or not to live alone."

"I am glad to hear you say that, Malachi," said Mr Campbell.

"I little thought that I should ever have said it," replied the old man;
"when I first saw that girl by the side of the stream," (looking at
Emma), "then my heart yearned towards the boy; and now this meeting to
praise God and to keep Christmas-Day--all has helped."

"But do you not pray when you are alone?" said Mary.

"Yes, in a manner, miss; but it's not like your prayers; the lips don't
move, although the heart feels. When I lie under a tree watching for
the animals, and I take up a leaf and examine it, I observe how curious
and wonderful it is, I then think that God made it, and that man could
not. When I see the young grass springing up, and how, I know not,
except that it does so every year, I think of God and His mercy to the
wild animals in giving them food; and then the sun reminds me of God,
and the moon, and the stars, as I watch, make me think of Him; but I
feel very often that there is something wanting, and that I do not
worship exactly as I ought to do. I never have known which is Sunday,
although I well recollected how holy it was kept at my father's house,
and I never should have known that this was Christmas-Day, had it not
been that I had met with you. All days are alike to a man that is alone
and in the wilderness, and that should not be--I feel that it should
not."

"So true is it," observed Mr Campbell, "that stated times and seasons
are necessary for the due observance of our religious duties; and I am
glad to hear Malachi say this, as I trust it will occasion his being
with us more than he has been."

"Come to us every Sunday, Malachi," said Mrs Campbell.

"I think I will, ma'am, if I can--indeed, why I say _if I can_, I know
not; it was wrong to say so."

"I wish you to come not only on your own account, but for John's sake;
suppose you come every Sunday morning, and leave us every Monday. You
will then have the whole week for your hunting."

"Please God, I will," replied Malachi.

"And bring the Strawberry with you," said Mary.

"I will, miss; it cannot but do her good."

Dinner was now announced, and they all sat down; a happy party. Mr
Campbell on this occasion produced two or three bottles of his small
store of wine, which he kept rather in case of illness than for any
other reason, for they had all been so long without wine or spirits,
that they cared little about it. Their dinner con