216 TBUE COURAGE. 



hardships, and dangers as the history of the world cannot 

 parallel." 



" I think, if I remember rightly," said the Dr., "you set 

 out to tell a bear story. You are now indulging in a ser- 

 mon on progress. Allow me to call your attention to the 

 bear." 



" I appeal to the court," said Spalding, addressing Smith 

 and myself, " against this interruption." 



"The counsel will proceed," said Smith, with all the 

 gravity of a judge ; " we hope the interruption will not be 

 repeated." 



"Well," said Spalding, resuming his narrative, "some 

 fifty years ago, two enterprising men (brothers) marched 

 into the woods in the town of Mexico, now in Oswego 

 county, with their axes on their shoulders, and stout hearts 

 beating in their bosoms. They located a mile or more apart, 

 and began a warfare, such as civilization wages, against the 

 old forest trees. Men talk about courage on the battle-field, 

 the facing of danger amid the conflict of armed hosts, and 

 the crash of battle. All that is well, but what is such cour- 

 age, stimulated by excitement and braced by the ignominy 

 which follows the laggard in such a strife, to that calm, 

 enduring, moral courage of him who encounters the toil and 

 hardships incident to the settlement of a new country, and 

 battles with the dangers, the long years of privation, which 

 lie before the pioneer who goes into the forest to carve out 

 a home for himself and his children ? How much more 

 noble is such courage, how infinitely superior is such a war- 



