"'I watched a log in the fire-place burning--
Oh, if I, too, could only be
Sure to give back the love and laughter
That Life so freely gave to me!'"

"That's what the people out here do," said Aunt Nan after a little when
Virginia had finished. "They're not afraid to give back the 'love and
laughter' which Life has given them. I think we reserved New Englanders
can learn a lesson from Mr. Jarvis and the Cinnamon Creek forest ranger
and all the other people we met and be more willing to give back what
we've had given to us."

For a long hour after she had gone to bed Vivian remembered the lesson she
might have learned from the Cinnamon Creek forest ranger and would not;
the love and laughter she might have given the guests of Mr. Benjamin
Jarvis and did not. Thoroughly disgusted with herself, she lay looking
through the tent opening at the mountains--great, silent souls beneath the
stars. They gave back--just _everything_, she thought.

"Can't you sleep, Vivian?" Virginia whispered from her bed across the
tent. "What's the matter?"

Vivian told half the truth.

"It's that poem," she said petulantly. "Of course it's lovely, but I can't
get it out of my mind, and I hate to have things run through my head like
that!"

CHAPTER XVI

THE CINNAMON CREEK FOREST RANGER

"No, Vivian," assured Virginia for at least the tenth time, "there aren't
any cattle on those hills. You just turn up the Bear Canyon road where we
went after the bear, and go till you reach the creek. It's only a mile
from here. Then if you feel a bit nervous about riding Siwash up the
mountain, why tie him to a tree and walk. Perhaps 'twill be easier anyway,
for you'll find the kinnikinnick just after you leave the creek. It will
be redder in the open places, so hunt for those. You'll love it for
Christmas boxes. If it weren't for Caesar, I'd go with you, but I want to
finish the third book before Mary goes. Is it at the creek Carver's going
to meet you?"

"There or at the crossroads," explained Vivian, as she mounted Siwash. "He
went to town this morning with Donald, but he said he'd be back in plenty
of time. I tried to 'phone, but I guess there must be something wrong. I
couldn't get any one, and it didn't buzz at all. But I know he'll be
there, and I'm not a bit afraid of Siwash. Good-by."

Virginia stood on the porch and watched Vivian ride down the lane before
returning to Caesar. She was