dbud smiled.

"I think we are very happy here," she said; "there cannot be anything
in the Lowlands prettier than the mountains--"

"Oh! I know there is not!" exclaimed Verty, with the enthusiasm of the
true mountaineer.

"Besides," said Redbud, taking advantage of this return to brighter
thoughts, "I don't think learning is so important, Verty. It often
makes us forget simple things, and think we are better than the rest
of the world--"

"Yes," said Verty.

"That is wrong, you know. I think that it would be dearly bought, if
we lost charity by getting it," said the girl, earnestly.

Verty looked thoughtful, and leaning his head on his hand, said:

"I don't know but I prefer the mountains, then. Redbud, I think if I
saw a great deal of you, you would make me good--"

"Oh! I'm afraid--"

"I'd read my Bible, and think about God," Verty said.

"Don't you now, Verty?"

"Yes; I read."

"But don't you think?"

Verty shook his head.

"I can't remember it often," he replied. "I know I ought."

Redbud looked at him with her soft, kind eyes, and said:

"But you pray?"

"Sometimes."

"Not every night?"

"No."

Redbud looked pained;

"Oh! you ought to," she said.

"I know I ought, and I'm going to," said the young man; "the fact is,
Redbud, we have a great deal to be thankful for."

"Oh, indeed we have!" said Redbud; earnestly--"all this beautiful
world: the sunshine, the singing of the birds, the health of our dear
friends and relatives; and everything--"

"Yes, yes," said Verty, "I ought to be thankful more than anybody
else."

"Why?"

"You know I'm an Indian."

Redbud looked dubious.

"At least _ma mere_ is my mother," said Verty; "and if I am not an
Indian, I don't know what I am. You know," he added, "I can't be like
a deer in the woods, that nobody knows anything about."

Redbud smiled; then, after a moment's thought, said:

"I don't think you are an Indian, Verty."

And as she spoke, the young girl absently passed the coral necklace,
we have spoken of, backward and forward between her lips.

Verty pondered.

"I don't know," he said, at last; "but I know it was very good in God
to give me such a kind mother as _ma mere_; and such friends as you
all. I'm afraid I am not good myself."

Redbud passed the necklace through her fingers thoughtfully.

"That is pretty," said Verty, looking at it. "I think I have seen it
somewhere before."

Redbud replied with a smile:

"Yes, I gen