; but that can't be helped, I'm an old man, and
what does it matter?"

"It matters a great deal, Malachi," said Mr Campbell; "I wish you would
live with us; you would then be taken care of if you required it, and
not die alone in the wilderness."

"And the Strawberry shall never want friends or a home while we can
offer her one, Malachi," said Mrs Campbell; "let what will happen to
you, she will be welcome to live here and die here, if she will remain."

Malachi made no reply; he was in deep thought, resting his chin upon his
hands which held his rifle before him. Mrs Campbell and the girls were
obliged to leave to prepare the dinner. John had sat down with the
Strawberry and the Indian woman, and was listening to them, for he now
understood the Chippeway tongue. Alfred, Sinclair, and the other
gentlemen of the party, were in conversation near the fire, when they
were requested by Mrs Campbell to retreat to the sitting-room, that the
culinary operations might not be interfered with. Malachi Bone still
continued sitting where he was, in deep thought. Martin, who remained,
said to the Misses Percival in a low voice--

"Well, I really did think that the old man had married the girl, and I
thought it was a pity," continued he, looking towards the Strawberry,
"for she is very young and very handsome for a squaw."

"I think," replied Mary Percival, "she would be considered handsome
everywhere, Martin, squaw or not; her features are very pretty, and then
she has a melancholy smile, which is perfectly beautiful; but now,
Martin, pluck these turkeys, or we shall not have them ready in time."

As soon as the dinner was at the fire, and could be left to the care of
Martin, Mrs Campbell and the Misses Percival went into the
sitting-room. Mr Campbell then read the morning service of the day,
Henry officiating as clerk in the responses. Old Malachi had joined the
party, and was profoundly attentive. As soon as the service was over,
he said--

"All this puts me in mind of days long past, days which appear to me as
a dream, when I was a lad and had a father and a mother, and brothers
and sisters around me; but many summers and many winters have passed
over my head since then."

"You were born in Maine, Malachi, were you not?"

"Yes, ma'am, half-way up the White Mountains. He was a stern old man,
my father; but he was a righteous man. I remember how holy Sunday was
kept in our family; how my mother cleaned us all, an