Early Candlelight

VII

VII N March the wild geese passed over. To the Indians I they meant the return of spring. The first bird brought to earth was made the occasion for a feast; the second was presented with long speeches to the honest Major Taliaferro: the third was taken to the island and bestowed on Walking Wind, who more than once during the long winter had sent corn and pork to the tepees. The sun grew warmer. The snow was transformed into rivulets which trickled by devious routes down the little hills to the rivers. The sky was so blue, the air so caressing, that the ladies of the garrison saw that spring had come. They walked out again, leaning on their husbands’ arms-all but Mrs. Boles, whose husband leaned on her. He was recovering slowly from a wound received in a duel, and she attended him with sweet forbearance. But still it was not spring to Deedee; not though the cabin was filled with crocuses; not though red-winged blackbirds swayed on the stalks in the bottoms. Then one day the ice broke in the rivers-at dawn in the St. Peters, at noon in the Mississippi. The waters tumbled forward in cold gray torrents. And three days later, far up the crooked St. Peters a song was heard. The singers VII INMarch the wild geese passed over. To the Indians they meant the return of spring. The first bird brought to earth was made the occasion for a feast; the second was presented with long speeches to the honest Major Taliaferro: the third was taken to the island and bestowed on Walking Wind, who more than once during the long winter had sent corn and pork to the tepees. The sun grew warmer. The snow was transformed into rivulets which trickled by devious routes down the little hills to the rivers. The sky was so blue, the air so caressing, that the ladies of the garrison saw that spring had come. They walked out again, leaning on their husbands' arms-all but Mrs. Boles, whose husband leaned on her. He was recovering slowly from a wound received in a duel, and she attended him with sweet forbearance. But still it was not spring to Deedee; not though the cabin was filled with crocuses; not though red-winged blackbirds swayed on the stalks in the bottoms. Then one day the ice broke in the rivers-at dawn in the St. Peters, at noon in the Mississippi. The waters tumbled forward in cold gray torrents. And three days later, far up the crooked St. Peters a song was heard. The singers 68 VII INMarch the wild geese passed over. To the Indians they meant the return of spring. The first bird brought to earth was made the occasion for a feast; the second was presented with long speeches to the honest Major Taliaferro: the third was taken to the island and bestowed on Walking Wind, who more than once during the long winter had sent corn and pork to the tepees. The sun grew warmer. The snow was transformed into rivulets which trickled by devious routes down the little hills to the rivers. The sky was so blue, the air so caressing, that the ladies of the garrison saw that spring had come. They walked out again, leaning on their husbands' arms-all but Mrs. Boles, whose husband leaned on her. He was recovering slowly from a wound received in a duel, and she attended him with sweet forbearance. But still it was not spring to Deedee; not though the cabin was filled with crocuses; not though red-winged blackbirds swayed on the stalks in the bottoms. Then one day the ice broke in the rivers-at dawn in the St. Peters, at noon in the Mississippi. The waters tumbled forward in cold gray torrents. And three days later, far up the crooked St. Peters a song was heard. The singers EARLY C A N D L E L I G H T 69 were concealed by the yellowing willows, but the song came plainly: Alouette, gentille alouette, Alouette, je te plumerai, ]e te plumerai la tb’ ]e te plumerai la tb’ ... There was spring for Deeded The traders were coming in. That meant that her brothers would be coming home. Even if they were not here to-day, with this first outfit of the season to arrive, they would be here soon. But happily the outfit was Renville’s, with...