The Fairy School of Castle Frank

Robin. His home was in the grand old woods, with wapitis, wolves and bears. It was near the

edge of a deep ravine that opened out on the east by a slow winding river flowing into one of the

great blue lakes. And the name of his home, though built of wood, was Castle Frank.

The castle was well-furnished, for Robin's father was a great man. The best rooms had

comfortable carpets and carved oak furniture, while on the walls were interesting pictures,

representing people of high rank, and battles on sea and land. In one room there was a fine

arrangement of muskets, pistols and swords, together with Indian spears and bows and arrows. In

another room there was a library, containing books of religion and science, histories and tales of

adventure, and story-books for children. With the weapons and stories the boy beguiled away

many a pleasant hour.

But there was something more pleasant than guns and spears and stories. Outside the castle,

in little houses built of wood, with doors and windows of netted wire, were a number of pets, as

foxes, rabbits and squirrels. To these Robin was greatly devoted, he fed them regularly with his

own hand, and kept their dwellings sweet and clean. In a grassy enclosure where their little cotes

stood, he let them have liberty every day, watching over them carefully, that no harm should

come from savage beasts or birds of prey. He had also other pets—a white pony, big dogs and

little ones, and beautiful birds—which he loved much and tended faithfully. So that among all

these companions Robin passed much of his time very happily, even more so than when

accompanying friendly Indians shooting game in the wild woods miles away, or fishing from a

canoe in Lake Ontario.