Snowflakes and Sunbeams | Page 5

legged stool. In fact, poor
Charley said that he "would rather become a buffalo than do it." Now
this was very wrong of Charley, for, of course, he didn't mean it.
Indeed, it is too much a habit among little boys, ay, and among
grown-up people, too, to say what they don't mean, as no doubt you are

aware, dear reader, if you possess half the self-knowledge we give you
credit for; and we cannot too strongly remonstrate with ourself and
others against the practice-- leading, as it does, to all sorts of absurd
exaggerations, such as gravely asserting that we are "broiling hot"
when we are simply "rather warm," or more than "half dead" with
fatigue when we are merely "very tired." However, Charley said that he
would rather be "a buffalo than do it," and so we feel bound in honour
to record the fact.
Charley and Kate were warmly attached to each other. Moreover, they
had been, ever since they could walk, in the habit of mingling their
little joys and sorrows in each other's bosoms; and although, as years
flew past, they gradually ceased to sob in each other's arms at every
little mishap, they did not cease to interchange their inmost thoughts,
and to mingle their tears when occasion called them forth. They knew
the power, the inexpressible sweetness, of sympathy. They understood
experimentally the comfort and joy that flow from obedience to that
blessed commandment to "rejoice with those that do rejoice, and weep
with those that weep." It was natural, therefore, that on Mr. Kennedy
announcing his decrees, Charley and Kate should hasten to some retired
spot where they could commune in solitude; the effect of which
communing was to reduce them to a somewhat calmer and rather happy
state of mind. Charley's sorrow was blunted by sympathy with Kate's
joy, and Kate's joy was subdued by sympathy with Charley's sorrow; so
that, after the first effervescing burst, they settled down into a calm and
comfortable state of flatness, with very red eyes and exceedingly
pensive minds. We must, however, do Charley the justice to say that
the red eyes applied only to Kate; for although a tear or two could
without much coaxing be induced to hop over his sun-burned cheek, he
had got beyond that period of life when boys are addicted to (we must
give the word, though not pretty, because it is eminently expressive)
blubbering.
A week later found Charley and his sister seated on the lump of blue
ice where they were first introduced to the reader, and where Charley
announced his unalterable resolve to run away, following it up with the
statement that that was "the end of it." He was quite mistaken, however,
for that was by no means the end of it. In fact it was only the beginning
of it, as we shall see hereafter.

CHAPTER II.
The old fur-trader endeavours to "fix" his son's "flint," and finds the
thing more difficult to do than he expected.
Near the centre of the colony of Red River, the stream from which the
settlement derives its name is joined by another, called the Assiniboine.
About five or six hundred yards from the point where this union takes
place, and on the banks of the latter stream, stands the Hudson's Bay
Company's trading-post, Fort Garry. It is a massive square building of
stone. Four high and thick walls enclose a space of ground on which
are built six or eight wooden houses, some of which are used as
dwellings for the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, and others as
stores, wherein are contained the furs, the provisions which are sent
annually to various parts of the country, and the goods (such as cloth,
guns, powder and shot, blankets, twine, axes, knives, etc., etc.) with
which the fur-trade is carried on. Although Red River is a peaceful
colony, and not at all likely to be assaulted by the poor Indians, it was,
nevertheless, deemed prudent by the traders to make some show of
power; and so at the corners of the fort four round bastions of a very
imposing appearance were built, from the embrasures of which several
large black-muzzled guns protruded. No one ever conceived the idea of
firing these engines of war; and, indeed, it is highly probable that such
an attempt would have been attended with consequences much more
dreadful to those behind than to those who might chance to be in front
of the guns. Nevertheless they were imposing, and harmonised well
with the flag- staff, which was the only other military symptom about
the place. This latter was used on particular occasions, such as the
arrival or departure of a brigade of boats, for the purpose of displaying
the folds of a red flag