So precious the gift appeared to him that he dared not ask it.
"I am going down to Grand'Mere next week," he said, almost in a whisper, "to work on the lumber-dam.

But I will never take a glass, not one, Maria!" Hesitating a moment he stammered out, eyes on the ground: "Perhaps ...

they have said something against me ?" "No." "It is true that I used to drink a bit, when I got back from the shanties and the drive; but that is all over now.

You see when a young fellow has been working in the woods for six months, with every kind of hardship and no amusement, and gets out to La Tuque or Jonquieres with all the winter's wages in his pocket, pretty often he loses his head; he throws his money about and sometimes takes too much ...

But that is all over." "And it is also true that I used to swear.