CHAPTER IX.
ONE THOUSAND AVES SINCE the coming of winter they had often talked at the Chapdelaines about the holidays, and now these were drawing near.
"I am wondering whether we shall have any callers on New Year's Day," said Madame Chapdelaine one evening.

She went over the list of all relatives and friends able to make the venture.

"Azalma Larouche does not live so far away, but she--she is not very energetic.

The people at St.Prime would not me to take the journey.

Possibly Wilfrid or Ferdinand might drive from St.Gedeon if the ice on the lake were in good condition." A sigh disclosed that she still was dreaming of the coming and going in the old parishes at the time of the New Year, the family dinners, the unlooked-for visits of kindred arriving by sleigh from the next village, buried under rugs and furs, behind a horse whom coat was white with frost.
Maria's thoughts were turning in another direction.