In the Forest Or, pictures of life and scenery in the woods of Canada by Traill, Catharine Parr, 1802-1899

E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, John R. Bilderback, Charles Franks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. This file was produced from images generously made available by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions.

Editorial note: This book is essentially identical to LADY MARY AND HER NURSE, by Mrs. Traill, Project Gutenberg EBook #6479, etext04/ldmrn10.xxx, but the two come from different sources.

IN THE FOREST

or, PICTURES OF LIFE AND SCENERY IN THE WOODS OF CANADA

A TALE BY MRS. TRAILL

WITH 19 ILLUSTRATIONS

1881

[Illustration: A NARROW ESCAPE]

CHAPTER I The Flying Squirrel--Its Food--Story of a Wolf--Indian Village--Wild Rice

CHAPTER II Sleighing--Sleigh Robes--Fur Caps--Otter Skins--Old Snow-Storm--Otter Hunting--Otter Slides--Indian Names--Remarks on Wild Animals and their Habits

CHAPTER III PART I--Lady Mary reads to Mrs. Frazer the First Part of the History of the Squirrel Family

PART II--Which tells how the Gray Squirrels fared while they remained on Pine Island--How they behaved to their poor Relations, the Chipmunks--And what happens to them in the Forest

PART III--How the Squirrels got to the Mill at the Rapids--And what happened to the Velvet-paw

CHAPTER IV Squirrels--The Chipmunks--Docility of a Pet One--Roguery of a Yankee Pedlar--Return of the Musical Chipmunk to his Master's Bosom--Sagacity of a Black Squirrel

CHAPTER V Indian Baskets--Thread Plants--Maple Sugar Tree--Indian Ornamental Works--Racoons

CHAPTER VI. Canadian Birds--Snow Sparrow--Robin Redbreast--Canadian Flowers--American Porcupine

CHAPTER VII. Indian Bag--Indian Embroidery--Beaver's Tail--Beaver Architecture--Habits of the Beaver--Beaver Tools--Beaver Meadows

CHAPTER VIII. Indian Boy and his Pets--Tame Beaver at Home--Kitten, Wildfire--Pet Racoon and the Spaniel Puppies--Canadian Flora

CHAPTER IX. Nurse tells Lady Mary about a Little Boy who was eaten by a Bear in the Province of New Brunswick--Of a Baby who was carried away but taken alive--A Walk in the Garden--Humming Birds--Canadian Balsams

CHAPTER X. Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, most frequently seen in northern Climates--Called Merry Dancers--Rose Tints--Tintlike Appearance--Lady Mary frightened

CHAPTER XI. Strawberries--Canadian Wild Fruits--Wild Raspberries--The Hunter and the Lost Child--Cranberries--Cranberry Marshes--Nuts

CHAPTER XII. Garter snakes--Rattle-snakes--Anecdote of a Little Boy--Fisherman and Snake--Snake Charmers--Spiders--Land Tortoise

CHAPTER XIII. Ellen and her Pet Fawns--Docility of Fan--Jack's Droll Tricks-- Affectionate Wolf--Fall Flowers--Departure of Lady Mary--The End.

List of Illustrations.

LADY MARY AND THE NOSEGAY A NARROW ESCAPE THE FLYING SQUIRREL ADVENTURE WITH A WOLF INDIAN WIGWAMS THE OTTERS DOLLY'S SLEIGH RIDE LADY MARY READING HER PICTURE BOOK THE GRAY SQUIRREL AND THE CHIPMUNKS THE PET SQUIRREL NIMBLE RECOVERING HIS SISTER WATCHING THE BIRDS THE PRESENT FROM FATHER BEAVERS MAKING A DAM "CAUGHT AT LAST" THE AURORA BOREALIS THE LOST CHILD AND THE BEARS A BOY HERO THE INDIAN HUNTER

IN THE FOREST.

CHAPTER I.

THE FLYING SQUIRREL--ITS FOOD--STORY OF A WOLF--INDIAN VILLAGE--WILD RICE.

"Nurse, what is the name of that pretty creature you have in your hand? What bright eyes it has! What a soft tail--just like a gray feather! Is it a little beaver?" asked the Governor's little daughter, as her nurse came into the room where her young charge, whom we shall call Lady Mary, was playing with her doll.

Carefully sheltered against her breast, its velvet nose just peeping from beneath her muslin neckerchief, the nurse held a small gray-furred animal, of the most delicate form and colour.