the living-room opposite the entrance were two doors, one leading to
Margaret's room, the other to the room occupied by the boys. Thomas
himself slept in a bunk, resembling a ship's bunk, built against the
north wall.

The furnishings of the living-room consisted of a home-made table, a
big box stove, three home-made chairs and some chests, which served
the double purpose of storage places for clothing and seats. A
cupboard was built against the wall at the left of the entrance, and
between two windows on the south side of the room, which looked out
upon The Jug, was a shelf upon which Thomas kept his Bible and
Margaret her sewing basket--a little basket which she had woven
herself from native grasses. Behind the stove was a bench, upon which
stood a bucket of water and the family wash basin, and over the basin
hung a towel for general family use.

Pasted upon the walls were pictures from old newspapers and magazines.
There were no other decorations but these and snowy muslin curtains at
the windows, but the floor, table, chairs--all the woodwork,
indeed--were scoured to immaculate whiteness with sand and soap, and
everything was spotlessly clean and tidy. Despite the austere
simplicity of the room and its furnishings, it possessed an
indescribable atmosphere of cosy comfort.

Doctor Joe's bed was spread upon the floor. It was still candle-light
when he was awakened by Thomas building a fire in the stove, for in
this land of stern living there is no lolling in bed of mornings.

"Good-morning, Thomas," said Doctor Joe, with a yawn and a stretch as
he sat up.