we will hope for the best; we
are as much under his protection here in the wilderness, as we were at
Wexton Park; we were just as liable to all the ills which flesh is heir
to when we were living in opulence and luxury as we are now in this
log-house; but we are, I thank God, not so liable in our present
position to forget Him, who so bountifully provides for us and in His
wisdom ordereth all our ways. Most truly has the poet said--

"'Sweet are the uses of adversity!'"

"Well," observed Emma, after a pause, as if to give a more lively turn
to the conversation. "I wonder what _my_ trials are to be! Depend upon
it, the cow will kick down the pail, or the butter won't come!"

"Or you'll get chapped fingers in the winter-time, and chilblains on
your feet," continued Mary.

"That will be bad; but Captain Sinclair says that if we don't take care
we shall be frost-bitten and lose the tips of our noses."

"That would be hard upon you, Emma, for you've none to spare," said
Alfred.

"Well, you have, Alfred, so yours ought to go first."

"We must look after one another's noses, they say, as we can not tell if
our own is in danger; and if we see a white spot upon another's nose, we
must take a bit of snow and rub it well; a little delicate attention
peculiar to this climate."

"I can not say that I do not know what my trials are to be," said
Alfred--"that is, trials certain; nor can Henry either. When I look at
the enormous trunks of these trees, which we have to cut down with our
axes, I feel positive that it will be a hard trial before we master
them. Don't you think so, Harry?"

"I have made up my mind to have at least two new skins upon my hands
before the winter comes on," replied Henry; "but felling timber was not
a part of my university education--"

"No," replied Alfred; "Oxford don't teach that; now, my university
education--"

"Your university education!" cried Emma.

"Yes, mine; I have sailed all over the universe, and that I call a
university education; but here come Martin and John. Why, John has got a
gun on his shoulder! He must have taken it with him when he last
disappeared."

"I suppose that by this time he knows how to use it, Alfred," said Mrs.
Campbell.

"Yes, ma'am," replied Martin, who had entered; "he knows well how to use
and how to take care of it and take care of himself. I let him bring it
home on purpose to watch him. He has fired and loaded twice as we came
back, a