IN TIMES OF TROUBLE 105 



Weldon family was having difficulties. Mr. Wei- 

 don, some time before my acquaintance with him, 

 had cut his foot quite badly with an axe. The 

 wound had never healed in a proper manner, and 

 in the fall of the year when I took the bear, he had 

 the misfortune to have this same foot crushed be- 

 neath a heavy log. While this accident did not in- 

 capacitate him entirely, it made it very difficult 

 for him to work with any degree of comfort. In 

 fact, this infirmity prevented him from earning his 

 usual wages. 



At the railroad settlement we learned that the 

 family had left the lumber-camp in the woods, and 

 was now living in a small log-house close beside 

 the road, about half-way in to the lakes. Our way 

 took us past their door, and we stopped to call. 



Mrs. Weldon and her three children were at 

 home. Because of their straitened circumstances 

 she had been obliged to give up the two adopted 

 ones, and her oldest child now a little girl of six 

 years was the housekeeper ; for she herself lay 

 ill upon the sofa. Mr. Weldon was away looking 

 for work, but owing to the painful condition of his 

 foot had been unable to do much for several months. 

 The kind-hearted mother was weak, discouraged, 

 and worn in mind and body. With the coming of 

 spring there would be another mouth to feed, and 

 the doctor had told her that, unless she could rest 



