Work is
finished early in the day in the Colonies, and when school is over and
the scorching sun begins slowly to sink to rest, social life begins.
But in Canada winter is long and extremely cold. With the fall of the
beautiful tinted leaves that have changed from green to wonderful shades
of red, purple, and yellow, Canadians know that summer is gone and that
frost and snow may come any day, and once come will stay, though an
unwelcome guest, for at least seven or eight months.
Now the young folks in Barrie relished this long spell of cold--to them
no part of the year was quite so delightful as winter. What could
compare with a long sleigh drive over firm thick snow, tucked in with
soft warm furs and muffled up to the eyes--or tobogganing in the
moonlight down a long hill--or skimming over clear, smooth ice--or
candy-making parties--or dances, or a dozen other delights? What indeed?
On every occasion Gladys seemed to be the centre figure; she was the
life and soul of every party.
[Sidenote: The "Bunch"]
She was an only child of wealthy parents. Her home was beautiful, her
father indulgent, her mother like a sister to her; she was a favourite
everywhere, loved alike by rich and poor. Together with two intimate
friends and schoolfellows, the girls were commonly known as the "Buds,"
and they, with half a dozen boys, were called the "Bunch" throughout the
town. They admitted no outsider to their circle.
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