prayer；　the　mind　of　our　heroine　had　naturally　fallen　into
  its　train　of　lofty　thought；　her　task　had　become　improved
  by　its　study；　and　her　language　elevated　and　enriched　by
  its　phrases。　　When　she　kneeled　at　the　bedside　of　her
  father；　the　very　reverence　of　her　attitude　and　manner　pre…
  pared　the　spectators　for　what　was　to　come；　and　as　her
  affectionate　heart　prompted　her　tongue；　and　memory　came
  in　aid　of　both；　the　petition　and　praises　that　she　offered　up
  were　of　a　character　which　might　have　worthily　led　the
  spirits　of　angels。　　Although　the　words　were　not　slavishly
  borrowed；　the　expressions　partook　of　the　simple　dignity　of
  the　liturgy　to　which　she　had　been　accustomed；　and　was
  probably　as　worthy　of　the　Being　to　whom　they　were　ad…
  dressed　as　they　could　well　be　made　by　human　powers。
  They　produced　their　full　impression　on　the　hearers；　for　it
  is　worthy　of　remark；　that；　notwithstanding　the　pernicious
  effects　of　a　false　taste　when　long　submitted　to；　real　sub…
  limity　and　beauty　are　so　closely　allied　to　nature　that　they
  generally　find　an　echo　in　every　heart。
  But　when　our　heroine　came　to　touch　upon　the　situation
  of　the　dying　man；　she　became　the　most　truly　persuasive；
  for　then　she　was　the　most　truly　zealous　and　natural。　　The
  beauty　of　the　language　was　preserved；　but　it　was　sustained
  by　the　simple　power　of　love；　and　her　words　were　warmed
  by　a　holy　zeal；　that　approached　to　the　grandeur　of　true　elo…
  quence。　　We　might　record　some　of　her　expressions；　but
  doubt　the　propriety　of　subjecting　such　sacred　themes　to　a
  too　familiar　analysis；　and　refrain。
  The　effect　of　this　singular　but　solemn　scene　was　differ…
  ent　on　the　different　individuals　present。　　Dunham　himself
  was　soon　lost　in　the　subject　of　the　prayer；　and　he　felt
  some　such　relief　as　one　who　finds　himself　staggering　on
  the　edge　of　a　precipice；　under　a　burthen　difficult　to　be
  borne；　might　be　supposed　to　experience　when　he　unex…
  pectedly　feels　the　weight　removed；　in　order　to　be　placed　on
  the　shoulders　of　another　better　able　to　sustain　it。　　Cap
  was　surprised；　as　well　as　awed；　though　the　effects　on　his
  mind　were　not　very　deep　or　very　lasting。　　He　wondered　a
  little　at　his　own　sensations；　and　had　his　doubts　whether
  they　were　so　manly　and　heroic　as　they　ought　to　be；　but　he
  was　far　too　sensible　of　the　influence　of　truth；　humility；　re…
  ligious　submission；　and　human　dependency；　to　think　of
  interposing　with　any　of　his　crude　objections。　　Jasper
  knelt　opposite　to　Mabel；　covered　his　face；　and　followed　her
  words；　with　an　earnest　wish　to　aid　her　prayers　with　his
  own；　though　it　may　be　questioned　if　his　thoughts　did　not
  dwell　quite　as　much　on　the　soft；　gentle　accents　of　the　pe…
  titioner　as　on　the　subject　of　her　petition。
  The　effect　on　Pathfinder　was　striking　and　visible：　visi…
  ble；　because　he　stood　erect；　also　opposite　to　Mabel；　and
  the　workings　of　his　countenance；　as　usual；　betrayed　the
  workings　of　the　spirit　within。　　He　leaned　on　his　rifle；　and
  at　moments　the　sinewy　fingers　grasped　the　barrel　with　a
  force　that　seemed　to　compress　the　weapon；　while；　once　or
  twice；　as　Mabel's　language　rose　in　intimate　association
  with　her　thoughts；　he　lifted　his　eyes　to　the　floor　above
  him；　as　if　he　expected　to　find　some　visible　evidence　of　the
  presence　of　the　dread　Being　to　whom　the　words　were　ad…
  dressed。　　Then　again　his　feelings　reverted　to　the　fair　crea…
  ture　who　was　thus　pouring　out　her　spirit；　in　fervent　but
  calm　petitions；　in　behalf　of　a　dying　parent；　for　Mabel's
  cheek　was　no　longer　pallid；　but　was　flushed　with　a　holy
  enthusiasm；　while　her　blue　eyes　were　upturned　in　the
  light；　in　a　way　to　resemble　a　picture　by　Guido。　　At　these
  moments　all　the　honest　and　manly　attachment　of　Path…
  finder　glowed　in　his　ingenuous　features；　and　his　gaze　at
  our　heroine　was　such　as　the　fondest　parent　might　fasten
  on　the　child　of　his　love。
  Sergeant　Dunham　laid　his　hand　feebly　on　the　head　of
  Mabel　as　she　ceased　praying；　and　buried　her　face　in　his
  blanket。
  〃Bless　you；　my　beloved　child！　bless　you！〃　he　rather
  whispered　than　uttered　aloud；　〃this　is　truly　consolation：
  would　that　I　too　could　pray！〃
  〃Father；　you　know　the　Lord's　Prayer；　you　taught　it　to
  me　yourself　while　I　was　yet　an　infant。〃
  The　Sergeant's　face　gleamed　with　a　smile；　for　he　_did_
  remember　to　have　discharged　that　portion　at　least　of　the
  paternal　duty；　and　the　consciousness　of　it　gave　him　incon…
  ceivable　gratification　at　that　solemn　moment。　　He　was
  then　silent　for　several　minutes；　and　all　present　believed
  that　he　was　communing　with　God。
  〃Mabel；　my　child！〃　he　at　length　uttered；　in　a　voice
  which　seemed　to　be　reviving；　　〃Mabel；　I'm　quitting　you。〃
  The　spirit　at　its　great　and　final　passage　appears　ever　to
  consider　the　body　as　nothing。　　〃I'm　quitting　you；　my
  child；　where　is　your　hand？〃
  〃Here；　dearest　father　　here　are　both　　oh；　take　both！〃
  〃Pathfinder；〃　added　the　Sergeant；　feeling　on　the　oppo…
  site　side　of　the　bed；　where　Jasper　still　knelt；　and　getting
  one　of　the　hands　of　the　young　man　by　mistake；　〃take　it
  …　I　leave　you　as　her　father　　as　you　and　she　may　please
  bless　you　　bless　you　both！〃
  At　that　awful　instant；　no　one　would　rudely　apprise　the
  Sergeant　of　his　mistake；　and　he　died　a　minute　or　two
  later；　holding　Jasper's　and　Mabel's　hands　covered　by　both
  his　own。　　Our　heroine　was　ignorant　of　the　fact　until　an
  exclamation　of　Cap's　announced　the　death　of　her　father；
  when；　raising　her　face；　she　saw　the　eyes　of　Jasper　riveted
  on　her　own；　and　felt　the　warm　pressure　of　his　hand。　　But
  a　single　feeling　was　predominant　at　that　instant；　and
  Mabel　withdrew　to　weep；　scarcely　conscious　of　what　had
  occurred。　　The　Pathfinder　took　the　arm　of　Eau…douce；　and
  he　left　the　block。
  The　two　friends　walked　in　silence　past　the　fire；　along
  the　glade；　and　nearly　reached　the　opposite　shore　of　the
  island　in　profound　silence。　　Here　they　stopped；　and　Path…
  finder　spoke。
  〃'Tis　all　over；　Jasper；〃　said　he；　　〃'tis　all　over。　　Ah's　me！
  Poor　Sergeant　Dunham　has　finished　his　march；　and　that；
  too；　by　the　hand　of　a　venomous　Mingo。　　Well；　we　never
  know　what　is　to　happen；　and　his　luck　may　be　yourn　or
  mine　to…morrow　or　next　day！〃
  〃And　Mabel？　　What　is　to　become　of　Mabel；　Pathfinder？〃
  〃You　heard　the　Sergeant's　dying　words；　he　has　left　his
  child　in　my　care；　Jasper；　and　it　is　a　most　solemn　trust；　it
  is；　yes；　　it　is　a　most　solemn　trust。〃
  〃It's　a　trust；　Pathfinder；　of　which　any　man　would　be
  glad　to　relieve　you；〃　returned　the　youth；　with　a　bitter　smile。
  〃I've　often　thought　it　has　fallen　into　wrong　hands。
  I'm　not　consaited；　Jasper；　I'm　not　consaited；　I　do　think
  I'm　not；　but　if　Mabel　Dunham　is　willing　to　overlook　all
  my　imperfections　and　ignorances　like；　I　should　be　wrong
  to　gainsay　it；　on　account　of　any　sartainty　I　may　have　my…
  self　about　my　own　want　of　merit。〃
  〃No　one　will　blame　you；　Pathfinder；　for　marrying　Mabel
  Dunham；　any　more　than　they　will　blame　you　for　wearing
  a　precious　jewel　in　your　bosom　that　a　friend　had　freely
  given　you。〃
  〃Do　you　think　they'll　blame　Mabel；　lad？　　I've　had　my
  misgivings　about　that；　too；　for　all　persons　may　not　be　so
  disposed　to　look　at　me　with　the　same　eyes　as　you　and　the
  Sergeant's　daughter。〃
  Jasper　Eau…douce　started　as　a　man　flinches　at　sudden
  bodily　pain；　but　he　otherwise　maintained　his　self…com…
  mand。　　〃And　mankind　is　envious　and　ill…natured；　more
  particularly　in　and　about　the　garrisons。　　I　sometimes　wish；
  Jasper；　that　Mabel　could　have　taken　a　fancy　to　you；　　I
  do；　and　that　you　had　taken　a　fancy　to　her；　for　it　often
  seems　to　me　that　one　like　you；　after　all；　might　make　her
  happier　than　I　ever　can。〃
  〃We　will　not　talk　about　this；　Pathfinder；〃　interrupted
  Jasper　hoarsely　and　impatiently；　〃you　will　be　Mabel's
  husband；　and　it　is　not　right　to　speak　of　any　one　else　in
  that　character。　　As　for　me；　I　shall　take　Master　Cap's　advice；
  and　try　and　make　a　man　of　myself　by　seeing　what　is　to　be
  done　on　the　salt　water。〃
  〃You；　Jasper　Western！　　you　quit　the　lakes；　the　forests；
  and　the　lines；　and　this；　too；　for　the　towns　and　wasty　ways
  of　the　settlements；　and　a　little　difference　in　the　taste　of
  the　water。　　Haven't　we　the　salt…licks；　if　salt　is　necessary
  to　you？　and　oughtn't　man　to　be　satisfied　with　what　con…
  tents　the　other　creaturs　of　God？　　I　counted　on　you；　Jas…
  per；　I　counted　on　you；　I　did；　and　thought；　now　that　Mabel
  and　I　intend　to　dwell　in　a　cabin　of　our　own；　that　some　day
  you　might　be　tempted　to　choose　a　companion　too；　and
  come　and　settle　in　our　neighborhood。　　There　is　a　beauti…
  ful　spot；　about　fifty　miles　west　of　the　garrison；　that　I　had
  chosen　in　my　mind　for　my　own　place　of　abode；　and　there
  is　an　excellent　harbor　about　ten　leagues　this　side　of　it
  where　you　could　run　in　and　out　with　the　cutter　at　any
  leisure　minute；　and　I'd　even　fancied　you　and　your　wife　in
  possession　of　the　one　place；　and　Mabel　and　I　in　possession
  of　t'other。　　We　should　be　just　a　healthy　hunt　apart；　and
  if　the　Lord　ever　intends　any　of　His　creaturs　to　be　happy
  on　'arth；　none　could　be　happier　than　we　four。〃
  〃You　forget；　my　friend；〃　answered　Jasper；　taking　the
  guide's　hand　and　forcing　a　friendly　smile；　〃that　I　have
  no　fourth　person　to　love　and　cherish；　and　I　much　doubt
  if　I　ever　shall　love　any　other　as　I　love　you　and　Mabel。〃
  〃Thank'e；　boy；　I　thank　you　with　all　my　heart；　but