Its Walls Were As Of Jasper

           Inthelongwinterevenings,whenwehadthepicture-booksoutonthefloor,andsprawledtogetheroverthemwithelbowsdeepinthehearth-rug,thefirstbusinesstobegonethroughwastheprocessofallotment.Allthecharactersinthepictureshadtobeassignedanddealtoutamongus,accordingtoseniority,asfarastheywouldgo.Whenoncethathadbeensatisfactorilycompleted,thestorywasallowedtoproceed;andthereafter,inadditiontotheexcitementoftheplot,onealwayspossessedapersonalinterestinsomeparticularmemberofthecast,whosesuccessesorrebuffsonetookassomuchprivategainorloss.

           ForEdwardthiswassatisfactoryenough.Claiminghisrightoftheeldest,hewouldannextheherointheveryfrontispiece;andfortherestofthestoryhiscareer,ifchequeredatintervals,wassureofheroicepisodesandagloriousclose.Buthisjuniors,whohadtoputupwithcharactersofaclaymoremixed—nay,sometimeswithundilutedvillainy—werehardputtoitonoccasiontodefendtheirotherselves(asitwasstrictetiquettetodo)fromignominyperhapsonlytoojustlymerited.Edwardwasindeedahopelessgrabber.Inthe“Buffalo-book,”forinstance(sonamedfromthesubjectofitsprincipalpicture,thoughindeeditdealtwithvariedslaughterineveryzone),Edwardwasthestalwart,beardedfigure,withyellowleggingsandapowder-horn,whoundauntedlydischargedthefatalbulletintotheshoulderofthegreatbullbison,charginghometowithinayardofhismuzzle.