inquiries about my family. He said that he guessed the whole McIntyre family was down at the river fishing but that they would be back soon.
After unharnessing the horses and feeding them, Anthony unloaded the wagon and took the freight into the barn. Then we went to the house, entering the neat kitchen. The kitchen was a striking contrast to the outside of the house. The table was set for supper, the plain food being set on the table in an attractive way, and a large glass bowl of flowers was in the center, which was unusual in a home in the wilderness.
We had just entered the kitchen, when there was a racket outside. Mrs. McIntyre appeared in the doorway. She was a woman of about forty years and carried her age well. Her head was crowned with a large coil of brown hair, slightly grayed. Her brown eyes had a worried expression. She was dressed in a neat calico dress with a clean kitchen apron over it. She smiled as she saw me. One seeing and hearing her welcome, would know that she was a kind mother and neighbor. Behind her, the three girls entered, each carrying an armful of wild flowers. Each of the girls welcomed me
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too. One of the girls was carrying a blue jay, which she had found, helpless because of a broken wing.
Anthony set about to show his skill as a bone setter and in truth, he was a wizzard, at least we children thought that he could accomplish wonders. In a very short time, he had the blue jay trussed up and the wing fastened in splints. Then he said, “you can take the splints off in nine days and release the bird.”
As he finished, the three half-clad boys made a terrible racket out on the porch as they clattered their fishing poles against the window. They rushed into the house and for the next few minutes, I was their target for a friendly mauling that was to my liking. Phil, the oldest, was carrying a shot gun. Six partridges and two gray squirrels hung from his over strained single, home made suspender, which seemed ready to give up the ghost at any minute.
The two younger boys, Tom and Ed, were tousled headed, rosy cheeked, half naked panthers of the wilds. Ed had a fish hook imbedded in his shoulder. Here was another chance for Anthony to display his first aid knowledge. He was equal to the task and with his jack knife, the blade of
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