave led iiim in a difrcrent course ot' hie. lie in lime M)rin('(l many a.nr<'( able acqujiintanees, ijoth among the families residing in the city and the single men. *' By-the-by, Ashton,*' said one of liis acquaint- ances, with whom lie was walkinLj home from a lecture, " I met last nij^ht, at Mrs. Stewart's, a lady o*' your name, a very pretty and ai^recnible girl, though rather grave perhaps. She has only just arrived with a family of the name of Mason, wlio have come out to settle. There are a num- ber of young Masons, and she was spoken of as the governess, but from the way she was treated she is rather a companion friend of Mrs. Mason's, 1 should think." " I know of no relation of ours likely to come out here," raid Philip, at the same time a very curious sensation circling round his heart. " Did you hear her Christian name?" '^No; they i 1 ] n Oty Adventures in Canada. 153 >i,i only called her Miss Aslitoii," 8iiilest cause in which a human beinii" can euira-'-e. There was one cloud in Mary Ashton's other- Or, Adventures in Canada. 159 wise serene life — not one of her family wrote to her, and she could hear nothing about them. Mr. and Mrs. Ashton had their hearts gladdened with a visit from their sailor son Leonard, now a lieutenant, his ship having come to Quebec. From him Philip .first heard of the fate of any of the John Ashtons. •» I was surprised," said Leonard, **to hear among a batch of lads just joined, the name of Thomas Ashton. He was not a prepossessing youth, but as he had evidently had a better education than the generality of those who enter the service, he had a fair prospect of doing well if he behaved properly. He did not though, and was constantly in scrapes, drunk, and disorderly. He was under confinement for such offences, when he caught the fever in the West Indies. The surgeon came one day and said that he was very ill and wished to see me. I of course went to the lad, who then told me that he knew who I was — that he was the son of John Ashton who got our property. It was dreadful to hear him speak of ' I !it HI '<\i 1 ; i i ii il f 160 2^he Lay Houae ; his f ithor who had cheated us he declared, and cheated all his family, and every body else. He seemed to consider that he had a chxim on me in consequence of our relationship. I did all I could for him by procuring him better attend- ance than he would otherwise have had, and by shifting- him into comfortable quarters where he would get the benefit of pure air. He soon began to mend, and then I took the liberty of reading him some serious lectures as to his past conduct and scandalous mode of life. He took my reproof in good part ; and you will be pleased to hear that when he was at length restored to health, he became quite a new man — scrupulously faithful in discharge of his duty, sober to abstinence, and cheerfully obedient to orders. He has had a narrow escape from death, and is, I trust, thankful to God that he was not cut off suddenly in his mad career. He is grateful to me for the service I rendered him — says, indeed, that I saved his life ; I shall . Lilli<). Fully illii>!;M- t(!tl willi |tl)^t^;lit^^ iiiul views of cclclirnti'd >i)iiis. li'iiio. B'Htnii: D. L<»ilin»|) & Co. Price, $;I.:i."), Till • ;i l»Mi)k \vlii(tli slioi'ld ihul a phict in iho Hhrjiry oi every I isehoM. It Is iri)>,\ tiic pen of :i di^tinmiislieil l;i(ly now ill i!]ni,'l;in(l, who has peculiar uilvaii agi.'N for iiiakiii]^ it not I ly iMltirestl.ii^, but reliable. It is nut a " pi'.'keil-Mj)'' booi{, ;i istily ^ ut tos^cither, aiul made ')iily to sell, but a caro- fal, tli'iouudi eompilatiou of facts, written ni a faschjatini; u'ld a,r(H;al)lo iuann<'r, jr I in a style especially adapted to the tast(;s of .,0111.4 readers. Although coinpreheiisivt! in its scopt! it is not wearisome in detail. It contains interesting skeielies of Chaucer, Spenser, l>,ieon, Shakespejire, JJeii Jon- son, and many oIIkm' distin.uui>lied writers, with a i^reat deal of inlerestinjjj information al)oiit, men and manners of vari- ous times. The illustrations ar;1.()0. In this charmin!4 little voluuK! Iht; author undertakes to teach the rudiments of a-tronomy to chiklren, williout inak- im^ it sciem like study. It is written in conversational style, lluj (haracMers consist ini^ of Professor \Vill(»u^l»l)y and sev- (!ral of his yoiniLj friends. In tluM'ourseof tliese conversa- tions a description of the starry heavens is j^iven, the pecu- liarities of the heavenly Ixidies are desci-ibed, ancl tlie plantmtary system explained, to.uelher with its various phenomena. All this is done' so easily and naturally that at the close of the book tin; children find that Ihey have learned a i;reat deal of astronomy without knowini; it. Tlu! text of the l)ook is greatly aided by the illustrations, of whieli there are many. A thorouiiii pt-rusal of its p.i'^es will i^'wo, young readi'is a l)ett(U' idea of !be distant woilds above and around them th. in tlie studv of a dry text book for an entire term. Prof. Wahb), of tlie Camltridixe ()l)-('i'vatory, fuinislies a pie sant introduction, iu wbicli lie indorses the book from a scientific standpoint. SiDXEY MviiTrx's CimmTMAS. By Pansy. Larije lOmo., (inO paues. Fully illustrated. Boston: I). Lothrop ct: Co. Price, $1.50, Of the multitudes of story books brought out for the iKjliday season none will be more sought after by yount; readeis than this, one of Mrs. Alden's latest works. It con- sists of a series of stories wiitten witli a .special ada]»fatioii to the season, and all of them arc; specially suited to cosy fire- side roadini?. It is safe to say that "Pansy" has never written a dull nor uninterestinu: slory, ami the present col- lection is made up of her sprigbtliest and best efforts. It U prtateU 011 clear white paper, and la beautifuDy bouud. !■; ! 4t J ' ■ i Torxo Folkh' ITistoky of r.j'KKCK. Ty Cli.irlotto M. Yoiii,'*'. liostoii: I), J.utljioi) A- < 'i>. I'lic*', si..v>. TImj s('ot)iul voluiiK! of Misrt YoiiLtf's scritis of lli^torios for Yniiii!^ I'eoplo tuUcs up a recce, uiul (Uials witli il in an r-x- C(»fMliiii;ly iiitiiresting iniiiiiKM*. Tlu; author iiijikcs the ni- toinpt to trace the story of tliat country of poiUry aiul faltlo HO as to be intclljgi!.>lu to tliildrcii. Slie Ix'iiiii.s with sonu; of tho best kuuv/n of tlie GrtM-U iiivtb>, wbicli sb(? coii>i(l('is al)s()lutely necessary to the understandini^ of both ibo his- toi-y and of art, and tbtMi, iMkint^ up tlie ibretul of acUnov I- fdi^ed history, follows it clown to our day. Like the llhloru of Ucnnany it is very fully illustrated, and is bound in tlio same style. Tjmtk Hlue. By Mrs. Lucia Chase Bell. Larc;e Ifinio. 10 illustrations by Merrill. Boston: D. Lotluop ct Co. i'rico *i;1.2r). This is a (hiliixlitfiil story for fj^irls, and promises to bo as popular as any of Miss Alcott's productions. The scene is laid in the far west, and tlu; incidt-nts are such as could only o('(;iw in a newly-o()r children manage to make a livin.n for tbejuselves and those depending upon lluun. Miss lirown, the author, personally made the ac- quaintance of the children liere (h'scribcd, saw them at their Avork, visited them at their homes, and saw bow they lived. What she learned during these visits is very interestingly tohl, and will give young readers who are betttM* oil' a fair idea of the daily life of tlie working poor, and the trials and troubles through which they have to pass. Ilumhle as some of the occupations are which are here described, the example of industry and economy set by certain of those who foHovy them might be prolitably imitated. The illustrations by Miss Poirsou add to the beauty and interest of the book. TiiK si:vi:n \V!)RI)s from the cross. By Rf!V. \Vir,[,iA.M U. Adams. Trico, $1.00. lJt»>li>ii : I). l.oLlii'ip cV Ct». Tlu! jvutlior luis ti'i'iitcd tlioso discourses in ;m c»ii';in;il maiinrr, .111(1 from (ir-t to lasl lin-y arc rtiloltiit \vi;!i tliu spii'it. of Iliin who liung upon the cross. — X, V. ()I)S( rccr. Those rorniitus, upoji tlic most ijn[>rossive \vi>rtls that droi);i('d from tiic Master's li[)s, an; at once pr.iciioal and cl()f|iicnt. Th(^ vohiiue will he welcomed by both profession- al and lay readers. — ZIduh Ihrdld. In stylo snn|ilo. fervid and fresh, avo doubt not that those di-c()ur>es Vtiil pi-ove si)iritualiy i|uiekenini^ to all who may nad them. — Itin-.lon Daily Adi'rrtiscr. As spiritual, tender, reverent, suggestive meditations upon the mo>t sacifd of all llu ines, these discourses will be fuuud peculiarly helpful. — T/ir AJvanc, Chicago. They are full of sacred suggestiveness, and cannot fail to quiclvon th(; lov(3 and encourage the faith of all who read them. — C'Ju'istlan at, »r'>/7i. A most vivluablo addition to our devotional literadu'o. Prepai'ed for saei\uneiital occasions, it breathes tiu; veiy .spirit of sacramental devotion. The beauty of style is com- bined with nnich clearness of thought, and there is a tendbyteri!in) Riclnnond, Ya. Full of spiritual food, of truth, suggestion and pure Chris- tian sentiment. It is well written, and in every respect a commendable volume. — Northern Christian Advocate, Syra- cuse, X. Y. Those who love to linger around the Cross will fiiul hero seven golden censers full of sweet incense for their altars. Tliesi! sweet spices were expressed from the woids of the dy- ing Saviour by careful thought, which, passing through the warm atmosphei-e of a loving heart, exhale in delightful odors. — Charleston, {S.C.) News and Courier. Excellent reading, specially good for meditative hours. — National S. S. Teacher. i I'- LiN'Kfl IN T^r.nrrrs's Liri:. T.y " Piinsy." Trier*, $1.50. nostoii: D. Lotlirop *fc Co. •' Tunpy " lias no rival as an author ')f llio host, class of Suud ly-.'chool l)ool;s. Ilci- " K^ttr IvitMl" and "Chaulauqiia Girls" scries iirn modnis in that important lineof literature. Iler naw l)oo!<, " Links in lielM-eea's Life," is worthy of a l)l:ice ill tho .'-aino list. This l)oolv is an admirable one. Its toiu! is he.ilLliy and stimulating;, without a trace of senti- ni'iitali-iu or cant: and its characters anMhoroui^lily natu- ral, such as any reader ran recognize in tlie con)?nii»iity in whieh he li.-qipeiis to live. The heroine, Rc'-ecca, Is intens(>- ly human, wilh a noble natun? in wl'lcii many weaknesses hi(|(> tliemselvcs and eonn^ .' ften to the surface. But she is a Christian of the best t vj.e, and her aspirations and haiil- fought bailies ill: ;.ir.! cnllmsiasm in a reader. The Com- mittee on Iiite'" alloual Lessons couldn't do a bettc^r thing than to eiic';:ate this bonk in every part f)f the land. It shows how the lessons may be made hel[)ful in the daily life, and how tin? Old Testament may b(> taught with in- terest to an Infant School, or to men and women of every congregation. Eciioixo AND nr:-Ef iioixo. V^y Fni/r TTuntinf/ton. Price $L50. Boston: I). Lothrop & Co., publisliers. It shows great ignoraTiee of the Sunday-school literaturo of our day, when one c;iMs it weak and nainby-sttiff, wiili an eqnal mixture of love-stories, and impossible adventures. The censure is just for a certain class of books, but a largo library nnvy be gathered of first-class works admirable ; like in mcral tone and in literary execution, books which every- bod\ :an read with delight and profit, "Echoing and IJe- cchoing" is a book of this sort, a well-told story, aboii.idir.g ■wit'.; nraeiieal lessons, and inciting to a noble Christiiui lifr. The most intelligent opponent of religions novels will find his prejudiees giving way in reading it, and a fastidious lit- erary reader will bo thankful that children have such good books for moulding their literary tastes. '-5 It B/nT HrvTixo. .Short Storlos wl'h Bright Pictures, fly the |{t>t Americiiii Authors. Jiustoii; 1). LolUroi) & C'<>. Price, $I.i(l('s we li;iv, and dciiorves a like popularity here. It covers not only tlie oiiiire period of German civilization down to the present time, but it gives an account of ancient Germany and its in- lial)iiantsin times wliich niiglit almost be called pre-historic. Tiie lirst, chapters jire explanatory of the German mythology, and of tlie ancient nuHliods of worship. The Nibulungen Lied is described and its story told. Tlie real history begins about tlie year 41Hi A. I)., at a time when the Fran l\s were the victorious race in Europe. From that time down to tlio beginning of the pres(!nt year the record is coutlnuous. The volume is profusely illustrated. IIapfy Moods of Happy Children. Original Poeras. \\y favorite Amoricau authors. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price $1.00. We venture to say that no publishing house in the country will issue this season anything choicer in the way of a pre- sentation byok of poems than tliis ch.arming volume. The poems it contains were written expressly for Mr. Lothrop, and liave never before been brought together in collected form. Among the authors represented are Elizabeth Siii.ut Phelps, Clara Doty Bates, Margaret G. Preston, Ellu Fiiriiian, Mrs. Piatt, Hiirriet McEweii Kimbull, M;irv A. L;itlii)iirv, Nora P<'rry, Mrs. L. C. Whiton, Celia Thuxier. Edgir Fi w- cL(jii: I). Li»ihr.»p «& Co. lOiuo. IJ'JO pages $l.:ir>. This liM.idsotno volimif, from tii!^ vow of thr; dfniL'Titcf cf a (lisliimiii^lii''! lJi)>l(iii ell !-u\ '.iiaii, is iIk; v(H'{tr(l ot" :i !!■:,• aroiiiul till! uorl(i in an East intlia incrcliantinan. made .i \( ;.!• li or t\v«) .sin('(> l»y * wo youui; ladies, oiio (u Wiioni was aiiilior. Sailing" fi'Min Boston, tlio lir>t land tonclnMl was San Fjvincisco. From Liic.io, after a brief stay, the voyag«'i.s l)r(»ered»;(l to Ilonoliihi, tlicnce to the Chinese coast, wIkkj lh(! cities of llong Kong, Canton, Singii»ore, Amoy, Shang- hai and Macao wen; visited in tnrn. The sliip then sailed for the Philippine! Islands; and at Manila, ouv. of the loveliest, and most pictnies(ni(! cities of the; .Southern I'acilic, two or three happy weeks were spent. From that pori. the home- ward coiu'se was takiMi. the vessel doul)ring the Cajie o'' (ioitd Hope and -ailing np the African coast. The story of the voyage is gracefully and vividly told. The jolly tinu.'s on shijihoard; the sights seen from deck; rough weather exjierieiu'es; the excursions made at tlu; various stopping places, and iht^ advenlnres and nii>advei,tnres attendant upon then!; \ho. sccner\, customs of tlit^ different pe(>pio "vi-iied, togi'ther with innumerahh! incidents of tlu' trip, are d<'scril)ed with a freshin-ss and vigor which icndc r (fveiy pau(* of th(! book thoi'on'.;liiy tMijoyaUle, I'Ik! illustrations which accompany tin; texl ar entire! series of illnsti'atlcns are ex- ceodingly line, the wo:k of Mi. Lewis as draughlsjnan hav- ing been ably sui)p!einente(/ by that of Mr. Dana as the en- graver. The volume forms a be;iiitiful presentation book, and though <'(pially attractive with the three and five dollar volumes which fill tlic counters of our bookstor(!s, is sold at the nominal pric»! of one dollar, 'i'lu! inteiest of the work is larely added to by an eUxjuent preface from the pen of the Rev. \V. B. Wriglit, of the Berkeley Street, Church, By .,f "That I3oy or Newkirk's." By L. Bates. Boston: D. Luihrop & Co. Price, $1.25. Anollier good book of the li.ulit tj'pe, with cjoimino boys, full of life, uiul, tberi-foic, full of fun, cmuci for lth•ll^ul<•, iind oxijosed to sharp perils, i'lie inonil i.> >iui[)le nud tells ilx'if, witliout any prt'iu'liinij; by tlie iUilhnr, tliat a C'l^■i^tiau hoUK", wiLh an atmo^pbore of lovt;. i.s » inagnet to hoidai)oy to a pure life. Gordon Fijrrii, nurtured in such a home, grows naturcdly to a nobk; inanbocnl, and bcconu's a hel|irr to other boys less favoreil. 'I'lu; story brings out, also, w iih great l>eanty, the power oi genuine sympaiby in reeoverinij the vicious, and the nature of true i»iely in l)egetting sueii loving sympathy. Tbe st<»ry is well told, the cbaraet«'r.s clearly drawn, and lln^ book will be suro to interest readers, and inspire them with higher aims in life. Carrie Ellsworth: or Skkd Soavino. By W. O. Johnson. Boston: U. Lothroi) & Co. I'riee, $1.25. Carrie Ellsworth is a pleasant book to read, and its influ- ence hangs about one like tbe fragrance of luscious fruit. It Is a quiet story, with no extraordinary incidents or cbar- acfers, but teacbing in a winning way how girls naluially imptilsive and tboughtless may take on resolute purposes, and overcome tbe weaknesses that tbreaten to maim life. Goow just what lluy like and can appreciate. Tbe stories are such as innumera- ble mannnas will have to read ami re-reail and read auain, while the verses will becom the choicest rhymes of Mother Goose. Such are the verses ahout "Naughty Susie," ''Baby's Complaint," "Washing Day," olc. Tbe illuminated cover displays a choice selec- >'ou of "babies, doing all sorUJ of things. m Little Miss Mischief and her Happy Thoughts. Adapted from the French of P. J. Stalil by Ella Farman. Boston: D. Lolhrop& Co. Prico, 7') (•t^^. In a soiies of capitally drawn !?k«!l('lio.s the artHt fells t'lio story (assisted l;y tlu; antlior) of a niiscjiicn'ous little i,Mrl ulio undertook while her mother was c<»nllned to her room by ill- ness, to set things to riiihts ,ti<'nerally abont the house. She paints mustaches on a portrait which her artist papa has just finished; tiies to color the lap-do.u's faee black wi!h ink and spills it over herself and the floor; attempts to wash her papa's gray hatMith the iid^y sponge; breaks the mantel clock in trying to wind it; pours boiling water into the gl<>l)e of gold fish to make them more comfortable; cuts off the Corners of her mamma's nice shawl so it will not drag in the Ptn-et, and does a variety of other things whieh no one hut an idl(( and inquisitive little girl would ever think of doing. The book is printed on fine paper, with double line border about every page. Little Miss Muslin. Her Fortunfs and Misfortunes. ]?y .Tohij Hrownjohn, Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. 50 cts. Everybody has read and laughed over the adventures of Miltiades Peterkin Paul, which were brought out in a taste- ful quarto vohune last lioliday season. Miltiades, it appears, had a cousin, a charming young lady f)f six or seven, who, although city born and bred, possessed certain peciiliarities whieh rendered their companionship congenial. Miss Mus- lin, for that was her nanie, was contiiuially doing something to get herself or some one else into a scrape. Her experi- ences after a time were varied by a visit to Miltiades in the country. The troubles they get themselves into and what was said and done about them are told in detail l)y the author in the same offhaiul, humor us style hi which the adventures of Miltiades were clironicled. The diawings are from the pencil of Livingston Hopkins, one of the best American caricaturists. The volume is got up as a companion to the hook of last year. Music For Our Darlings. Edited by Dr. Eben Tourjee Fully Illustrated. Boston: D. Lothrop^.fe Co. Price, $l."iio. Hundreds of young readers will remember the beautiful book issued last year called Pocjus for Our Darliiiijs. It proved so successful that, this season the Messrs. Lothrop have broughl out a companion volume called Music for Our 7^''r//>'f/.s. containing nearly forty favorite pieces of mu.sic, most of them with piano accompaniment Among them are "Preltv Fido." "Turkey Somz for Thankgivinu," "The Squirrel.*' "Gentle Bobiu Redbreast," ".The Pvaihvay Train,*' etc. In addition there are prefatory sketches and articles on music by Prt)f. Tourjee, who edits the bu'iks, — and over fifty full-page engravings. It is beautifully boiiud*. in cloth, with black and gold ornamentation. io. \(>ur |i.sic, :vro IT he jaud I' — Out OF Darkn'Kss Into Lioiit. PyMuy A, I^atlibury. With pijilit niii>t('rly cliiUMctiT (lia\viii'L:>. full paui-. with pooiiis aiul cxt|ui>ifo viuiu'itcs. Fine bimlirii;. Quarto, liostoii: D. Lollirop & C'o. I'lico. .Si 00. Wo liavo no lu'silatidii in pronouiifiii'jf lliis one of tho most altf;v;tivo i)n!stMitatioM books wliicli lias been broiiulifc out ill this city for many seasons. Elciiantiy bound and su- p(*rbly illustrated, displayin;^ tlie ulniost ait t. They are sweetly and (hdicately wiitleii, and will aj)poal to many hearts wliosc; experii'necs liavf been similar. The drauinixs with which Mi>s Lathi)ury at-eompanies her poems express in form what her pi'U has doiu' in words. tSo full of nn^anin'4 has she nnid(! them that they almost alom; tell the story of the doubt, tin? slru,Lji,'le, tlu; anuuish ami the con\ic- th>ii which so nniny have experienced in their attempts to attain to a hi'^her spiritual life. The viirnetles are no less artistie and e.\:prt^ssive, each one beinj; cmldfrnatic of s<»nio sentiment contained in tlie poem to whicli it belong:-:. To those who ctdehrate Christmas as a religious festival as well as to those who are of a thoughtful turn of mind, the vol- ume will have a peiniliar value. Most holiday volumes si-rvo only for the season in which they a[)pear. but the om3 l)efore lis possess(!s those peculiar eUiinents which make it a staud- lime or seasons. ijy apse TiiF. f'lnLDRKX's Almanac, Foi: ls?.t-J^(>-Sl-fi2-8:J. Edited By Ella Farman. ' Boston: 1). LothropcV: ("o. This unicpK! little volume, which for beauty and intrinsic value will compare with numy of tln' liiuli-|'nced annuals, contains peculiai' attractions which will lender it one of the best sellini' books of the season. 'J'lie calendar - which reaches over five y»Mrs — gives it a vnliie which t.lif"> ordinary almanac doijs not posse'-s. Each month is repre-enle(l by an Oi'iginal poem from the pen of a ili-t ingnislied Anierie;in author, the list o>-' contriliutors numberin'j,' sucli names as Longfellow. Whittier, Aldrich. Celia Tliaxter. .Mrs. A. 1). T. Whitney, Kdgar Fawcell, and others. Aecoinpanv ing ihe-e poems are twelve exquisite drawings on w<»oil by Mh^ }li.m- phi'ey, and four beam iful t'hroino-lithos<» atli.ictions were not enouuli, ibc cdih>r lias prepared twelve pai^es of birthday niotti»e-> from ilie l)oi!l<<, making a singh' line mollo for every day in the year, niink me.noranda leaves are inserti'd tor the benolit of liioise wli > wisli to put down notes or inakP record of daily occur- rences. Tw o editions are : — ned. — our. m plain cloth at .'"i') cents, and the otlier witli »ilver-and-guld cover gilt edges, ai ^1.00. rT. I- il i - ill VI RCllNFA. I!y JK If. G. Kin:;st(m. i6 nv. Iliiislratud . . . . . . . ;;.i J5 A .'.iiriii).; lOry '-f ;i(Iven!ilio upon siM n::(I laii'l. AFRKWN ADVKNTURK AND AfUn^XT- URLRS. I]y Rc7'. (;. y; Day.D.D. i6 mo. llliisl rated . . . . - . i f:;o The stniic'; (-f S):(.ki', (Iraiit, I'alaT, Livinpstonc and Statilty arc iMit ir.to simpK- slMri; for thj enicrtaiiimcnt of yomi:^' readers. NOIUJ-: \VT)RR1<:RS. Ildited hv S. F. Smifh, £). J). 1611U) ....... STORIIOS ()l< SUCCKSS. Edited hy S. F. Smith, D. D. iGmo . I ii^.piriut; LiiH'iaiiliics and records wliicli leave a most whole- some and enduring effect upon the reader. MYTHS AND HKRO?:S. t6 mo. Illus- trated. Kdiled 1)V S. F Smith, D. D . KNIGirrS AM) S|;A KINCiS. Edited by *S'. F. Smith, J). J). 121110. illustrated Two entirt.'.inin;^ '."^ik . \vhi< li \\\\ fasten forever ihe liistorical and 1.%'oviapliical lessons &f tW school-ruoin firndy in the sui- dcnl's nuiid. CI I Al'LlN'S LIFE or r,f:XJAMI\ FRANK- LIN. 161110. llIuslratLd . . . . LIFE OF AMOS LAWRENCE, i-mo. 111. Two biou:raiihies of perennial vakie. No worihier books were ever offered as holiday pres(;nts for our A-iericar. yoiin;: men. WAT/rER NEAL'S EXAMPLE. ]]y Rev. 'Fhcron Bruivn. 16 mo. Illustrated . Walter N'oal's iCxatnple is by Rev. Theron Hrown, the editor of that verv snccessfid i")aper, Thi' ^'o;i!li^ s ComfxDiion. The siory is n toiirliin;.; one, and i^ in jiarts so vi\id as lo seem drawn from the life. — -V. ]'. huii'/'ouit-rit. TWO FORTCXE-SEEKERS. Stories by Ros ' v Johnson, I.onisc Chandh:r Monltun, E. ^.''A-.r/ Fhflps, FJla Fiirman, etc, W\\\y illustrated ,,.... I 5^ I 50 I 25 I 50 •J If awriss >JTJr,i-A- of our ir Icrn writers. E.A.ST2vlA.IT is one of the most jopular $1 5^ YOUNG RK^K. "^s Julki A. Eastman. Large iGnu), Twelve illiislratinns bv Sol Kvtiii'ic. A brii'ht, fascinating story of a little boy wlio was both a bless- ing and a bother. — Boston yoiirnal. The n\o;it dc]i;.;hlfui book on the list for he children iif the family, being full of adventures and ^^■^\^ home scenes and merry play-times. "Paty" wnuld b^ve lawng it in thv hands of tbcir pupils." I'-A.ISTSY'S 3?W.:->I3. !'! FOUR (HRLS AT ( IIAl TAl (^l"A. Ily J\i)isv. 12 nio. Jlliibtialccl . . . $i 50 Til'.: most fa'-tin.-iiiii": " v.iti'iiiK'-i'liici; " stciy ever i)iibii'>Iiecl. Fo'ir fiiciul;, l-ulIj a brilliant tiri in licr way, tired of Sarato'^a and X'.wpcut, try a (u. ti.i lit at tlie new snniiner resort on Cliau- tauriiia Lai;;.', choosing tjic time v. lien tin; National Sunday-school As i.i.iMy i • in (.;.ni|). Rev. l)r.-. N'ir.cent, Di.'cms, Ciiy'.er, I>.I- ward L'.;;;.;li'st<)n, .Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller, Uiove iironii- iii-ntly llnouj h the story. HOUSKIIOLD; UZZLES. l\y Pansy. 121110. Illustrated . . . . . . . i 50 How to p.iake one dollar do the wf>rk of five. A family of beantifni j,ii-.'. seek to sol\e tlii^ " pu/zle." Piciuant, lummrous, but wriiteii V. ith an intcm.'e purpose. TH^: RANDOLPHS. Wy Pansy. 121110. Il- lustrated . . . . . . . I 50 .\ se',[uel Ii> Household l*u//.les, in which the Puz/.les arc agree- ably tlisposed of. GRANDPAS DARLINOS. Va- Pansy. iGmo. Illustrated ....... A big bfyok, full of "good limes" for the little people uf the family. ESTER RIKD . . . .1 JULIA RIED .... Tt. \ EE PEOPLE . . THE Ki-^G'S DAUGHTER WISE AND OTHERWISE . CUNNING WORKMEN JESSIE WELLS .... DOCIA'S JOURNAL . BERNIE'S WHITE CHICKEN . HELEN LESTER. A CHRISTMAS TIME I 25 ran sy. 50 >> 50 »> 50 >> 50 »> 50 » 21; » 75 » 75 >> 75 . >> 75 » 15 •• IvIISS I^-A.IS,lvI.A.lT has the ven- desirabk' knack nf imp:.r,in» valuable idoai iiiiilor the giii-^c of a pleading ^tory."' — /"'/'■ AV.i' ( 'cu.'ioy. MRS. IIL'RD'SNIKCE. V,s EUaFannau. 111. $i 50 i\. tluilliiig story for the j;irls, especially for those wlto ihiiik they have a " niission," to v. hKini we commend sturdy Isniilish Hannah, with lier small means, and her grand success. Saidcc Hurd ii one of the sweetest skirls ever embalmed in story, and Lois Gladstone one of the noblest. THE COOKING CLL'i] OF TU-WHIT HOLLOW. By Ella Farvmn. 16 mo. Eight full-page illustrations . . . . i 25 Worth readint; by all who deliyjit in domestic romance. — Fall River DaHy Xcivs. The practical instructions in housewifery, which are abundant, are set in the midst of a bri;4hl, wholesome story, and the little housewives who fv^ure in it arc ^ood specimens of very human, but at the same time very lovable, little American girls. It ought to be the most successful little girls' book of the sear.on. — The Advance. ALrnXEWO^L\N. By El/a Eammn. i6m. The daintiest f)f all juvenile books. From its merry pages, win- some Kinnie Crosby has stretched out her warm little hand to help thousands of young girls. A WHITE HAND. V>y EllaFannan. 12m. 111. A genuine jiaintin;.; of American society. Millicent and Jack are drawn by a I'.dd, firm hand. No one can lay this story down until the last leaf is turned. I 0'^ SO WIDE A WAKE. AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE For the Young Folks. Edited by ELLA FARMAN. Published by D. LOTHKOP & CO., Boston, Mass. It always contains a feast of fat things for the little folks, and folks who are no longer liiilo fmdjthere lost childhood in its pages. We are not saying too nuich when we say that its versatile editor — Klla Karman, is more fully at Imnje in the child's wonder-land than aiiv other living American writer. .She |» thoroughly <•« rappo'^t with her read'TS, gives them now a sugar \i\\\\\\ of poesy, now a dainty jelly-cake of imagination, and cuiininuly intermixes all the solid l)read of thought that the child's mind can digest and assimilatt. — York Tru$ Dtmocrat. IH The $1000 Prize Series Pronounced by the Examining Committee, Rrt). Drs. Lincoln^ Rankin and Day, superior to any similar series. Striking for the Right, Silent Tom,- - - - - Evening Rest, - - - - The Old Stone House, Into the Light, - - - - Walter McDonald, - . - Story of the Blount Family, - Mak^aret Worthington, Thl Wadsworth Boys, Gr^'iCe Avery's Influence, - GiJMPSES Through, Ralph's Possf.ssion, - - - Luck of Alden Farm, Chronicles of Sunset Mountain, The Marble Preacher, " - Golden Lines, - - - - Sold by Booksellers generally, and sent by Mail^ on receipt of trice. ' $175 - 1.75 - 1.50 - 1.50 - 1.50 - 1.50 1.50 - 1.50 1.50 1.50 - 1.50 1.50 1.50 - 1.50 - 1.50 - 1.50 postpaid, BOSTON: D. LOTHROP <& CO., PUBLISHERS- ries '. Drs, ■ I./5 1.50 ■ 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 t:j?s.