Forests of Maine

A summer passage up the Kennebec gives Marco Paul plenty to ask about: the slow progress of the steamboat, the taste of river water and the pine logs floating past. Travelling with his knowledgeable companion Forester on the way to Quebec, the boy turns ordinary sights into lessons about tides, floating bodies and the movement of timber from forest to mill. Jacob Abbott builds this children's adventure around conversation, observation and small practical experiments.

Published in 1843, the story combines an imagined young traveller's experiences with descriptions of Maine's scenery and working life. A roadside pine prompts discussion of branches, wood grain and the difference between timber valued for easy working and wood prized for its appearance. Marco also challenges an explanation with an example of his own. Readers interested in early children's education or the history of logging will find a story that makes curiosity part of its action.