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anything but a plain frame meeting…house； and it and its benign； apostolic…looking rector were like a leaf out of an English story…book。
And so； also； was the tiny white cottage nearly opposite； set in the middle of a pretty flower…garden that sloped down to the canal。 In the garden there was almost always a sweet little girl in a pink gown and white sunbonnet gathering flowers when I passed that way； and I often went out of my path to do so。 These relieved the monotony of the shanty…like shops which bordered the main street。 The town had sprung up with a mushroom…rapidity； and there was no attempt at veiling the newness of its bricks and mortar； its boards and paint。
But there were buildings that had their own individuality； and asserted it。 One of these was a mud…cabin with a thatched roof； that looked as if it had emigrated bodily from the bogs of Ireland。 It had settled itself down into a green hollow by the roadside； and it looked as much at home with the lilac…tinted crane's…bill and yellow buttercups as if it had never lost sight of the shamrocks of Erin。
Now； too； my childish desire to see a real beggar was gratified。 Straggling petitioners for 〃cold victuals〃 hung around our back yard； always of Hibernian extraction； and a slice of bread was rewarded with a shower of benedictions that lost itself upon us in the flood of its own incomprehensible brogue。
Some time every summer a fleet of canoes would glide noiselessly up the river； and a company of Penobscot Indians would land at a green point almost in sight from our windows。 Pawtucket Falls had always been one of their favorite camping…places。 Their strange endeavors； to combine civilization with savagery were a great source of amusement to us； men and women clad alike in loose gowns； stove…pipe hats； and moccasons； grotesque relies of aboriginal forest…life。 The sight of these uncouth…looking red men made the romance fade entirely out of the Indian stories we had heard。 Still their wigwam camp was a show we would not willingly have missed。
The transition from childhood to girlhood； when a little girl has had an almost unlimited freedom of out…of…door life； is practically the toning down of a mild sort of barbarianism； and is often attended by a painfully awkward self…consciousness。 I had an innate dislike of conventionalities。 I clung to the child's inalienable privilege of running half wild； and when I found that I really was growing up； I felt quite rebellious。
I was as tall as a woman at thirteen； and my older sisters insisted upon lengthening my dresses； and putting up my mop of hair with a comb。 I felt injured and almost outraged because my protestations against this treatment were unheeded and when the transformation in my visible appearance was effected； I went away by myself and had a good cry； which I would not for the world have had them know about； as that would have added humiliation to my distress。 And the greatest pity about it was that I too soon became accustomed to the situation。 I felt like a child； but considered it my duty to think and behave like a woman。 I began to look upon it as a very serious thing to live。 The untried burden seemed already to have touched my shoulders。 For a time I was morbidly self…critical； and at the same time extremely reserved。 The associates I chose were usually grave young women； ten or fifteen years older than myself； but I think I felt older and appeared older than they did。
Childhood； however； is not easily defrauded of its birthright； and mine soon reasserted itself。 At home I was among children of my own age； for some cousins and other acquaintances had come to live and work with us。 We had our evening frolics and entertain… ments together； and we always made the most of our brief holiday hours。 We had also with us now the sister Emilie of my fairy…tale memories； who had grown into a strong； earnest…hearted woman。 We all looked up to her as our model； and the ideal of our heroine… worship； for our deference to her in every way did amount to that。
She watched over us； gave us needed reproof and commendation； rarely cosseted us； but rather made us laugh at what many would have considered the hardships of our lot。 She taught us not only to accept the circumstances in which we found ourselves； but to win from them courage and strength。 When we came in shivering from our work； through a snowstorm； complaining of numb hands and feet； she would say cheerily； 〃But it doesn't make you any warmer to say you are cold；〃 and this was typical of the way she took life generally； and tried to have us take it。 She was constantly denying herself for our sakes； without making us feel that she was doing so。 But she did not let us get into the bad habit of pitying ourselves because we were not as 〃well off〃 as many other children。 And indeed we considered ourselves pleasantly situated； but the best of it all was that we had her。
Her theories for herself； and her practice； too； were rather severe； but we tried to follow them； according to our weaker abilities。 Her custom was； for instance； to take a full cold bath every morning before she went to her work； even though the water was chiefly broken ice； and we did the same whenever we could be resolute enough。 It required both nerve and will to do this at five o'clock on a zero morning； in a room without a fire； but it helped us to harden ourselves； while we formed a good habit。 The working…day in winter began at the very earliest daylight； and ended at half…past seven in the evening。
Another habit of hers was to keep always beside her at her daily work something to study or to think about。 At first it was 〃Watts on the Improvement of the Mind；〃 arranged as a textbook； with questions and answers； by the minister of Beverly who had made the thought of the millennium such a reality to his people。 She quite wore this book out； carrying it about with her in her working…dress pocket。 After that； 〃Locke on the Understanding〃 was used in the same way。 She must have known both books through and through by heart。 Then she read Combe and Abercrombie； and discussed their physics and metaphysics with our girl boarders； some of whom had remarkably acute and well…balanced minds。 Her own seemed to have turned from its early bent toward the romantic； her taste being now for serious and practical； though sometimes abstruse； themes。 I remember that Young and Pollock were her favorite poets。
I could not keep up with her in her studies and readings； for many of the books she liked seemed to me very dry。 I did not easily take to the argumentative or moralizing method； which I came to regard as a proof of the weakness of my own intellect in comparison with hers。 I would gladly have kept pace with her if I could。 Anything under the heading of 〃Didactick；〃 like some of the pieces in the old 〃English Reader；〃 used by school…children in the generation just before ours； always repelled me。 But I though it necessary to discipline myself by reading such pieces； and my first attempt at prose composition； 〃On Friendship；〃 was stiffly modeled after a certain 〃Didactick Essay〃 in that same English Reader。
My sister； however； cared more to watch the natural development of our minds tha