take a passenger or two?"

"I'm pretty well loaded," he answered; "but I always find room for one
more, seeing it pays."

"It's a clergyman's wife and children," said the clerk, in a lower
tone.

"O, well," replied the other, rising to his feet, "they shall go
along, pay or no pay;" and he followed the clerk, who introduced the
parties to each other with,--

"Mr. Sawyer--Mrs. Payson. He will take you as far as he goes."

"And how far is that?" she inquired.

"About twenty miles."

"But how shall I get over the remainder of the distance?"

"Don't be concerned about that," replied the man, heartily. "I guess
there'll be a way to forward you all right."

And in a half hour his team was before the door, waiting to take her
farther into the wilderness. A pair of stout iron-grays harnessed into
a long, open wagon, affording space for a large variety of boxes and
packages, and three rows of cushionless seats, constituted the
conveyance. Its owner had been on a trading expedition, but, with an
eye to "the main chance," was prepared to catch some of the travel
going westward. The wagon was crowded with passengers; and, disposing
of the three children,--a delicate, intelligent little boy and his
two sisters--in the laps of those already seated, the teamster
assisted the mother to a seat at his side. Their presence, it was
evident, excited much interest; for the manner and dress of the little
family betrayed New England birth and culture.

"Your husband," said the owner of the conveyance, as his horses
trotted sturdily along, "rode up with me the other day. He had been
down to the Mississippi waiting for you a whole week, and the landlord
at McGreggor's Landing said he was the bluest man he ever saw, because
you did not arrive."

"I am sorry that he was anxious on my account," replied the wife, with
a merry laugh. "He didn't wish me to venture on the journey alone with
the children, and wrote that he would return for me if I could not
find suitable company; but, not wishing to take him from his labors, I
packed up, and took our darlings along."

"I hope you didn't meet with any accident on the way," observed a man
on the back seat. "You was pretty resolute."

"No; but I came near losing one of my little girls."

"How did it happen?" asked a motherly-looking woman.

"It was in the depot at Springfield. The children were thirsty, and,
charging them not to stir until I came back, I crossed the room for
water. The