s comin', for some will be kept
from the dinner. It's sartinly strange that the orderin' of the Lord
is as it is, for a leetle more hurryin' and a leetle more stayin' on
His part of the things that happen on the 'arth would make mortals a
good deal happier, as I conceit."

Aye, aye, John Norton; a little more hurrying and a little more
staying of things that happen on the earth would make mortals much
happier. The great ship that is to-day a wreck would be sailing the
sea, and the faces that stare ghastly white from its depths would be
rosy with life's happy health. The flowers on her tomb would be twined
in the bride's glossy hair, and the tower that now stands half builded
would go on to its finishing. The dry fountain would still be in play
and the leafless tree would stand green in its beauty and bloom. Who
shall read us the riddle of the ordering in this world? Who shall
read the riddle, O man of whitened head, O woman whose life is but a
memory, who shall read us the Trapper's riddle, I say?

"There comes Wild Bill," exclaimed the Trapper joyfully, "and one
plate will have its eater for sartin." And the old man laughed at the
recollection of his companion's appetite. "Lord-a-massy! that box on
his sled is as big as the ark. I wonder ef he has got a drove of
animils in it."

Had the Trapper known the closeness of his guess as to the contents of
the huge box he would have marveled at his guessing, for there
certainly were animals in the box and of a sort that usually are noisy
enough and sure, at the least provocation, to proclaim their name and
nature.

But every animal, whether wild or domesticated, has its habits, and
many of the noisiest of mouths, when the mood is on them, can be as
dumb as a sphinx, and as Wild Bill came shuffling up on his snowshoes,
with a box of goodly size lashed to his sled, not a sound proceeded
therefrom. It is needless to record that the greeting between the two
men was most hearty. How delightful is the meeting of men of the
woods! Manly are they in life and manly in their greeting.

"What have ye in the box, Bill?" queried the Trapper good-naturedly.
"It's big enough to hold a church bell, and a good part of the steeple
beside."

"It's a Christmas present for you, John Norton," replied Bill
gleefully. "You don't think I would come to your cabin to-day and not
bring a present, do you?"

"Gift or no gift, yer welcome would be the same," answered the
Trapper, "for yer heart an