Lost in the Backwoods | Page 4

of the lily-like trillium
grandiflorum; the delicate and fragile lilac geranium, whose graceful
flowers woo the hand of the flower-gatherer only to fade almost within
his grasp: the golden cypripedium or moccasin flower, so singular, so
lovely in its colour and formation, waved heavily its yellow blossoms
as the breeze shook the stems; and there, mingling with a thousand
various floral beauties, the azure lupine claimed its place, shedding
almost a heavenly tint upon the earth. Thousands of roses were
blooming on the more level ground, sending forth their rich fragrance,
mixed with the delicate scent of the feathery ceanothus (New Jersey
tea). The vivid greenness of the young leaves of the forest, the tender
tint of the springing corn, was contrasted with the deep dark fringe of
waving pines on the hills, and the yet darker shade of the spruce and
balsams on the borders of the creeks, for so our Canadian forest rills are
universally termed. The bright glancing wings of the summer red-bird,
the crimson-headed woodpecker, the gay blue-bird, and noisy but
splendid plumed jay might be seen among the branches; the air was
filled with beauteous sights and soft murmuring sounds.
Under the shade of the luxuriant hop-vines that covered the rustic porch

in front of the little dwelling, the light step of Catharine Maxwell might
be heard mixed with the drowsy whirring of the big wheel, as she
passed to and fro guiding the thread of yarn in its course. And now she
sang snatches of old mountain songs, such as she had learned from her
father; and now, with livelier air, hummed some gay French tune to the
household melody of her spinning-wheel, as she advanced and retreated
with her thread, unconscious of the laughing black eyes that were
watching her movements from among the embowering foliage that
shielded her from the morning sun.
"Come, ma belle cousine," for so Louis delighted to call her. "Hector
and I are waiting for you to go with us to the 'Beaver Meadow.' The
cattle have strayed, and we think we shall find them there. The day is
delicious, the very flowers look as if they wanted to be admired and
plucked, and we shall find early strawberries on the old Indian
clearing."
Catharine cast a longing look abroad, but said, "I fear I cannot go
to-day; for see, I have all these rolls of wool to spin up, and my yarn to
wind off the reel and twist; and then, my mother is away."
"Yes, I left her with mamma," replied Louis, "and she said she would
be home shortly, so her absence need not stay you. She said you could
take a basket and try and bring home some berries for sick Louise.
Hector is sure he knows a spot where we shall get some fine ones, ripe
and red." As he spoke Louis whisked away the big wheel to one end of
the porch, gathered up the hanks of yarn and tossed them into the open
wicker basket, and the next minute the large, coarse, flapped straw hat,
that hung upon the peg in the porch, was stuck not very gracefully on
Catharine's head and tied beneath her chin, with a merry rattling laugh,
which drowned effectually the small lecture that Catharine began to
utter by way of reproving the light-hearted boy.
"But where is Mathilde?"
"Sitting like a dear good girl, as she is, with sick Louise's head in her
lap, and would not disturb her for all the fruit and flowers in Canada.
Marie cried sadly to go with us, but I promised her and Louise lots of

flowers and berries if we get them, and the dear children were as happy
as queens when I left."
"But stay, cousin, you are sure my mother gave her consent to my
going? We shall be away chief part of the day. You know it is a long
walk to the Beaver Meadow and back again," said Catharine, hesitating
as Louis took her hand to lead her out from the porch.
"Yes, yes, ma belle," said the giddy boy quickly; "so come along, for
Hector is waiting at the barn. But stay, we shall be hungry before we
return, so let us have some cakes and butter, and do not forget a tin cup
for water."
Nothing doubting, Catharine, with buoyant spirits, set about her little
preparations, which were soon completed; but just as she was leaving
the little garden enclosure, she ran back to kiss Kenneth and Duncan,
her young brothers. In the farm-yard she found Hector with his axe on
his shoulder. "What are you taking the axe for, Hector? you will find it
heavy to carry," said his sister.
"In the first place, I have to cut a stick of blue beech to