Early Candlelight

XII

XI1 HERE was rain and mild weather. There was Twind, and that was seasonable, although it howled with a wintry sound. This quieted; a haze in the air changed to light snow; it started snowing in earnest. It snowed as though it were November and not March. The sun broke out at last, looking understandably sheepish, but the air cut like a knife. The sun persisted, and once more the snow began to melt. Wild geese were heard; not in Jasper Page’s fancy. Wild geese, wild ducks-the Indians brought them to the Long Knives. The ice in the rivers, although it was three feet thick, began perceptibly to soften. In April the snow went fast, but the ice held. There had been steamboats on this date, they grumbled at the fort. No thought of a steamboat now. Not even of the bateau of a trader. But one dawn the swans fell like a yellow cloud on the pond. More ducks and geese winged by. Robins caroled. Bluebirds flashed through the branches. Then came in discouraging procession rain and thunder and lightning and sleet and snow. So does spring come along the Minisota, more reluctant , more capricious, than anywhere else in the world. The Indians returned, disgusted, from their sugar XII THERE was rain and mild weather. There was wind, and that was seasonable, although it howled with a wintry sound. This quieted; a haze in the air changed to light snow; it started snowing in earnest. It snowed as though it were November and not March. The sun broke out at last, looking understandably sheepish, but the air cut like a knife. The sun persisted, and once more the snow began to melt. Wild geese were heard; not in Jasper Page's fancy. Wild geese, wild ducks-the Indians brought them to the Long Knives. The ice in the rivers, although it was three feet thick, began perceptibly to soften. In April the snow went fast, but the ice held. There had been steamboats on this date, they grumbled at the fort. No thought of a steamboat now. Not even of the bateau of a trader. But one dawn the swans fell like a yellow cloud on the pond. More ducks and geese winged by. Robins caroled. Bluebirds flashed through the branches. Then came in discouraging procession rain and thunder and lightning and sleet and snow. So does spring come along the Minisota, more reluctant , more capricious, than anywhere else in the world. The Indians returned, disgusted, from their sugar 261 XII THERE was rain and mild weather. There was wind, and that was seasonable, although it howled with a wintry sound. This quieted; a haze in the air changed to light snow; it started snowing in earnest. It snowed as though it were November and not March. The sun broke out at last, looking understandably sheepish, but the air cut like a knife. The sun persisted, and once more the snow began to melt. Wild geese were heard; not in Jasper Page's fancy. Wild geese, wild ducks-the Indians brought them to the Long Knives. The ice in the rivers, although it was three feet thick, began perceptibly to soften. In April the snow went fast, but the ice held. There had been steamboats on this date, they grumbled at the fort. No thought of a steamboat now. Not even of the bateau of a trader. But one dawn the swans fell like a yellow doud on the pond. More ducks and geese winged by. Robins caroled. Bluebirds flashed through the branches. Then came in discouraging procession rain and thunder and lightning and sleet and snow. So does spring come along the Minisota, more reluctant , more capricious, than anywhere else in the world. The Indians returned, disgusted, from their sugar 262 EARLY CANDLELIGHT camps. It was too cold for sugar making. They went back to their lodges, and the gentlemen of the garrison went back to their cards, and the ladies went back to their needles. The rain continued and the rivers rose. The lowlands were soon flooded. Not rain nor high water nor occasional peeps of the sun affected the stubborn ice, however. And a steamboat was waiting, they heard, below Lake Pepin. Rain and more rain and the St. Peters broke. And Renville’s outfit came singing down from Lac Qui Parle. And Hypolite donned his red feather and went to the island. And Amable went home to be tumultuously welcomed. It was hard...