FLOWERS OF THE FAR NORTH 139 



expected sort comes as a relief. Hidden by a 

 plastered wall of considerable height from the 

 passing gaze, the cottage had undoubted claims 

 to picturesqueness. 



The inmates seemed to counterbalance the 

 desolate surroundings by a cheerful inner life. 



There may have been a little philosophy in it, 

 such as common - sense people cultivate where 

 matters cannot be mended ; but there seemed to be 

 a good deal of nature as well. 



Certainly, I never witnessed such bubbling over 

 of animal spirit even in the brightest scenes, 

 especially on the part of those who were no longer 

 children. The example was contagious, which 



