me know it, Tom?"

"Yes, mother; but I expected to write back, and tell you all about
it."

"Tom," returned the mother, tenderly, "you asked me, a little while
ago, why it was that God let you get hurt that morning when you were
trying to kill the hens for the family, while those bad boys go
uninjured. I believe God's ways were right in this. Why, my dear
child, you are better to me, and more necessary to me, at present,
than many prairie hens; and you might have harmed yourself more by
going from home than you were by the powder. You meant it well, Tom;
but you reasoned about going away, just as you reasoned about God's
dealings with you, _like a child_. Tom, you are necessary now to my
comfort, and perhaps my life. I am not over strong, and any great
trouble might be too much for me. I am afraid nights now, but I feel
safer when you are here. And you help me a great deal about house, and
in the care of the children. Your father is away so much I have to
depend on you. And what if, when you are away, the cabin should take
fire,--and you know our stove is none of the tightest,--or if we
should have trouble with the savages? And who would get the wood up
for us during the cold winter that is coming? God took too good care
of us, Tom, to let you forsake us that morning. Besides, Tom, you
wouldn't have succeeded."

"Why not?" asked Tom, faintly.

"You hadn't decent clothes to go in, nor any recommendations. Your
life had been very different from that you proposed to enter upon, and
you hadn't a cent of money to help you on your way. The chances were,
that you would have suffered, and, instead of helping us, as you do
now, you would have been a source of sorrow, anxiety, and expense to
us. Is it not so?" Tom saw that his mother understood the case; but
his heart sank as his air-castle fell, and he wept anew. "But do not
misunderstand me, Tom, as you did God's dealings with you. What I say
brings to you a great disappointment. It seems almost cruel in me thus
to cut off your hopes of being something better in the world. Tom, it
does not follow, because you were going too soon, and God permitted an
accident to stop you, that the time may never come for you to realize
your hopes so far as they are right. You say you wish to be useful.
You _are_ useful now, very useful. Be contented to help at home for
the present, and God will, I doubt not, open something better for you
in his own good time." And, kissing him, she lay dow