e mill,
offering me the sum necessary for the purpose. He would advance the
money, and I might repay him as I received my pay. That, he said, would
be a provision for me, and eventually an independence."

"I told you that you would be a miller," replied Emma, laughing. "Poor
Alfred!"

"Well, what did you reply, Alfred?" said Mary.

"I said yes, I believe, because I did not like to say no."

"You did perfectly right, Alfred," replied Mary. "There can be no harm
in your having the property, and had you refused it, it would have given
pain to your father. If your money is laid out on the mill, my uncle
will have more to expend upon the farm; but still it does not follow
that you are to become a miller all your life."

"I should hope not," replied Alfred; "as soon as Emma meets with that
long black gentleman we were talking of, I'll make it over to her as a
marriage portion."

"Thank you, cousin," replied Emma, "I may put you in mind of your
promise; but now Mary and I must go in and astonish the soldiers with
our music; so good-by, Mr. Campbell, the miller."

The soldiers had now been at work for more than two months, a large
portion of the wood had been felled and cleared away. With what had been
cleared by Alfred and Martin and Henry the year before, they had now
more than forty acres of corn land. The rails for the snake-fence had
also been split, and the fence was almost complete round the whole of
the prairie and cleared land, when it was time for the grass to be cut
down and the hay made and gathered up. This had scarcely been finished
when the corn was ready for the sickle and gathered; in a barn had been
raised close to the sheep-fold as well as the lodge for Malachi, Martin,
and his wife. For six weeks all was bustle and hard work, but the
weather was fine, and every thing was got in safe. The services of the
soldiers were now no longer required, and Mr. Campbell having settled
his accounts, they returned to the fort.

"Who would think," said Henry to Alfred, as he cast his eyes over the
buildings, the stacks of corn and hay, and the prairie stocked with
cattle, "that we had only been here so short a time?"

"Many hands make light work," replied Alfred; "we have done with the
help from the fort what it would have taken us six years to do with our
own resources. My father's money has been well laid out, and will bring
in good return."

"You have heard of the proposal of Colonel Forster, about the cattle