ble to sow three acres of their
ground with wheat, which they hoped would give them a good supply of
flour for the next year. "If the reason is early, I hope that we may
get a spring burn of three or four acres more;" said Michael to his
boys. "Then we'll plant it with Indian-corn, and pumpkins, and
potatoes, and turnips, and carrots, and cabbages, and onions, and other
garden stuff. In a short time we shall not have much to buy in the
shape of food, as soon as we can raise enough for pigs and fowls, and
keep a cow or two."

As yet nothing particular had happened to Michael Hale and his family.
They had worked on steadily, and were already reaping the reward of
their industry.

STORY THREE, CHAPTER 3.

Before October was over bad weather came on, and the settlers who had
only just come to the country began to cry out that the winter would be
upon them before they were ready. They were, it is true, much
behindhand, for though many of them had far greater means than Michael
Hale and John Kemp, they had not their experience, and often threw away
much labour and time uselessly. They were wrong as to the weather, too,
for the Indian summer came, and this year it lasted nearly three weeks.
The air was pure and cool, though there was not a cloud in the sky, but
there was a haze which made the sun looker redder than his wont, and did
not let his rays strike as hot as they had done in the summer. It was a
very fine time, and the new settlers said that they had seen nothing
like it in the old country. The leaves on the trees too changed to all
sorts of bright colours--orange and yellow and pink and scarlet and
blue--till the wood looked like a big flower-garden; the beech turned to
a straw colour; the maple on one side was light green, and on the other
scarlet and yellow and pink and many other colours; the oak became of a
dark, shining copper, but there was more scarlet and yellow on most of
the trees than any other colour.

Among the settlers was a Mr Samuel Landon. He was a kind-hearted man,
and had good means, but had not had the practical experience which
Michael possessed, and which was of more value to him than money. Mr
Landon often came across to Michael's clearing to ask his advice. He
and his family had reached Canada at the same time as the Hales. He had
lived at the city of Montreal for some time, and spent much money; then
he had travelled about the country and spent more. That money would not
h