The Merryweathers Read online

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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

  =Colonial Press= Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co. Boston, Mass., U. S. A.

  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

  XVII. THE SNOWY OWL 273

  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