A Hut in the Woods 



went into the unknown. Ijv car and 

 stage they journeyed until late after- 

 noon, when at length, from the rose- 

 embowered steps of the little chateau, 

 they had the pleasure of seeing one of 

 the finest sunsets they had ever beheld, 

 and the aroma of that divine, balsam- 

 laden air seemed the elixir of life. 



Although the first sight of the little 

 house was disappointing, they soon saw 

 the possibilities of the place, and finding 

 that there was a spring of ice-cold water 

 under the hill, soft and clear as crystal, 

 and that there were also many kinds of 

 trees on the place, with a border of real 

 forest in the background, and also that 

 it was not too far from other human 

 habitations, the purchase was made be- 

 fore the end of the following day. 



The telegram was sent to the sister 

 at home, and, later, a letter, to come 

 as soon as she could get the father's 

 542 



consent, and to ship from the real home 

 all the surplus odds and ends which 

 might be spared. 



The result was, after a few days, a 

 letter of commendation from the ab- 

 sent father, praise for their decision of 

 character, reimbursement for their out- 

 lay, a quick conversion on his part to 

 the vacation idea, and a promise of a 

 visit to their little chateau on his return. 



Busy hands and loving hearts now- 

 planned the adornment of the little 

 summer home, to be in readiness for 

 the father's coming. The unplastered 

 walls were soon covered with cream- 

 colored unbleached muslin, bought by 

 the piece at the nearest country store. 

 This was tacked on with care, while the 

 great beams overhead were left bare in 

 the colonial style of our great grand- 

 mothers. Branches of balsam hemlock 

 and garlands of running pine graced 



