u a book," said Clarice, "which will tell you all
about it."

She went to the waggon, and brought out a small Bible.

"There! If you will read that, and do what it tells, you will become
wise and happy."

"Well, my dear, I will accept your book, and do as you advise me. I once
knew something about the Bible, before I left home, years and years ago;
but I have not looked into one since."

Without opening the book, the stranger placed it in his breast-pocket;
then, after exchanging a few words with my father, who promised to
follow his advice, he left the camp and rejoined his companions.

My father, being unable to ride without difficulty, had himself placed
in the waggon by the side of Clarice; and the animals being put to, we
once more moved on to the westward, while we saw our late visitors take
an easterly course.

My father, however, made but slow progress towards recovery; his wound
was more serious than he had supposed, and it was too clear that he was
in a very unfit state to undergo the fatigue of a journey.

We at length reached Fort Kearney, on the Platte River, where we met
with a kind reception from the officers of the garrison, while my father
received that attention from the surgeon he so much required. The rest
of our party were unwilling to delay longer than was necessary; but the
surgeon assured my father that he would risk his life should he
continue, in the state in which he then was, to prosecute his journey.
Very unwillingly, therefore, he consented to remain,--for our sakes more
than his own,--while our late companions proceeded towards their
destination. We here remained several months, of course at great
expense, as both our men and animals had to be fed, although we
ourselves were entertained without cost by our hospitable hosts.

At last another emigrant train halted at the post, and my father,
unwilling longer to trespass on the kindness of his entertainers,
insisted on continuing his journey with them. The surgeon warned him
that he would do so at great risk; observing that should the wound,
which was scarcely healed, break out again, it would prove a serious
matter. Still, his desire to be actively engaged in forming the new
settlement prevailed over all other considerations, and on a fatal day
he started, in company with about a dozen other waggons. The owners, who
were rough farmers, took very little interest either in my poor father
or in us.

We had been travelling for about t