A VISIT TO THE NEW MISSION.



ver, and Meek was ordered upon this duty. Here he
found that Wilkes had purchased a small vessel which he
naied the Oregon, with which he was about to leave the
country. As there was no further use for his services our
quondam trapper was again thrown out of employment.
In this exigency, finding it necessary to make some pro-
vision for the winter, he became a gleaner of wheat in the
fields of his more provident neighbors, by which means a
sufficient supply was secured to keep himself and his small
family in food until another spring.
  When winter set in, Meek paid a visit to the new mis-
sion. He had been there once before, in the spring, to
buy an axe. Think, 0 reader, of traveling fifty or more
miles, on horseback, or in a small boat, to procure so sim-
ple and necessary an article of civilized life as an axe!
But none of the every-day conveniencies of living grow
spontaneously in the wilderness-more' s the pity:-else
life in the wilderness would be thought more delightful
far than life in the most luxurious of cities; inasmuch as
Nature is more satisfying than art.
  Meek's errand to the mission on this occasion was to
find whether he could get a cow, and credit at the same
time: for the prospect of living for another winter on
boiled wheat was not a cheerful one. He had not suc-
ceeded, and was returning, when at Champoeg he met
a Mr. Whitcom, superintendent of the mission farm. A
conversation took place wherein Meek's desire for a cow
became known. The missionaries never lost an opportu-
nity of proposing prayers, and Mr. Whitcom thought this
a good one. After showing much interest in the condi-
tion of Meek's soul, it was proposed that he should pray.
   "I can't pray: that's your business, not mine," said
Meek pleasantly.



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