The ways of Divine Providence are past the investigations of human reason.  How often, in turning over the pages of history, do we find civilization, the arts, moral improvement, nay, Christianity itself, following the bloody train left by the conqueror’s car, and good pouring in upon a nation by avenues that at first were teeming only with the approaches of seeming evils!  In this way, there is now reason to hope that America is about to pay the debt she owes to Africa; and in this way will the invasion of the forests, and prairies and “openings,” of the red man be made to atone for itself by carrying with it the blessings of the Gospel, and a juster view of the relations which man bears to his Creator.  Possibly Mexico may derive lasting benefits from the hard lesson that she has so recently been made to endure.

This, then, was Peter, changed into a civilized man and a Christian!  I have found, subsequently, that glimmerings of the former being existed in his character; but they showed themselves only at long intervals, and under very peculiar circumstances.  The study of these traits became a subject of great interest with us, for we now travelled in company the rest of our journey.  The elder lady, or “grandma,” was the Margery of our tale; still handsome, spirited, and kind.  The younger matron was her daughter and only child, and “sis,” another Margery, and Dorothy, were her grandchildren.  There was also a son, or a grandson rather, Ben, who was on Prairie Round, “with the general.”  The “general” was our old friend, le Bourdon, who was still as often called “General Bourdon,” as “General Boden.”  This matter of “generals” at the West is a little overdone, as all ranks and titles are somewhat apt to be in new countries.  It causes one often to smile, at the East; and no wonder that an Eastern habit should go down in all its glory, beneath the “setting sun.”  In after-days, generals will not be quite as “plenty as blackberries.”

No sooner did Mrs. Boden, or Margery, to use her familiar name, learn that we were the very individual to whom the “general” had sent the notes relative to his early adventures, which had been prepared by the “Rev. Mr. Varse,” of Kalamazoo, than she became as friendly and communicative as we could possibly desire.

Her own life had been prosperous, and her marriage happy.  Her brother, however, had fallen back into his old habits, and died ere the war of 1812 was ended.  Dorothy had returned to her friends in Massachusetts, and was still living, in a comfortable condition, owing to a legacy from an uncle.  The bee-hunter had taken the field in that war, and had seen some sharp fighting on the banks of the Niagara.  No sooner was peace made, however, than he returned to his beloved Openings, where he had remained, “growing with the country,” as it is termed, until he was now what is deemed a rich man in Michigan.  He has a plenty of land, and that which is good; a respectable dwelling, and is out of debt.  He meets