er seen even a tendency towards a smile. Since
then I have risen in their estimation by improvizing a lamp--Hawaiian
fashion--by putting a wisp of rag into a tin of fat. They have
actually condescended to sit up till the stars come out since. Another
advance was made by means of the shell-pattern quilt I am knitting for
you. There has been a tendency towards approving of it, and a few days
since the girl snatched it out of my hand, saying, "I want this," and
apparently took it to the camp. This has resulted in my having a
knitting class, with the woman, her married daughter, and a woman from
the camp, as pupils. Then I have gained ground with the man by being
able to catch and saddle a horse. I am often reminded of my favorite
couplet,--

Beware of desperate steps; the darkest day,
Live till to-morrow, will have passed away.

But oh! what a hard, narrow life it is with which I am now in contact!
A narrow and unattractive religion, which I believe still to be
genuine, and an intense but narrow patriotism, are the only higher
influences. Chalmers came from Illinois nine years ago, pronounced by
the doctors to be far gone in consumption, and in two years he was
strong. They are a queer family; somewhere in the remote Highlands I
have seen such another. Its head is tall, gaunt, lean, and ragged, and
has lost one eye. On an English road one would think him a starving or
a dangerous beggar. He is slightly intelligent, very opinionated, and
wishes to be thought well informed, which he is not. He belongs to the
straitest sect of Reformed Presbyterians ("Psalm-singers"), but
exaggerates anything of bigotry and intolerance which may characterize
them, and rejoices in truly merciless fashion over the excision of the
philanthropic Mr. Stuart, of Philadelphia, for worshipping with
congregations which sing hymns. His great boast is that his ancestors
were Scottish Covenanters. He considers himself a profound theologian,
and by the pine logs at night discourses to me on the mysteries of the
eternal counsels and the divine decrees. Colorado, with its progress
and its future, is also a constant theme. He hates England with a
bitter, personal hatred, and regards any allusions which I make to the
progress of Victoria as a personal insult. He trusts to live to see
the downfall of the British monarchy and the disintegration of the
empire. He is very fond of talking, and asks me a great deal about my
travels, but if