snow-crowned stumps and surrounded by the
still unconquered forest, dark and menacing, but sullenly and slowly
retreating.

Here was a home, nevertheless; a home wrested by heroic struggles from
the wilderness. In the centre, on the face of a little sloping hill,
stood the citadel of this newly-conquered territory,--a farmhouse and
out-buildings.

They were all rough log structures, but the dwelling house had about it
the unmistakable atmosphere of a home. Around it, even under the
snowdrifts, were vague signs of a garden; from the low, wide chimney
poured forth a blue column of smoke; and at one of the windows a candle
twinkled cheerfully; both speaking of warmth and welcome within, very
grateful in the chill, winter dusk. And at the side of the house, on a
small knoll, spreading its bare branches over the roof as though to
shield the home from the biting blasts, grew a gigantic silver maple, a
welcome shelter alike in summer and winter.

As the sleigh swept past the house on its way to the barn. Big Malcolm
pushed the boy gently forward. "Run away in, Scotty, man," he said;
"see, Granny will be watchin' for you at the window."

Scotty hesitated; he wanted to go on to the stable, and there give Rory
and Hamish a more detailed account of his glorious battle of the
morning. But Granny was expecting him, and he must not disappoint her;
even Callum dared not do that, and Callum dared almost anything else.
So the boy leaped down and ran swiftly up the rough little pathway. At
his approach the old, weather-beaten door flew open; and he sprang into
a pair of outstretched arms.

II

A NEW NAME

Outside, the ghostly rampikes,
Those armies of the moon,
Stood while the ranks of stars drew on
To that more spacious noon,--

While over them in silence
Waved on the dusk afar
The gold flags of the Northern light
Streaming with ancient war.
--BLISS CARMAN.

Scotty lay stretched before the wide fireplace, his tousled, curly head
upon his small, brown hand, his eyes fastened dreamily upon the glowing
mass of coals. He was waiting anxiously for the rest of the family to
join him. Supper was over; and just as soon as his grandfather and
"the boys" returned from the barn he was going to recount, for the
fourth time, the great events of this, his first day at school. He
felt like a hero just returned from an overwhelming victory. The whole
family seemed conscious of his added impor