Caroline
and Her Kettle
Named Maud
SOUTH PARK
3
Caroline Kettle
and Her
Named Maud
Adapted
for Lucky
By MIRI...
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Caroline
and Her Kettle
Named Maud
SOUTH PARK
3
Caroline Kettle
and Her
Named Maud
Adapted
for Lucky
By MIRIAM Pictures
E.
Book Club
MASON
by JOSEPH ESCOURIDO
SCHOLASTIC BOOK SERVICES NEW YORK • TORONTO • LONDON
•
AUCKLAND
•
SYDNEY
.
TOKYO
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6'h printinq
September 1972 Printed
in
the U.S.A.
For you, the dozens of boys
uho
sent
me
and
girls
letters saying,
"I loved your book.
Please write another!"
Here
it is.
Please love
it
too!
Contents Magic Four-leaf Clovers
The Old Witch Father's Surprise
9 13
27
The Birthday Present
20
The Trip
Pigeon Roost
25
of Pigeon Roost
34
to
The Town
The New Farm in the Woods
38
Maud and the Preacher's Party
40
Growing
Up in the Woods
48
Lambie
The Strange
42
Battle
51
The Shooting Match
57
The Fourth
62
of July
Mighty in Battle
67
Caroline's Wolf
71
The Picture
76
T
his
story takes place a long time ago. around
the year 1839.
What was our country
like
then?
There were only twenty-six states in the United States
Most people lived on fauns
towns and
moving farther
cities in
to the est
people were
state of
Michigan
— and even
There were wild woods on
and people had
new hom-
manv
the East. But
new
arid in small
to clear
away
the
woods
this land,
to
make
&k v
mlV*;*
*
k
P~~^jjf\
How
did people get to the
They could
ride part of the
trains did not
West
way
in those
in trains,
days?
but the
go very far into the wild country. So
the people had to ride on horseback and in covered
wagons. Steamboats took them
down
big rivers and
across lakes.
Caroline's adventures are the kind of adventures that might have
happened
to a girl
ago, around the year 1839.
who
lived long
•
Magic Four-leaf Clovers
W
here are you going, Caroline Gray?" asked her
mother.
Caroline
was running down the
stairs
toward the open door. "I
am going
to the pasture to look for something,"
answered Caroline.
"Did you forget your sunbonnet, Caroline?" called Caroline's grandmother. Caroline's
grandmother thought that
should wear sunbonnets to like,
and
to
make them
keep freckles from
all
girls
look lady-
their noses.
9
Caroline had not really forgotten her sunbonnet.
She had hidden to
it
under the bed. She did not
like
wear a sunbonnet. "If
you cannot
you may wear
find your bonnet,
mine," said Grandmother kindly.
And
Caroline
could not say "No" to her grandmother.
Soon she was on her way down
to the pasture,
wearing her grandmother's big yellow sunbonnet. It
was much too
Out
large for Caroline.
in the barnyard,
some
of her uncles
and
cousins were having a shooting contest. (Caroline
had many
uncles.
Some
of
them were even younger
than she was.)
"Where
are
you going, Caroline?" they called
-
1
*j\
to
"Why
her.
are
you hiding under that big yellow
umbrella?" "I
have important business of
my own,"
answered
Caroline.
She ran through the barnyard and down the
hill
There was a high wooden fence
to the pasture.
around the pasture. Caroline climbed over the fence.
Then she began looking
carefully at the ground.
First she looked for big gray stones sticking
from the ground. around
all
it.
When
up
she saw a stone, she looked
She was hunting for four-leaf
clovers.
Four-leaf clovers growing close to gray stones
were magic.
If
vou found seven
them under your pillow for
of
at night,
them and put
you could wish
amthing, and your wish would come
Caroline
week
it
knew
exactly
what
to
wish
true.
for.
Next
would be her birthday. She wished that she
would get a gun
for her birthday.
All her life Caroline
body ever gave her
had wanted a gun. But no-
one.
On
Christmas and on her
birthday, she always got a doll or a sewing basket or a ribbon for her hair. But she never got a gun.
11
Caroline wanted to be a brave hunter or a great explorer
when
fearless soldier
she grew up. She wanted to be a
who carried
Caroline did not do.
a sword and
won battles.
anyone what she wanted to
tell
Only men were supposed
to
do the brave and
dangerous things. Girls were supposed to look pretty
and be good cooks and stay
at
But Caroline had a different
down
she had hurried
"How own. polish
I
idea.
That was
to the pasture.
the seven four-leaf clovers to
wish come
home.
She needed
make her birthday
true.
lovely
it
would be
to
have a gun of
would give the gun a name. And
it
why
every day.
It
would shine
I
my
would
like silver!"
So Caroline hunted and hunted. Whenever she
found a four-leaf clover, she cried "Hurrah!" Just as she reached
down
to pick the third clover,
one of her cousins shouted from the other side of the fence, "Caroline, Caroline!
The Old Witch
12
is
coming!"
Look behind you!
The Old Witch Caroline
looked around from under the big sun-
bonnet. There was the Old Witch. She was stamping
her feet and snorting. Then she began to run across the pasture wagging her head and swinging her
The Old Witch was
tail.
a cow. Most cows are gentle
and pretty. But not the Old Witch! She was a spotted
cow with one long horn and one
short horn.
name was Honeysuckle, but Old Witch was name
Her
real
a better
for her.
The Old Witch did not
like
especially did not like Caroline.
came near and that
is
her, the
anybody.
And
she
Whenever Caroline
Old Witch ran
after Caroline
—
what she was doing now.
13
Caroline jumped up. She ran like the wind. She
hoped she could get mother's sunbonnet stop to pick
and ran
all
it
to the fence in time.
fell off,
Grand-
but Caroline could not
up. She held the four-leaf clovers tignt
the faster.
Some
of her uncles
side of the fence.
and cousins stood on the other
They watched Caroline run a race
with the Old Witch.
They shouted, "Hurry, She's about to catch up!"
Caroline, faster, faster!
Caroline reached the fence just in time. She
climbed to the top of the fence before the Old Witch reached her. But she dropped her four-leaf clovers!
The Old Witch looked feet at
angry. She stamped her
and snorted. Then she went back and looked
Grandmother's sunbonnet lying on the ground.
She sniffed
at
it
and pushed
it
around with her head.
The bonnet caught on her horns and stayed Caroline's cousins
old
cow
cousin.
looks
and uncles laughed. "Now the
more than ever
But none
of
and take the bonnet
like
a witch!" said one
them would go over the fence off
her horns.
So Caroline walked back to the house.
was not
safe for her to
hunt for four-leaf
it.
And
Now
it
go back into the pasture and
clovers.
clovers, so she could not
of getting
there.
She had not found seven
wish for a gun and be sure
she had torn a long rip in her best
blue dress. Worse yet, she had lost Grandmother's best bonnet.
"This
is
She tried
not a lucky day for me," sighed Caroline. to think
what she could
mother about the sunbonnet.
16
tell
her grand-
Father's Surprise
When
she got back to the house. Caroline
surprised.
Something had happened. Her cousins
and uncles had stopped out in the front yard.
were
their shooting.
And some
They were
of the neighbors
there, too.
Nobody even dress
was
and
lost
was looking
at
noticed that Caroline had torn her
Grandmothers sunbonnet. Everyone Carolines father.
17
"We
shall
go in two weeks," Father was saying.
Caroline's grandfather stood there, smiling. "All
the
men
said.
in the
Gray family have been brave," he
"Many have had
great adventures and exciting
journeys. This will be one of the greatest."
Caroline wondered,
What
is
One five of
"Where
is
my
father going?
he going to do?"
of the neighbors told her, "Your father
your young uncles are going away from here
to live in a great wild
woods
called Michigan."
"Michigan!" said Caroline. She said the again. "Michigan." It
and
name
She liked the sound of the word.
had a wild sound,
water rushing or wind
like
blowing. Caroline's father
went on
"We
fine big
will
have a
telling
farm
about his plans.
in the
middle of a
big woods," he said. "A few miles from our farm there
is
a nice town.
The name
of the
town
is
Pigeon
Roost."
Then Grandfather spoke "People
who are going to a wild new country need
good axes and good guns.
18
again.
I
have a surprise for
all
of
you who are going away. Before you go, each of you will get a fine gift from me. It will be something you can use Caroline
in your
new home
felt excited.
"My
without the four-leaf clovers. will give
me
a gun of
my
in Michigan."
wish
may come
true
Maybe Grandfather
own.
And
I shall
not be
bothered by the Old Witch any more. Hurrah!"
19
The Birthday Present Caroline's birthday came.
A
birthday
is
always important, but
Caroline's birthday It
came on
this
was more important than
year
usual.
the day of the going-away party.
When a family was going far away to a new home, their friends
They gave
and
gifts
relatives
had a big party
for them.
the family could use in the
new
home. They had a big dinner, and sang songs and told stories.
20
Caroline could hardly wait for her birthday to
come
this year.
She was sure she would get a gun
for her birthday present.
There was a big dinner on the day of the party.
Then Grandfather
called the family all together
under the big elm tree
them
their
Each
in the front yard.
gave
going-away presents.
of the boys got a gun. "This will
friend to
He
you
in the wild
woods
be a good
of Michigan," said
Grandfather every time he handed out a gun. "Be sure to take good care of the gun. shining.
Use
it
Then came
Keep
it
clean and
well."
Caroline's turn.
"This will be a good friend for you in your
home," said Grandfather. "Keep it
it
new
shining and use
well."
"Yes, Grandfather," promised Caroline in a voice.
She looked
one she would
at the
happy
guns and wondered which
get.
Then Grandfather reached back behind the guns and got her present. Tears came into Caroline's eyes.
21
Her present was not a gun
after all
.
.
.
it
was a
kettle!
"Isn't
it
beautiful!"
Mother.
"It is
Caroline
felt like crying.
Grandmother
cried
pure copper.
It
and
shines like gold!"
She had not wished for a
kettle.
She had wished for a gun! But she did not
like to
hurt Grandfather's feelings.
22
"Thank you, Grandfather," looked at the it
had three
a
lid to
kettle. It
said Caroline.
She
color of gold,
and
was the
had a handle.
little legs. It
even had
It
put over the top.
good care
"It is a pretty kettle. I will take
she promised. "I will use
and keep
it
it
of
it,"
shining
bright."
All the boys
were busy looking
In those days, people
named
their
names
for their guns.
named
cows and
guns
their
horses.
Caroline had chosen a
at their
name
new
guns.
just as
they
The boys had brave
She
for her gun, too.
name
that
had spent a long time thinking
of a
would be good enough
She had decided
to call her
Maud
is
for her gun.
gun Maud. It
means mighty
Maud,"
said Caroline.
a very brave name.
in battle. "I shall
name my
kettle
Her uncles laughed. "Whoever heard
of
naming a
But Grandfather was pleased. like the kettle,"
he
said.
"Maud
kettle?" they said. "I
knew you would
is
a good
name
for
23
a shining
new
kettle. I
do brave things
will
in
am
you and
Maud
Michigan." His words
made
sure that
Caroline feel better.
The next week Caroline and her parents and her five
young uncles
New
And
York.
left their
home
in Gray's Crossing,
they set out for their
new home
in
Michigan.
young red
went along
too.
Grandfather had given him to the uncles as a
gift.
Firecracker, a
"You must have a cow,
you
"I will give
my
too,"
colt,
Grandfather had
said.
best cow."
Caroline had hoped
it
would be the dear
little
Jersey cow, Betty, with the big gentle eyes
and the
kind face. She was surprised to see that
was the
Old Witch It
it
instead.
seemed
to Caroline that her trip
was
full of
disappointments. First she had hoped for a gun, and she got a cooking kettle instead. so glad she
Then she had been
would get away from the Old Witch. And
now the Old Witch was going to Michigan with them!
24
The Trip
to
Pigeon Roost
It was
a long
way
to
Pigeon Roost.
Grays traveled on the
First the
rode in the coach up in front,
railroad.
sitting
They
on big green
seats.
The Old Witch, oxen,
the colt
named
and the wagons were
the end of the train.
wooden box
in the
in the
Firecracker, the
baggage car
The new guns were
baggage car
When
passengers could get the handle. sat
kettle
on
the train stopped so the
off to eat,
she carried
When they were riding,
on Caroline's
in a long
too.
But Caroline carried her gold-colored the train with her.
at
Maud by
the bright kettle
lap.
25
After the train ride, the family got onto a boat.
was a steamboat, and
was named the Lady of the Lake. The steamboat went for many miles down It
it
the river and across a big deep lake with blue water.
When it
the steamboat passed another steamboat,
blew a loud, sad
26
whistle.
The Old Witch, who was
riding with the baggage, always answered the boat
whistle with a loud, sad "Moo-oo."
The boat
pilot
jokes. "If the
need
was a
jolly
man who
liked to
boat whistle breaks down,
to worry,"
he
said.
make
I will
not
"Your cow sounds exactly
like the whistle."
27
Sometimes Caroline
sat
with the boat
told her stories of his adventures.
a great hunter and scout.
and
wildcats.
when
He had
pilot.
He
Once he had been
He had killed wolves, bears,
stopped being a great hunter
a big bear bit off his best shooting finger.
"You cannot be a good hunter with your shooting finger gone,"
he told Caroline. But he had kept his
hunting gun, and often looked at Caroline had an idea.
it.
"How would you
have a cow instead of a gun?" she
said.
like to
"A cow would
would be company
give you milk. It
would moo
at every landing,
you coming way
for you. It
and people would hear
off."
The steamboat
pilot said
he would hate to part
with his old gun. "Perhaps
I
with the cow," Caroline
kettle along
and a
kettle
might even give you a nice cooking
would be a big help on
"I will think
about
said.
this
steamboat."
promised the
it,"
"A cow
But
pilot.
Caroline told her parents about her fine idea,
when
they were not pleased.
"But
how can
I
get along in a wild
without a gun?" Caroline
comes
to our house
out working? all?"
said.
"What
some day while
Who would
all
if
new
place
a big lion
the
men
are
shoot the lion and save us
asked Caroline.
Her mother laughed and laughed. "Lions do not live in the
in
woods
of Michigan," she said. "Lions live
warm, far-away
places."
Once, when the boat stopped at a landing, a young
man
got on.
He was
a friendly man.
smile and a loud laugh.
He had
a big
The young man's name was
29
Brother Carpenter, and he soon became Caroline's friend.
One
day, while Caroline's uncles and her father
were practicing with said,
"Why
their guns, Brother
Carpenter
are you looking so sad, Caroline?"
And
Caroline told him about wanting a gun and getting a kettle instead. "I
know how you
"For years
have wished
I
across the ocean
But
feel,"
instead, I
Brother Carpenter said. to
go to wild countries
and be a great missionary preacher.
am
sent to a place in Michigan called
Pigeon Roost!" "That
is
where we are going!" cried Caroline.
Brother Carpenter's smile grew bigger, and his
laugh was loud and cheerful. shouted. Roost. "I
"Now we
I will
will
"What
luck!"
he
both have friends in Pigeon
be the preacher there."
hope you
will
come
to our
house often for Sun-
day dinner," said Caroline. "Will you cook for me in your gold-colored kettle?"
he asked. Caroline promised that she would.
30
At
last
taken
off
the boat journey the boat.
had
to
be made
over. Everything
The Grays were on the
of their trip. This part It
was
in
last
was part
went through the wild woods. wagons and on horseback.
The family had two big wagons. Caroline and her
32
mother and father rode
in the front
the uncles rode in the other wagon.
wagon. Four of
The boys took
turns riding Firecracker, the colt.
"Good-bye
for
now," called Brother Carpenter as
he rode past them on at
his black horse. "I will see
you
Pigeon Roost!"
33
The Town of Pigeon Roost
1 t took
a good
many days
at Pigeon Roost. All
to reach the
new home
day long the wagons
rolled
through the woods. At night the Grays camped in the woods.
"How
glad
I will
Caroline's mother.
pack
my
clothes
be to reach Pigeon Roost," said
"When we
get there,
my
and put on
spend a whole day walking up and
I
down
the streets and into the stores.
everything in
un-
prettiest dress at
once.
shall
I shall
each
store.
I
shall
I shall
call
look at
on each
neighbor."
One day trees
the family
had been cut down.
built in the clearing.
34
came
A
to a place
where the
few houses had been
Most of them were made of logs.
"This must be somebody's pioneer farm," Mrs.
Gray
said, looking
buildings.
around. There were
six or
seven
Back home, one farm usually had eight
buildings.
Mr. Gray looked around
map
in his
also.
He
looked at the
hand. Then he looked at the buildings
again. "I
have a surprise for you," he said to
"This
is
the
town
his family.
of Pigeon Roost."
Everyone looked
at Father.
"But where are the stores?" asked Mrs. Gray.
"Where
is
the school?
are the neighbors?"
Where
is
the church?
Where
Just then a fat old
came out
waist
"Welcome "This
is
of
man
with an apron around his
one of the buildings.
Pigeon Roost!" he said pleasantly.
to
the Wolverine Hotel.
We will fix you a good
meal and give you a place to
sleep."
Mrs. Gray looked very disappointed. "I had hoped to see a bigger
town than
this,"
she said.
Mr. Gray cheered her up. "Our in the
town
that river
of Pigeon Roost. It
and around that
is
new home
is
not
several miles across
little hill. It is
a
fine, large
place."
The family had a good supper Hotel.
The
Sometimes
it
was
also the store
was used
Wolverine
and post
office.
as a church, too.
am not too busy with my hotel and my and my post office, I like to go hunting," said
"When store
hotel
at the
I
the hotelkeeper. "See those guns on the wall? Big
36
wolves turn and run Wolverines hang their
when they tails
see those guns.
and hide when they hear
them."
"What
is
a wolverine?" Caroline asked.
"A wolverine
is
a fierce wild animal," said the
hotelkeeper. "It has a face like a fox. It has thick fur like a bear. It Caroline's
want
as
is
dangerous as a
mother turned
pale. "I
lion."
am
not sure
I
to stay in so wild a country," she said.
"With plenty of good guns and brave young men to shoot the guns,
the hotelkeeper.
you have nothing
"And
in a
few more years we
have many neighbors and another things on the shelves.
a school.
The town
We
to fear," said will
store with pretty
will build a
church and
of Pigeon Roost will
be a big
town!"
37
The New Farm in the
Hi arly
Woods
the next morning the family said good-bye
to the hotelkeeper
and went on
to their farm.
The
farm was about ten miles from Pigeon Roost. It
was a very
woods.
It
fine farm,
although most of
had a nice log house with an
it
was
upstairs. It
had a good barn and a barnyard with a fence around
38
it.
There were
fields
where corn and potatoes could
be planted, and there was a nice
Now
Caroline's
"This
is
little
orchard.
mother was very pleased.
a fine home!" she said.
Mr. Gray made a good
fire in
The
the fireplace.
boys put the Old Witch, the horses, and the oxen in the barn. Caroline's
and "I
kettles
and
mother got out
all
her pans
dishes.
am glad that we have plenty of big iron kettles,"
she said. "You need plenty of kettles in a pioneer
home."
The boys shined and
polished their guns and kept
looking for wolves.
"The governor wants
to get rid of the
because they are mean and harmful. dollars for every wolf killed," the
He
wolves
gives ten
boys told Caroline.
But no wolves came. Caroline shined and polished her colored kettle, and put
it
on the
little
gold-
fireplace shelf.
"We must never let the fire go out," Mr. Gray said. "It will
help keep wild animals away.
They are afraid
of fire."
39
Maud and
the
Preacher's Party
v/ne day
Brother Carpenter, the preacher,
riding through the
woods on
came
his black horse.
He
had news. "I
am
There
going to build a house in Pigeon Roost.
will
be two rooms. One room
house, and one
room
will
will
be
my
be the church. Everyone
invited to visit me."
is
When visit
the house was finished, the family
Brother Carpenter. All the
guns. Mrs.
to
carried their
Gray brought a new blanket
for the preacher.
40
men
went
as a gift
Maud, the gold-colored She was fire in
hold coals to
just the right size to
new
the
went along
kettle,
start the
fireplace.
Brother Carpenter was pleased with his neighbors
too.
all
gave him. But he thought the
the gifts fire
that
Caroline had brought in the kettle was the best gift of
all.
"What
is
a
home without
his loud, cheerful voice.
without a useful. It
and
fire? Fire in is
a fireplace?" he said in
"And what
a fireplace
is
beautiful. It
is
meat
cheerful. It will cook your
boil your coffee
and your soup.
a fireplace
It will
for
is
you
keep the
wild animals away from you."
These words made Caroline
made
her feel proud of Maud, too.
thing, but
happy. They
feel
A
gun
is
a fine
even a gun cannot carry coals for a
new
fire.
In the evening
all
the people
who had come
the preacher's party sat around the
The new
Maud
fire
shone
burned like
bright,
gold in the
and the
fire
to
and sang.
kettle
named
firelight.
41
Growing in the
J_jife
work
was never
dull
Up
Woods
on the farm. Everybody had
to do.
Uncle Steven gave the horses
he brushed them
until they
their breakfast,
were clean and shining.
Uncle Robert took care of the oxen.
42
and
Uncle David took care of the
And
if
there
was a hole
Uncle Henry
stirred
He
pigs.
he mended
in the fence,
up the cooking
the kettles over the blaze.
He
fed them.
fire
it.
and hung
carried water from
the spring.
Uncle John fed and milked the Old Witch. But
he did not
like the
cow. Even though she had a calf
now, the Old Witch was
as cross as ever.
she kicked over the milk
Father was busy everything.
He
all
pail.
the time.
He
put a big log in the
looked over the barn and fences to
wild animals could get
Sometimes
helped with fireplace.
make
He
sure no
in.
Caroline and her mother cooked breakfast in the
big iron kettles that hung over the
"What a help you mother often
said.
fire.
Caroline," her
are to me,
"How
could
I
get along without
you?" Caroline was glad to hear these words. "It to
be helpful," she thought. "But
brave, too! If only
I
if
only
I
is
nice
could be
could do something dangerous
and great with a gun or a sword!"
43
1
\
Caroline's kettles
mother was proud of her
were always busy. All kinds
boiled in them. side,
Some
kettles
and some were hung
said.
Caroline's
"They are
of things
The were
were kept hanging out-
inside the house.
"Think what you can do with
mother
kettles.
just as
mother made soap,
kettles," Caroline's
important as guns!" lard,
hominy, apple
butter,
and many other things
kettles.
She heated water for the washing. She boiled
sap from the maple trees and
sugar and maple syrup.
44
in the big
made
The house
outdoor
delicious
kettles
maple
were used
for
mush, soup, meat, potatoes, vegetables, and
dozens of good things to
eat.
Sometimes, while she was polishing her Caroline
made
believe she
kettle,
was polishing a
shiny,
beautiful gun.
"A
kettle
may be
as useful as a gun,
but
it is
not
as interesting," she told her mother.
Caroline had not given
up her wish
to
have a
gun
of her own. She wrote to her grandparents
told
them how she was growing.
"We have been here two
years. I
and
do not run from
45
am
the Old Witch any more," Caroline wrote. "I getting
tall.
Now I am as tall as
Now it would my own!"
be easy for
me
father's longest gun.
to carry a
The town of Pigeon Roost was growing, time the Grays went there, they found
and new
with
store in the
many
town now.
shelves in
crackers in the back. It
46
too.
new
of
Each
families
buildings.
There was a store,
gun
it.
It
It
was a
real
had a barrel of
had a real stove with benches
around
The
it,
where people could
store
had
rolls of
sit
and
talk.
pretty material for dresses.
There were pretty things for the house. There were dishes, scissors,
One day
mouth organs, combs, and perfumes.
Caroline saw a beautiful
little
gun hang-
ing on the wall of the store. She wished for that
much.
very, very
"What does father.
gun
a girl need with a gun?" laughed her
"You have a father and
how
brave uncles to
You do not need a gun."
take care of you.
"Oh, but
five
I
wish for one!" said Caroline.
Lambie vJne
spring day, Caroline and her mother were
washing the clothes
Uncle Henry was
Then they heard the sound
of loud
was Brother Carpenter coming
to visit
helping them. singing. It
in the yard.
them. Caroline and her mother stopped washing clothes
and went
to
meet the preacher. Henry came too
with his gun over his shoulder. Brother Carpenter was riding his black horse.
was holding something before him on the It
looked like a small black pillow. But
line
"This
is
It
was a
it
was
tiny coal-black lamb.
Lambie," said Brother Carpenter. "His
mother was
killed
by wolverines, and nobody
wanted him. So the blacksmith gave him
48
saddle.
when Caro-
and her mother looked again, they saw
not a pillow.
He
to me."
"What a
am
held the lamb against her shoulder. "I will
be company
I
must go on a
Lambie when
I
am
trip,
gone?
and who
He
"I will take care of
I will
"And Henry.
make him
I will
He
to
him
I
bed
am
will care for
He
at night."
for you!" Caroline
Lambie
said quickly. "I will give
now
only a baby.
is
must be fed every day and put
and
sure he
for you."
"Yes," said Brother Carpenter, "but
worried.
She
darling animal!" cried Caroline.
fresh milk to drink,
a nice bed to sleep on."
see that he
is
always safe," promised
patted his gun. "I
am
very good at
shooting."
49
After Brother Carpenter
mother made a nice bed
Caroline and her
left,
for the small black lamb.
Caroline took her kettle and milked fresh milk from the old cow.
"Maud and
I
and the Old Witch
will see that
you
do not go hungry," she promised Lambie. At first the baby lamb would not
eat.
But Caroline
did not give up until Lambie had learned to drink
milk from the gold-colored
kettle.
He
drank
as
greedy as a
little pig.
the kettle and then
Soon he became all
the milk from
jumped about on
his long black
legs.
"Brother Carpenter will hardly
when he herself.
know his
lost
lamb
gets back," thought Caroline, smiling to
The Strange Oaroline and ticks.
A
straw tick
Battle
her mother were making straw is
New
a bed stuffed with straw.
straw ticks are big and high, like a haystack, and
they
make nice beds. But when they have been
on for a good while, they get hard and
slept
flat as
a
pancake. Caroline and her mother had emptied out the old straw from the straw ticks.
them with new, bright town, and
all
straw. Mr.
They were
filling
Gray had gone
to
the young uncles were with him.
Lambie hopped up and down on his long legs. Now and then he opened his mouth and made a funny sound.
51
"Lambie thinks he is
singing," said Caroline.
proud Brother Carpenter
Lambie
be when he sees
again!"
Just then Caroline
and her mother heard a strange
They looked around. They saw an animal
sound.
about the
He had
size of
a fox walking close to the house.
big yellow eyes.
hungry way.
lamb
will
"How
He was
He
looked at Lambie in a
ready to eat a tender
little
for his dinner.
"It's
a wolverine!" cried Mrs. Gray.
Quickly Caroline picked up Lambie and ran into the house.
Her mother threw a stick at the wolverine,
but the wolverine was not frightened. ing around the house, waving his
hungry.
52
He kept walk-
tail
and looking
Carolines mother closed the door and locked
The wolverine scratched on "There little
is
lamb
"He walls
will
the side of the house.
nothing a wolverine likes so well as a to eat," said Mrs. Gray.
have a hard time breaking down our
and getting
this
lamb," said Caroline. She
picked up Lambie and held the arms.
it.
little
animal in her
Lambie was frightened by the
cries of the
wolverine. "If only
Henry were here with
his gun!" said
Mrs. Gray.
"Or
if
only
I
had a gun
of
my
own!" wished
Caroline.
Suddenly they heard a new sound. This time the
53
sound was on top of the house.
"He
is
coming down the chimney,
old wolf after the
Mother,
if
only
little
we had
just like the
pig!" cried Caroline. "Oh,
a big kettle of water for
him
to fall into!"
But the big
kettle
in the fireplace
was out
in the yard.
was very low. Suddenly Caroline
remembered what Father had
how
it
said about
fire,
and
would scare animals away.
"Mother!" cried Caroline. "Stir the
54
And the fire
fire
and make
it
big.
Then the wolverine
will run
away!"
But there was no wood. There was only the straw tick filled
with dry straw.
Quickly Caroline and her mother threw the straw birds into the fireplace. Fire flew like great yellow
up the wide chimney.
The
old wolverine gave a terrible screech. It
was
easy to guess that his nose and whiskers were badly
burned.
He jumped down
from the house with a
loud scream and ran to the woods.
55
Caroline and her mother looked at each other.
Their faces were red from the heat of the their
eyebrows were a
straw tick was
And
and
new
the
burned up.
all
"Just the same,
burned.
little
fire
we
She held the lamb
saved Lambie," said Caroline.
close.
When the men came home,
Caroline's
mother told
them about the adventure. "After
this, I will
Gray promised.
"I
leave a will
gun here
for you,"
Old Jumbo
leave
Mr.
— my
biggest gun."
A from
few days his trip.
later,
Brother Carpenter came back
He was
had grown. Caroline "I
"But
pleased to see
told
him about the wolverine.
have heard of many brave I
battles,"
he
said.
have never heard of a braver one than your
battle with the wolverine."
"A
how Lambie
girl
who
smiled at Caroline.
does brave things should have a re-
ward," Brother Carpenter
Lambie
He
for your very
said.
"You may keep
own."
"Oh, thank you!" said Caroline, and she hugged the
56
little
black lamb. "I will always take care of him."
The Shooting Match One
summer day
all
Whenever they went mother would go
the family went to town.
to town, Caroline
to the store.
And
families that
had come
to
they would
visit
and learn about the
friends at the Wolverine Hotel
new
and her
Pigeon Roost. Some-
times they would go to a house and sew carpet rags or quilt blocks.
The men went the
to the store too.
new guns and
at the boots
They looked
and
axes.
They
at sat
around the cracker barrel and talked of exciting things.
57
:
man brought a wolf skin to the store. Then all the men looked at the skin and listened to the story of how the man had killed the wolf. Sometimes a
Going
to
town gave a family something
to talk
about for days and days.
There was no newspaper
in
Pigeon Roost.
When
something interesting happened or was going to happen, there was a large notice on a board in front of the hotel. People
who came
to
town always
hurried to the Wolverine Hotel to read the notices.
Today
there
was printed
was a
large notice on the board. It
in big red letters
Big Shooting
Match on the Fourth of July
JULY* 58
Smaller printing on the bottom told about the prizes.
The
first
prize
All the
and
Caroline's
over.
called a
rifle.
Pigeon Roost had read the
men around
notice over rifle.
was a hunting gun
They
father
wanted
all
to
win the
and her uncles read the
notice, too.
"How
lucky that
morning and
I
have been practicing each
night," said
Uncle John to Caroline.
"Anybody who can shoot a wolf can
surely
win
first
prize in the shooting match!"
"But you haven't shot a wolf," said Caroline. This did not worry John. "I will practice harder,"
he
said. "I will
go
morning.
earlier in the
I will
stay
later in the evening."
"Who
will feed the
Old Witch and her
calf?"
Caroline asked him.
But John had a good answer can feed the old cow and her
for this, too:
calf. It will
"You
not take
much time. And if I win the first prize in the shooting match, "I rifle
I will
give you the
would rather shoot
rifle!"
in the
match and win the
for myself," said Caroline sadly.
59
John laughed and doing a thing
said,
"Who
ever heard of a
girl
like that?"
There was another notice on the front of the
hotel.
It said:
The traveling picture-taker will be here soon. Get ready to have your pictures taken. "If I
win
first
prize at the shooting contest," said
John, "the traveling picture-taker can take a picture of me. I will
gun
in
my
be standing near the target with
hand."
Caroline and her uncles went
and looked
60
my
at the target.
The
down
target
the street
was a great
(A
c
h
many
big white board with it.
Whoever
times
won
hit the small
the
first
red circles painted on
middle
circle the
prize.
"The day of the shooting match
day
for
most
will
be a big
Pigeon Roost," said one person to another.
"People will come from miles around. a great dinner at noon.
Women
and
girls
It will
We will have
be fun."
and children would come to
the shooting match, too. But they would not shoot.
They would cook the big dinner and "Even Brother Carpenter hotelkeeper.
"He
will
praise the
men.
come," said the
will lead the singing. It will
be a
wonderful day in Pigeon Roost!"
61
The Fourth of July lj ong
before daylight on the Fourth of July the
Gray family was up and busy. Before they could go to the shooting match, there were chores to do
and the big picnic basket
to pack.
"We must be there as soon as the shooting begins," said John. He and all the other uncles had spent hours polishing their guns. They
all
wanted
win
to
first prize.
"I will ride "I will get to
that
62
ahead on Firecracker," said Steven. Pigeon Roost
you are coming."
first
and
tell
them
all
"No," said Caroline's father. "I have a surprise for Caroline.
You boys have your guns.
have something
special, too. Caroline
A girl should may
ride
on
Firecracker today!"
Caroline to ride
felt
on the red
Just then It
very happy. She had always wanted colt.
somebody came
was a neighbor who
riding into the yard.
lived a mile away.
He looked
"My
wife and children are sick," he said
to Mrs. Gray.
"Can you come over today and help
worried.
mer "Certainly," said Mrs. Gray. She got
on the big
spotted horse behind the neighbor and rode
off.
"Be careful with Firecracker!" she called
to
Caroline. "Be careful with the guns!" she called to the boys.
The young
uncles put the picnic basket in the
wagon and drove "Caroline and
Mr. Gray.
off
toward Pigeon Roost.
I will
"I will ride
come behind on
horses," said
on the old white mare and
keep Caroline company." Caroline could hardly wait to ride on Firecracker,
but her father was in no hurry. far
"We
ahead of the boys, anyway," he
your best dress, Caroline, and your
You must
will get there said.
new
"Put on
sunbonnet.
look nice on the Fourth of July."
While Caroline put on her dress and sunbonnet, Mr. Gray went to get the horses.
Suddenly Caroline heard a loud of the house. There
cry.
She ran out
was her father near the barn.
His foot was caught in a big iron trap. The trap
a^*?
had been put there by her uncles to catch a wolf. It took Caroline a good while to free her father from the
There was blood on
trap.
he looked very pale and
chance for will
made
me
be good
At
last it
dress.
July this
is!"
she said to herself.
tea for her father. "This
to sleep,"
he
is
a good
"A nice quiet nap
said.
me."
for
was sundown. Caroline took
She put on her old
the old
She put
to bed.
father's foot.
"What a Fourth of Caroline
and
Caroline helped her
and put him
father into the house
bandages on her
sick.
his foot,
wooden milking
clothes.
pail
and
her best
off
She took down
started to go out
to milk the cow.
"This day
is
not like
I
said Caroline to herself.
had expected "There
good about this day." She looked
is
it
to be,"
nothing very
at her gold-colored
kettle.
The
seemed
kettle
her. Caroline
had an
wooden milking "Even
if I
to
be winking and smiling
idea.
at
She put down the old
pail.
have to do the same old things on the
65
Fourth of
July, I
can do them in a special way!"
she said. "A gold-colored kettle old
wooden milking
kettle
named Maud
pail."
is
prettier than
an
So Caroline carried the
out to the barn with her.
The Old Witch seemed glad
to see Caroline.
She
did not shake her head or stamp her foot. She stood quietly
while
Caroline
milked the gold-colored
kettle full of milk.
Then Caroline shut the spotted pen and picked up the line
went out
calf into his little
kettle of milk.
of the barn, the
When
Caro-
Old Witch followed
her.
"What
is
the matter with you?" said Caroline.
"Are you lonely? Are you afraid to stay out here
by yourself? Very well the door until the boys
then,
you may stand by
come home."
Suddenly the cow gave a loud, angry
stamped her
foot.
cry.
She put her head down
She
to the
ground. Caroline was surprised. Honeysuckle had
not acted so cross for a long time.
Then Caroline saw what was bothering the cow. It
66
was a very big and very mean-looking
wolf!
Mighty in Battle What
a place to meet a wolf, halfway between
of her the barn and the house! Caroline thought father's
fireplace.
She thought
his sore foot.
She thought
gun hanging over the
of her father in
bed with
of her five brave uncles
and
their
guns away at the
shooting match.
The
old wolf
came a
little closer.
His
lips
were
showed. curled back so that his long, sharp teeth
The
old wolf
timber wolf.
came
still
He was
closer.
He was
a big, fierce
hungry, and ready to
eat. Just
67
as his black nose almost
up the
kettle filled
touched Caroline, she
with milk. She threw
it
lifted
straight
at the wolf.
A
The milk poured down over into his eyes
and
kettle slipped
into his
the wolf's face and
mouth. The handle of the
under the old wolfs
chin.
And now
the gold-colored kettle sat tight on the old wolfs
head!
68
The wolf sneezed and coughed. He growled and pawed.
He
what he
did,
sat
on
his
scratched and clawed. But no matter
head
like a gold-colored
sunbonnet.
Caroline looked at him and laughed.
you look with a cooking
which
rid of the kettle
he could not get
kettle
"How
silly
on your head!" she
said.
The
old wolf backed himself into the barn.
was shaking
head trying
his
to get the kettle off.
Caroline shut the barn door and fastened
"How herself.
easy
it
really
trap. All
named Maud and
it
tightly.
to catch a wolf!" she said to
is
"You do not
even need a
He
need a gun. You do not
you need
a kind old
is
a brave kettle
cow named Honey-
suckle!"
Caroline went in the house and stirred up the fire.
Her
father
was
still
gun hanging over the that the
asleep.
fireplace.
She looked
Now
at his
she could see
gun was much too big and too heavy
her to handle.
And
not even
know how
When
Caroline's
she
remembered
to load
for
that she did
and shoot the gun.
mother came home, she was
69
surprised to hear tea
the exciting news. She
all
and put more bandages on Father's
made
foot.
Mr. Gray liked the story of the wolf and the
he said over and over.
kettle. "Tell it again,"
He
listened to the story five times. "I will never get
he
tired of hearing that story!"
The young
uncles
came home from the shooting
match. None of them had
John had
won
a nice
fifteenth prize. It
"But
said.
won
wooden
little
would make a
listen to this," said
pail for the
fine milking pail.
Mr. Gray, and he told
the story of Caroline's brave adventure. uncles could hardly believe to the barn
and looked
was
right all the
all
shoot the wolf for shoot the wolf. It
the time with a kettle
head."
"I will think,"
70
I
Somebody must
cannot stay out in the barn
up
I
you that girls had no business with guns."
you, Caroline?
its
went out
at the wolf.
Uncle David asked, "Shall
on
The young
until they
it
John told Caroline, "You see? time. I told
But Uncle
first prize.
my
mind."
answered Caroline.
"I will
make
Caroline's
Wolf
Kj arty next morning, the Grays had a surprise visitor. It
was the
of the Lake.
He had
and the mighty Caroline
He
tell
boat pilot from the Lady
heard the story about the wolf
kettle,
and he wanted
laughed and pounded both
stories,
but
I
to
hear
the story herself.
he heard the
he
jolly old
story. "I
his
knees
when
know many good hunting
have never heard one
as
good
as that!"
said.
71
When
he saw the old wolf with the
head, he opened his
my
wolves in
mouth wide.
time, but
I
"I
kettle
on
his
have seen some
have never seen a bigger
wolf nor a wilder one!" he said in a loud voice. "It
was
Caroline. in battle"
72
my
kettle that
"Her name
is
caught the wolf," said
Maud. Maud means mighty
"I
the so I
would
like to
pilot. "I
am
am
have your wolf
now
too old
for
will give
me
I will
zoo," said
to shoot wild animals,
going to have a traveling zoo.
a gun any more.
my
give you
my
I
do not need
old
gun
if
you
your wolf."
Caroline was glad she would not have to shoot the wolf.
It
was fun
to think about shooting a wolf
73
with a gun, but than to do
The
it
was more fun
it
He had
a
it.
old pilot
came back the next
big strong cage on a wagon.
him.
They
from
his head.
tied
day.
Two men were
up the old wolf and took the
They pushed him
Then they drove Caroline.
about
to think
"Come and
off,
kettle
into the cage.
leaving the big
visit
with
the Great
gun
for
Wild Animal
Show some
day!" called the boat pilot. "It will be
the best zoo in Michigan!"
Caroline and her uncles looked at the gun.
"The traveling picture-taker
is
in
Pigeon Roost
now," said John. "What a grand picture he can take of
you with that big gun!"
"What line.
shall I
wear
Her mother
said,
in
my
"A
picture?" asked Caro-
girl
who
catches a wolf
has the right to dress as she wishes for her picture." Caroline smiled a big smile.
75
The Picture r\ few
days
later,
the traveling picture-taker
came
to the house. "I
hear you want a picture taken," he said to
Caroline. "I can take a
good picture of you.
I
have
taken pictures of great hunters, brave soldiers, fierce Indians, beautiful
women, and even
a President."
"She has a gun of her own, and she will be dressed as a great hunter," said
wear
my
fur cap with the long tails hanging
in the back."
76
Uncle Henry. "She may
down
"She may wear my hunting jacket with the fringe," said
Uncle John.
"She said
may
on Firecracker, or stand
my hunting knife
her wear
in her belt,"
Uncle David.
The young
uncles were proud of Caroline.
wanted her picture
had braided her unbraided
it.
Her mother
hair to
make
it
The waves hung over her
tied a ribbon
bow on
front
each It
Now
She she
shoulders.
side.
was
blue, with
had a pink -silk sash that a big bow. There were buttons down the
pink flowers on
tied in
to look.
look wavy.
Caroline put on her best dress.
many
They
to look very brave.
But Caroline knew how she wanted
and
ruffles at
it.
It
the bottom.
Caroline put on her best slippers. soft
at his side,"
Uncle Steven.
"I will let
said
sit
black leather.
And
They were
of
they had silver buckles on
them.
when they looked
at
They had never seen Caroline
so
Her uncles were the beautiful
girl.
surprised
dressed up.
77
"But you will look funny with that big gun in
your hand!" said John. Caroline
went
left
the
gun standing
to the fireplace.
colored kettle.
"We
It
in the corner.
She took down her gold-
was bright and
shiny.
are not quite ready yet," said Caroline.
Mr. Gray came from the barn.
cow and
the
She
He was
leading
carrying the black lamb in his arms.
Caroline stood by the Old Witch. She put one
hand on the cow's
shoulder. In her other hand, she
held the gold-colored kettle. The small black lamb lay
down on the ground by her feet.
Then Caroline smiled her most
The
78
kettle
named Maud shone
beautiful smile.
like gold!
80
young uncles laughed at her. "Whoever heard of naming a cooking kettle?" Caroline's
they said. But Caroline didn't care. The boys
had names she
name
"I shall
mighty will
in
bring
for their
her
new
new guns — so why
kettle?
name my
kettle
Maud, because Maud means
battle/' Caroline said.
me an
couldn't
"Perhaps
it
adventure!"
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