Murchison never had the quarter, so they witnessed few
lacrosse matches, though they seldom failed to refresh
themselves by a sight of the players after the game when,
crimson and perspiring, but still glorious in striped
jerseys, their lacrosses and running shoes slung over
one shoulder, these heroes left the field.

The Birthday I am thinking of, with Mrs Murchison as a
central figure in the kitchen, peeling potatoes for
dinner, there was a lacrosse match of some importance
for the Fox County Championship and the Fox County Cup
as presented by the Member for the South Riding. Mrs
Murchison remains the central figure, nevertheless, with
her family radiating from her, gathered to help or to
hinder in one of those domestic crises which arose when
the Murchisons were temporarily deprived of a "girl."
Everybody was subject to them in Elgin, everybody had to
acknowledge and face them. Let a new mill be opened, and
it didn't matter what you paid her or how comfortable
you made her, off she would go, and you might think
yourself lucky if she gave a week's warning. Hard times
shut down the mills and brought her back again; but
periods of prosperity were very apt to find the ladies
of Elgin where I am compelled to introduce Mrs Murchison
--in the kitchen. "You'd better get up--the girl's gone,"
Lorne had stuck his head into his sister's room to
announce, while yet the bells were ringing and the rifles
of the local volunteers were spitting out the feu de
joie. "I've lit the fire an' swep' out the dining-room.
You tell mother. Queen's Birthday, too--I guess Lobelia's