ndly,
and when they brought furs, they were paid the highest prices possible.
In addition, Fred doled out to them little sacks of tobacco, while Agnes
usually won over the women and children by some sweets of sugar or
fruit.

Thus it happened that when winter came, the trading post became a center
of much activity. Furs came in aplenty, which were stored away first in
the log house, and then were taken to Hartford, where they were secured
in the fort, in which they were safe against a possible attack by the
Indians.

That winter John Rawlins did not come, for no sooner had Mr. Bradley
returned when he took sick, and was confined to his bed for many months
with a lingering illness.

The children heard of this through messengers at Hartford, which, in
view of impending troubles, kept in close contact with the stronger
colonies in Massachusetts. Though they longed to see their
foster-father, yet they realized that their presence in Connecticut was
absolutely necessary, and they knew that they could serve his interest
best by staying where they were and doing their duty.

However, they did more. One evening when the work was done and they
were gathered around the table, Agnes said, "We have forgotten one
important duty."

"And what is that?" asked Fred who in all things was most conscientious.

"We have not included Mr. Bradley in our prayers," the girl replied.
"Let us do so right away."

This they did at once, and from that time on they never omitted the holy
work of praying for their foster-parents, whom they loved dearly and to
whom they were sincerely grateful, as they had bestowed upon them so
many and great kindnesses.

Of course, not a day passed on which they did not study the Bible. In
those early times attention was not drawn away from the spiritual values
by all kinds of worldly interests. There were no daily papers, no trashy
books, and at the trading post, where the three children lived, they did
not come in contact with men whose influence was bad. The work was
hard; traps had to be set and examined; the furs had to be cured and
prepared for trade; the Indian trappers who were in the employment of
the post, had to be superintended; supplies had to be bought at the
fort, and so the children were kept incessantly busy. When the
evenings came, the children were glad to be alone, and to find comfort
and strength for their daily tasks in that book, which was found in
almost every settler's home,