ly cattle had broken into
the enclosure a number of times; and a contrary sow, with her lively
family of eleven, had also made sundry plundering raids, causing the
minister considerable trouble in driving and keeping out the
intruders; but he had already a fine supply of seasoned oak rails
under way for perfecting the fences; and he cheerily said to his
wife,--

"Another year, and I'll defy the unruliest animals in the settlement
to steal an ear of corn or a potato from my lot."

Summer had now faded into late autumn, and one day the farmer, who had
charge of the field, called at Mr. Payson's, looking very dejected.

"Elder," said he, "our farming this year is going to be losing
business."

"Why, what's the matter?" asked the clergyman.

"You see," he replied, "most of the settlers, like myself, came from a
warmer climate than this. We were told also that the growing season
was as long here as there, and brought our choicest seed with us. But
there is not time for it to ripen; and our corn will not do to grind,
nor will it keep, it is so green. It is a great disappointment to me;
but most of the neighbors are in the same situation."

Words cannot describe what sad tidings these were to the missionary.

"The wheat is good--is it not?" he inquired.

"Yes; but you know there was little sown, as the ground was best
adapted to corn."

So it turned out that more was realized from the half acre cultivated
by the missionary, notwithstanding the old farmer laughed at his city
style of doing things, than from the nine and a half acres besides.
And the year of plenty had to be deferred for another twelvemonth.

That eighty acres!--how much comfort the missionary and his wife took
in the thought that it was, or rather soon would be, theirs! How many
times they admired its pleasant, rolling aspect, and weighed its
prospective value! And the pretty grove near the cabin, with its
straight-growing trees--what cosy walks they had with the children in
its leafy shade! What enjoyment in noting the progress made in
clearing out the underbrush and trimming the trees of superfluous
branches!

"If the place was only paid for," said the husband one day, "I should
be glad. Let me see. Eighty acres, at one dollar and twenty-five cents
an acre,--the government price,--would be one hundred dollars. I think
I'll act upon Mr. Jones's suggestion, and sell some of the timber
across the river, and pre-empt immediately. I have been offered