unless it might be in peaceable times, and that he had never heard of intrenchments “resting from their labors,” on the part of either the besieger or the besieged.  Work of that sort, he thought, ought to go on, day and night, by means of reliefs; and, instead of pausing to hold church, he had actually contemplated detailing fatigue parties to labor through, not only that day, but the whole of the succeeding night.

As for Peter, he never offered the slightest objection to any of Parson Amen’s sermons or prayers.  He listened to both with unmoved gravity, though no apparent impression was ever made on his feelings.  The Chippewa hunted on the Sabbaths as much as on any other day; and it was in reference to this fact that the following little conversation took place between Margery and the missionary, as the party sat beneath the oaks, passing a tranquil eventide at midsummer.

“How happens it, Mr. Amen,” said Margery, who had insensibly adopted the missionary’s sobriquet, “that no red man keeps the Sabbath-day, if they are all descended from the Jews?  This is one of the most respected of all the commandments, and it does not seem natural”—­ Margery’s use of terms was necessarily influenced by association and education-"that any of that people should wholly forget the day of rest.”

“Perhaps you are not aware, Margery, that the Jews, even in civilized countries, do not keep the same Sabbath as the Christians,” returned the missionary.  “They have public worship on a Saturday, as we do on a Sunday.  Now, I did think I saw some signs of Peter’s privately worshipping yesterday, while we were all so busy at our garrison.  You may have observed how thoughtful and silent the chief was in the middle of the afternoon.”

“I did observe it,” said the bee-hunter, “but must own I did not suspect him of holding meeting for any purposes within himself.  That was one of the times when I like the manners and behavior of this Injin the least.”

“We do not know—­we do not know—­perhaps his spirit struggled with the temptations of the Evil One.  To me he appeared to be worshipping, and I set the fact down as a proof that the red men keep the Jewish Sabbath.”

“I did not know that the Jews keep a Sabbath different from our own, else I might have thought the same.  But I never saw a Jew, to my knowledge.  Did you, Margery?”

“Not to know him for one,” answered the girl; and true enough was the remark of each.  Five-and-thirty years ago, America was singularly not only a Christian but a Protestant nation.  Jews certainly did exist in the towns, but they were so blended with the rest of the population, and were so few in number, as scarcely to attract attention to them as a sect.  As for the Romanists, they too had their churches and their dioceses; but what untravelled American had then ever seen a nun?  From monks, Heaven be praised, we are yet spared; and this is said without any prejudice against the