t home doing all the drudgery of the house, such as feeding the pigs,
cleaning knives, and other menial work, while his younger brother was
doing the duty of a man. To Percival's repeated entreaties, objections
were constantly raised by his mother; they could not spare him, he was
not accustomed to walk in snow-shoes.

Mr Campbell observed that Percival became dissatisfied and unhappy, and
Alfred took his part and pleaded for him. Alfred observed very truly
that the Strawberry could occasionally do Percival's work, and that if
it could be avoided, he should not be cooped up at home in the way that
he was; and, Mr Campbell agreeing with Alfred, Mrs Campbell very
reluctantly gave her consent to his occasionally going out.

"Why, aunt, have you such an objection to Percival going out with the
hunters?" said Mary. "It must be very trying to him to be always
detained at home."

"I feel the truth of what you say, my dear Mary," said Mrs Campbell,
"and I assure you it is not out of selfishness, or because we shall have
more work to do, that I wish him to remain with us; but I have an
instinctive dread that some accident will happen to him, which I cannot
overcome, and there is no arguing with a mother's fears and a mother's
love."

"You were quite as uneasy, my dear aunt, when John first went out; you
were continually in alarm about him, but now you are perfectly at ease,"
replied Emma.

"Very true," said Mrs Campbell; "it is, perhaps, a weakness on my part
which I ought to get over; but we are all liable to such feelings. I
trust in God there is no real cause for apprehension, and that my
reluctance is a mere weakness and folly. But I see the poor boy has
long pined at being kept at home; for nothing is more irksome to a
high-couraged and spirited boy as he is. I have, therefore, given my
consent, because I think it is my duty; still the feeling remains, so
let us say no more about it, my dear girls, for the subject is painful
to me."

"My dear aunt, did you not say that you would talk to Strawberry on the
subject of religion, and try if you could not persuade her to become a
Christian? She is very serious at prayers, I observe; and appears, now
that she understands English, to be very attentive to what is said."

"Yes, my dear Emma, it is my intention so to do very soon, but I do not
like to be in too great a hurry. A mere conforming to the usages of our
religion would be of little avail, and I fear that too