ut of
'Auntie,' and the youngsters bounded down the long lane to meet a sleigh
that was dragging its way through snow as high as the box. Auntie was
Archie's sister--like him yet unlike, the same features of softer mould,
lighted up with merry smiles that told of a happy heart. And there were
children with her, and her husband, a stout hearty man with a loud
voice. Sleigh after sleigh drove up the lane, each hailed with shouting
and laughter, for each one brought not only the elders of the household
but their children. What a shaking of hands and interchange of good
wishes there was, and then came supper. There were over fifty guests,
but there was ample preparation in the big back kitchen, where supper
was served. When all had enough, including the dogs and Maisie's
pussies, the older folk moved to the front room. In a jiffy dishes and
temporary tables disappeared in that big back kitchen, and the
youngsters began their games. By-and-by a fiddle was heard, and I am
afraid there was dancing. We had a happy evening. Two-handed cracks,
stories, jokes, songs, made the time pass too quickly. It was a novelty
to me that all the guests were either Irish or English; fine people,
intelligent, wide-awake as to the necessity of advancing and making
improvements. Plates of apples and fruit cake appearing notified the
time for parting had come, and in more than one mother's arms rested a
little one who had crept in from the big kitchen too sleepy to remain
longer. In shaking hands with my new-found acquaintances, they all pled
with me to pay them a visit. Before I fell asleep, I thought of what a
fine yeomanry dwelt in the settlement, and the misfortune it would be
if, by any legislative mis-step, they were constrained to leave the
farm.

Next morning I had, of course, to visit the stables and see the
live-stock, and to judge as far as was possible, with two feet of snow
resting upon it, of the farm and its surroundings. Every detail told of
a capable and energetic farmer, who knew a good horse and the best use
that could be made of pig and cow. There were no loose ends, everything
was in its place and in the best of order. The hour I was left alone
with Archie's father and mother was as refreshing as a breeze from
Scotia's heath-clad hills. On asking grannie whether Mirren and Archie
were her only children she answered, 'There are two biding with the
Lord.' After listening to what they told me of how they came to Canada,
of what