There was much merriment at this recital, which was increased by a portly Englishman behind her saying, in a jolly way,-- "Hi feel as if hi could happreciate that story, mem!" "But how do you think you'll like living west?" asked the motherly woman. "It seems to me that the likes of you won't know how to put up with our rough ways." "O," replied the clergyman's wife, with an enthusiasm which showed what manner of spirit she was of, "I did not come out here for enjoyment, but to cheer and help my husband in laboring for Christ." "Well," answered the other, wiping a tear from her eye, "the land knows we need such folks among us; and if we don't have things as nice as you do your way, I hope you'll find us westerners ready to do what we can for the good cause. Most of us have seen better times, and have known what it was to go to meeting every Sunday, and do our mite towards supporting preaching, and we are willing to do it again." "See, mother," exclaimed little Helen,--a bright, wide-awake miss of six years,--"what a large garden!" The team had passed the irregular ridges of the bluffs extending inland from the Mississippi, and had attained the summit of a gentle swell of land commanding an extensive prairie view, and the whole landscape was bedecked with flowers of every hue and shape. The child's wondering eyes danced with delight, and she said,-- "Mother, isn't the man who owns this great garden very rich?" "This don't belong to any one man, my dear," replied her mother, smiling; "it is one of _God's_ gardens. He planted all these flowers, and made them grow without anybody's help. All these are wild flowers." "O," exclaimed the child, "how good he is!--isn't he, mother? Has God such a garden where our new home is?" "I expect he has," she answered; "for out here, my child, it's almost all garden. You might ride thousands of miles, and not see a stone, or any sand--nothing but the green grass and the sweet blooming flowers." "O," cried Blue-eye, clapping her hands, "I'm so glad we've come west!--aren't you, mother?" The passengers were delighted with the prattle of the dear girl, and the matronly lady who had her in charge could not forbear giving her a kiss, and said,-- "I hope you will meet with nothing more unpleasant than prairie flowers." But just then the child's bright eyes caught sight of a settler pursuing his lonely way with his gun on his shoulder, his tall figure standing in bold relief against the sky, although he was several miles in the distance, and she asked,-- "Mamma, is that a wild man?" And, later, seeing a cow grazing, she inquired, "Is that a wild cow?" The next night, about sundown, Mr. Sawyer deposited the missionary's family at Mr. Lincoln's snug western cottage. "Well," said Mrs. Lincoln, laughing, as she took her guest's things, "you've stolen a march on your husband this time." "Isn't he here?" asked Mrs. Payson, with a disappointed air.