CHAPTER NINE.
"It is the fashion to say in England, so I hear, that Canada is not thecountry in which people can make fortunes," said the sheriff; for suchwas the office Mr Norman held in his county. "I grant that it is notthe country in which fortunes will come of themselves; but, putting thelower province out of the question, I should like to know how the ownersof the nice estates and pretty villas scattered so thickly throughoutthe upper province became possessed of them. How has Toronto sprung upinto a first-rate city? How have Hamilton, London, and twenty othertowns risen in a few years into importance? How is it that thousands ofcomfortable farms are found in all directions? Look at our canals--atthe thousands of vessels which navigate our lakes and rivers; at oursaw-mills, and grist-mills, and manufactories of all sorts; at the tensof thousands of acres of corn land; at our pastures; at our oxen andkine; at our flocks of sheep; at our horses; at our public and privatebuildings; at our churches; our colleges; our schools; our hospitals;our prisons; at all the conveniences of a highly civilised communitywhich we possess, and then let me ask to whom do all these thingsbelong? To the inhabitants of the province. Who are they? Men mostlywho began life in it; some few whose fathers lived in it; but very fewindeed whose grandfathers were born here. Of these, the capital of thegreater number, when they began this career, might have been counted byshillings;--did I say shillings? I would rather say strong hearts andhands, without coin at all; some few might have reckoned by pounds,fewer by hundreds, and very few indeed, if any, by thousands. Then howdid they become possessed of all this wealth? Why they made all thiswealth, they created all these advantages, by their labour, theirintelligence, and perseverance. They are theirs--to enjoy--to benefitby. It is said in England, `We do not find rich Canadians come back andsettle at home, as so many Australians do.' Granted; Canada, I say, isessentially the country to reside in. People who have made fortuneshere do not go away, for the best of reasons; because here they have allthe requirements of civilisation, all the advantages which theAustralians go to England to obtain. I say too that numbers do makevery handsome fortunes--though I grant, as I before observed, thatfortunes don't come of themselves; but, which is better, no one who ispersevering, industrious, and intelligent, fails to become independent,and to start his children well in the world. I don't want to disparageother provinces, but I say that we Canadians can and do make fortunes;and what is more, we have the means of enjoying them thoroughly, withoutgoing to other lands to do so."
The sheriff had got on a subject on which he always grew eager, thoughhe was at length obliged to pause for want of breath. "Take myself, forexample," he continued; "I rose, if you like, from the bottom of thetree; and I know fifty--I may say a hundred men, who have got up as Ihave done--my brother-sheriff of the next county among them. My fathercame over from England. He was a baker by trade; but though he knew howto make loaves, he did not know how to read. He came to theneighbourhood of Kingston first, and worked as a journeyman. When hehad saved a little money he set up for himself; then he got a share in aflour-mill, and bought a little land;--then a little more; and then theflour-mill became his; and lastly, he sold the whole at a considerableprofit, and moving westward, pitched his tent at Pentanquishine, on LakeHuron. He invested largely in land; and troops being stationed thereduring the war with the States, and it becoming a naval station, herealised a considerable profit. Though uneducated himself, he wasdesirous of giving his sons a good education; so he sent us all to thebest school in the province--I might say the only one--kept by theReverend Dr Strachan, now Bishop of Toronto, in that big city, thenknown as "Muddy Little York." The excellent doctor, of whom we allstood in reverential awe, had the art of imparting knowledge; and Ibelieve I, with others, benefited much by it. Of my two elder brothersI will say nothing, except that they tyrannised over me and anotherbrother younger than I was. He and I were fast friends, and made commoncause against them. As Pentanquishine could not supply us with clothingfit to appear in at Toronto, our father directed us to get it at thatplace, and entrusted our elder brother with money to pay for it. He gotclothing certainly, and paid the tailor, but it was for himself and notfor us, and we were allowed to go on wearing our shabby clothes. Iprotested vehemently against this iniquitous proceeding, but Arthur, myyounger brother, who was of a more gentle nature, yielded quietly andsaid nothing.
"There was to be a public examination, at which all the big-wigs in theplace were to attend; and I told my brother that if he would not orderus both proper suits of clothes I would run away to our father andcomplain. He laughed at me, not believing that I would make theattempt. I was as good as my word, for pretending I was ill oneevening, I got leave to go up early to bed. Instead of going to sleep Iwatched my opportunity, slipped out of the house with all the moneyArthur and I could collect, or rather save, in my pocket, and running onall night, before morning I was far away towards Lake Simcoe. You see,boys brought up in the bush, as I was, have no fear of being out alone,and can find their way in any direction they have a mind to follow.Besides which, it was a beaten cart track I followed, mostly in the linethe railway now takes. Great changes since then! I might have beencaught even then, for I was pursued for some distance; but I wasovertaken by an old acquaintance--a carter, or rather a packer orcarrier--Jack Johnson by name, to whom I narrated what had occurred. Myelder brother had on some occasion offended him, and this made him,probably, more ready to take my part, and to render me assistance.`Jump into the waggon, lad, and hide thee away, and if any one comesafter thee I'll show him that Jack Johnson's waggon is just as much hiscastle as any man's house is, and if he pries therein he must take theconsequences.' What those consequences would be he did not say, but heflourished his heavy whip with a ferocity which made it probable thatthe head of anybody who interfered would be broken. With this consolingreflection I fell asleep, for I was very tired after my long run duringall the night. I knew, also, that Jack would be as good as his word, soI had no fears to keep me awake.
"We jogged on all day, stopping only to bait and water the cattle. Nowand then I awoke and looked out; it was the same scene--forest on eitherside, with now and then a small lake, or pond, or creek. Jack was athis horses' heads, whistling away, as if he had nothing in the world tocare for. He hadn't either. He had been a workhouse-boy in the oldcountry, and would have ended his days as a labourer, and now he waslaying by a good bit of money every trip, and expected to be able to buya comfortable farm before long. So he did, and has brought up anumerous family, all well-to-do in the world, and lives himself ascomfortably as any man with four or five hundred a-year would, I guess,in England. At night we stopped at a log-hut, the only inn on the road,and Jack brought me some food and told me to be quiet, and that we wouldbe off early in the morning.
"The second day passed much as did the first, except that I had lost allfear of being overtaken. The confession is somewhat humbling, but thetruth is, I was not considered worth sending after. `Let the chielgang,--wie sae little brains in his head he's sure to fall on his feet,'observed the doctor, when informed of my flight--so I was told. In theevening of the second day we reached Holland's Landing, at the south endof Lake Simcoe. Settlers had begun to take up the land on either sideof the lake: they were chiefly naval and military officers, forced intoidleness at the end of the war, without any previous training for thelife they were to lead, or knowledge of what would be required of themas settlers. The naval men did the best, and many of them succeeded, asdid a few of the military men, but the greater number, after a fewyears' trial, I might say months, left in disgust, or ruined. Manynever came even to occupy their grants. Jack's business was to supplythese gentlemen with goods, which most of them came to fetch atHolland's Landing.
"As he was going no further, I had now to consider how I was to performthe rest of my journey West. While standing in the bar of the storewith Jack, who should come in but a trapper, known to him, Jean Baptisteby name, to make some purchases. `Whither bound, friend
Baptiste?'asked Jack. I could make out clearly enough the meaning of his reply,but I cannot repeat the extraordinary mixture of Canadian, French,English, and Ojibbeway, in which it was couched. He intimated that hewas going a few days' journey west, over ground where there was then anabundance of beaver, martin, mink, and other fur-bearing animals, whichare rare enough now. Jean Baptiste showed his Indian origin by hislong, Jewish-like countenance, dark eyes, and raven black hair. He wasdressed in skins, the hair being inside, in spite of the heat, hisleggings and waistcoat ornamented with bead-work and gaily-dyedporcupine quills, and mingled with coloured fibres and worsted.
"I slept in Jack's cart, and just at daybreak Baptiste came and rousedme up. I thanked Jack heartily for his kindness, and with a stout stickin my hand, with which he presented me, set off to follow mystrange-looking guide towards his camp. Here, under a lean-to ofbirch-bark, I found Mrs Baptiste, an Indian squaw, who, if not a solaceto him in his hours of trial, took a great deal of trouble off hisshoulders, for she worked for him from morning till night like a slave,with small thanks. In the way he treated his wife he was no better thanan Indian. She had her hand-sleigh already packed, and as soon as weappeared she harnessed herself into it and began dragging it off withoutsaying a word. Talk of the romance of Indian life, there is none of itof an elevated nature. All the stuff novelists have written is sheerdownright nonsense. It is simple brutality from beginning to end. Ispeak of the natives I have met with before they became Christians.Baptiste, on the strength of his being a French-Canadian, on hisfather's side, called himself a Christian, but he was as ignorant ofreligion as was his squaw; and here let me remind you, whenever youwrite to your friends in England, tell them that there is a grandopening for missionary labours among the wide-scattered Indian tribesstill existing on this continent. Something is being done, but muchmore may be done; and not only is there work to be done among Indians,but among the out-settlers, and especially among the lumberers on theOttawa. Never mind whether they are Romanists or not. They never hearthe Gospel of free grace preached from one end of the year to the other.I believe that a missionary going among them would find abundant fruitas the result of his labours.
"To return to Baptiste. He had set his traps in the forest along theroute we were to take, and so we had to push our way through it, sleighand all, he scarcely condescending to help his squaw when it stuckbetween the stumps of the trees, she also looking with supreme contempton me when I attempted to help her; indeed she, I fancy, considered merather officious than otherwise. I travelled on for several days withthis unattractive couple, and yet I believe that they were really fondof each other. They were hospitable in their way also, for their potwas always well supplied with meat, and they gave me as much as I couldeat. It was not of the choicest land, I must confess, for everycreature the trapper caught went into it, with a mixture of herbs androots, among which garlic predominated.
"At last Baptiste told me that he had come to the end of his journey,and that I must find the rest of the way by myself. `I will try, ofcourse, but it strikes me that I shall not succeed,' was my answer. `IfI had a gun and powder and shot, or even your traps, I would get on fastenough as soon as I could find my way into the blazed road, but out herethe thing is impossible. If you will not come along with me I must goback with you.'
"He signified that he would be glad enough to have my company, but thathe had promised Jack to see me on my way, and that his honour wasconcerned in doing so. He could not go on himself, but he would findsome Indians who would guide me if I could pay them. I had threedollars in my pocket, I told him. He said half that sum would contentthem if I would pay it them. He soon found the trail of some Indianswhom he knew to be his friends--we came up with them. The bargain wasstruck with two of them to see me safe all the way, and Baptiste told methat they were highly delighted though they took care not to show it.They were accompanied by their squaws; indeed, an Englishman of fortunewould as soon think of travelling without his valet as an Indian withouthis squaw to perform every menial occupation he may require. There wasnothing romantic in the appearance of my friends; one wore an oldshooting-coat, which he had trimmed with coloured worsted, while theother had fastened a blue checked shirt over his other garments by wayof ornament; the rest of their costume being more in the old Indianfashion of leather and fur. They were dirty in the extreme, and notover good looking; but they had honest countenances, and I had no fearof their not treating me fairly. One of them went before me to clearthe way, the other followed at my heels to pick me up should I stumble,and the squaws brought up the rear, all in single file. The squaws hadto build the wigwams--or, rather, lean-tos--when we camped, to collectsticks for the fire, to cook the food, and to bring water from thenearest stream or pond; their masters condescended to catch the game.They were not such expert trappers as Baptiste, but then they atecreatures which he would have rejected--nothing that could be masticatedcame amiss to them. I should have fared badly, but the second day, justafter we had camped, we came suddenly upon two bears with two youngcubs. They were as much surprised at seeing us as we were atencountering them. One of the Indians who had a fowling piece fired,and hit Mr Bruin in the brain, whereon Mrs Bruin trotted off with oneof the cubs; while the other Indian with his bow shot the cub which hadremained with his father.
"I was eager to exhibit my prowess, so followed the retreating bears,hoping to kill the cub with my stick. Fortunately they took the waynear the camp, when the squaws, seeing me, ran out and caught hold ofme, telling me that as surely as I had killed the cub the mother wouldhave turned round and torn me to pieces. Though I still wished to go,they held me tight till the bears were out of sight. I believe fullythat they saved my life, and certainly it was pleasanter supping on abear than making a supper for one.
"At last we reached Pentanquishine, and so thankful was I to get therethat I gave the honest Indians two dollars instead of one and a-half. Ifear that they spent the greater part, if not the whole of the sum, atthe grog shop before they left the settlement.
"`What! who are you, you little ragamuffin?' exclaimed my father when hesaw me, for by that time so torn had become my garments by the thornyshrubs, that they literally were in shreds. `You are no child of mine;get out with you, you little ill-conditioned cub.' I ought not to havebeen surprised at this greeting, though it was not pleasant to myfeelings.
"I had considerable difficulty in persuading him who I was, and of thetruth of my statement as to the cause of my leaving. At last he didbelieve me, and declared that he would break Dick's head and stop hisallowance for the following half. Dick, when he came home for theholidays, made me beg him off, not the getting his head broke, for thathe laughed at, but the having his allowance stopped, which he guessedmight be done.
"When I went back at the commencement of the next half, the Doctor tookno notice of what had occurred, and from having been the most ragged, Ibecame one of the best dressed boys in the school. This was not alwaysto last. My elder brothers went home to begin life, leaving me andArthur. We were very glad when they went, for they bullied us terribly.A year passed, and then came a letter with a black seal, and we heardthat our father was dead. Dick, who had come of age, inherited hisproperty, and it seemed had the power of doing with us just what heliked. It arose thus: our poor father had been seized with the desireof having his eldest son a gentleman of fortune, and thinking that byleaving him all his property he could do so, he beggared the rest of us.Dick wrote us word that we must earn our own living, but that he wouldbe a brother to us, and to show his affection he apprenticed me to achair-maker, and my slight, delicate young brother Arthur to ablacksmith.
"Mine was not a bad trade, for furniture was in great demand. `If thatis to be my calling I will go at it,' said I to myself. I did so, andsoon could turn a chair very neatly out of hand. Arthur could make nohand at the blacksmith work--his arm had not strength to wield a hammer;I went to his master and asked him to let him off. `No, I never doesanything wi
thout an equivalent,' was his answer; `but I'll tell youwhat, youngster, I happen to want some chairs for my woman and childrento sit on; now, if you'll make them for me, slick off hand, your brothershall go free, I guess.' The bargain was struck. I was anxious to getpoor Arthur free, for every day was killing him with labour for which hewas so unfit. I set to work at once, and each moment that I could sparefrom my proper duties to my master I employed in making the chairs. Iwas determined that he should not say that they were not good chairs--strong and handsome. The blacksmith was highly pleased with them, andinstantly freed my brother and made me a present of a couple of dollars.With this sum and a little more I had made by working out of hours, Iset Arthur to trade on his own account, to keep him till my term wasout, which was to be very shortly. From the day I had left school I hadnot neglected my studies, and I used to read all the books I could layhands on during every spare moment. Life is short enough as it is, andpeople make it still shorter by idling away their time. I knew that Ihad plenty of work to do, and I found out early that to get it done Imust not lose a moment. I consequently not only kept up the knowledge Iobtained at school, but got a fair amount besides.
"We worked on for three years, I making chairs and Arthur selling them,saving money, but not very fast. I had no fancy to go on chair-makingall my days, and I wished for a more active life.
"I had paid a visit to Holland's Landing a few months before this, and Ifound that my friend, Jack Johnson, was still driving a thriving tradewith the settlement along the shores of the lake; but he had not a goodhead for business, and I saw that a great deal more might be made of itthan he made. A steamer was building to run on the lake. She was tocommence running in a few days. I applied for the office of purser, orsteward--call it which you will. I obtained it, at a low salary,stipulating that I should be allowed to trade, to a certain extent, onmy own account. That was all I wanted. My plans were at once formed.Jack was to purchase and bring up the articles from Toronto, and Arthurand I to go round to the farms, as far as we could reach, and to obtainorders, large or small. All were fish which came into our net, from anounce of tobacco to the furniture of a house or the machinery for a sawmill, provided we could get security; it would have been folly to tradewithout that, especially with some of our customers.
"We paid considerable sums to the steamer for freight, and, pleasing theowners, were able, with their aid, to increase our credit and ourbusiness. It is extraordinary how reckless some of those we dealt withwere in giving orders for goods and in mortgaging their property assecurity, without a prospect, as far as we could judge, of their beingable to pay us without allowing the mortgage to be foreclosed. That youmay not think ill of me on that account, I may say that we thus had anopportunity of being of considerable service to many of theseimprovident gentlemen. Our trade throve, and I soon found that it wouldbe convenient to establish a store at the principal place at which thesteamer called. Arthur took charge of it, and the flourishing conditionof the concern showed that we were right in our expectations.
"Our capital increased. We were compelled to foreclose some mortgages;and as we did not wish to keep the farms of which we thus becamepossessed, we sold them at more or less profit. We were in the way ofhearing when land was to be sold at a cheap rate, either improved orunimproved, and by purchasing such land and re-selling to newly-arrivedsettlers, who became good customers, we profited considerably. We gotthe best of everything, and our desire was to supply those who bought ofus with what we knew they would most require, and which would give themsatisfaction.
"As soon as I had established a business I left the steam-boat and wentto live on shore, at the store, having first taken to wife the daughterof my old master. A very good wife she has made me, and I should like,some day, to bring her over to see you, Mrs Ashton; but you mustn'texpect to see a fine lady, such are not the good wives of this province.For many years she was a hardworking housewife, when helps were beingsnot to be procured for love or money. The station of life which I thenoccupied was different to what I now fill, but my good wife has had noambition to change her style of dress or living with our change ofcircumstances, from the feeling that she might appear out of place. Infact, my dear madam, you will understand that she is not vulgar, and isessentially free from all vulgar ambition. Here I must bring the sketchof my early life to a conclusion, remarking that what my brother and Idid, hundreds of others have done in this province, and thousands morewill do if they will practise self-control, labour industriously inwhatever station they are placed, and be ready to step into any openingwhich may present itself, always doing their duty, and praying forstrength and guidance above."
CHAPTER TEN.
Although the Canadian winter impedes agricultural operations, there isplenty of work to be done both out-of-doors and in-doors, especially ona newly-cleared farm. Chopping down the trees goes on, and if thebrushwood has been collected before the snow falls, the huge trunks canbe dragged together and piled in heaps to be burnt off. It may seem asad waste of good timber, but it is the least expensive way of gettingrid of what cumbers the ground; besides which, the ashes very muchassist to fertilise it. The Ashtons, however, found that they coulddispose of theirs at the newly-erected saw-mills, if they could get thelogs there. Not a tree could be moved, however, by any force they couldcommand, till the snow fell and hardened. The logs then were draggeddown over it on to the ice, where they were easily formed into a raftand floated across the lake to the mills at breaking up of the ice inspring.
The first fall of snow had entirely disappeared, and the lake had becomefree of ice, to be covered again, however, by a far thicker coat thanbefore, and equally smooth. Harry and Charley were eager to have anice-boat, and they persuaded Philip, in spite of his many avocations, toassist them in making one. The great point was to have good runners.These should have been made of iron, but as that was not to be procured,they got some hard wood of sufficient length, which being slightlycurved up at the ends, served admirably. The boat had, therefore, whatHarry called two keels. This was the most important part;--the boat wassimply a long box with seats across it. The rudder, which was an oarfixed in the stern, had a sharp iron blade which would dig into the ice.The craft was rigged as a schooner, and had a very creditableappearance. A long pole with an iron head helped to steer her and toput her about.
With eager haste she was launched on the glass-like expanse. "Let usstand across to D'Arcy and astonish him," cried Harry. "We can carryhim the invitation to spend Christmas-day with us." There were nodissentient voices. Philip took the helm, Harry managed the head-sails,Charley the main. The wind was on the quarter. The sails could not behoisted till they were ready to start, as the ice offering noresistance, she would either have blown over, or run away before thewind. Philip was not quite so sanguine of success as his brothers. Theword was given--Harry shoved round the head of the strange-lookingcraft, and far enough off to allow the rudder full play. The sails werehoisted--the sheets hauled aft--a fresh breeze filled them, and to thedelight of her architects, away she shot in splendid style. Sheanswered her helm admirably. It seemed but a few minutes beforeD'Arcy's clearing hove in sight. Philip fired off his gun to draw hisfriend's attention to them, and they had only time to haul down theirsails before, with the impetus the craft had attained, she glided up tothe landing-place, and sent them all tumbling forward, as she made abold attempt to run up the bank, only prevented by Harry with hisiron-shod pole.
D'Arcy required no great pressing to embark with them. They all looked,they declared, like veritable Arctic voyagers, with their fur caps,flaps over their ears, and bearskin and buffalo-skin coats, kept in bysashes or belts. The settlement was first to be visited. Such a craftas theirs had never been seen there, and created no little interest;though on Lake Ontario, before Toronto, ice-boats of a more elegantconstruction are constantly used when the ice will allow of it beforethe snow falls.
The store was visited, and commissions, the list of which fi
lled twocolumns of Philip's note-book, were executed, and then, with aconsiderable addition to their lading, they once more got under way.They had now to beat back; but the boat lay closer to the wind than ifshe had been in water, and though she made some lee-way, they beat backin a wonderfully short space of time. They were so delighted with theirsail that they could scarcely keep out of their boat. The whole circuitof the lake was visited, and they talked of taking her into Lake Huron,when, perhaps fortunately, down came such a fall of snow as to makerapid progress over the ice impossible, and they once again returned totheir more serious occupations.
The snow became every day harder, till a crust formed on the top of it,which made walking over it where it was not beaten down, both difficultand painful. Some Indians had encamped in the neighbourhood for thepurpose of trading with the pale faces, and obtaining food and clothing.Two of them at this juncture came with some slight oblong frames,between three and four feet in length, with net-work filling up theinner portion. What they could be, none of the younger members of thefamily could guess, till the Indians fastened one to each of their feetand began to move along over the snow on the lake. "Snow-shoes!snow-shoes!" cried Charley; and forthwith a bargain was struck forseveral pair. The squaws brought some the next day of a lighterconstruction for the ladies of the family, and a new source of amusementwas found enabling them also to take the exercise so necessary forhealth. Bravely Sophy and her sisters faced the cold, bitter and bitingas it was, and with their brothers made their first attempt to walk insnow-shoes on the lake.
They were all thus engaged, laughing and shouting and enjoying theamusement, when an object was seen in the distance approaching them, andthe silvery cheerful sound of sleigh-bells floated up to them throughthe calm air. "Bravo--excellent!--that is what I like to see. Weshould hear nothing of sick headaches in Canada, if all the young ladieswould put their pretty little feet on to snow-shoes, and step over thecountry as you are doing, or rather will be doing before long, for youare on the ice just now," cried Mr Norman from a handsome sleigh whichdrove up to them. The horses' harness, surmounted by a belfry, as Harrycalled the frame to which the bells were suspended, was covered withbright-coloured braiding, and rich skins filled the sleigh itself andhung over the back. From among them a lady's head was seen. "Allow meto introduce my wife," continued Mr Norman. "She has just told me thatshe has already fallen in love with you all; but do not let us bring youin--we will wait for you at the house."
Sophy, however, soon began to find that she had had snow-shoeing enoughfor one day, and the rest of the party discovered, when they took theshoes off, that their insteps ached more than they had ever before done.Still they were all ready to try again the next day. Mrs Normanproved to be exactly the sort of person her husband had described her;though homely, she was entirely free from vulgarity, and as she hadlived all her life in Canada, she possessed and was glad to impart alarge amount of information most valuable to Mrs Ashton and Sophy. Shepromised to remain a week with them, to give them instruction innumerous departments of domestic management of which they were ignorant."It's a pleasure, ma'am, to tell you these things," she remarked toMrs Ashton; "you take them in so kindly, and don't seem to fancy thatyour own ways are better, and that you know more than the personteaching you, as some people do."
The winter passed by pleasantly and usefully. There were some days wheneven the most hardy of the party had no inclination to go out; this waswhen there was a strong northerly wind and an intense frost, and thefiner particles of snow were carried through the air and struck the facelike so many Liliputian arrows discharged by an army from that far-famedland of Liliput. There was, however, abundance of work to be done inthe house, and plenty of hard exercise in sawing up logs for the stovefires. These, while the severer frost lasted, were never allowed to goout, and no one had reason to complain of the want of warmth inside thehouse; indeed, the walls were so thick, that they retained the heat inthe way an ordinary brick or plank building could not have done. Oldand young declared, that in spite of cold and snow, they had never spenta happier or pleasanter winter. Probably the happiness of the eldersarose from seeing their children contented and well employed aroundthem. There was one absent--Leonard, the midshipman. They almostwished that he would give up the sea, and come and live with them. MrAshton had not even suggested that he should do so, though his necessaryallowance took away a large portion of the slender income on which thefamily had mainly to depend. His parents were amply rewarded by hearingof the high character he was gaining for himself. D'Arcy was a frequentvisitor; he would have been more frequent, but duty kept him labouringat home. Occasionally Philip went over to help him in return for theassistance he gave them. The winter passed away so rapidly that theycould scarcely believe that spring had really come. The snow melted,the green grass appeared, the leaves burst forth, the flowers bloomedand gave their fragrance to the air, the birds warbled forth their notesof joy, and all nature seemed alive and busy. If time passed quicklyduring the months of winter, it flew by still more rapidly now whenthere was so much to do that every moment of the twenty-four hours wasfully occupied, a very small portion only being devoted to sleep; butthen, as Harry declared, they all slept very fast, so that they reallygot as much as they required. They were all up at dawn of day, and buta short time was allowed for meals till they assembled round thesupper-table by the light of their home-made candles, the most socialand pleasant meal in the day, when the hard work was over and any lightindoor occupation could be engaged in. Even then there was no light orfrivolous conversation; constant steady work had sobered their minds,and they had no taste for what was not real and earnest. Generally MrAshton or Philip read some interesting book, the subject of which wasafterwards talked over, while comments were generally made as theyproceeded.
It is not necessary to describe the various occupations in which thefamily were engaged. One of the most amusing and not the leastimportant, was the sugar-making from the neighbouring sugar-bush ormaple grove, before the snow had disappeared from the ground. They weresurprised at the large amount of sap which even a single tree gaveforth. This being collected in wooden troughs placed under the spoutsformed in the trunk, was next transferred to a huge cauldron, where itwas boiled, and then turned out to cool and crystallise. They were inthis way able to obtain an ample supply of sugar for their tea orcoffee, for preserving fruits, and for their puddings during the year.The demand for it became considerable, when, as the summer advanced, allsorts of wild fruits were found in the woods, and strawberries andraspberries in prodigious quantities.
The Canadian spring soon merges into full-blown summer. The boat hadbeen for some time launched, and Philip acting as captain, with Sophyand their mother as passengers, and Harry as crew, started in her to paytheir visit of welcome to D'Arcy's mother and sisters, who had justarrived at his clearing. The Ashtons were very much pleased with them.They were just what they expected D'Arcy's relatives would be. Sophyhad not been to the clearing for some time; D'Arcy invited her toaccompany him over it. On one side stood a cottage almost completed.D'Arcy produced a plan. "That is what it will look like when it isfinished," he observed. "For whom is this?" asked Sophy. "For mymother and sisters," was the answer. "Then who is to inhabit yourhouse?" asked Sophy, though the moment she had uttered the words shewished that she had kept silence. "I shall be very miserable, if youare not its mistress," said D'Arcy.
They were the first couple married in the new church at the settlement,mainly built by Mr Ashton's exertions. He had hitherto, from his firstarrival, conducted a service at his own house, open to all who wouldattend.
Mr Norman wrote to Mr Ashton to say that he would pay him a visit. "Ihave come on business," he said after the usual greetings were over. "Iam a patriot, and I am anxious for the improvement of the country. Yoursons are excellent young men, with talent and sense. The education ofthe two younger is not complete, and Philip might improve hisagricultural knowledge with advantage to himself
as well as to theprovince. On these grounds I beg to invite them to take up theirresidence at my house at Toronto, while they take advantage of the veryliberal means of instruction which that city affords. There are someimportant lectures on agriculture which are about to commence. Charleyshould go to Upper Canada College, and Harry to the University; and, mydear sir, as I have no young people depending on me, you must allow meto defray all expenses."
Mr Ashton could not decline so generous an offer. It is possible thatHarry and Charley were slightly disappointed at having to go to schoolagain, but Philip was most thankful for the advantage offered him.D'Arcy undertook to assist Mr Ashton in his labours on the farm duringPhilip's absence. The three brothers started together. Their life inToronto was very different to what it had been in the bush--round hats,frock-coats, and Wellington boots, superseded wideawakes,shooting-jackets, and hobnailed shoes or mocassins; and their hammers,saws, and axes, were exchanged for books, while social meetings ofvarious sorts occupied many of the evenings when there were no lecturesto attend. Harry and Charley now and then sighed for the woods andtheir lake, but as they took long walks every day, their health in noway suffered by the change;--indeed, they could not help confessing,that however pleasant it might be to carpenter, and dig, and look aftertheir horses and cows, and to sail and row on the lake, they had brainswhich might be employed to some better purpose, if those brains wereproperly cultivated; so they stuck manfully to their studies and made aprogress which surprised even themselves. "I believe that it is thefine clear weather of this climate which helps us," observed Harry; "Iknow that I feel twice as bright as I used to do in England."
Philip found ample occupation in a variety of ways, and said that hefelt as if his old college days had come back, as he sat in the studyhis kind friend had given him, surrounded by his books and papers. Dutyhad made him turn backwoodsman; his inclination would certainly have ledhim in a different course of life. He in time formed many agreeableacquaintances, both among the families residing in the city and thesingle men.
"By-the-bye, Ashton," said one of his acquaintances, with whom he waswalking home from a lecture, "I met last night, at Mrs Stewart's, alady of your name, a very pretty and agreeable girl, though rather graveperhaps. She has only just arrived with a family of the name of Mason,who have come out to settle. There are a number of young Masons, andshe was spoken of as the governess, but from the way she was treated sheis rather a companion friend of Mrs Mason's, I should think."
"I know of no relation of ours likely to come out here," said Philip, atthe same time a very curious sensation circling round his heart. "Didyou hear her Christian name?"
"No; they only called her Miss Ashton," said his friend. "She sang, andvery sweetly."
"What is she like?" asked Philip.
His friend began to suspect that he was interested in the stranger, andhe replied, "I told you that she is pretty, with clear eyes, a fineforehead, and regular features, and rather short than tall, I shouldsay. A good figure, certainly, and a bright complexion; no, notalways,--it brightened up, I remember, when she was speaking; and herhair, that was not light,--was it black or brown?--yes, I am certain, arich brown. There, I have given you the fair stranger's portrait to thebest of my power."
"Very extraordinary. Where do the Masons live?" asked Philip.
"I will ask Mrs Stewart, and get you introduced to them," said hisfriend. "You will not find them where there are balls or commongaieties going on, I suspect."
"That makes it still more probable," thought Philip. He made very fewnotes that evening of the lecture he had attended.
There was to be a private missionary meeting at Mrs Stewart's house,and Philip and his brother received an invitation. There were many ofhis Toronto acquaintances in the room, the rest were strangers. Helooked round the different rooms in vain for Mary Ashton, for she itwas, once his affianced wife, whom he expected to meet. Two youngladies answered somewhat the description his friend had given him, stillhe did not like to ask if a Miss Ashton was present, lest his hopesshould be rudely dashed to the ground. The speakers had not arrived,and people were moving about from room to room. He tried to compose hisfeelings by talking to his acquaintance on the subject of the missionabout to be advocated. While he was talking Harry came to him, and,touching his elbow, said, "Phil, I have just been introduced to a verynice person, who, curious enough, has our name. I do not know if sheknew mine, but I saw her afterwards watching me round the room, and Iwant you to find out who she can be. She may be a cousin of thefiftieth degree, perhaps, and I should like to find some relations outhere."
Philip did not stop to hear more, but hurrying into the room his brothermentioned, he satisfied himself that Mary Ashton was really there. Shediscovered him. He advanced, and saw by the pleased expression of hercountenance that he might venture to take a seat by her side.Explanation quickly followed. He told her how he had come out toCanada, and how successful he and his family had been in establishing ahome for themselves in the wilderness.
"I have a very different tale to tell," she said with a sigh, and hercountenance grew sad. "My home is broken up. The wealth my poor fatherso suddenly acquired has been dissipated and lost. Without thenecessary experience for business, or, perhaps, I should say wanting thecalculating craft of the successful speculator, he suffered himself tobe involved in transactions of an extensive nature, which he was led tobelieve would double his wealth. They proved to be the fraudulentschemes of sharpers, planned for their own profit and my father's ruin.It was in vain that he was warned of their designs--he was infatuated,and would listen to no counsel but that of his treacherous betrayers,who plunged him deeper and deeper into obligations and liabilities,which, in the end, engulphed the whole of his large fortune. He hadeven to fly the country to escape a prison, and is at this moment inhiding from his creditors until his affairs can be arranged. Everythinghad to be given up. My mother's small portion is barely sufficient tomaintain her and my sisters; my brothers, ill-prepared for the lot thatis before them, are abroad in the world, making their way as they bestcan; as for myself, not choosing to add to my mother's burdens, I haveaccepted the post in Mrs Mason's family which I now occupy. She is anold and well-tried friend, who has known me from my infancy, and bothshe and her children regard me as one of themselves. They urged me toaccompany them in their removal to Canada, and cast in my lot withtheirs. What better could I do? Of my own family, not one advised myremaining in England. I accepted my dear friend's offer--and thus ithas come to pass that we meet once more."
Whether Philip and Mary Ashton understood all the interesting addressesgiven on that occasion may be doubted.
"I say, Harry," cried Charley, some days after this, "I am so glad thatPhil is going to be married. That Mary is a nice girl, and she willmake some amends for Sophy having gone away. Not that she is likely tobe up to her--I should like to see the girl who could be."
A short time after the family were reunited at Ashton Clearing, to whichPhilip had brought his wife, Charley acknowledged that if not superiorshe was fully equal to Sophy. Harry had made up his mind that noemployment was superior to that of a settler; and, anxious to resume it,he studied very hard while at college, and took a most creditabledegree. The farm had now grown into a very pretty little estate, towhich the name of Ashton was universally given. Cottages had beenerected on the property, and had been eagerly taken by new comers. Sawand grist-mills had been built in the neighbourhood, and many otherhouses and cottages. Harry had, with his father's assistance, purchaseda good-sized farm near Ashton, and had secured another for Charley, sothat they might be near their father to render him the assistance herequired.
His family had long known what had been Philip's secret wish. They nowunanimously assured him that he might properly follow it, and entreatedhim to do so. It was to enter the ministry. A church was required atAshton--the funds were forthcoming--before it was completed Philip wasordained and became its minister. Few rejoiced
as much as his devotedwife at seeing his talents employed in the noblest cause in which ahuman being can engage.
There was one cloud in Mary Ashton's otherwise serene life--not one ofher family wrote to her, and she could hear nothing about them. Mr andMrs Ashton had their hearts gladdened with a visit from their sailorson Leonard, now a lieutenant, his ship having come to Quebec. From himPhilip first heard of the fate of any of the John Ashtons. "I wassurprised," said Leonard, "to hear among a batch of lads just joined,the name of Thomas Ashton. He was not a prepossessing youth, but as hehad evidently had a better education than the generality of those whoenter the service, he had a fair prospect of doing well if he behavedproperly. He did not though, and was constantly in scrapes, drunk, anddisorderly. He was under confinement for such offences, when he caughtthe fever in the West Indies. The surgeon came one day and said that hewas very ill and wished to see me. I of course went to the lad, whothen told me that he knew who I was--that he was the son of John Ashtonwho got our property. It was dreadful to hear him speak of his fatherwho had cheated us he declared, and cheated all his family, and everybody else. He seemed to consider that he had a claim on me inconsequence of our relationship. I did all I could for him by procuringhim better attendance than he would otherwise have had, and by shiftinghim into comfortable quarters where he would get the benefit of pureair. He soon began to mend, and then I took the liberty of reading himsome serious lectures as to his past conduct and scandalous mode oflife. He took my reproof in good part; and you will be pleased to hearthat when he was at length restored to health, he became quite a newman--scrupulously faithful in discharge of his duty, sober toabstinence, and cheerfully obedient to orders. He has had a narrowescape from death, and is, I trust, thankful to God that he was not cutoff suddenly in his mad career. He is grateful to me for the service Irendered him--says, indeed, that I saved his life; I shall takeadvantage of that feeling to keep him right, if I can. I have trustedhim with some responsibility during my absence, and if, on my return, Ifind he has done well, that will afford me a pretext for helping himforward, which it would give me real pleasure to do."
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Philip had little doubt but that his father and he had been deprived oftheir property by unfair means, though he never even breathed such anidea to his wife. He is, however, able to assure her, with allsincerity, that he does not regret its loss, and that he is convincedthat his father is happier with his children collected around him andall actively employed, than he would have been had he retained hiswealth and lived on in the world of fashion.
Two of Mary's brothers found their way almost in rags to Ashton, havingin vain endeavoured to find employment in England. They expressedthemselves ready to work, and Harry and Charley afforded them somepractical lessons, which enabled them to begin with advantage. At firstthey complained that their limbs ached terribly; but in a short timethey had to confess that food honestly gained by hard labour, was farpleasanter than the bread of idleness. They persevered, and in thecourse of a few years were able to purchase land for themselves. Theyare now hard at work clearing it, and bid fair to become useful membersof society.
Philip Ashton's sons will, undoubtedly, secure an independence; andwill, probably, from their known integrity and energy, be employed insome of the more important offices of the State. Indeed, they all lookback with pleasure to the day when they took up their abode in "The LogHouse by the Lake."
THE END.
The Log House by the Lake: A Tale of Canada Page 9
