in that which was going on about him. He was, indeed, very
down-hearted, as Robert had said. He said in his foolishness:

"My days are past. My purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my
heart."

And he told himself that, except for his mother's sake, it did not
matter whether he made his home in America or in Scotland, or whether he
should ever make a home at all. But this melancholy did not continue
long. Little by little the salt winds brought him health and strength.
They blew away his foolish fancies, and soothed the smart of a pain
real, and ill to bear. Then he began to see and to interest himself in
that which was going on in the little world around him.

There were all sorts of people in it--fathers and mothers, and little
children, young men and maidens. There were doubtful characters among
them, it is to be supposed; some of them seemed to be poor enough, and
some were evidently "well-to-do." All were alike cheerful and not
afraid of the future, for they were all looking forward to having land
of their own and a fair chance in the new world.

John made acquaintance with many, and made friends with a few, and got
good, and tried to do good among them. There is time to make
acquaintance during a voyage which lasts for weeks, and the seventh week
was over before they anchored within sight of the citadel of Quebec.

There are letters still in existence in John's handwriting--great
sheets, larger than common foolscap, written in small, even characters,
like "copper-plate," and so written that every available hairbreadth of
space is covered, except that part which, when the elaborate process of
folding was accomplished, was left blank for the address. There are a
good many of these letters, and there is great variety both as to matter
and to manner among them, some of them being addressed to his mother and
others to the minister and to Robert. Altogether, they might afford
material for a very full account of John's first impression of the
scenery, the climate, the character of the people, the state of morals
and manners, of education and religion in the new country to which he
had come.

When they fell into John's hands many years after they were written, he
enjoyed the reading of them greatly. He was very proud of the
handwriting for one thing, and pleased with the evidence they gave of
his patient and faithful efforts to satisfy his correspondents, both as
to the quantity and the quality o