---the Holy Bible.

However, as the winter continued, and the snow depended, shutting them
off from the outside world, and at times interrupting their work, they
sought new activities in which they could exercise themselves
profitably.

The thought was really suggested by Matthew, who was keenly interested
in spiritual things, and who chafed under the monotony of the dreary
Sundays which the children spent alone in the wilderness.

While the river was still open, they had worshiped at Hartford, but now
heavy snow covered the ice that they could reach that settlement
neither by boat nor on their skates.

"Well, what do you suggest that we should do?" Fred asked.

"My idea is that we gather the Indian children on Sundays and instruct
them in the Bible and psalmody."

"That's a fine thought!" Agnes exclaimed; "and I know that we shall
always get enough children to attend."

That same week they invited a number of children through Tom, the
Indian boy, who always stayed with them, and on the following Sunday
several Indian children gathered in the house. Several of them had
brought their mothers, who were glad to have an occasion to hear Agnes
sing and play, and at once the Sunday school was opened. The children
were instructed in Bible stories, Agnes sang many of her fine hymns
which she had crudely translated into the Indian language, and
afterwards the children were treated to such dainties as they had in
the house. The venture proved so successful that after that several
classes were arranged for, which kept the little teachers so busy all
day that they no longer complained of monotony.

The new venture, however, also cemented the friendship with the adult
Indians, and during the whole winter the furs came in from everywhere
so that the supply in the fort increased from week to week.

When finally spring came and the trapping ceased, the children found
themselves richly repaid by their work, and when at last Mr. Rawlins
arrived with a number of pack horses to convey the furs to the Boston
Colony, there were so many of them that more pack horses had to be
secured.

So with grateful hearts Fred locked the door of the trading house,
turned the key over to an old, friendly trapper, who spent his summers
in Hartford, and returned to Massachusetts.

The children as well as John Rawlins were in high spirits, and had it
not been for the heavily loaded pack horses, they would have galloped
all the way to Massach