CHAPTER XXX
關燈
小
中
大
Theydidn’tspendalltheirdaysontheisland.TheyspentmorethanhalfofthemwanderingatwillthroughtheenchantedMuskokacountry.BarneyknewthewoodsasabookandhetaughttheirloreandcrafttoValancy.Hecouldalwaysfindtrailandhauntoftheshywoodpeople.Valancylearnedthedifferentfairy-likenessesofthemosses—thecharmandexquisitenessofwoodlandblossoms.Shelearnedtoknoweverybirdatsightandmimicitscall—thoughneversoperfectlyasBarney.Shemadefriendswitheverykindoftree.ShelearnedtopaddleacanoeaswellasBarneyhimself.Shelikedtobeoutintherainandshenevercaughtcold.
Sometimestheytookalunchwiththemandwentberrying—strawberriesandblueberries.Howprettyblueberrieswere—thedaintygreenoftheunripeberries,theglossypinksandscarletsofthehalfripes,themistyblueofthefullymatured!AndValancylearnedtherealflavourofthestrawberryinitshighestperfection.TherewasacertainsunlitdellonthebanksofMistawisalongwhichwhitebirchesgrewononesideandontheotherstill,changelessranksofyoungspruces.Therewerelonggrassesattherootsofthebirches,combeddownbythewindsandwetwithmorningdewlateintotheafternoons.HeretheyfoundberriesthatmighthavegracedthebanquetsofLucullus,greatambrosia
