The sequel has shown how little the zeal of the few can accomplish, when opposed to the cupidity of the many.
Our evening party went off as parties do elsewhere.

The most interesting feature to me, because the most novel, was the conversation of some young ladies to whom I was introduced, natives of Green Bay or its vicinity.

Their mother was a Menomonee, but their father was a Frenchman, a descendant of a settler some generations back, and who, there is reason to believe, was a branch of the same family of Grignon to which the daughter of Madame de Sevigne belonged.

At least, it is said there are in the possession of the family many old papers and records which would give that impression, although the orthography of the name has become slightly changed.

Be that as it may, the Miss Grignons were strikingly dignified, well-bred young ladies, and there was a charm about their soft voices, and original, unsophisticated remarks, very attractive to a stranger.
They opened to me, however, a new field of apprehension; for, on my expressing my great impatience to see my new home, they exclaimed, with a look of wonder,-- "_Vous n'avez donc pas peur des serpens_ ?" "Snakes! was it possible there were snakes at Fort Winnebago ?" "At the Portage! oh! yes--one can never walk out for them--rattle-snakes--copper-heads--all sorts!" I am not naturally timid, but I must confess that the idea of the _serpens sonnettes_ and the _siffleurs_ was not quite a subject of indifference.
There was one among these young ladies whose tall, graceful figure, rich, blooming complexion, and dark, glancing eye, would have distinguished her in any drawing-room--and another, whose gentle sweetness and cultivated taste made it a matter of universal regret that she was afterwards led to adopt the seclusion of a convent.
Captain Harney and his boat arrived in due time, and active preparations far the comfort of our journey commenced under the kind supervision of Mrs.Doty.The mess-basket was stowed with good things of every description--ham and tongue--biscuit and plum-cake--not to mention the substantiate of crackers, bread, and boiled pork, the latter of which, however, a lady was supposed to be too fastidious to think of touching, even if starving in the woods.
We had engaged three Canadian voyageurs to take charge of our tent, mess-basket, and matters and things in general.