hing but stitch, stitch, all day,
and I am tired of always doing the same thing. What a horrid thing a
Canadian winter Is, and not one-half over yet."

"It is very dull and monotonous, my dear Emma, I admit, and if we had
more variety of employment, we should find it more agreeable, but we
ought to feel grateful that we have a good house over our heads, and
more security than we anticipated."

"Almost too much security, Mary; I begin to feel that I could welcome an
Indian even in his war-paint, just by way of a little change."

"I think you would soon repent of your wish, if it were gratified."

"Very likely, but I can not help wishing it now. When will they come
home? What o'clock is it? I wonder what they'll bring: the old story I
suppose, a buck; I'm sick of venison."

"Indeed, Emma, you are wrong to feel such discontent and weariness."

"Perhaps I am, but I have not walked a hundred yards for nearly one
hundred days, and that will give one the blues, as they call them, and I
do nothing but yawn, yawn, yawn, for want of air and exercise. Uncle
won't let us move out on account of that horrid wolf. I wonder how
Captain Sinclair is getting on at the fort, and whether he is as dull as
we are."

To do Emma justice, it was seldom that she indulged herself in such
lamentations, but the tedium was more than her high flow of spirits
could well bear. Mrs. Campbell made a point of arranging the household,
which gave her occupation, and Mary from natural disposition did not
feel the confinement as much as Emma did; whenever, therefore, she did
show symptoms of restlessness or was tempted to utter a complaint, they
reasoned with and soothed, but never reproached her.

The day after this conversation, Emma, to amuse herself, took a rifle
and went out with Percival. She fired several shots at a mark, and by
degrees acquired some dexterity; gradually she became fond of the
exercise, and not a day passed that she and Percival did not practice
for an hour or two, until at last Emma could fire with great precision.
Practice and a knowledge of the perfect use of your weapon gives
confidence, and this Emma did at last acquire. She challenged Alfred and
Henry to fire at the bull's eye with her, and whether by their gallantry
or her superior dexterity, she was declared victor. Mr. and Mrs.
Campbell smiled when Emma came in and narrated her success, and felt
glad that she had found something which afforded her amusement.

It happe