An especially splendid sunset seemed to have been prepared to welcome them when , after a long day 's journey , they drove into a wide , green door-yard , where a white colt , a red cow , two cats , four kittens , many hens , and a dozen people , old and young , were gaily disporting themselves . Everyone nodded and smiled in the friendliest manner , and a lively old lady kissed the new-comers all round , as she said heartily , `` Well , now , I 'm proper glad to see you ! Come right in and rest , and we 'll have tea in less than no time , for you must be tired . Lizzie , you show the folks upstairs ; Kitty , you fly round and help father in with the trunks ; and Jenny and I will have the table all ready by the time you come down . Bless the dears , they want to go see the pussies , and so they shall ! '' The three pretty daughters did `` fly round , '' and everyone felt at home at once , all were so hospitable and kind . Aunt Jessie had raptures over the home-made carpets , quilts and quaint furniture ; Rose could not keep away from the windows , for each framed a lovely picture ; and the little folks made friends at once with the other children , who filled their arms with chickens and kittens , and did the honours handsomely . The toot of a horn called all to supper , and a goodly party , including six children besides the Camp-bells , assembled in the long dining-room , armed with mountain appetites and the gayest spirits . It was impossible for anyone to be shy or sober , for such gales of merriment arose they blew the starch out of the stiffest , and made the saddest jolly . Mother Atkinson , as all called their hostess , was the merriest there , and the busiest ; for she kept flying up to wait on the children , to bring out some new dish , or to banish the live stock , who were of such a social turn that the colt came into the entry and demanded sugar ; the cats sat about in people 's laps , winking suggestively at the food ; and speckled hens cleared the kitchen floor of crumbs , as they joined in the chat with a cheerful clucking . Everybody turned out after tea to watch the sunset till all the lovely red was gone , and mosquitoes wound their shrill horns to sound the retreat . The music of an organ surprised the new-comers , and in the parlor they found Father Atkinson playing sweetly on the little instrument made by himself . All the children gathered about him , and , led by the tuneful sisters , sang prettily till Pokey fell asleep behind the door , and Jamie gaped audibly right in the middle of his favourite , `` Coo , '' said the little doves : `` Coo , '' said she , `` All in the top of the old pine-tree . '' The older travellers , being tired , went to `` bye low '' at the same time , and slept like tops in home-spun sheets , on husk mattresses made by Mother Atkinson , who seemed to have put some soothing powder among them , so deep and sweet was the slumber that came . Next day began the wholesome out-of-door life , which works such wonders with tired minds and feeble bodies . The weather was perfect , and the mountain air made the children as frisky as young lambs ; while the elders went about smiling at one another , and saying , `` Is n't it splendid ? '' Even Mac , the `` slow coach , '' was seen to leap over a fence as if he really could not help it ; and when Rose ran after him with his broad-brimmed hat , he made the spirited proposal to go into the woods and hunt for a catamount . Jamie and Pokey were at once enrolled in the Cosey Corner Light Infantry a truly superb company , composed entirely of officers , all wearing cocked hats , carrying flags , waving swords , or beating drums . It was a spectacle to stir the dullest soul when this gallant band marched out of the yard in full regimentals , with Captain Dove a solemn , big-headed boy of eleven issuing his orders with the gravity of a general , and his Falstaffian regiment obeying them with more docility than skill . The little Snow children did very well , and Lieutenant Jack Dove was fine to see ; so was Drummer Frank , the errand-boy of the house , as he rub-a-dub-dubbed with all his heart and drumsticks .
XXXXX had `` trained '' before , and was made a colonel at once ; but Pokey was the best of all , and called forth a spontaneous burst of applause from the spectators as she brought up the rear , her cocked hat all over one eye , her flag trailing over her shoulder , and her wooden sword straight up in the air ; her face beaming and every curl bobbing with delight as her fat legs tottered in the vain attempt to keep step manfully .
Dove Frank Infantry Jamie Jenny docility drumsticks gales honours pussies