It was near the middle of the afternoon, and, as he had remained at home until the return of the young missionary from the village, there was nothing to disturb his labor, or sport as it might be called, except darkness itself.
During this same afternoon, Harvey Richter and his wife were sitting on a bench in front of their cabin.

The day was warm, but, as the bench always was shaded, it was the ordinary resort of the young couple when the weather was sultry.

The missionary had been reading, but the volume was laid aside, and he was smilingly watching his wife as she sported with the boy in her lap.

The little fellow was in exuberant spirits, and the parents, as a matter of course, were delighted.

Finally he betrayed signs of weariness, and in a few moments was asleep in his mother's arms.
"I think it was a wise thing, for several reasons--that of changing your hour from the afternoon to the forenoon," said the wife.
"Why do you think so ?" "We all feel more wearied and less inclination at this time of day for work than we do during the earlier hours.