could not do
otherwise than answer in the affirmative. It was, indeed, a lovely
spot. The open glade, with the golden sun streaming down upon its green
herbage, and vivid flowers--the varied tints of the forest frondage, now
dressed in the brilliant lively of autumn--the cliffs beyond,
contrasting with it in colour from their lining of dark-green cedars and
pines--and, higher still, the snow-white summit, as it towered against
the blue sky, sparkling under the sun, and lending a delicious coolness
to the air--all these objects formed a panorama that was indeed lovely
to look upon. And there were sweet sounds falling upon the ear--the
murmur of distant waters--the light rustling of leaves, stirred by a
soft breeze that blew past laden with the aromatic odours of buds and
flowers--the music of birds that sang to each other in the groves, or
uttered their joyous calls as they flapped their bright wings over the
open glade.

"`Yes, Mary,' I replied, `it is indeed a lovely spot.'

"`Then, Robert,' said she, with a look of strange meaning, `why should
we be so anxious to leave it?'

"`Why?' I repeated mechanically after her, wondering at the question.

"`Yes, why?' continued my wife. `We are in search of a home--why not
make _this_ our home? Where can we find a better? How know we that in
that land whither we were going, we may find one so good--if, indeed,
they give us a home at all?'

"`But, dear Mary,' said I, `how could you live away from the world--you
who have been brought up in the midst of society and its refinements?'

"`The world!' replied she, `what care we for the world? Have we not our
children with us? They will be our world, and we can be society enough
for each other. Moreover,' continued she, `remember how little we have
in that world,--remember how it has used us so far. Have we been happy
in it? No, I have enjoyed more happiness here than I ever did in the
midst of that society, of which you speak. Think, Robert! reflect
before we rashly leave this lovely spot--this sweet home--into which I
can almost believe the hand of God has guided us.'

"`But, Mary, you have not thought of the difficulties, the hardships to
which such a life may expose you.'

"`I have,' she replied. `I have thought of all these while you were
absent. I can see no difficulty in our procuring a subsistence here.
The Creator has bountifully stocked this singular oasis. We may easily
obtain all the necessaries of