IN THE VELVET. ey 

lake when it is fine footing for them. At the time, the crust 
in the woods had softened from the morning’s sun shining 
down so warm upon it, and would not hold them to jump 
about over it, and they seem always to know when it is nice 
travelling for them upon the lake. After playing about on 
the ice at the point, they came strolling up the shore toward 
the bough shanty, occasionally walking up the bank to eat the 
gray moss from the trees that were blown down toward them, 
or from those of scrubby growth growing close to the water 
among the rocks, sinking to their knees as they did so, in the 
drifts, then down on the snowy ice again and on up the 
sunny shore, lazily, as seen by short, irregular steps and their 
winding path. Now anda then the smallest tracks showed 
that the calves had jumped away a piece from the drove, then 
followed on in the rear, as if when getting too forward. Old 
daddy C, who cares nothing for the young trash and seldom 
has them in his company, would be teaching them good 
manners, and in a manner not too good to the children. 
And thus they strolled along up the shore in the sunshine. 
But soon the leader (some wary old buck) spies first the 
shadow moving upon the snow, then above the white shanty, 
rests his eye upon the waving bandanna. Almost upon the 
instant of his making the discovery and as his head is raised 
high, all stop in their tracks and stand looking at this strange 
thing, which is apparently alive. All gaze curiously, except 
the younger ones, who pay no more attention after a glance, 
than if it was a red maple bush in autumn. The sober old 
dames slowly turn their gaze after a snuff or two, with an 
enquiring look upon the leader, who without taking his eyes 
from the flag or deigning them a glance, shakes his head as 
he lowers it and tosses it in the air again for another snuff 
