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THE MERRYWEATHERS
"'TU-WHOO!' SAID THE SNOWY OWL."]
THE MERRYWEATHERS
BY
LAURA E. RICHARDS
AUTHOR OF "CAPTAIN JANUARY," "MELODY," "QUEEN HILDEGARDE," "GEOFFREY STRONG," ETC.
=Illustrated by= JULIA WARD RICHARDS
BOSTON DANA ESTES & COMPANY PUBLISHERS
_Copyright, 1904_ BY DANA ESTES & COMPANY
* * * * *
_All rights reserved_
THE MERRYWEATHERS
TO
H. H. F., Jr.
WITH AFFECTIONATE GREETING.
FOR REMEMBRANCE
The sunlight falls in gold upon the golden fields, The ruffling wave gives back the sky in blue; The asters fringe the meadow's skirts in purple pride, And proud the goldenrod is standing, too.
Oh! clear and far across the lonely water, The wild bird calls his mate at close of day; My heart cries out, my heart cries out in answer, And oh, I fondly think of them that's far away.
Oh, fair the fields where now their feet are treading! Oh, green the trees that blossom o'er their head! Oh, deep and sweet the skies above them spreading, And on their hearth the fire-glow warm and red!
Still may they hear, across the lonely water, The wild bird call his mate at close of day; Still may their hearts, still may their hearts make answer; Still may they kindly think of them that's far away!
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE ARRIVAL 11
II. THE CAMP 26
III. AUF DAS WASSER ZU SINGEN 39
IV. AFTER THE PICNIC 55
V. KITTY AND WILLY 75
VI. A DISCUSSION 90
VII. WATER PLAY 106
VIII. THE MAIL 119
IX. MR. BELLEVILLE 138
X. PUPPY PLAY 155
XI. MRS. MERRYWEATHER'S VIGIL 171
XII. "SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT" 186
XIII. ABOUT VISITING 204
XIV. MOONLIGHT AGAIN 220
XV. CONCERNING VARIOUS THINGS 239
XVI. ON THE DOWN 259
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
"'TU-WHOO!' SAID THE SNOWY OWL" (_See page 281_) _Frontispiece_
"'HERE IS YOURS,' SAID BELL; 'NEXT TO OURS'" 28
"''TIS NOT A PLATE SHIP!'" 81
"'COME ON! COME IN!'" 107
"MR. CLAUD BELLEVILLE WAS A TALL, PALLID YOUTH" 138
MRS. MERRYWEATHER'S VIGIL 175
"'SIMPLY FIERCE, YOUR REVERENCE!' SAID I" 217
"HE WAS STIRRING THE PORRIDGE INDUSTRIOUSLY, WHILE SHE MIXED THE JOHNNY-CAKE" 233
THE MERRYWEATHERS