steps to the platform, Helen without hat or coat because, as usual, she had been too excited to get them on until the last moment had come.

7

So this was Jo, waiting for them beside a fat old plow horse and a roomy brown wagon that Ann learned to call the buckboard. Jo was much bigger than Ann had thought he would be, and freckles were spattered on his tanned face. He wore a very faded pair of clean overalls and the collar of his blue shirt stood out like a second pair of ears. He grinned a wide shy grin and his heavy boots scraped awkwardly on the platform as he walked across to meet them.

Helen couldn’t wait. She ran across to him before the others were fairly out of the train. “Where are the Indians and the bears? Please show them to me right away.”

“Bears?” answered Jo, laughing in spite of his bashfulness. “Bears— Well, I guess I can find you places where they have been, later in the summer, around the berry patches, but they don’t linger here in the springtime. And the Injuns were scared away years ago. People ain’t scalped up here any more.”

All the Seymours were around him by this time. “We shall have to do without the Indians,” said Mrs. Seymour gayly. “Really, I prefer not to be scalped.”

8 Jo laughed again as he went to help with the baggage; a feeling of satisfaction and contentment filled him. These new people were friendly. He was going to like them.

8

“I’ll take those, Mr. Seymour.” And over Jo’s square shoulders went the strapped shawls, the extra coats, and with three valises in each hand the boy strode down to the buckboard.

Ben’s mouth dropped open in astonishment as he watched.

“Isn’t that too heavy a load?” Mr. Seymour protested; but Jo called back, “Not a mite heavier than milk pails.”

“How strong you are!” exclaimed Ann.

After Mr. Seymour had gathered up his share of the remaining luggage two bags remained. Ben looked at them. He had not supposed that he could lift them from the platform but he had watched Jo with admiring eyes, and now when Ann stooped for the bags he suddenly brushed her aside and grabbed the two valises.

“I’ll do that,” he said, and he struggled after his father and Jo, the two bags trailing from his 

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