on horseback, to do the people spiritual good. Occasionally there was a remarkable preacher among them, possessing great native ability, force of character, and singular magnetic presence. These were especially welcome, although any one of the number was received cordially. In their travels they called at all cabins, as pastors now make visits from house to house, their visits being chiefly of a religious character. They ate and lodged in cabins, wherever noon and night overtook them. The best fare that a cabin had was cheerfully set before them, and the best advice and sympathy the preacher could command were freely proffered. It is not possible for us, at this day, to say how great was the influence of this pastoral work. Men may read about it, and laugh over it now, but there can be no doubt that it provided a much-needed and indispensable source of Christian power, influence, and enjoyment. It contributed largely to make pioneer life nobler, and, in an important sense, educational.

James enjoyed no better opportunities of religious worship than we have described before he was ten years of age. Occasional worship was a privilege that he highly prized, as others did. He did not readily let slip an opportunity to attend public worship. And the impressions it left upon his heart were gauged by his deep interest in such occasions.

Whether there was any meeting or not, however, the weekly Sabbath was recognised in the Garfield cabin.

No labour upon that day, except works of necessity, was the rule carefully observed. The Bible stood in the place of preacher. It was both read and studied. Mrs. Garfield’s rule was to read four chapters daily on week-days, and more on the Sabbath, when she formally expounded it in her sensible and thoughtful manner. The children asked questions as well as she. James was especially inquisitive about the Scriptures, and, after he learned to read, he read them much, both on the Sabbath and week-days. Bible stories that he learned from his mother’s lips before he could speak plainly, became invested with new charms when he could read them at his leisure. He became so familiar with many narratives, that he knew just where in the Bible to turn to them; and he had a multitude of questions to ask about “God’s book,” as his mother reverently called it.

“How do you know that it is ‘God’s book,’ mother?” he asked.

“Because it is not like any book that man ever wrote.”

“You said once that Moses, Isaiah, David, Matthew, Paul, and others wrote it,” recalling his mother’s explanation of different books.

“Yes, that is true, they did write it; but they wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. They could not have written it without God’s help. They wrote just what God told them, by His Spirit, to write.”

“And that is why you call it God’s book?” James inquired.

“Yes; He is the Author of it, although He directed men to write it, and guided them, also, in doing it.”

“Are all the stories in it true stories?”

“Yes; every one of them.”

“Is it true that Joseph had a coat of many different colours?”

“I expect it is.”

“Why didn’t he have a coat of one colour? Would it not be easier to make such a one?”

“His father loved him more than he did his other children, and he made such a coat for him out of his partiality.”