9.  At last we left the mountains behind us and reached the plains.  We are now speeding over these plains.  The country is as flat as the palm of your hand.  Here and there, far apart, I can see farm-houses.  On these plains the best wheat in the world is grown.

10.  In winter the whole land is covered deep with snow, and the rivers are frozen over.  In April winter gives place to spring.  Then the snow melts, and the ice on the rivers breaks up.

11.  No sooner has the snow gone than the wheat begins to spring up.  The wheat grows very fast and ripens very quickly.  Much of it is sent to Britain.  Very likely the loaf which you ate for breakfast this morning was made of wheat which grew on the plains of Canada.

[Illustration:  Harvest-Time in Canada.

(From the picture by Cyrus Cuneo, R.I.  By kind permission of the
C.P.R.  Co.)]

12.  In other parts of Canada there are forests which cover thousands of miles of country.  The trees in these forests are cut down, and are made into planks which are sent to all parts of the world.

13.  The trees are felled during winter.  Their trunks are piled up by the side of a river.  When the thaw comes they are thrown into the water.  Men follow them and push them back into the water if they drift ashore.

[Illustration:  {Men rolling logs}]

14.  The stream carries the logs down to the sawmills, where they are cut up into planks.  Love to all.  Father.

* * * * *

25.  Children of Canada.

1.  My dear children,—­I am staying for a few days with a friend who has a farm on the plains.  His house is five miles from the railway.

2.  My friend met me at the station with a motor car, and drove me over rough roads between huge fields.  There are no hedges in this part of the country.  The fields are divided from each other by fences.

3.  This farm is much larger than any farm which you have seen in England.  The house is built of wood.  All round it is a pretty garden.  Not far away are the stables and the barns.

[Illustration:  {Large farmhouse}]

4.  I am sure you would like to hear something about the farmer’s children.  There are three of them—­a girl and two boys.  The girl is the youngest, and she is about eight years of age.

5.  All the children make themselves very useful in the house.  Servants are hard to get in Canada, so people must learn to help themselves.  The boys clean the boots and chop wood.  The girls think nothing of helping to scrub the floors.

6.  After breakfast the children trudge off to school, which is three miles away.  They take their lunch with them.  When they return in the evening they have many odd jobs to do.

7.  In the playground of their school you will see many young trees growing.  There are very few trees on the plains, and far more are needed.