Bright jewels of the mine?
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?
They sought a faith's pure shrine.
Aye--call it holy ground
The soil where first they trod!
They have left unstain'd what there they found—
Freedom to worship God!'




CHIAPTER II.

'In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, In distresses… As
having nothing, and yet possessing all things.'--2 COR. vi, 4, 10.

'Is it not much that I may worship Him,
With naught my spirit's breathings to control,
And feel His presence in the vast, and dim,
And whispering woods, where dying thunders roll
From the far cat'racts?' HEMANS.

With some anxiety the settlers saw the exploring party set out on their
hazardous enterprise. The season was far advanced, and drifting
snowstorms gave warning of the inclement winter that was rapidly
setting in. Still it was deemed necessary to make some investigation
into the nature of the country, and to endeavor to obtain, if possible,
a supply of provisions before the increasing severity of the weather
should render it impracticable to do so. But, above all, it was
desirable to ascertain what native tribes dwelt in the vicinity of the