The birds sent forth their sweetest notes in the warm, lingering sunlight, and the opening buds of the young hickory and sassafras filled the air with perfume.
Nothing could be more perfect than our enjoyment of this sylvan and beautiful retreat[45] after our ride in the glowing sun.

The children were in ecstasies.

They delighted to find ways of making themselves useful--to pile up the saddles--to break boughs for the fire--to fill the little kettles with water for Petaille and Lecuyer, the Frenchmen, who were preparing our supper.
Their amusement at the awkward movements of the horses after they were spancelled knew no bounds.

To our little nephew Edwin everything was new, and Josette, who had already made more than one horseback journey to St.Joseph, manifested all the pride of an old traveller in explaining to him whatever was novel or unaccountable.
They were not the last to spring up at the call "how! how!" on the following morning.
The fire was replenished, the preparations for breakfast commenced, and the Frenchmen dispatched to bring up the horses in readiness for an early start.
Harry and Josette played their parts, under our direction, in preparing the simple meal, and we soon seated ourselves, each with cup and knife, around the _table-mat._ The meal was over, but no men, no horses appeared.

When another half-hour had passed, my husband took Harry and commenced exploring in search of the missing ones.
The day wore on, and first one and then another would make his appearance to report progress.