A "TRIP." 151 



ing hair as their best protection from the severe cold Hable to occur 

 here at ahnost any time with a few hours' notice. 



A journey of six to ten miles brings them to their destination, 

 and then a halt is made. The trip may be simply to a neigh- 

 bor for some visit, or to borrow or return some loaned article, 

 or it may be to the provision depot for a supply of goods or 

 articles for the use of the family. The molasses keg needs re- 

 filling or the tea chest is empty, perhaps the butter is all gone, or 

 soap, matches, or broken dishes need replacing with new supplies. 

 Often the men are out of tobacco which, to them at least, is a neces- 

 sary article, when the greater portion of the time is occupied in 

 filling the room with volumes of deep blue smoke while assembled 

 around a (almost literally) blazing hot stove telling stories or 

 silently enjoying the smoke and passing time away. It may be 

 that the housewife needs a new dress, or the children extra cloth- 

 ing, while often warm shirts and mittens of swanskin are to be 

 procured for both. At any rate the articles are obtained, often, I 

 am sorry (for the families' sake) to say, on credit of next year's 

 *' ketch" of fish, and the little party turns toward home again, which 

 is soon reached, as are also the warm fire, the hot supper, and bed. 



