tures，shegavemeice—creamandcake，andtoldmefairy—tales。Shehadawonderfulunderstandingofwhatachildlikes。Therewerehalfadozenwomeninthehousewithher，butIsawnoneofthemnoranyofthemenwhocame。
　　Once，whenwehadbecomeverygoodfriendsindeedandmyearlyshynesshaddeparted，I
　　foundcouragetoaskherwheretheghostwas——
　　theghostthathauntedherhouse。Icanstillseethelookinhereyesastheymetmine。Shetoldmetheghostlivedinherheart，andthatshedidnotliketotalkaboutit，andthatwemustnotspeakofitagain。AfterthatInevermentionedit，butIwasmoredeeplyinterestedthanever，foraghostthatlivedinaheartwasanewkindofghosttomeatthattime，thoughIhavemetmanyofthemsincethen。Duringallourintercoursemymotherneverenteredthehousenextdoor，nordidmymysteriousladyenterourhome；butshecon—
　　stantlysentmymothersecretgiftsforthepoorandthesickoftheneighborhood，andshewasalwaysthefirsttoofferhelpforthosewhowereintrouble。
　　Manyyearsafterwardmothertoldmeshewasthemostgenerouswomanshehadeverknown，andthatshehadararelybeautifulnature。Ourdepart—
　　ureforMichiganbrokeupthefriendship，butIhaveneverforgottenher；andwhenever，inmylaterworkasminister，physician，andsuffragist，Ihavebeenabletohelpwomenoftheclasstowhichshebelonged，Ihavementallyofferedthathelpforcreditinthetragicledgerofherlife，inwhichthecleanandtheblottedpagesweresostrangeacontrast。
　　OnemoreincidentofLawrenceImustdescribebeforeIleavethatcitybehindme，asweleftitforeverin1859。WhilewewerestillthereanumberofLawrencemendecidedtogoWest，andamidgreatpublicexcitementtheydepartedinabodyforKansas，wheretheyfoundedthetownofLawrenceinthatstate。Irecalldistinctlythepublicinterestwhichattendedtheirgoing，andthefeelingeveryoneseemedtohavethattheywerepassingforeveroutofthecivilizedworld。Theirfarewellstotheirfriendswereeternal；nooneexpectedtoseethemagain，andmysmallbraingrewdizzyasItriedtoimagineaplacesoremoteastheirdestination。Itwas，Ifinallydecided，attheuttermostendsoftheearth，anditseemedquitepossiblethatthebraveadventurerswhoreacheditmightthendropoffintospace。FiftyyearslaterIwastalkingtoaCali—
　　forniagirlwhocomplainedlightlyofthemonotonyofaclimatewherethesunshoneandtheflowersbloomedalltheyeararound。``ButIhadade—
　　lightfulchangelastyear，’’sheadded，withanima—
　　tion。``IwentEastforthewinter。’’
　　``ToNewYork？’’Iasked。
　　``No，’’correctedtheCaliforniagirl，easily，``toLawrence，Kansas。’’
　　Nothing，Ithink，hasevermademefeelquitesooldasthatremark。Thatinmylife，notyet，tomeatleast，alongone，Ishouldseesuchanarcde—
　　scribedseemedactuallyoppressiveuntilIrealizedthat，afterall，thearcwasmerelyarainbowoftimeshowinghowgloriouslyrealizedwerethehopesoftheLawrencepioneers。
　　ThemovetoMichiganmeantacompleteup—
　　heavalinourlives。InLawrencewehadaroundusthefineflowerofNewEnglandcivilization。Wechildrenwenttoschool；ourparents，thoughtheywereinveryhumblecircumstances，wereassociatedwiththeleadingspiritsandthebigmovementsoftheday。WhenwewenttoMichiganwewenttothewilderness，tothewildpioneerlifeofthosetimes，andwewerealloldenoughtokeenlyfeelthechange。
　　MyfatherwasoneofanumberofEnglishmenwhotookuptractsinthenorthernforestsofMichigan，withtheolddreamofestablishingacolonythere。
　　Noneofthesemenhadtheleastpracticalknowledgeoffarming。Theywerecitymenorfollowersoftradeswhichhadnoconnectionwithfarmlife。
　　Theywentstraightintothethicktimber—land，in—
　　steadofgoingtotherichandwaitingprairies，andtheycrownedthisinitialmistakebycuttingdownthesplendidtimberinsteadoflettingitstand。
　　Thusbird’s—eyemapleandotherbeautifulwoodswereusedasfire—woodandintheconstructionofrudecabins，andthegreatestassetofthepioneerswasignored。
　　FatherprecededustotheMichiganwoods，andthere，withhisoldestson，James，tookupaclaim。
　　Theyclearedaspaceinthewildernessjustlargeenoughforalogcabin，andputupthebarewallsofthecabinitself。ThenfatherreturnedtoLaw—
　　renceandhiswork，leavingJamesbehind。Afewmonthslater（thiswasin1859），mymother，mytwosisters，EleanorandMary，myyoungestbrother，Henry，eightyearsofage，andI，thentwelve，wenttoMichigantoworkonandholddowntheclaimwhilefather，foreighteenmonthslonger，stayedoninLawrence，sendingussuchremittancesashecould。
　　Hissecondandthirdsons，JohnandThomas，re—
　　mainedintheEastwithhim。
　　Everydetailofourjourneythroughthewilder—
　　nessisclearinmymind。AtthattimetherailroadterminatedatGrandRapids，Michigan，andwecoveredtheremainingdistance——aboutonehundredmiles——bywagon，ridingthroughadenseandoftentracklessforest。MybrotherJamesmetusatGrandRapidswithwhat，inthosedays，wascalledalumber—wagon，butwhichhadahorribleresem—
　　blancetoavehiclefromthehealthdepartment。
　　MysistersandIgaveitonecoldlookandturnedfromit；weweresopainedbyitsappearancethatwerefusedtorideinitthroughthetown。Instead，westartedoffonfoot，tryingtolookasifwehadnoassociationwithit，andweclimbedintotheun—
　　wieldyvehicleonlywhenthecitystreetswerefarbehindus。Everyavailableinchofspaceinthewagonwasfilledwithbeddingandprovisions。Asyetwehadnofurniture；weweretomakethatforourselveswhenwereachedourcabin；andtherewassolittleroomforustoridethatwechildrenwalkedbyturns，whileJames，fromthebeginningofthejourneytoitsend，sevendayslater，ledourwearyhorses。
　　Tomymother，whowasneverstrong，thewholeexperiencemusthavebeenanightmareofsufferingandstoicalendurance。Foruschildrentherewerecompensations。Theexpeditiontookonthechar—
　　acterofahighadventure，inwhichwesometimeshadshelterandsometimesfailedtofindit，some—
　　timeswerefed，butoftenwenthungry。Wefordedinnumerablestreams，thewheelsoftheheavywagonsinkingsodeeplyintothestream—bedsthatweoftenhadtoemptyourloadbeforewecouldgetthemoutagain。Fallentreeslayacrossourpaths，riverscausedlongdetours，whileagainandagainwelostourwayorwereturnedasidebyimpenetrableforesttangles。
　　Ourfirstday’sjourneycoveredlessthaneightmiles，andthatnightwestoppedatafarm—housewhichwasthelastbitofcivilizationwesaw。Earlythenextmorningwewereoffagain，makingtheslowprogressduetotheroughroadsandourheavyload。
　　AtnightwestoppedataplacecalledThomas’sInn，onlytobetoldbythewomanwhokeptitthattherewasnothinginthehousetoeat。Herhus—
　　band，shesaid，hadgone``outside’’（toGrandRapids）togetsomeflour，andhadnotreturned——
　　butsheaddedthatwecouldspendthenight，ifwechose，andenjoyshelter，ifnotfood。Wehadprovisionsinourwagon，sowewearilyentered，aftermybrotherhadgotoutsomeofourporkandopenedabarrelofflour。Withthishelpthewomanmadesomebiscuits，whichweresogreenthatmypoormothercouldnoteatthem。Shehadadmittedtousthattheonethingshehadinthehousewassaleratus，andshehadusedthisingredientwithanunsparinghand。Whenthemealwaseatenshebrokethefurthernewsthattherewerenobeds。
　　``Theoldwomancansleepwithme，’’shesug—
　　gested，``andthegirlscansleeponthefloor。Theboyswillhavetogotothebarn。’’
　　Sheandherbedwerenotespeciallyattractive，andmotherdecidedtolieonthefloorwithus。Wehadtakenourbeddingfromthewagon，andwesleptverywell；butthoughshewasusuallysuperiortosmallannoyances，Ithinkmymotherresentedbeingcalledan``oldwoman。’’Shemusthavefeltlikeonethatnight，butshewasonlyaboutforty—eightyearsofage。
　　Atdawnthenextmorningweresumedourjour—
　　ney，andeverydayafterthatwewereabletocoverthedistancedemandedbytheschedulearrangedbeforewestarted。Thismeantthatsomesortofshelterusuallyawaitedusatnight。Butonedayweknewtherewouldbenohousesbetweentheplaceweleftinthemorningandthatwhereweweretosleep。Thedistancewasabouttwentymiles，andwhentwilightfellwehadnotmadeit。Inthebackofthewagonmymotherhadaboxoflittlepigs，andduringtheafternoonthesehadbrokenlooseandescapedintothewoods。Wehadlostmuchtimeinfindingthem，andweweresoexhaustedthatwhenwecametoahutmadeoftwigsandboughswede—
　　cidedtocampinitforthenight，thoughweknewnothingaboutit。Mybrotherhadunharnessedthehorses，andmymotherandsisterwerecookingdough—god——amixtureofflour，water，andsoda，friedinapan—whentwomenrodeuponhorse—
　　backandcalledmybrothertooneside。Immedi—
　　atelyafterthetalkwhichfollowedJamesharnessedhishorsesagainandforcedustogoon，thoughbythattimedarknesshadfallen。Hetoldmother，butdidnottelluschildrenuntillongafterward，thatamanhadbeenmurderedinthehutonlythenightbefore。Themurdererwasstillatlargeinthewoods，andthenew—comersweremembersofapossewhoweresearchingforhim。Mybrotherneedednourgingtoputasmanymilesashecouldbetweenusandthesinisterspot。
　　Inthatfashionwemadeourwaytoournewhome。
　　Thelastday，likethefirst，wetraveledonlyeightmiles，butwespentthenightinahouseIshallneverforget。Itwasbeautifullyclean，andforoureve—
　　ningmealitsmistressbroughtoutloavesofbreadwhichwerethelargestwehadeverseen。Shecutgreatslicesofthisbreadforusandspreadmaplesugaronthem，anditseemedtousthatneverbe—
　　forehadanythingtastedsogood。
　　Thenextmorningwemadethelaststageofourjourney，ourheartsfilledwiththejoyofnearingournewhome。Weallhadanideathatweweregoingtoafarm，andweexpectedsomeresemblanceatleasttotheprosperousfarmswehadseeninNewEngland。Mymother’smentalpicturewas，natu—
　　rally，ofanEnglishfarm。Possiblyshehadvisionsofredbarnsanddeepmeadows，sunnyskiesanddaisies。Whatwefoundawaitinguswerethefourwallsandtheroofofagood—sizedlog—house，stand—
　　inginasmallclearedstripofthewilderness，itsdoorsandwindowsrepresentedbysquareholes，itsflooralsoathingofthefuture，itswholeeffectachinglyforlornanddesolate。Itwaslateintheafternoonwhenwedroveuptotheopeningthatwasitsfrontentrance，andIshallneverforgetthelookmymotherturnedupontheplace。Withoutawordshecrosseditsthreshold，and，standingverystill，lookedslowlyaroundher。Thensomethingwithinherseemedtogiveway，andshesankupontheground。Shecouldnotrealizeeventhen，Ithink，thatthiswasreallytheplacefatherhadpreparedforus，thathereheexpectedustolive。Whenshefinallytookitinsheburiedherfaceinherhands，andinthatwayshesatforhourswithoutmovingorspeaking。Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshehadfor—
　　gottenus；andwe，forourpart，darednotspeaktoher。Westoodaroundherinafrightenedgroup，talkingtooneanotherinwhispers。Ourlittleworldhadcrumbledunderourfeet。Neverbeforehadweseenourmothergivewaytodespair。
　　Nightbegantofall。Thewoodsbecamealivewithnightcreatures，andthemostharmlessmadethemostnoise。Theowlsbegantohoot，andsoonweheardthewildcat，whosecry——ascreechlikethatofalostandpanic—strickenchild——isoneofthemostappallingsoundsoftheforest。Laterthewolvesaddedtheirhowlstotheuproar，butthoughdarknesscameandwechildrenwhimperedaroundher，ourmotherstillsatinherstrangelethargy。
　　Atlastmybrotherbroughtthehorsesclosetothecabinandbuiltfirestoprotectthemandus。Hewasonlytwenty，butheshowedhimselfamandur—
　　ingthoseearlypioneerdays。Whilehewaspicketingthehorsesandbuildinghisprotectingfiresmymothercametoherself，butherfacewhensheraiseditwasworsethanhersilencehadbeen。Sheseemedtohavediedandtohavereturnedtousfromthegrave，andIamsureshefeltthatshehaddoneso。Fromthatmomentshetookupagaintheburdenofherlife，aburdenshedidnotlaydownuntilshepassedaway；butherfaceneverlostthedeeplinesthosefirsthoursofherpioneerlifehadcutuponit。
　　Thatnightwesleptonboughsspreadontheearthinsidethecabinwalls，andweputblanketsbeforetheholeswhichrepresentedourdoorsandwindows，andkeptourwatch—firesburning。Soontheotherchildrenfellasleep，buttherewasnosleepforme。
　　Iwasonlytwelveyearsold，butmymindwasfulloffancies。Behindourblankets，swayinginthenightwind，IthoughtIsawtheheadsandpushingshoul—
　　dersofanimalsandheardtheirpaddedfootfalls。
　　Lateryearsbroughtfamiliaritywithwildthings，andwithworsethingsthanthey。Butto—nightthatwhichImostfearedwaswithin，notoutsideof，thecabin。InsomewaywhichIdidnotunderstandtheonesurerefugeinournewworldhadbeentakenfromus。Ihardlyknewthesilentwomanwholaynearme，tossingfromsidetosideandstaringintothedarkness；Ifeltthatwehadlostourmother。
　　II
　　INTHEWILDERNESS
　　Likemostmen，mydearfathershouldneverhavemarried。ThoughhisnaturewasoneofthesweetestIhaveeverknown，andthoughhewouldatanycallgivehistimetoorriskhislifeforothers，inpracticalmattersheremainedtotheendofhisdaysasirresponsibleasachild。Ifhismindturnedtopracticaldetailsatall，itwassolelyintheirbear—
　　ingtowardgreatdevelopmentsofthefuture。Tohimanacornwasnotanacorn，butaforestofyoungoaks。
　　Thus，whenhetookuphisclaimofthreehundredandsixtyacresoflandinthewildernessofnorthernMichigan，andsentmymotherandfiveyoungchil—
　　drentolivetherealoneuntilhecouldjoinuseighteenmonthslater，hegavenothoughttothemannerinwhichweweretomakethestruggleandsurvivethehardshipsbeforeus。Hehadfurnisheduswithlandandthefourwallsofalogcabin。Someday，hereasoned，theplacewouldbeafineestate，whichhissonswouldinheritandinthecourseoftimepassontotheirsons——alwaysanEnglishman’smostiri—
　　descentdream。Thatforthepresentwewereonehundredmilesfromarailroad，fortymilesfromthenearestpost—office，andhalfadozenmilesfromanyneighborssaveIndians，wolves，andwildcats；thatwewerewhollyunlearnedinthewaysofthewoodsaswellasinthemostprimitivemethodsoffarming；
　　thatwelackednotonlyeverycomfort，buteventhebarenecessitiesoflife；andthatwemustbegin，single—handedanduntaught，astruggleforexistenceinwhichsomeoftheseverestforcesofnaturewouldbearrayedagainstus——thesefactshadnoweightinmyfather’smind。Evenifhehadwitnessedmymother’sdespaironthenightofourarrivalinournewhome，hewouldnothaveunderstoodit。Fromhisviewpoint，hewasdoingaman’sduty。HewasworkingsteadilyinLawrence，and，incidentally，givingmuchtimetotheAbolitioncauseandtootherbigpublicmovementsofhisdaywhichhadhisinterestandsympathy。Hewrotetousregu—
　　larlyandsentusoccasionalremittances，aswellasageneroussupplyofimprovingliteratureforourminds。Itremainedforustostrengthenourbodies，tomeettheconditionsinwhichhehadplacedus，andtosurviveifwecould。
　　Wefacedoursituationwithclearandunalarmedeyesthemorningafterourarrival。Theproblemoffood，weknew，wasatleasttemporarilysolved。
　　Wehadbroughtwithusenoughcoffee，pork，andflourtolastforseveralweeks；andtheonenecessityfatherhadputinsidethecabinwallswasagreatfireplace，madeofmudandstones，inwhichourfoodcouldbecooked。Theproblemofourwater—supplywaslesssimple，butmybrotherJamessolveditforthetimebyshowingusacreekalongdistancefromthehouse；andformonthswecarriedfromthiscreek，inpails，everydropofwaterweused，savethatwhichwecaughtintroughswhentherainfell。
　　Weheldafamilycouncilafterbreakfast，andinthis，thoughIwasonlytwelve，Itookaneageranddeterminedpart。Ilovedwork——ithasalwaysbeenmyfavoriteformofrecreation——andmyspiritrosetotheopportunitiesofitwhichsmiledonusfromeveryside。Obviouslythefirstthingtodowastoputdoorsandwindowsintotheyawningholesfatherhadleftforthem，andtolayaboardflooringovertheearthinsideourcabinwalls，andthesedutiesweaccomplishedbeforewehadoccupiedournewhomeafortnight。Therewasasmallsaw—millninemilesfromourcabin，onthespotthatisnowBigRapids，andthereweboughtourlumber。Thelaborwesuppliedourselves，andthoughweputourheartsintoitandtheresultsatthetimeseemedbeautifultoourpartialeyes，I
　　amforcedtoadmit，inlookingbackuponthem，thattheyhaltedthissideofperfection。Webeganbymakingthreewindowsandtwodoors；then，inspiredbytheseachievements，weambitiouslyconstructedanatticanddividedthegroundfloorwithpartitions，whichgaveusfourrooms。
　　Thegeneraleffectwastemperamentalandsketchy。
　　Theboardswhichformedthefloorwereneverevennaileddown；theywerefine，wideplankswithoutaknotinthem，andtheylookedsowellthatwemerelyfittedthemtogetherascloselyaswecouldandlightheartedlyletthemgoatthat。Neitherdidweproperlychinkthehouse。
　　Nothingismorecomfortablethanalogcabinwhichhasbeencarefullybuiltandfinished；butforsomereason——probablybecausethereseemedalwaysamoreurgentdutycallingtousaroundthecorner——weneverplasteredourhouseatall。
　　Theresultwasthatonmanyfuturewintermorningsweawoketofindourselveschastelyblanketedbysnow，whiletheonlywarmspotinourliving—roomwasthatdirectlyinfrontofthefireplace，wheregreatlogsburnedallday。
　　Eventhereourfacesscorchedwhileourspinesslowlycongealed，untilwelearnedtorevolvebeforethefirelikeabirduponaspit。NodoubtwewouldhaveworkedmorethoroughlyifmybrotherJames，whowastwentyyearsoldandourtowerofstrength，hadremainedwithus；butwhenwehadbeeninournewhomeonlyafewmonthshefellandwasforcedtogoEastforanoperation。Hewasneverabletoreturntous，andthusmymother，wethreeyounggirls，andmyyoungestbrother——Harry，whowasonlyeightyearsold——madeourfightaloneuntilfathercametous，morethanayearlater。
　　Motherwaspracticallyaninvalid。Shehadanervousaffectionwhichmadeitimpossibleforhertostandwithoutthesupportofachair。Butshesewedwithunusualskill，anditwasduetoherthatourclothes，notwithstandingthestraintowhichwesubjectedthem，werealwaysingoodcondition。Shesewedforhourseveryday，andshewasabletomoveaboutthehouse，afterafashion，bypushingherselfaroundonastoolwhichJamesmadeforherassoonaswearrived。Healsobuiltforheramorecomfortablechairwithahighback。
　　Thedivisionoflaborplannedatthefirstcouncilwasthatmothershoulddooursewing，andmyoldersisters，EleanorandMary，thehousework，whichwasfarfromtaxing，forofcoursewelivedinthesimplestmanner。MybrothersandIweretodotheworkoutofdoors，anarrangementthatsuitedmeverywell，thoughatfirst，owingtoourlackofexperience，ouractivitiesweresomewhatcurtailed。
　　Itwastoolateintheseasonforplowingorplanting，evenifwehadpossessedanythingwithwhichtoplow，and，moreover，ourso—called``cleared’’landwasthickwithsturdytree—stumps。Evenduringthesecondsummerplowingwasimpossible；wecouldonlyplantpotatoesandcorn，andfollowthemostprimitivemethodindoingeventhis。Wetookanax，choppedupthesod，puttheseedunderit，andlettheseedgrow。Theseeddidgrow，too——inthemostgratifyingandencouragingmanner。OurgreencornandpotatoeswerethebestIhaveevereaten。Butforthepresentwelackedtheseluxuries。
　　Wehad，however，intheirplace，largequantitiesofwildfruit——gooseberries，raspberries，andplums——whichHarryandIgatheredonthebanksofourcreek。Harryalsobecameanexpertfisherman。
　　Wehadnohooksorlines，buthetookwiresfromourhoop—skirtsandmadesnaresattheendsofpoles。Mypartofthisworkwastostandonalogandfrightenthefishoutoftheirholesbymakinghorriblesounds，whichIdidwithimpassionedearnestness。Whenthefishhurriedtothesurfaceofthewatertoinvestigatetheappallingnoisestheyhadheard，theywereeasilysnaredbyoursmallboy，whowasveryproudofhisabilitytocontributeinthiswaytothefamilytable。
　　Duringourfirstwinterwelivedlargelyoncorn—
　　meal，makingalittlejourneyoftwentymilestothenearestmilltobuyit；butevenatthatwewerebetteroffthanourneighbors，forIrememberonefamilyinourregionwhoforanentirewinterlivedsolelyoncoarse—grainedyellowturnips，gratefullychangingtheirdiettoleekswhenthesecameinthespring。
　　Suchfurnitureaswehadwemadeourselves。Inadditiontomymother’stwochairsandthebunkswhichtooktheplaceofbeds，Jamesmadeasettlefortheliving—room，aswellasatableandseveralstools。Atfirstwehadourtree—cuttingdoneforus，butwesoonbecameexpertinthisgentleart，andIdevelopedsuchskillthatinlateryears，afterfathercame，Iusedtostandwithhimand``heart’’
　　alog。
　　Oneveryside，andateveryhouroftheday，wecameupagainsttherelentlesslimitationsofpioneerlife。Therewasnotateamofhorsesinourentireregion。TheteamwithwhichmybrotherhaddrivenusthroughthewildernesshadbeenhiredatGrandRapidsforthatoccasion，and，ofcourse，immediatelyreturned。Ourlumberwasdeliveredbyox—teams，andtheabsolutelyessentialpurchaseswemade``outside’’（atthenearestshops，fortymilesaway）werecarriedthroughtheforestonthebacksofmen。Ourmailwasdeliveredonceamonthbyacarrierwhomadethejourneyinalter—
　　natestagesofhorsebackridingandcanoeing。Butwehadhealth，youth，enthusiasm，goodappetites，andthewherewithaltosatisfythem，andatnightinourprimitivebunkswesankintoabyssesofdream—
　　lessslumbersuchasIhaveneverknownsince。
　　Indeed，lookingbackuponthem，thosefirstmonthsseemtohavebeenalong—drawn—outandgloriouspicnic，interruptedonlybyoccasionalhoursofpainorpanic，whenwewerehurtorfrightened。
　　Naturally，ourtwogreatestmenaceswerewildanimalsandIndians，butasthedayspassedthefirstoftheselosttheearlyterrorswithwhichwehadassociatedthem。Wegrewindifferenttothesoundsthathadmadeourfirstnightahorrortousall——
　　therewasevenacertainhomelinessinthem——whileweregardedwithaccustomed，almostblaseeyesthevariousfurredcreaturesofwhichwecaughtdistantglimpsesastheyslunkthroughtheforest。Theirexperiencewithothersettlershadtaughtthemcau—
　　tion；itsoonbecameclearthattheywereaseagertoavoidusasweweretoshunthem，andbycommonconsentwegaveeachotherampleelbow—room。
　　ButtheIndianswereallaroundus，andeverysettlerhadacollectionofhair—raisingtalestotellofthem。
　　Itwasgenerallyagreedthattheyweredangerousonlywhentheyweredrunk；butastheyweredrunkwhenevertheycouldgetwhisky，andaswhiskywasconstantlygiventheminexchangeforpeltsandgame，therewasaharrowingdoubtinourmindswhenevertheyapproachedus。
　　InmyfirstencounterwiththemIwasaloneinthewoodsatsunsetwithmysmallbrotherHarry。
　　WewerehuntingacowJameshadbought，andouryoungeyeswerepeeringeagerlyamongthetrees，onthealertforanymovingobject。Suddenly，atalittledistance，andcomingdirectlytowardus，wesawapartyofIndians。Therewerefiveofthem，allmen，walkinginsinglefile，asnoiselesslyasghosts，theirmoccasinedfeetcausingnotevenarustleamongthedryleavesthatcarpetedthewoods。AllthehorriblestorieswehadheardofIndiancrueltyflashedintoourminds，andforamomentweweredumbwithterror。ThenIrememberedhavingbeentoldthattheonethingonemustnotdobeforethemistoshowfear。Harrywascarryingaropewithwhichwehadexpectedtoleadhomeourreluctantcow，andIseizedoneendofitandwhisperedtohimthatwewould``playhorse，’’pretendinghewasdrivingme。WeprancedtowardtheIndiansonfeetthatfeltlikelead，andwitheyessoglazedbyterrorthatwecouldseenothingsavealineofmovingfigures；butaswepassedthemtheydidnotgivetoourlittleimpersonationofcare—freechildreneventhetributeofaside—glance。Theywere，werealized，headedstraightforourhome；andafterafewmo—
　　mentswedoubledonourtracksand，keepingatasafedistancefromthemamongthetrees，ranbacktowarnourmotherthattheywerecoming。
　　Asithappened，Jameswasaway，andmotherhadtomeetherunwelcomeguestssupportedonlybyheryoungchildren。Sheatoncepreparedameal，however，andwhentheyarrivedshewelcomedthemcalmlyandgavethemthebestshehad。Aftertheyhadeatentheybegantopointatanddemandob—
　　jectstheyfanciedintheroom——mybrother’spipe，sometobacco，abowl，andsuchtrifles——andmymother，whowasafraidtoannoythembyrefusal，gavethemwhattheyasked。Theywerequitesober，andthoughtheyleftwithoutexpressinganyappreciationofherhospitality，theymadeherasecondvisitafewmonthslater，bringingalargequantityofvenisonandabagofcranberriesasagracefulreturn。TheseIndianswereOttawas；andlaterwebecameveryfriendlywiththemandtheirtribe，eventothedegreeofattendingoneoftheirdances，whichIshalldescribelater。
　　OursecondencounterwithIndianswasalessagreeableexperience。Therewereseven``Mar—
　　quettewarriors’’inthenextgroupofcallers，andtheywereallintoxicated。Moreover，theyhadbroughtwiththemseveraljugsofbadwhisky——
　　therawandcraze—provokingproductsuppliedthembythefur—dealers——anditwasclearthatourcabinwastobethesceneofanorgy。Fortunately，mybrotherJameswasathomeonthisoccasion，andastheeveninggrewoldandtheIndians，groupedtogetheraroundthefire，becamemoreandmoreir—
　　responsible，hedevisedaplanforoursafety。Ouratticwasfinished，anditssoleentrancewasbyaladderthroughatrap—door。AtJames’swhisperedcommandmysisterEleanorslippedupintotheattic，andfromthebackwindowletdownarope，towhichhetiedalltheweaponswehad——hisgunandseveralaxes。TheseEleanordrewupandcon—
　　cealedinoneofthebunks。Mybrotherthendi—
　　rectedthatasquietlyaspossible，andatlongin—
　　tervals，onememberofthefamilyafteranotherwastoslipuptheladderandintotheattic，goingquitecasually，thattheIndiansmightnotrealizewhatweweredoing。Oncethere，withtheladderdrawnupafterusandthetrap—doorclosed，wewouldberea—