y's will in taking away her child, if it
would but please Him to spare the two others who were afflicted. Long
and tedious were the hours, the days, and the weeks that passed away
before either of them could be considered in a state of convalescence;
but when her prayers were heard, and, as the winter closed, their
recovery was no longer doubtful. A melancholy winter it had been to them
all, but the joy of once more seeing Emma resume her duties, and Alfred,
supported on cushions, able to be moved into the sitting-room, had a
very exhilarating effect upon their spirits. True, there was no longer
the mirth and merriment that once reigned, but there was a subdued
gratitude to Heaven, which, if it did not make them at once cheerful, at
least prevented any thing like repining or complaint. Grateful for the
mercies vouchsafed to them, in having Alfred and Emma spared to them,
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell consoled themselves in reference to Percival, with
the reflection that, at so early an age, before he had lived to be
corrupted by the world, to die was gain,--and that their dear boy had
become, through Divine grace, an inhabitant of the kingdom of Heaven. By
degrees the family became cheerful and happy; the merry laugh of Emma
once more enlivened them, Alfred again recovered his former health and
spirits, and Mrs. Campbell could bear the mention of the name of
Percival, and join in the praises of the amiable child.

The spring now came on, the snow gradually disappeared, the ice was
carried down the rapids, and once more left the blue lake clear; the
cattle were turned out to feed off the grass the year before left on the
prairie, and all the men were busy in preparing to put in the seed. As
soon as the snow was gone, Malachi, Martin and Alfred, without saying a
word to Mrs. Campbell, had gone into the forest, and made search for the
body of poor Percival, but without success, and it was considered that
he had wandered and died on some spot which they could not discover, or
that the wolves had dug his remains out of the snow, and devoured them.
Not a trace of him could any where be discovered; and the search was,
after a few days, discontinued. The return of the spring had another
good effect upon the spirits of the party; for, with the spring came on
such a variety of work to be done, that they had not a moment to spare.
They had now so many acres for corn, that they had scarcely time to get
through all the preparatory work, and