d, had
swept over the prairies, and reached the belt of woods, in a portion
of which were the eighty acres that her husband was at work upon. The
flames were crackling and roaring in the forests, burning up the dry
underbrush, shooting to the tops of the old dead pines, so that the
scene being constantly on her left, was more or less in view for most
of the distance.

"What shall we do?" asked Tom, in alarm. "Hadn't we better go back?"

"Do you think the fire has reached my husband's claim?" she answered.

Tom scanned the appearance of the smoke with a practised eye, and at
length replied,--

"No; it's not got as far as there yet."

"Do you think it will?" she inquired, anxiously.

"If the wind does not change, it must before a great while," he said,
"although it will have to cross the road, which will backen it some."

"Would it burn up the cabin, then?" she inquired.

"I am afraid it would," he answered.

"Well," said she, firmly, "I said I would go into that cabin in four
weeks, and if it's not burnt down, I shall keep my word. At any rate
we shall be in season to see the fire!" Then she added, looking grave,
"I do hope, if it is the Lord's will, that the fire will be checked in
time, my husband has toiled so hard."

As the cart turned up the main street of the town, she caught sight
of the cabin that was to be her future home, and she saw her husband,
too, at the same moment, for there he sat on the roof, gazing at the
fire, which seemed to be dying out. He heard the rumbling of the
wheels as they drew near, and as he caught sight of the
picturesque-looking object approaching, he called out,--

"Why, what under the canopy have we here? Wife, and babies, and
household effects! What does this mean? You are not going to emigrate
farther west--are you?"

"If you'll _de_scend from your elevated position," she replied,
cheerily, "I'll _con_descend to inform you. Now," she added, "you know
I told you, husband, I should move into the cabin to-day; and did you
ever know me to break my word?"

"But," said he, looking disconcerted, "I'm not ready for you yet; the
floor isn't half laid."

"Well," she replied, "I can't stand it to have you sweating up here
all alone at your task, running the risk of being devoured by the
wolves, or losing your way at night because you think the cabin isn't
comfortable enough for me. Why, you are as particular about having
everything done just so about this cabin, as you used to