Campbell, "but I shall see how this year turns out, and if I find that I
am successful, I will then decide."

"Of course, you will but act prudently. You can send down to your agent
at Quebec, and ascertain what would be the probable terms of the men you
might require. But there is another way, which is to give them the land
to cultivate, and the seed, and to receive from them a certain portion
of corn in return, as rent; that is very safe, and your land will be all
gradually brought into cultivation, besides the advantage of having
neighbors about you. You might send one of your sons down to Montreal,
and arrange all that."

"I certainly will write to my agent and institute inquiries," replied
Mr. Campbell, "and many thanks to you for the suggestion; I have still a
few hundred at the bank to dispose of, if necessary."

About three weeks after this conversation, the _bateaux_ arrived with
the engineer and machinery for the flour and saw-mills: and now the
settlement again presented a lively scene, being thronged with the
soldiers who were sent from the fort. The engineer was a very pleasant,
intelligent young Englishman, who had taken up his profession in Canada,
and was considered one of the most able in the colony. The site of the
mill was soon chosen, and now the axes again resounded in the woods, as
the trees were felled and squared under his directions. Alfred was
constantly with the engineer, superintending the labor of the men, and
contracted a great intimacy with him; indeed, that gentleman was soon on
such a footing with the whole family, as to be considered almost as one
of them, for he was very amusing, very well bred, and had evidently
received every advantage of education. Mr. Campbell found that Mr.
Emmerson, for such was his name, could give him every particular
relative to the emigrants who had come out, as he was so constantly
traveling about the country, and was in such constant communication with
them.

"You are very fortunate in your purchase," said he to Mr. Campbell; "the
land is excellent, and you have a good water-power in the stream, as
well as convenient carriage by the lake. Fifty years hence this property
will be worth a large sum of money."

"I want very much to get some more emigrants to settle here," observed
Mr. Campbell. "It would add to our security and comfort; and I have not
sufficient hands to cultivate the land which has been cleared by the
fire of last autumn. If not cultivat