Mother and baby's upset--My humiliation.
In the meantime there came to our house a baby brother. We named him
George. My sisters were delighted with this new playfellow. When he
was about two or three months old, I undertook to take mother and
baby over to the fort for a ride and short visit. Father helped us
to start, holding my leader until all was ready. The trail went down
a considerable hill, and then turned sharply for a straight line to
the portage between us and the fort Away we went, but in turning the
curve I lost my balance, and over went the cariole, and out spilled
mother and the babe into the snow. My heart was in my mouth. What
if either or both should be hurt! What if father should have seen
the accident! In a very short time I had the cariole turned right
side up, and mother and baby seated and tucked in, and off we went,
no one hurt, and father had not seen the upset. But a lot of my
conceit as a skilful driver was gone, and I learned a lesson for the
future; but, oh! those dogs were quick and speedy, and anyone driving
them had to look sharp.
[Illustration: I LOSE MY BALANCE--AND SOME CONCEIT]
All of this fishing and dog-driving and travelling was just so much
practice and experience for the years to come in farther and far more
difficult fields. I did not know this at the time, but so it has
turned out.