5. By this time we could feel the heat; and we were afraid that our horses would drop down every instant. A singular kind of breeze was passing over our heads, and the glare of the atmosphere shone over the daylight. I was sensible of a slight faint

ness, and my wife looked pale. The heat had pro

duced such a flush in the child's face, that when she turned towards either of us, our grief and perplexity were greatly increased. Ten miles, you know, are soon gone over on swift horses; but, notwithstanding this, when we reached the borders of the lake, covered with sweat and quite exhausted, our hearts failed us.

6. The heat of the smoke was insufferable, and sheets of blazing fire flew over us in a manner beyond belief. We reached the shore, however, coasted the lake for a while, and got round to the lee-side. There we gave up our horses, which we never saw again. Down among the rushes we plunged, by the edge of the water, and laid ourselves flat, to wait the chance of escaping from being burned or devoured. The water refreshed us, and we enjoyed the cool

ness.

7. On went the fire, rushing and crashing through the woods. Such a night may we never again see! The heavens themselves, I thought, were frightened ; for all above us was a red glare, mixed with clouds and smoke, rolling and sweeping away. Our bodies were cool enough, but our heads were scorching; and the child, who now seemed to understand the matter, cried so as nearly to break our hearts.

8. The day passed on, and we became hungry. Many wild beasts came plunging into the water

5

beside us, and others swam across to our side, and stood still. Although faint and weary, I managed to shoot a porcupine, and we all tasted its flesh. The night passed, I cannot tell you how. Smouldering fires covered the ground, and the trees stood like pillars of fire, or fell across each other. The stifling and sickening smoke still rushed over us, and the burned cinders and ashes fell thick about us. How we got through that night I really cannot tell; for about some of it I remember nothing.

9. When morning came, all was calm; but a dismal smoke still filled the air, and the smell seemed worse than ever. What was to become of us I did not know. My wife hugged the child to her breast, and wept bitterly; but God had preserved us through the worst of the danger, and the flames had gone past; so I thought it would be both ungrateful to Him, and unmanly, to despair now. Hunger once more pressed upon us; but this was soon remedied. Several deer were standing in the water, up to the head, and I shot one of them. Some of its flesh was soon roasted, and after eating it, we felt wonderfully strengthened.

10. By this time the blaze of the fire was beyond our sight, although the ground was burning in many places, and it was dangerous to go among the burned trees. After resting a while, we prepared to commence our march. Taking up the child, I led the way over the hot ground and rocks; and after two weary days and nights, during which we shifted in the best manner we could, we at last reached the hard woods, which had been free from the fire. Soon after we came to a house, where we were kindly

treated. Since then, I have worked hard and constantly as a lumberman; and, thanks to God, we are safe, sound, and happy!

1. WE scatter seeds with careless hand,

And dream we ne'er shall see them more;
But for a thousand years

Their fruit appears

In weeds that mar the land,
Or healthful store.

2. The deeds we do, the words we say,
Into still air they seem to fleet;

We count them ever past;

But they shall last-
In the dread judgment they
And we shall meet!

3. I charge thee by the years gone by,
For the love's sake of brethren dear,

Keep thou the one true way,

In work and play,

Lest in that world their cry

Of woe thou hear.

1. TRULY there is a vein for silver,

And a place for gold, which men refine.

2. Iron is obtained from earth,

And stone is melted into copper.

3. Man putteth an end to darkness;

He searcheth to the lowest depths

For the stone of darkness and the shadow of death.

4. From the place where they dwell they open a shaft ;1 Forgotten by the feet,

They hang down, they swing away from men.

5. The earth, out of which cometh bread,
Is torn up underneath, as it were by fire.

6. Her stones are the place of sapphires, And she hath clods of gold for man.

7. The path thereto no bird knoweth,
And the vulture's eye hath not seen it;

8. The fierce wild beast hath not trodden it; The lion hath not passed over it.

9. Man layeth his hand upon the rock;
He upturneth mountains from their roots;

10. He cleaveth out streams in the rocks, And his eye seeth every precious thing;

11. He bindeth up the streams, that they trickle2 not, And bringeth hidden things to light.

12. But where shall wisdom be found?

And where is the place of understanding?

13. Man knoweth not the price thereof,

Nor can it be found in the land of the living.

14. The deep saith, It is not in me;

And the sea saith, It is not with me.

15. It cannot be gotten for gold,

Nor shall silver be weighed out as the price thereof.

16. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, With the precious onyx or the sapphire.

17. Gold and crystal are not to be compared with it; Nor can it be purchased with jewels of fine gold.

18. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; For wisdom is more precious than pearls.

19. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be purchased with pure gold.