"'The answer is—Mr. Philemon Wright. Through hardships, privations, and dangers that would have appalled an ordinary mind, he penetrated an almost inaccessible country, and where he found desolation and solitude he introduced civilization and the useful arts, and by his almost unaided skill and indefatigable industry the savage paths of a dreary wilderness have been changed into the cheerful haunts of men. The gloomy upland forests have given way to smiling corn-fields. The wet and wild savannas, sinking under stunted spruce and cedar, have been cleared and drained into luxuriant meadows. The perilous water-fall, whose hoarse noise was once the frightful voice of an awful solitude, is rendered obedient to the laws of art, and now converts the majestic tenants of the forest into the habitations of man and grinds his food. The rivers and lakes, once fruitful in vain, now breed their living produce for the use of human beings, and with deep, rapid current transport on their smooth glassy surface the fruits of his industry. The deep recesses of the earth are made to expose their mineral treasures from the birthday of time concealed.
"'In short, the judicious and persevering industry of one successful adventurer has converted all the rude vantages of primeval nature into the germs of agricultural, manufacturing and commercial prosperity.'
"It is true," she said, with great enthusiasm. "They may well appreciate the great work you have done."
The tribute of praise seemed to make no impression on the Chief, who sat silent and motionless, as though lost in thought.
"Shall I read to you, father, dear?"
"You may if you like," he said.
"What would you like me to read?" she asked.
"Read something that Solomon has written," said the Chief, who was a grand Arch Mason and Knight of Malta, and who was not very familiar with the writings of Solomon or any of the writers of Scripture.
Turning over the leaves of her well-worn Bible, Chrissy read from the second chapter of Ecclesiastes the following words:
"I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits; I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees; I got me servants and maidens, ... also I had great possessions of great and small cattle; ... I gathered me also silver and gold, ... so I was great, and increased more than all that were before me; ... also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in my labour.... Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do; and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun."