A BED OF BOUGHS 



different look she gave me from that of the natives. 

 This is better than fishing for trout," said he. " You 

 drop in at the next house." 



But the next house looked too unpromising. 



" There is no milk there," said I, " unless they 

 keep a goat." 



" But could we not," said my facetious compan- 

 ion, " go it on that ? " 



A couple of miles beyond I stopped at a house that 

 enjoyed the distinction of being clapboarded, and 

 had the good fortune to find both the milk and the 

 young lady. A mother and her daughter were again 

 the only occupants save a babe in the cradle, which 

 the young woman quickly took occasion to disclaim. 



" It has not opened its dear eyes before since its 

 mother left. Come to aunty," and she put out her 

 hands. 



The daughter filled my pail and the mother re- 

 plenished our stock of bread. They asked me to 

 sit and cool myself, and seemed glad of a stranger 

 to talk with. They had come from an adjoining 

 county five years before, and had carved their little 

 clearing out of the solid woods. 



"The men folks," the mother said, "came on 

 ahead and built the house right among the big 

 trees," pointing to the stumps near the door. 



One no sooner sets out with his pack upon his 

 back to tramp through the land than all objects and 

 persons by the way have a new and curious interest 

 249 



