the freshly scrubbed floor, but always used their
upturned fur caps as cuspidors.

The children, even the little tots, showed great interest in the
dancing of their parents, and so delighted did they become that they
would sometimes gather in a group in a corner and try to step in time
with the music.

Everyone that could dance took a turn--even Oo-koo-hoo and old Granny
did the "light fantastic"--and at one time or another all the principal
guests were upon the floor; all save--the priest. The scarlet tunics
of the corporal and the constable of the Royal North-West Mounted
Police as well as the sombre black of the English Church and the
Presbyterian clergymen, added much to the whirling colour scheme, as
well as to the joy of the occasion. But look where I would I could not
find "Son-in-law," and though the blushing Athabasca was often in the
dance, it was plain to see her lover was not there, for even the
handsome policemen, though they paid her marked attention, gave no
sign, either of them, of being the lucky one. In the number of
partners, Oo-koo-hoo's granddaughter outshone them all, and, moreover,
her lover was present. At every chance Shing-wauk--The Little
Pine--was shyly whispering to her and she was looking very happy. Even
I rose to the occasion and had for my first partner our host's swarthy
wife, a wonderful performer, who, after her husband's retirement from
the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, became the most popular dancer
in all Winnipeg. Nor must I forget my dance with that merry, muscular,
iron-framed lady, Oo-koo-hoo's better half--old Granny--who at first
crumpled me up in her gorilla-like embrace, and ended by swinging me
clean off my feet, much to the merriment of the Indian maidens.

As the afternoon wore on the Rabbit Dance began, and was soon followed
by the Hug-Me-Snug, the Drops of Brandy, and the Saskatchewan Circle,
and--last but not least--the Kissing Dance. And when the Kissing Dance
was encored for the fifth time, the company certainly proclaimed it a
Happy New Year.

THE BEAUTIFUL ATHABASCA

Again at tea time the guests gathered round the festive board; then, a
little later, the music once more signalled the dancers to take their
places on the floor. Hour after hour it went on. After midnight
another supper was served; but still "the band"--consisting of a violin
and a concertina--played on, and still the moccasined feet pounded the
floor without intermission. At