But then
he had a good farm, a saddle mare, and plenty of stock, and was
reputed to have saved money. The saddle mare seemed to have great
weight in old Ralph T - -h's wooing, and I used laughingly to remind
Mary of her absent lover, and beg her not to marry Ralph T - -h's
mare.
THE CANADIAN HUNTER'S SONG
The northern lights are flashing,
On the rapids' restless flow;
And o'er the wild waves dashing,
Swift darts the light canoe.
The merry hunters come.
"What cheer? - what cheer?" -
"We've slain the deer!"
"Hurrah! - You're welcome home!"
The blithesome horn is sounding,
And the woodman's loud halloo;
And joyous steps are bounding
To meet the birch canoe.
"Hurrah! - The hunters come."
And the woods ring out
To their merry shout
As they drag the dun deer home!
The hearth is brightly burning,
The rustic board is spread;
To greet the sire returning
The children leave their bed.
With laugh and shout they come -
That merry band -
To grasp his hand,
And bid him welcome home!
CHAPTER XXI
THE LITTLE STUMPY MAN
There was a little man -
I'll sketch him if I can,
For he clung to mine and me
Like the old man of the sea;
And in spite of taunt and scoff
We could not pitch him off,
For the cross-grained, waspish elf
Cared for no one but himself.
