evangelizing of the world—I rejoice in the thought that I may be permitted to help on the good work; and, as each drop goes to fill the bucket, so may each good citizen aid in swelling the tide of its prosperity and civilization. My letter is a long one, but I have hardly written the half I purposed. My first feeling of dismay at the newness and coarseness of things has passed away; so has that of discouragement at the great work to be done here; and I now view our enterprise as one in which we may and ought to engage hopefully and happily; for I fully believe that, in a great measure, a man's prosperity is here placed in his own keeping; and the heart to labour and do right will not fail to bring success, both as regards ourselves and those among whom we may be placed.

Let us all ask the blessing of our heavenly Father, and his direction in all our ways!--With love to all,

I am, yours affectionately,

JAMES MORETON.

P. S.-I cannot say with any confidence at what time you may expect me at home; but a kind Providence will keep us, I trust, while we are apart, and give us the plcasure to meet again in health and peace. J. M.

Letter from Robert to his Father.

LAURELTON, Nov. —, 18

DEAR FATHER,-Your very welcome letter has just been received, and I am appointed by mother to reply to it, in the name of the family. We were pleased to hear of your good health, and of your favourable impressions of Western life. You do not know how much we think about you, nor how often we talk about you, guessing where you are, and what you are doing. We have most thoroughly imbibed the spirit of emigration. Even Alice told Mr. Speare that you had gone to buy us a farm

at the West; and each of us is at work, in some way, busying ourselves with preparations for moving in the spring.

As you recommended, I have made an arrangement with Mr. S-, by which I am released from further obligation to stay with him, and have transferred myself, tools and all, to Mr. Redding's cabinet-shop. I have learned already the way to put a chair or table together, and can put up a shelf or fix a drawer quite like a workman. Mr. Redding told me himself that I was quite a handy fellow at the trade.

Henry looks after the farm and the family at home, but has commenced the study of surveying. This occupies most of his leisure.

Mary is at school. Mother says that it is her last winter here, and that she must devote her time to the study of those branches in which a teacher is most necessary. Music, as a science, and French, take most of her attention, although she and Henry are trying in the evenings to study German with Mr. Perrot. Mary declares that to know how to make bread will be likely to be of more benefit to her than how to speak German; but mother only smiles, and says that there is time and opportunity for both.

Frank and Charlie are at school; but, in their leisure hours, earnest in their preparations, though in rather different lines. Frank is looking up and sorting out all the books in the house, and has petitioned mother so earnestly to allow him to take lessons in drawing and perspective, that she has consented; and he is really making rapid progress in this accomplishment.

Charlie, true to his native propensity, asked old Captain Stetson if he would "teach him to fire a gun; and the old gentleman has undertaken to initiate him in the mysteries of holding both gun and rifle, and shooting with the кате. At first, mother objected to this, thinking he

might be troublesome; and, indeed, she felt that he was too young to be trusted with such dangerous articles; but, upon his passing his solemn word never to touch them without Captain Stetson's leave, she gave her consent. At her request, I made it a point to be present during his first and second days' exercise, that I might look after him; but I found the responsibility of the employment had sobered his little wild head, and that if I continued to be with him (which I was inclined to do), it would be to take advantage of the instruction of so experienced a sportsman as Captain Stetson for myself. He meanwhile says-and I believe he means what he says "that it is a pleasure to him to have us come."

Annie took me up into her sunny little room yesterday, that I might see how nicely she had put up and labelled the garden and flower-seeds. She told me that she was making some bags to put the larger seeds in. She really seems better and brighter for the prospect of the change. She has promised Willie a bag for his marbles, is to make a travelling dress for Alice's doll, has helped Frank to cover his books; and I heard Charles tell her that he should want a large flannel bag made, with a strap to go over the shoulder, for his game.

As for Willie and Alice, their arrangements would be more apparent, and their success more complete, if they did not pull to pieces something that they have before done, to finish what they are now doing. But they are well, and their bright happy faces and pleasant words help us all along.

Cousin Susan is with us; and, since she consented to accompany us, Mary has been as full of anticipation as the rest of us. She goes about singing all the day, helping first one and then another in their plans. Cousin Susan said, laughingly, that she must have a trade before she went, as a resource against a day of want. We told her that she could teach school there; but she said, "No,

B

that was Mary's calling; and she goes now every day to sew with Mrs. Dearborn, and learns how to make bonnets. and cut dresses; and, when that is over, she says that she will not say she is ready to go until she has also learned how to cut and make clothes for us boys. Before we finish, we are likely to have every trade in the family. hope these plans will all meet with your approbation, and that you will soon be at home to tell us so. All send their best love to you. Mother wishes to add a postscript for herself.

Your affectionate son,

ROBERT.

MY DEAR HUSBAND,-" Mother's postscript" is only to say, that a Mr. Glover has made an offer for the farm here, and for the homestead, which your brother thinks a very advantageous one for us. I send his letter with this. We are all well. Robert has given you a very detailed account of our movements and employments; but he has not added what my heart prompts me to say, that our children are our treasures—good, obedient, and loving. May we not claim for them the promise which belongs to those that honour father and mother? And may it not be to us a token, a providential omen of success in our undertaking?

Yours ever.

CHAPTER III.

NOTES OF WARNING.

THE winter was past and gone, with all its cold storms and piercing winds, its heavy snows and blustering tempests. The noble Connecticut, for three months "in icy

fetters bound," was released, and its blue waters were floating calmly on towards the ocean, glistening in the bright sunshine, or gently rippled by the passing breeze. The birds, in noisy companies, were returning from their winter-quarters. By the sides of fences, and about sunny door-steps, little delicate tufts of grass were starting, fresh and green; and the garden-borders were gay with bright pinks and daffodils, mingled with the crocus and snowdrop.

Spring had come; and an early spring it was. "It could not last," and "one swallow does not make a summer." So the weather-wise ones said, and shook their heads. But it did last; and if by swallows they meant beautiful, warm, sunshiny days, there were a dozen of these, following each other in rapid succession. It was safe now to prophesy an early season, for it was already there; and bustle and life it brought with it. O how much out-of-doors playing had the Laurelton children to do! How many boys were there, who, under the influence of that balmy vernal air, were happy in their sports! How many little groups of schoolfellows loitered on their way home to exchange the pleasant words that sprung from their light, merry hearts. Not less busy were the older people. Merchants had taken in the red and green flannel hangings about their doors, and put in their place the bright calicoes and brighter ribbons. Gardening tools were in demand, and the farmers were looking after their ploughs and harrows, wondering if it was too early to plant their fields; while busy housewives were busily making ready for the summer, with their white curtains laid out to bleach in the sunshine.

Amidst all this, there was one family who rejoiced most heartily in the early opening of the season; and that was Mr. Moreton's. He had returned early in January from his western journey, having found and purchased a farm in Indiana.