at he was a true man, with a single eye to
God's service.

"I may possibly settle among you," said his new friend. "Wherever human
beings are collected together, there I find my work."

"Are you a minister then?" asked Donald.

"Are not all Christ's faithful servants His ministers?" asked Mr
Skinner, "called on by Him to make known His great love to perishing
sinners; to tell them the only way by which they can be saved? In that
sense I reply yes to your question. My young friend I desire not to eat
the bread of idleness, nor to take aught from other men's hands."

Donald felt that he ought not to press his question further.

The party ascended the river in a sailing vessel to Montreal, and from
thence Kingston was reached by stage waggons, which conveyed them along
the banks of the river where the navigation was impeded by rapids,
though the greater part of the journey was performed in large boats up
the St Lawrence and through the beautiful lake of the "Thousand
Islands."

"I wish Margaret and David could have a sight of this lovely scenery,"
said Donald to his friend, as they glided by numberless islets in
succession, covered with rich and varied foliage.

"Their steps may some day be directed hither," answered Mr Skinner, who
was even a warmer admirer of the beauties of nature than his young
companion.

At Kingston they embarked on board a large schooner. Next morning, when
Donald came on deck, his surprise was great to find the vessel out of
sight of land. The water was perfectly smooth; a thin mist hung over
it, which probably concealed the nearer northern shore, for as the sun
rose, he could distinguish in that direction a long low line of coast,
fringed with the trees of the primeval forest. Here and there, as they
sailed along, small openings could be perceived, where settlements had
lately been formed, and the giants of the forest had fallen beneath the
woodman's axe.

The voyage terminated at Toronto, till lately called Little York, on the
western shore of the lake, but a long journey had yet to be performed
across the peninsula to the district Mr Todd had undertaken to settle.
Waggons and drays were put in requisition to convey the party and their
goods through the forest, while the leader and his staff, with other
gentlemen, rode on ahead to prepare for their reception. Donald
wondered how vehicles with wheels could make their way amid the stumps
of trees, along the track which then formed