."

"How, then, are you goin' to git to yer appintments, an' to visit the
sick an' the dyin', from this pint? And you'll never farm it much; the
land looks nice and slick as a gentleman's lawn: this is one of the
Lord's lawns, neighbor; but 'twasn't made for you to live on. Don't
you expect to hev no evenin' meetin's? You can't hev them out here
where there's no live critter but the prairie hins, and maybe in the
winter a stray wolf or two. You're a _perfessional_ man, and it's
necessary for you to be right among folks, and not livin' off one
side, like as if you wanted to keep out the way of company."

This rugged, common-sense way of putting things was quite effective,
and the missionary said,--

"You are right. But what can I do? By this chart I find that there is
little vacant land about here, and I am unable to purchase an improved
farm at the prices at which they are held."

"You don't mean to settle down on _this_--do ye?"

"That is out of the question."

"Well, Joseph Jones isn't of much account, but if he don't show you a
bit of land that's been left for jist sich as you, then I lie like
that lying chart," he said, angrily. And motioning the preacher to
resume his seat in the buggy, the hunter drove back for some distance
in the direction from which they had come, then, striking a well-worn
cart-path to the right, suddenly emerged from a piece of woods near a
river, on the farther bank of which was a saw-mill, and in the stream
were men at work strengthening a dam.

"There," said the hunter, "is the centre of things, so fur as this
vicinity is concerned. That's the store,"--as he pointed across the
river to a small building,--"and a hotel is going up just opposite;
and the land sharks and speculators that's going to settle here will
want jist sich as you right among 'em, to stir up their consciences,
and jog their pure minds by way of remembrance,--as the Book
says,--an' not way off there!" pointing contemptuously over his
shoulder.

"But brother Smith informs me that all the land near to the town is
taken up," said the missionary.

"_Brother_ Smith--who's he? I know _Charles_ Smith; and if you kin
fellowship him, I can't. An' when you come to sift folks down,--as I
foresee sich as you will,--you won't brother him much, unless he
repints--an' I don't say he won't. Now let me introduce you to your
future home, ef you settles in these parts. There, _this_ is the town,
where we now are;" and he placed