Vacation was over, the boys went back to school, and poor Macwas left lamenting. He was out of the darkened room now, andpromoted to blue goggles, through which he took a gloomy view oflife, as might have been expected; for there was nothing he coulddo but wander about, and try to amuse himself without using hiseyes. Anyone who has ever been condemned to that sort ofidleness knows how irksome it is, and can understand the state ofmind which caused Mac to say to Rose in a desperate tone one day"Look here, if you don't invent some new employment oramusement for me, I shall knock myself on the head as sure as youlive."Rose flew to Uncle Alec for advice, and he ordered both patientand nurse to the mountains for a month, with Aunt Jessie andJamie as escort. Pokey and her mother joined the party, and onebright September morning six very happy-looking people wereaboard the express train for Portland two smiling mammas, ladenwith luncheon baskets and wraps; a pretty young girl with a bag ofbooks on her arm; a tall thin lad with his hat over his eyes; and twosmall children, who sat with their short legs straight out beforethem, and their chubby faces beaming with the first speechlessdelight of "truly travelling."An especially splendid sunset seemed to have been prepared towelcome them when, after a long day's journey, they drove into awide, green door-yard, where a white colt, a red cow, two cats,four kittens, many hens, and a dozen people, old and young, weregaily disporting themselves. Everyone nodded and smiled in thefriendliest manner, and a lively old lady kissed the new-comers allround, as she said heartily"Well, now, I'm proper glad to see you! Come right in and rest, andwe'll have tea in less than no time, for you must be tired. Lizzie,you show the folks upstairs; Kitty, you fly round and help father inwith the trunks; and Jenny and I will have the table all ready by thetime you come down. Bless the dears, they want to go see thepussies, and so they shall!"The three pretty daughters did "fly round," and everyone felt athome at once, all were so hospitable and kind. Aunt Jessie hadraptures over the home-made carpets, quilts and quaint furniture;Rose could not keep away from the windows, for each framed alovely picture; and the little folks made friends at once with theother children, who filled their arms with chickens and kittens, anddid the honours handsomely.

　　The toot of a horn called all to supper, and a goodly party,including six children besides the Camp-bells, assembled in thelong dining-room, armed with mountain appetites and the gayestspirits. It was impossible for anyone to be shy or sober, for suchgales of merriment arose they blew the starch out of the stiffest,and made the saddest jolly. Mother Atkinson, as all called theirhostess, was the merriest there, and the busiest; for she kept flyingup to wait on the children, to bring out some new dish, or to banishthe live stock, who were of such a social turn that the colt cameinto the entry and demanded sugar; the cats sat about in people'slaps, winking suggestively at the food; and speckled hens clearedthe kitchen floor of crumbs, as they joined in the chat with acheerful clucking.

　　Everybody turned out after tea to watch the sunset till all the lovelyred was gone, and mosquitoes wound their shrill horns to soundthe retreat. The music of an organ surprised the new-comers, andin the parlor they found Father Atkinson playing sweetly on thelittle instrument made by himself. All the children gathered abouthim, and, led by the tuneful sisters, sang prettily till Pokey fellasleep behind the door, and Jamie gaped audibly right in themiddle of his favourite"Coo," said the little doves: "Coo," said she,"All in the top of the old pine-tree."The older travellers, being tired, went to "bye low" at the sametime, and slept like tops in home-spun sheets, on husk mattressesmade by Mother Atkinson, who seemed to have put some soothingpowder among them, so deep and sweet was the slumber thatcame.

　　Next day began the wholesome out-of-door life, which works suchwonders with tired minds and feeble bodies. The weather wasperfect, and the mountain air made the children as frisky as younglambs; while the elders went about smiling at one another, andsaying, "Isn't it splendid?" Even Mac, the "slow coach," was seento leap over a fence as if he really could not help it; and whenRose ran after him with his broad-brimmed hat, he made thespirited proposal to go into the woods and hunt for a catamount.

　　Jamie and Pokey were at once enrolled in the Cosey Corner LightInfantry a truly superb company, composed entirely of officers, allwearing cocked hats, carrying flags, waving swords, or beatingdrums. It was a spectacle to stir the dullest soul when this gallantband marched out of the yard in full regimentals, with CaptainDove a solemn, big-headed boy of eleven issuing his orders withthe gravity of a general, and his Falstaffian regiment obeying themwith more docility than skill. The little Snow children did verywell, and Lieutenant Jack Dove was fine to see; so was DrummerFrank, the errand-boy of the house, as he rub-a-dub-dubbed withall his heart and drumsticks. Jamie had "trained" before, and wasmade a colonel at once; but Pokey was the best of all, and calledforth a spontaneous burst of applause from the spectators as shebrought up the rear, her cocked hat all over one eye, her flagtrailing over her shoulder, and her wooden sword straight up in theair; her face beaming and every curl bobbing with delight as herfat legs tottered in the vain attempt to keep step manfully.

　　Mac and Rose were picking blackberries in the bushes beside theroad when the soldiers passed without seeing them, and theywitnessed a sight that was both............