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 . Jamie 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 . Mac and Rose were picking blackberries in the bushes beside the road when the soldiers passed without seeing them , and they witnessed a sight that was both pretty and comical . A little farther on was one of the family burial spots so common in those parts , and just this side of it Captain Fred Dove ordered his company to halt , explaining his reason for so doing in the following words , `` That 's a graveyard , and it 's proper to muffle the drums and lower the flags as we go by , and we 'd better take off our hats , too ; it 's more respectable , I think . '' `` Is n't that cunning of the dears ? '' whispered Rose , as the little troop marched slowly by to the muffled roll of the drums , every flag and sword held low , all the little heads uncovered , and the childish faces very sober as the leafy shadows flickered over them . `` Let 's follow and see what they are after , '' proposed Mac , who found sitting on the wall and being fed with blackberries luxurious but tiresome .
So they followed and heard the XXXXX grow lively , saw the banners wave in the breeze again when the graveyard was passed , and watched the company file into the dilapidated old church that stood at the corner of three woodland roads .
Dove door heads life middle minds music organ raptures red