THE missionary started on his visiting tour among the people of the settlement on Tuesday morning. The first house to which he came indicated a good share of worldly comfort. He met the owner repairing the garden-gate, and accosted him with, “Good morning.” The man looked at him as if hesitating whether or not to reply, and said, “How d’ye do.” The missionary, still undaunted, made some remarks of a commonplace nature, which were answered in monosyllables. As the missionary felt that he had no time to waste, he came at once to the subject of his mission.

[79]“So you’re the fellow getting up Sunday-schools. I thought you were by your looks; but let me tell you at once that ‘you’re barking up the wrong tree here,’ and the sooner you ‘play quits’ the better. I have no time to fool away in talking about such nonsense.”

“But pray tell what objections you can have to teaching the young the Holy Scriptures?” mildly interposed the missionary.

“I just now told you that I had no time to waste in talking to idlers, and I expect you to take the hint,” sharply retorted the unreasonable man.

Finding that there was no chance at present to do anything with him, the missionary bid him “Good-day,” and started. The man replied with a triumphant “Good-bye, sir,” at the same time casting toward him a sneering look.

As the missionary was passing the barn, he met a little girl, to whom he gave a card for herself and another for the family.

[80]On crossing a little stream he met a young lady on horseback; to her he handed a tract, entitled, “Are you Saved?” A slight tremor was visible when she read this; the question demanded an answer. Seeing how the title affected her, he prayed God to bless the words to her salvation.

He did not go far until he came to a place where two roads crossed at right angles; so he sat down a moment to rest and consider which road to take. Whilst sitting, a man with a wagon and a fine span of horses came along. His countenance bespoke a kind heart, and the missionary rose to salute him. He responded with a hearty “Good-day,” and an invitation to take a ride, if the stranger were going his way. The missionary had to confess that he did not know where he was going, and unfolded his object in visiting the settlement.

The man said that he had heard of a Sunday-school being organized at Clear Creek,[81] but he was not up when the meeting was held, and knew but little of the nature of the institution. Still he would be willing to “give the thing a trial,” if it did not cost too much.

“As to the cost,” said the missionary,............