happiness in the world above.  I trust ye be grateful, Lad, for the gift the Lord has gi’n ye; for, though yer tongue knows leetle of speech, yit yer fingers can bring sech sounds out of that fiddle as a man might wish to have in his ears when his body lies stiffenin’ in his cabin, and his sperit is standin’ on the edge of the Great Clearin’.  Yis, Lad, ye must sartinly play for me when my eyes grow dim, and my feet strike the trail that no man strikes but once, nor travels both ways.”

At this point the announcement of supper was made; and the company streamed towards the tables.  The repast was of that bounteous character customary to the houses located in the woods, in which the hearty provisions of the forest were brought into conjunction with and re-enforced by the more light and fanciful cuisine of the cities.  Among the substantiate, fish and venison predominated.  There was venison roast, and venison spitted, and venison broiled; venison steak and venison pie; trout broiled, and baked, and boiled; pancakes and rolls; ices and cream; pies and puddings; pickles and sauces of every conceivable character and make; ducks and partridges; coffee and tea whose nature, I regret to say, was discernible only to the eye of faith.  In the midst of this abundance, the Old Trapper was entirely at home.  He ate with the relish and heartiness of a man whose appetite was of the highest order, and whose courage mounted to the occasion.

[Illustration:  “Even the waiters, as they came and went, caught the infection.”]

“I tell ye, Henry,” said the old man, as he transferred a duck to his plate and proceeded to carve it with the aptness of one who had practical knowledge of its anatomy, “I tell ye, Henry, the birds be gittin’ fat; and I sartinly hope the flight this fall will be a good un.  Don’t be bashful, Lad, in yer eatin’,” he continued, as he transferred half of the bird to his companion’s plate, “ye haven’t got the size of some about the waist, but yer length is in yer favor, and if ye will only straighten up, and Henry don’t gin’ out, there’ll be leetle left on this eend of the table when we have satisfied our hunger.  I don’t know when the cravin’ of natur’ has been stronger within me then it is this minit; and if nothin’ happens, and ye stand by me, the Saranacers will remember our visit for days after we be gone.  It isn’t often that I feed in the settlements, or get a taste of their cookin’, but the man who basted these birds knowed what he was doin’, and the fire has given them jest the right tech; and the morsels actilly melt in yer mouth.”

The Trapper’s feelings were evidently not peculiar to himself.  And the spirit of feasting was abroad.  The eating was such as would astonish the dwellers in cities.  Wit flashed across the table in answer to wit.  Mirth rippled from end to end of the room.  Laughter roared and rollicked adown the hall.  Jokes were cracked.  Fun exploded.  Plates rattled.  Cups and glasses touched and rang.  Even the waiters, as they came and went in their happy service, caught the infection of the surrounding happiness, and their laughter mingled with that of the guests.