s not forgotten. The subject came
up every time her mother brought out the new pair of sleeves which she
was embroidering. But it was talked over amicably, the big brothers
having relinquished all right to a share in the selection because their
mother had at last taken an irrevocable stand in favor of her own
choice, and had intrenched her position by a promise that they could
have that year's muskrat money. So when Christmas morning dawned and the
little girl temporarily received her long, dignified name, together with
a beaver pelt for a cap, the big brothers, whittling shingles into shape
for the stretching of their winter's catch, silently accepted the
decision.

The long, dignified name suited the little girl. She had grown so tall
that she could look over the St. Bernard's back, and so agile that she
had walked out six pairs of moccasins in as many months. And when the
new shoes arrived and the sleeves were finished, she grew so proud that
she wanted to wear her gobelin blue apron every day.

As spring opened, and the last tuck was taken out of the robe, the big
brothers put their guns and traps away in the attic, and once more
turned to the plowing and planting of the fields. But, in spite of the
farm work, they found time to make preparations for the approaching
baptism. They painted the light wagon, giving the box a glossy black
surface and the wheels a coat of green, while the little girl's mother
began three suits for them, and a brand-new dress for herself out of one
she had brought with her when the family came to the plains. The
evenings were no less busy. The mother sewed steadily, the big brothers
fixed up the light harness, and the little girl, scorning sleep,
alternately hindered and helped them, and held on to the ends of tugs
and reins with her pudgy hands while the big brothers greased and rubbed
and polished.

When the trip to the reservation was less than a week off, the
preparations for it were redoubled, and the farm was for a time
neglected. The little girl's mother put the last stitches on the new
clothes; the big brothers, each having firmly refused to let either of
the others try a hand at clipping him, made a journey to the
post-office to get their hair cut by the hardware man; and the little
girl wore a despised sunbonnet, had her yellow locks put up on rags, and
went to bed every night with clabbered milk on her face.

At last the great day arrived. Early in the morning, before the ri