future. And they ring loud and clear, and they will ring forever, for
they are swung by the angels of God. And they tell of a new life, a
new chance, and a new opportunity for us all.

* * * * *

Morning dawned. The day verified the Trapper's prophecy, for it came
with storm. The mountain back of the cabin roared as if aerial surf
was breaking against it. The air was thick with snow that streamed,
whirled, and eddied through it dry and light as feathers of down.

"Never mind the storm, Bill," said the Trapper cheerily, as he pushed
the door open in the gray dawn and looked out into the maze of
whirling, rushing snowflakes. "A few may be hindered, and one or two
fetch through a leetle late, but there'll be an 'arnest movement of
teeth when the hour for eatin' comes and the plates be well filled."

Dinner was called prompt to the hour, and again was the old man's
prediction realized. The table lacked not guests, for nearly every
chair was occupied. Twenty men had breasted the storm that they might
be at that dinner, and some had traversed a thirty mile trail that
they might honor the old man and share his generous cheer. It was a
remarkable and, perhaps we may say, a motley company that the Trapper
looked upon as he took his place, knife and fork in hand, at the head
of the table, with a hound on either side of his great chair, to
perform the duty of host and chief carver.

"Friends," said the Trapper, standing erect in his place and looking
cheerfully at the row of bearded and expectant faces on either hand in
front of him, "friends, I axed ye to come and eat this Christmas
dinner with me because I love the companionship of the woods and
hated, on this day of human feastin' and gladness, to eat my food
alone. I also conceited that some of ye felt as I did, and that the
day would be happier ef we spent it together. I knew, furdermore, that
some of ye were not born in the woods, but were newcomers, driven here
as a canoe to a beach in a gale, and that the day might be long and
lonesome to ye ef ye had to stay in yer cabins from mornin' till night
alone by yerselves. And I also conceited that here and there might be
a man who had been onfortunit in his trappin' or his venturs in the
settlements, and might act'ally be in need of food and garments, or it
may be he had acted wickedly at times, and had lost confidence in his
own goodness and the goodness of others, and I said I will make the