od cause; you little
know the yearnings of a mother's heart; the very suggestion of such a
hope has thrown me into a state of agitation and nervousness of which
you can form no conception. I have been reconciled to the Divine will;
let me not return to a state of anxiety and repining."

"Do you think, my dear mother, that I would raise such hopes if I had
not good reason to suppose that they would be realized? No, my dear
mother, I am not so cruel."

"Then you know that Percival is alive?" said Mrs. Campbell, seizing
Alfred by the arm.

"Calm yourself, my dear mother, I do know--I am certain that he is
alive, and that it was he who was found by the Indians; and I have great
hopes that we may recover him."

"God grant it! God grant it in his great mercy!" said Mrs. Campbell, "my
heart is almost breaking with joy: may God sustain me! Oh, where is
he--my dear Alfred--where is he?" continued Mrs. Campbell, Alfred made
no reply, but a flood of tears came to her relief.

"I will explain it to you when you are more composed, my dear mother.
Emma, you have not said one word to me."

"I have been too much overjoyed to speak, Alfred," replied Emma,
extending her hand to him, "but no one welcomes your return more
sincerely than I do, and no one is more grateful to you for having
brought Mary back."

"Now, Alfred, I am calm," said Mrs. Campbell, "so let me hear at once
all you know."

"I see you are calm, my dear mother, and I therefore now tell you that
Percival is not far off."

"Alfred! he is here; I am sure he is."

"He is with Malachi and the Strawberry; in a minute I will bring him."

Alfred left the house: the intelligence was almost too overpowering for
Mrs. Campbell. Mary and Emma hastened to her, and supported her. In
another minute Alfred returned with Percival, and the mother embraced
and wept over her long lost child,--and then gave him to his father's
arms.

"How this has happened, and by what merciful interference he has been
preserved and restored to us," said Mr. Campbell, when their first
emotions were over, "we have yet to learn; but one thing we do know, and
are sure of, that it is by the goodness of God alone. Let us return our
thanks while our hearts are yet warm with gratitude and love, and may
our thanksgiving be graciously received."

Mr. Campbell kneeled down, and his example was followed by all the rest
of the party assembled. In a fervent tone he returned thanks for the
recent mercies v