"And they are loving and cherishing my Lily?"
"Yes," I replied; "and there is no being an earth I love so well."
For some minutes the hunter was silent, but I saw that he was much
agitated. At length he asked, in a low voice, "Have you ever heard your
uncle or mother speak of a brother, who came over to America with them?"
"Yes!" I answered, "I was named after him. They both cherish his
memory, and I know that Uncle Denis much blames himself for his conduct
towards him, and would give all he possesses to see him again."
"Are you speaking the truth?" asked the hunter.
"Indeed I am, why should I do otherwise?" I answered, a suspicion
rising in my mind of who he was. "Are you my Uncle Michael?" I asked,
looking in his face. "I am nearly certain that you are, and if so, I am
confident that my father and mother will rejoice if you will return to
them, and Lily too; she must be your daughter."
In spite of my anxiety to get well, the winter snows had melted, and the
trees were once more budding before my long-lost uncle and I were able
to set forward on our journey. By means of Kluko he had taken care to
let my family know of my progress towards recovery, but strange as it
may appear, he had not informed them who he was, being anxious to do so,
I suspect, personally. Kluko had also taken charge of his bales of
skins and peltries; and the wigwam which had so long served as our abode
was left for the benefit of any person who might choose to take
possession of it.
The hunter, for so I will still call him, was unusually nervous as we
approached "Smiling Valley." We were nearly in sight of the farm, when
we saw my father approaching. I threw myself from my horse and after
our first greetings were over, I introduced the hunter, as he had
desired me to do, as the person who had been the means of saving my
life.
"Now go forward, Mike," he said, for so he had taken to call me; "your
friends at home will be longing to see you. I will follow with your
father."
I bounded on, and was soon receiving the joyous welcomings of the loved
ones from whom I had been so long parted, while the Dominie almost wrung
my hand off, as he congratulated me on my return. Uncle Denis had been
absent shooting, but he at that moment came in. I was burning to tell
them who the stranger was, but having been forbidden to do so, I
restrained myself. In a short time, however, my father and his
companion arrived. Uncle Denis gazed at the latter for a few seconds.
"Michael!" he exclaimed, and the two brothers rushed in each other's
arms.
Kathleen and Lily were standing by. Uncle Michael turned from his
brother, and gazed at Lily: he advanced towards her.
"I am not mistaken!" he said; "come to my arms, my child; I thought you
lost with your poor mother, or I should have searched the world over for
you. Do not be alarmed, I will not take you from those who have
cherished you so lovingly."
Lily returned her new-found father's embrace, but it was some time
before she could recover from her astonishment, which was still further
increased on finding that he was our Uncle Michael of whom she had so
often heard. My father now took him in to see my mother, who was not
yet well enough to come out of doors. Dio quickly made his appearance,
and showed his joy at my return by bursting into tears as he exclaimed--
"Dis nigger just 'bout de happiest man in de 'ole world."
I did not fail to inform my father of the coolness and bravery the black
had displayed in overcoming his desire to remain with me, and making his
way to the fort for the sake of bringing assistance to my mother.
It was not the last time that Dio rendered us essential service, as he
ever remained faithfully attached to my father and family.
My two uncles were not only reconciled, but became as affectionate as
brothers should be, and before long set off for the settlements, from
whence they returned with two suitable wives, who proved admirable
helpmates to them, and kind aunts to us.
Lily ere long became my wife, by which time, thanks to my father's
assistance, I had a house and farm of my own.
The Dominie, to our great surprise, soon after the arrival of Uncle
Michael took his departure.
"You'll see me again," he said, with a knowing smile: and so we did, but
he did not come back alone; he was accompanied by a curious specimen of
woman-kind, at least so we thought her at first, but she proved of
sterling worth, and made the Dominie an excellent wife and became the
mother of several sturdy sons and daughters.
Other settlers pitched their tents in the neighbourhood of Smiling
Valley, and at length a large and flourishing community was gathered
round us, well able to resist any attack which hostile Indians might
have made on the settlement. Most of the tribes in the vicinity
however, had long before buried the war-hatchet, and we and they dwelt
at peace. Years have passed away since the time of which I have been
speaking, but Lily and I often talk over the adventures of our younger
days, and, as we narrate them to our children, we lift up our hearts in
gratitude to Him who preserved us from all dangers and has showered so
many blessings on our heads.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
People often ask what is the moral of the tale. As far as my narrative
is concerned I did not write it with the idea of evolving a moral, but I
can say that, if it contains one, it is this: "Trust God--do your duty
in His sight, and leave all else to Him."