The Pioneers

On Christmas morning, Elizabeth goes outside to watch the sunrise. Richard sticks his head out of his window to greet her, saying that he’ll come down to show her the beauties and improvements he has made to Templeton. On his way out, Richard pays Aggy a dollar to let him know when Temple wakes up, so that Temple won’t beat him to the Christmas celebration. Richard claims that he doesn’t like competition, but Temple does, and so he is forced to compete with him.

As they walk, Richard brags that he was responsible for getting Elizabeth into school and convincing Temple to send her there. Elizabeth asks him to speak more kindly about her father, because when he was in New York picking her up, he was also arranging an official position for Richard. He makes several wrong guesses before eventually snatching the packet of papers that reveals he has been appointed Sheriff of the county.

Walking further, they overhear Leatherstocking, Mohegan, and Oliver. Though Elizabeth doesn’t want to invade their privacy, Richard insists on eavesdropping, per his new position. The three discuss their plans to participate in the Christmas turkey shoot, though Leatherstocking is broke, Oliver has only one shilling, and Mohegan can no longer shoot straight due to his