[Illustration:  So the House was built; a cozy room for the cooking and eating.]

The hard work was over now.  After the logs had rested in the log “boom,” they went on their way to the saw mills, where they were sawed into lumber to build houses; and then the father hurried home.

When he came there, he found that the mother had baked and washed and sewed and taken care of the children, as only such a precious mother could have done.  Brother Tom had worked so well in the carpenter’s shop, that he knew how to hammer and plane and saw, and had grown as tall and as stout as a young pine tree.  Sister Polly had taken such care of the baby, that he looked as sweet and clean and happy as a rose in a garden; and the baby had been so good, that he was a joy to the whole family.

“I must get this dear family into their home,” said the father; and he and Brother Tom went to work with a will.  And the home was built, with a sunny room for Father and Mother and Baby, a wee little room close by for good Sister Polly, a big airy room for big Brother Tom, a cosy room for the cooking and eating, and best of all, a room for the dear grandmother, who came then to live with them all the time.

THE LITTLE TRAVELER

    MOTTO FOR THE MOTHER

    Love is a bridge that links us heart to heart
    Mother and child can never live apart

Once upon a time there was a little boy who had a long journey to go.  He had a very dear mother, and she did not want her little son to leave her; but she knew he must go, so she put her arms around him and said:  “Now, don’t be afraid, for I shall be thinking of you, and God will take care of you.”

Then the little boy kissed her goodbye and ran away, singing a merry song.  As long as he could see her he would turn and wave his hand to her; but by and by she was out of sight.  Just then he came to a stream of water that ran across his path.

“How can I get over?” thought the little boy; but a white swan swam up to greet him, and said:—­

“There is always a way to get over the stream.  Follow me! follow me!”

So the little boy followed the swan till he came to a row of great stepping stones, and he jumped from one to another, counting them as he went.

When he reached the seventh he was safe across, and he turned to thank the white swan.  And when he had thanked her, he called:—­

“White swan, white swan, swimming so gay!  Carry a message for me to-day:  My love to my mother, wherever she be; I know she is always thinking of me.”

Then the white swan swam back to carry the message, and the little boy ran on his way.

Oh! there were so many beautiful things to hear,—­the birds singing and the bees humming; and so many beautiful things to see,—­the flowers and butterflies and green grass!  And after a while he came to a wood, where every tree wore a green dress; and through the wood, under the shade of the trees, flowed a babbling creek.