If Any Man Sin

oks supplied him by the natives, Martin succeeded in catching a number of fine salmon in the lake, and these formed excellent food. He looked forward also to the hunting o

ong the shore of the lake. The child thoroughly enjoyed these rambles, and many were the

osition would be a sorry one. Such lodges as the Indians used would be unbearable to them when frost sealed the streams and storms swept howling over the land. He accordingly searched

ed with a will such as he had not known for years. He had to ask no one for the use of the land, and the trees were standing ready for him to cut. As he cleared the ground upon a gentle elevation several rods back from the river, he would stand at times and look out over the lake. The thrill of ownership possesse

ld himself, but it must be as cosy as his hands could make it. There were to be t

building. This was a work of considerable importance, and occupied him for several weeks. The stones had to be broken, shaped, and then laid carefully together wit

laid one upon another, and fitted closely together. Then came the roof, composed of long poles, covered with mud and turf. Moss was used for the chinking

marvellous contrivance when finished, and Martin was quite proud of his handiwork. He had no glass for windows, and so was forced to use the skins of mountain-sheep, with the hair removed and scraped very thin. These, stretched across the openings, let in consi

as he might, he could not forget her, although the remembrance always brought a bitter pang to his heart of what he had forever lost. Often he would lie awake at night thinking of the days when they were so much together. At times he had an almost irresistible longing to see her again. This, however, he was forced to banish, as he well knew that such a thing was impossible. While busy at

A fierce wind was howling over the land, swaying the trees and ruffling the sur

ing her hands with glee and then s

g with interest the bright sparkle of her eyes,

his knee, and laid her head against his shoulder. "When

You must stay with me for a while. But tell me

d she gave a queer little chuckle. "My daddy was big and so strong that he could carry me everywhere. He played with me, too, and we

tories, Nance?

old me about Alice in Wonderland. Do you know that? It

she would never see her dear parents on earth again? Would it not be as well for her to know the whole truth

I am your daddy, and that your mamm

d I'll call you 'daddy,' and we'll talk to m

ne similar to this. It had all been so real: an open fire, a child on his kn

the name. "Are you slee

wh

drew in her breath,

was just thinking,

, or mamma will be cross, won't you, mamma?"

you want

and mamma and

ce! What kind of a

ers, and birds, and people-a s

e fire dancing merrily before him. It was a fairy-st

ddy," Nanc

e, I will. I'm

," was the imperio

egan, "there was a little bo

tled her head back comfortably against

a big dog, too, and they were always so happy together. Then the boy grew to be a man, and he had a garden all his own. He had many trees and beautiful flowers to look after,

talk?" Nance asked in ama

alk, and understood everyth

s a gar

who was once

." Sle

e the gardener hurt

awake now. "Wasn't he b

own, so it could ne

O

he did, and he had to lea

e demanded as

orget all about his garden. Then in a strange place he s

an flowe

t he had done, and he was afraid. So he ran away again, far off into a land of wilderness. H

have been bad or he wouldn't

ittle flower. She had fallen into the water, but some kind people saw her and saved her. The gardener took this lovely flowe

her name

called her '

came low and sleep

th such care, and wrapped her well up in the blanket he had obtained from an Indian. He stood for a while watching her by the flickering light of the fire. He then picked up his violin and, seating himself, began to play soft and