way hunting for dinner, I would milk the buffaloes,
and boil the cocoa-nuts!"

"Ah, Molly," said Tom, the Coastguardsman, stroking his bushy beard,
"the same idea has been running in my head, as well as in Dick's, ever
since we got that letter from Jim, telling us of the beauty of his new
home, and urging us all to emigrate. I've more than half a mind to join
him out there, if you and the old folk will consent to go."

"You're not serious, are you, Tom?" asked Harry, the fireman, laying
down his knife and fork.

"Indeed I am."

"Well, you might do worse. I would join you myself, if there were only
houses enough to insure a fire or two every month."

"Why, man," said Fred Harper, "in these lands the whole forest goes on
fire sometimes--surely that would suffice to keep your spirits up and
your heart warm."

"Let's have a look at Jim's last epistle, mother," said Dick, when the
feast was nearly over, and fragrant coffee smoked upon the board, (for
you know the Thorogood Family were total abstainers), "and let Fred read
it aloud. He's by far the best reader amongst us."

"Well, that's not sayin' much for him," remarked the fireman, with a sly
glance at his sister.

"Your lamp is not as powerful as it might be, mother," said Fred,
drawing his chair nearer to that of the fair invalid, as he unfolded the
letter. "Turn your eyes this way, Molly,--there, keep 'em steady on the
page; I can see _now_!"

"Eagle's Nest, Rocky Mountain Slopes, 5th October 18---," began Fred.
"Darling Mother,--You've no idea what a charming place God has given me
here, with plenty of work to do of the most congenial kind. I have only
an opportunity for a short letter this time, because the postboy has
arrived unexpectedly, and won't wait. Postboy! You would smile at that
word if you saw him. He's a six-foot man in leather, with a big beard,
and a rifle and tomahawk. He was attacked by Indians on the way over
the mountains, but escaped, and he attacked a grizzly bear afterwards
which didn't escape--but I must not waste time on _him_, Well, I must
devote all my letter this post to urging you to come out. This is a
splendid country for big, strong, hearty, willing men like father and my
brothers. Of course it is no better than other countries--rather
worse--for weak men, either in mind or body. Idlers go to the wall here
as elsewhere; but for men willing and able to work--ready to turn their
hands to anything--it is a splendid ope