A Summer in a Canyon: A California Story

land where the l

ge glows in the gre

er soft, from the

of myrtle, and

week or more they were the very busiest colony of people under the sun; for it takes a deal

accomplished this is to describe th

tched under the same giant oak, and yet were nearly forty feet apart; that of the girls having a canvas floor. They were not quite willing to sleep on the groun

is was the favourite sitting-room of the girls by day, and served for Pancho's bedroom at night. It was beautiful enough to be fit shelter for all the woodland

a game of crib, backgammon, and checkers. Here, too, all Elsie's letters were written and Bell's nonsense verses, and here was the identical spot wh

ach bearing its owner's initials, adorning the shrubs, while numerous towels waved in the breeze. Between two trees a thin board was nailed, which appeared to be used, as nearly as the woodp

ith much ingenuity, she would take her victims through a long series of military man?uvres arranged for the toothbrush. Oh, the gaspin

thers, brus

resence of the

ang Syne'! And if they became mutinous, it was Geoffrey who reduced them to submission, and ordered them t

with bright Turkey-red cotton; there were no less than three rustic lounges and two arm-chairs made from manzanita bra

a dozen devices for comfort, as Dr. Winship was opposed to any more inconvenience than was strictly nec

on, 'Tent Chatter.' They said nothing; but on the night after, a committee of two stole out and glued a companion placard, 'Tent Clatter,' over the door of their masculine neighbours. And

should have been a work of art, for it represented the combined genius of American, Mexican, and Chinese carpenters, Dr. Winship, Pancho, and Hop Yet having laboured in its erection

fear somebody would ride through the ca?on and catch them camping out with a stove. Imagine such a situation; it made them blush. Margery said she wished people weren't quite so practical, and wouldn't ruin nature by introducing such ugly and unnecessary things. She intended to point the moral by drawing a pic

e stove because it simplified the cookery. Furthermore, being an eminently just man, he yielded so far as to give them permission to prepare their own

of attraction. It was arranged with a gay canopy, twenty feet square. Three sides were made by hanging full curtains of awning cloth from redwood rods by means of huge

magic kiss of a princely lover. It reached from the ocean to the mountains, and held a thousand different pictures on which to feast the eye; for Dame Nature deals out beauty with a lavish hand in this land of perpetual summer, song, and sunshine. There were many noble oak-trees, some hun

like that in which the tents were pitched,-sunny places, where the ea

blood-red skin, is one of the most beautiful of California trees, having an open growth, like a maple, bright green lust

ft behind in the dear New England woods; and as for flowers, there are no yellow and purple violets, fragile anemones, or blushing Mayflowers, but in March the hillsides a

queen. Its tall, slender stalk has no twigs or branches, but its leaves hang down from the top like bayonet-blades; and oh, there rises

eetness in the air for days together. They brought home quantities of Spanish moss, and wild clematis, and manzanita berries too, with which to decorate the beloved camp; a

l it possibly could, knowing it would speedily be dried up by the thirsty August sun. Every few yards part of the stream settled down contentedly into a placid little pool, while the most inquisitive and restless little drops flowed noisily down to see what was going on below. The banks were f

wish yourself there with our merry young sextette. For California is a lovely land and a strange one, even at t

beet-trees, and forests of cabbages, and shady bowers of squash-vines; and they thought that through these fertile valleys strode men of curious mien, wild bandits and highway robbers, with red flannel shirts and many

the towns and cities no longer conduct themselves like headstrong young tomboys out on a lar

mmoth vegetables, each big enough for a newspaper story; her celebrated trees, on the stumps of which dancing-parties are given; her vultures; her grizzly bears; and her people, drawn from every nook and corner of the map-pink, yellow, blue, red, and green

at night she often used to lie awake, curled up in her grey blanket, and hear the men talking together of the gold treasures they were to dig from the ground-treasures, it seemed to her childish mind, more precious than those of which she read in The Arabian Nights. And from a little hole in the canvas cover of the old emigrant wagon she used to see the tired fathers and brothe

n getting their open-air home comfortably arranged, making conveniences of all kinds, becoming acquainted w

tuation before undertaking any of the exciting excursions in prospect. So, before the week was over, they began to enjoy sound, dreamless sleep on their hard

she cried, peeping in her tiny mirror, and lighting up her too rosy tints with a tallow candle. 'Hideous objick, I defy thee! Spot and speckle,

and girls never have to say 'wind and weather permitting' from March or April until November. They always know wha

t that they are glad their dispositions are not ruined by the freaks of New England weather. At all events, it is a paradise for would

the other girls were off on some errand with the Doctor. After luncheon

n of countenance. 'Have you lost your gold thimble again

eheld. It will be just the spot for us to write and study in when we want to be alone; o

find it?' a

rookside, I saw a snake making i

Polly, 'I shall not w

ttle thing; and I thought, for the fun of it, I would just push blindly on and see what I sh

one which will get you into trouble,

as exactly round, which is the curious part of it; and in the centre was one stump, covered with moss and surrounded by great white toadstools. How any one happened to go in there and cu

n the pride and pomp of it beauty, one sycamore-tree; its innocent life-blood has stained the ground,

should see it that I took the ball of twine we always carry, unrolled it, and dropped the thread a

hanasia,' interrupted Polly. 'I t

then we'll fit it up as a retreat. Won't it

ed Polly. 'I'm going to write an ode to it

nely

cruel

ay th

s the

crue

thee

said Bell slowly, with

id a

cked l

at th

doi

ive t

ave no

rgery; 'if you will

dstool

ive us

he que

opher

ive i

diges

continue

did

ciou

d tree'

eave

nient

t for

creature making a stump-speech, while an admiring audience of grass

don't think I care to visit the Lo

nly a little more lonely. It is not half a mile from camp, and hardly a

d perhaps we'd better not tell the boys,-they are so peculiar. Jack

aid Bell. 'Papa and the boys are all off shooting, and mamma is lying down

he prolonged chats in which school-girls are wont to indulg

minds were stocked with useful information; they had read carefully and digested thoroughly whatever they had read, so that they possessed a good deal of general knowledge. The girls were bright, sensible,

inship for nearly two years; and that means a great deal, for he was a real teacher, entering into the lives of his pupils, sympathising

r for him to rest a year and come to him in California, as his ambition and energy had already led him into greater exertions than his age or strength w

tender in all his ways to Aunt Truth, who was the only mother he had ev

or his eye is quick to see suffering, and his hand ready to relieve it; little children with feverish cheeks and tired eyes will love to clasp his cool, strong sand; he will be g

rous, practical, and industrious; a trifle slow and reserved, perhaps, but

s. Geoff is the real Simon-pure ideal which we praise Philip for trying to be,'-a very good de

a description of him. To explain how he differed from Philip or Geoffrey would be li

ast often hurt; if a fishing-party, Jack it was who caught all the fish, though he mad

-of-door sports. And indeed, if his prudence had at all kept pace with his ability, he might have done remarkable things in almost any direction; but he co

acted constantly as a sort of curb upon him; for he loved her with all the ardour and passion which he gave to everything else. You might be fearful of Jack's high spirits and riotous mirth, of his reckless actions and heedl

he ca?on to a place which they called Prospect Pool,

nd things, and interrogations where he thinks I won't know what is meant and had better find out,-bless his heart! What have you brought, Margery? By the way, you must move your seat away from t

oys to cut these bushes down. Why, you haven't any book, you lazy Polly

send down the red pathway of fate; and here a pencil and paper

om Jack and one letter from us, which,

wrote it,'

d no news-no account

writing news, and I leave

eventeen adjectives, followed by a verse of poor poetry; Geoff will do the sportive or instructive, just as he happens to feel; and Phil will wind up the letter by some practical details which will serve as a key to all the rest.

pid!' murmured M

es, "the ladies' delight"; Geoffrey for a wine-drop, altogether good, bu

han a cold boiled pot

'Let us call him rock-candy, pur

' said Margery,

ed Polly; 'it alway

e bushes on the other side of the pool, and Phil

been in there, vi

. I've heard a most instructive conversation-never been more amused in my life

pped Polly, a trifle embarras

p. (the most loathsome thing in existence, by the w

d Margery. 'I said you were no more like ca

ails to grasp it. But neve

ear good of themse

didn't want to listen; it was very painful

t read a word,' sighed little Margery. 'I neve

is a liberal educat

oks and shawls. It's nearly five o'clock, and we shall

f shooting with the o

so they'd get a

ays scare the game away?'

do all the shooting, and t

asm,' said Bell, 'and let us sm

ter, looking the very picture of comfort, as she drew her darning-needle in and out of an unseemly rent in one of Dic

pleasant walk, d

ill, while we decorate you for dinner. We will make Uncle Doc's

alone. Hop Yet has been pounding soap-root in the kitchen, and I hear the sound of Pancho's axe in t

'If you think a moment, he was in the hammock an

him ask to go with you,' said Mrs.

t I told him i

eep; I was not feeling well. Ask Hop Yet; he

hee work. I chop hash-Dicky come in kitch'-make heap work-no good. I tell him go long-he go; bime-by you catchum; you see.' Where

in the direction of the sky-parlour. But after a few minutes she ran back,

any use to worry. He always does come out right; and I have told him so many times never on any account to go away from the camp alone that he surely would not do it. Papa and the boy

right. Papa is so strict that he won't be late

ll but

said Margery, consolingly. 'Geoffr

donning fresh collars and stockings, with low ties of russet leather, which Polly declared belonged only to the stage conception of a camping cost

ing at the entrance of the path which led up the ca?on, s

peared in sight, guns over shoulder, full game-bags, and Jack

th one swift glance, and then turned to her mother, who, like mos

ere is li

e has not been out wit

didn't take him?'

n't any one know where the child is

I noticed Dicky playing with his blocks in our tent, and said good

to look at his dog making belie

m it was too far, and that he'd better stay with mamma, who would be all alone. He said "Yes" so sweetly I cou

y; we shall find him. Go and look about the camp,

oor Aunt Truth; 'but I never dreamed he would dare to wander of

to Pancho and Hop

have seen

as before, with the greatest serenity, intimating that Dicky would come home 'heap bime-by' when he got 'plenty hungly.' He seemed to think a lost boy or two in a family rather a

uttered Polly, angrily. 'I should just like to see a Chinaman's heart o

of course we can find him somehow, somewhere; he hasn't been gone over two hours, and he couldn't walk far, that

hunt as well as any one; we know every foot of the ca?on

. Make all the noise you can, children; and the one who finds him must come back to the camp an

m dinner now; then go bime-

impudence! If you say dinner again, I

iving a savage punch to h

' remonstrat

I'll wager you ten to one I'll have Dick in auntie's lap inside the hour!'-at which Aunt Truth's eyes brightened, and she began to take heart again. But as he tore past the brush kitchen and out in

eeth chattering with nervousness; 'are there a

t is likely; and neither do I believe they would be apt to hurt him, any way, for he would never attack them, you know. What I am afraid of is that he has tumbl

nto fits of terror; for the boys had whistles and pistols, while Polly had taken a tin pan and a hammer. She had

est-I deserve to be stung. What do you think I said to Margery this morning? That Dicky was a perfect little marplot, and spoiled all our fun, and I wished he w

all. I've wished him in the Red Sea more than once, but I'm blessed if I ever do it again. Come, let'

, but not so thoroughly dazed as Bell, who had rocked her baby-brother in his cradle, an

miserably. 'He is so careless that, if we ever f

e strength enough to go on with me. I wish it were not getting so dark; the moment the

ghtened, and alone,' sighed Bell. 'It's past his bed-time n

appiest in the world this morning. Here we are by the up

we might follow the trail I made. But where

ng? What d

in, I took out my ball of twine and dropped a white line all the way back, like Ariadne; b

em all day. Perhaps a sna

ay, Geoff, dear; it's as good as any other, and there are flowers j

t; let's

member it was a spotted one, with tall ferns growing beside it. Now I

ense!' cried Geoff. 'No child c

was the wrong thing; he isn't afraid of beast, bird, or fi

was making believe go to sleep. It proved to be entirely a make-believe; for, at the first loosening of Dicky's strangling hold upon his throat, he tumbl

r was a thing of the past; consequently, he wheeled about and ran into Dicky's outstre

ks always did, and it would be dishonourable not to keep up the superstition. Then he built a fine, strong dam of stones across the brook, wading to and fro without the bother of taking off his shoes and stockings, and filled his hat with rocks and sunk it to the bottom for a wharf, keeping

r been happier in his life, and it flashed through his mind th

ed scolded a singul wunst, did I, Lubin? I guess we better live here; bettent we, Lubin? And ven we wunt git stuck

ghtfully in his little copper-toed boots. At length he sat down on a stone to rest himself, and, glancing aimlessly about

make an offul splendid tight harness for you, little Lub

ssentingly, as much as to say that his ideas

t along, until he was thoroughly tired but thoroughly determined to see it through; and Lubin, meanw

autiful, round place, with a great restful-looking stump in the centre, and round its base a small forest of snowy toadstools. What could be

umbrellas ca

m-tree, just

ve had a sho

ey came is ma

he woodland f

the elm-tree mi

rellas wait f

helter they'll da

you step, nor cr

ll frighten the

; and wunt they be mad at home when nobuddy can't see 'em but just only me! And then if that potry is a big whopper, like that there uvver one

that Dicky's courage oozed out in a single moment, without any previous warnings as to its intention. The toadstools looked like the ghosts of little past-and-gone

experienced their first desire to find favour with God. He was not in the least degree a saintly child, but he felt instinctively that this was t

y me down

Lord my s

d die befo

rd my soul to

ate and practical answer, in the shape, perhaps, of his mot

ears have et me up in teenty snips, then they'll be saterfied, I guess, and wisht they'd tookened gooder care of me-a little speck of a boy, lefted out in this d

tscript to 'Now I lay me': 'God bless papa, 'n' mamma, 'n' Bell, 'n' Jack, 'n' Madge, 'n' Polly, 'n' Phil, 'n' Geoff, 'n' Elsie.' Then, realizing that he was in a perilous position, and it behoved him to be as

stake! His whole duty performed, he picked the toadstools for his papa's Sunda

ess sleep which comes only to the truly good. There was a crashing sound in the s

I knew it! Hurrah!-no, I mean-thank God!' she said softly

the recovered treasure. 'See, Bell, his curls are glistening with p

e like lightning to blow the horn; and you carry Dicky, for he is too sleepy and stiff to walk; and, Geoff'-(here she laid a

ale cheek. 'But I've no idea of letting you go alone; you're tired

appened. 'Why, now that this weight is lifted off my heart, I could see a path in an untravelled forest! Good-bye, you dear, darling, c

the old cracked dinner-horn fell on the anxious ears in that ca?o

p-fire, all embracing Bell, who was the heroine of the hour-entirely b

e into the ring with his sorry-looking burden,

acing him fondly. 'To think you

ts caressed their restored darling, Geoff gathered the girls and boys around

jured party, and with great ingenuity laid

er cared a cent about it either, or you'd a founded me quicker 'n this-'n' I've been hungry fur nineteen hours, 'n' I guess I've been gone till December, by the feelin', but you was too lazy to found me 'f I freezed to d

n; and to Hop Yet's calm delight, it was a very bad one. Dicky's small wounds were dressed with sweet oil, and

r. Paul went into the tent to see that all was safe for the night, he found h

. 'Next time I'm goin' to get losted in annover bran'-new place where no-bud-dy can find me! I fink it was the nice

e slipper, but I do think we should arrange some plan for giving that child an idea of

etically. 'I can't stand many more of thes

of relief that there was one person, at least, whose senti

anybuddy, mamma,' whispe