"Uncle Sam loves bright things," said Lucy, looking at the flowers. "He is always finding something new to admire. That is why I like to walk in the woods with him." "He shows me many things I should never see myself," answered Joe. By this time the children had reached the door of the house, and stepped inside. They never stopped to knock; Uncle Sam would not have liked it. "I've brought you some cookies, Uncle Sam," said Lucy, handing a covered dish to the old man. "Mother made them this morning. She put raisins in them because she knew you are fond of fruit cookies." Uncle Sam was pleased when he lifted the napkin and looked at his present. "I can make bread and cook meat and potatoes, but cake is beyond my skill. It takes women-folks to do such work." The old man laughed softly as he put the cookies away in the cupboard. "It is a lovely evening. Won't you come out on the porch and tell us stories in the twilight?" As Lucy spoke, she reached up and put her arms around Uncle Sam's neck. He was so tall he had to bend down to let her do so. "I suppose you want me to tell you about Cinderella for the fiftieth time, or maybe you would rather hear about Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp?" "No, Uncle Sam," said Joe before Lucy had a chance to answer. "We are getting too big for fairy stories. We have just begun to study geography at school. We like it better than anything we've ever had. So Lucy and I have been talking it over. We said we would ask you to tell us true stories now about America, and the Indians, and the brave white people who first dared to come here, you know, and all such things." Uncle Sam fairly beamed with delight. "I've been thinking of that very thing, children. I have been longing for the time when you would like to hear some of the history of this glorious country. You will like it, too. Why, it is better than any fairy stories that ever were told." In five minutes more the old man was sitting in his big easy chair on the porch. Lucy was perched on one of the broad arms of the chair, and Joe on the other. "We are all ready, so please begin," said Lucy, coaxingly. "Very well. Shut your eyes for a minute so you cannot look at those rows of hollyhocks in front of you. I want you to see a different picture. You must take a peep at this country of ours before a white man ever set foot on it." "All right; I am ready, for my eyes are shut tight," cried Joe with a laugh. "Now, then. First you must notice the great forests that stretch over a large part of the land. Wild beasts are roaming about in the darkness of those woods. Wolves and foxes, bears and wildcats live a free and happy life, for the sound of a gun has never yet been heard. "Turn your thoughts next to the great plains of the west. Thousands of buffaloes are wandering about. The herds are so vast that in some places the earth is fairly black with them.