ely Sam got tired and sat down, and got a load of bird-shot in
his hind-legs."

As they put their guns away that afternoon, Major LeCroix again examined
Shawn's cheap gun. Then came the supper of broiled birds, cooked as only
Mary could cook them, and at the table-board they went over the field
again, the work of the dogs, the Major meanwhile waxing eloquent over
the trueness of his gun.

Shawn lay again in the old Empire bed, watching the dying embers in the
fireplace. Softly the door opened--the Major entered, a lighted candle
in one hand, and his beloved muzzle-loader in the other. "Shawn, I have
been thinking it all over; I will hunt no more, but there are many days
for you in the field, but you _must_ have a gun, and I am giving you
mine." He paused at the door, held the candle aloft, the soft light
falling on his silvery hair, "Good night and pleasant dreams."

And the night was filled with pleasant dreams for Shawn, for that
afternoon as he and Lallite stood upon the porch, gazing upon the wintry
stream, she drew near him and said, "It will be so lonesome tomorrow
when you are gone," and something in the tone of the voice echoed the
same words in his heart.

CHAPTER XII

It was midwinter, and the river was frozen over. The boats had not been
running for many days, and the happiest time of all the happy days for
the young people of the river towns had come. The ponds and creeks were
forgotten in the great event of skating on the river, and for miles the
smooth surface was a speedway over which the skaters made merry
excursions. In front of Skarrow the ice was firm, and with that buoyancy
so dear to the lovers of this sport. In the afternoons the young people
from the town of Skarrow and Vincent on the opposite side, all met on
the river. All classes were there--the darkey with his big crook-runner
skates, and the young beau, with his latest style polished runners. The
two races voluntarily divided the skating grounds, the white people
above, and the colored folks below.

The merry jingle of sleigh-bells could be heard amid this happy throng,
and glad voices rising in a splendid chorus, echoed throughout the
valley, and many a love dream had its first awakening and sweet
realization in this joyous time. How the crisp, frosty air brought the
glow of health and beauty to the cheek; how sweet the music of maiden
voices rising upon the wintry air, and the tumbling of glossy curls
underneath the hoods and