270 THE ADIRONDACK. 



her himself. Acting on this consideration, he men- 

 tioned the matter to her, remarking that her husband 

 could not live long, and asking if she would marry 

 him after he was dead ? 



She replied that she had no objections at all if " her 

 husband was willing.''^ He said he had no doubt on 

 that point, and he would speak to him about it. He 

 did so, and the husband unhesitatingly gave his con- 

 sent, adding that he was glad she would be so well 

 provided for after his death. So when winter ap- 

 proached, the young settler would come and "court" 

 the prospective widow, while the dying husband laid 

 and coughed on the bed in the corner. 



Now there was not much sentiment in this, I grant, 

 but there was a vast deal of philosophy. It was 

 rather cool on her part, to be sure, but vastly sensible 

 on his. "What could his wife and children do, all 

 alone there in the woods, without a protector ? The 

 toughest part of the proceeding, and that which no 

 doubt tested the backwoodsman's philosophy the 

 severest, was the courtship. To lie gasping for 

 breath in one part of the room, and see the young 

 athletic and healthy backwoodsman and his wife 

 sitting together by the fire, and know that after a few 



