Move to Rama--I go to college--My chum--How I cure him--Work in store
in Orillia--Again attend college--Father receives appointment to
"Hudson's Bay"--Asks me to accompany him.
After six years of great toil, and a good deal of privation, father
was moved to Rama, and now a bright new field was opening before me,
for father had determined to send me to Victoria College. I was now
nearly fourteen years old, and would have been better suited at some
good public school, but father had great faith in "old Victoria," and
at that time there was a preparatory department in connection with
the college. So, soon after we were settled at Rama, I went on to
Cobourg.
I was early, and it was several days before college opened. Oh, how
lonesome I was, completely lost in those strange surroundings. I had
a letter to Dr. Nelles, and because of my father he received me
graciously, and I felt it was something to have a grand, good father,
such as I had; but it was days before I became in any way acquainted
with the boys.
I was looked upon as an Indian; in fact, I was pointed out by one boy
to another as the "Indian fellow." "Oh," said the other boy, "where
does he come from?" and to my amazement and also comfort, for it
revealed to me that these very superior young gentlemen did not know
as much as I gave them credit for, the other said, "Why, he comes
from Lake Superior at the foot of the Rocky Mountains;" and yet this
boy was about voicing the extent of general knowledge of our country
in those days.
I was given a chum, and he was as full of mischief and conceit as
boys generally are in the presence of one not so experienced as they
are.
My father thought I might be able to go through to graduation, and
therefore wanted me to take up studies accordingly.
Latin was one of the first I was down for, this was in Professor
Campbell's room.
We filed in the first morning, and he took our names, and said he was
glad to see us, hoped we would have a pleasant time together, etc.,
and then said, "Gentlemen, you can take the first declension for
to-morrow."
What was the first declension, what did you do with it, how learn it,
how recite it? My, how these questions bothered me the rest of the
day! I finally found the first declension. I made up my mind that I
would be the first to be called on to-morrow. Oh, what a stew I was
in! I dared not ask anybody for fear of ridicule, and thus I was
alone. I staid in my room, I pored over that page of my Latin
grammar, I memorized the whole page. I could have repeated it
backwards. It troubled me all night, and next day I went to my class
trembling and troubled; but, to my great joy, I was not called upon,
and without having asked anyone, I saw through the lesson, and a load
went off my mind.
After that first hour in the class-room, I saw then that after all I
was as capable as many others around me, and was greatly comforted.
But my rascal of a chum, noticing that I stuck to my Latin grammar a
great deal, one day, when I was out of the room, took and smeared the
pages of my lesson with mucilage and shut the book, thus destroying
that part for me, and putting me in another quandary.
However, I got over that, and "laid low" for my chum, for he was soon
at his tricks again. This time he knotted and twisted my Sunday
clothes, as they hung in the room.
And now my temper was up. I went out on to the playground, found him
among a crowd, and caught him by the throat, tripped him up and got
on him, and said, "You villain! You call me an Indian; I will Indian
you, I will--scalp you!" And with this, with one hand on his throat,
I felt for my knife with the other, when he began to call "Murder!"
The boys took me off, and I laid my case before them, and showed them
how the young rascal had treated me. And now the crowd took my part,
and I was introduced.
After that everybody knew me, and I had lots of friends.
Before long I "cleaned out" the crowd in running foot-races, and
proved myself the equal of any at "long jump" and "hop, step and
jump." This made me one of the boys, and even my chum began to be
proud of me.
[Illustration: HOW I CURED MY CHUM]
But my greatest hardship was lack of funds, even enough to obtain
books, or paper and pencils. Once I borrowed twenty-five cents from
one of the boys, and after a few days he badgered me for it, and kept
it up until I was in despair and felt like killing him. Then I went
to one of the "Conference students" and borrowed the twenty-five
cents to give to my persecutor; and then daily I wended my way to the
post-office, hoping for a remittance, but none came for weeks, and
when one came, it had the great sum of _one dollar_ in it. How
gladly I paid my twenty-five cents debt, and carefully hoarded the
balance of my dollar. Christmas came, and most of the boys went
home; but though I wanted to go home and my parents wanted me very
much, and though it took but a few dollars to go from Cobourg to
Barrie, the few were not forthcoming, and my holidays were to go back
to Alan-wick amongst my father's old friends, those with whom he had
worked during his time under Elder Case, and who received me kindly
for my father's sake.
Soon the busy months passed, and then convocation and holidays, and I
went back to Rama and enjoyed a short holiday in canoeing down to
Muskoka, having as my companions my cousin Charles and my brother
David.
We had a good time, and when we came home I engaged to work for
Thomas Moffatt, of Orillia, for one year, for $5.00 per month and my
board.
My work was attending shop, and one part especially was trading with
the Indians.
Of these we had two classes--those who belonged to the reserve at
Rama, and the pagans who roamed the "Muskoka country." Having the
language and intimate acquaintance with the life and habits of these
people, I was as "to the manner born," and thus had the advantage
over many others.
Many a wild ride I have had with those "Muskoka fellows." If we
heard of them coming, I would go to meet them with a big team and
sleigh, and bring them and their furs to town, and after they had
traded would take them for miles on their way.
While in town we would try and keep them from whiskey, but sometimes
after we got started out some sly fellow would produce his bottle,
and the drinking would begin, and with it the noise and bluster; and
I would be very glad when I got them out of my sleigh and had put
some distance between us.
Right across from us was another store, the owner of which had been a
"whiskey trader" the greater part of his life.
One morning I was taking the shutters off our windows, when a man
galloped up in great haste and told me he was after a doctor, that
there was someone either freezing or frozen out on the ice in the
bay, a little below the village; and away he flew on his errand.
The old "whiskey trader" happened just then to come to the door of
his store, and I told him what I had heard. With a laugh and an oath
he said, "John, I'll bet that is old Tom Bigwind, the old rascal."
(Poor Tom, an Indian, was the victim of drunkenness, and this man had
helped to make him so.) "He owes me, and I suppose he owes you also.
Well, I will tell you what we will do; you shall take his old squaw,
and I will take his traps."
My boyish blood was all ablaze at this, but as he was a white-headed
old man, I turned away in disgust.
I then went in to breakfast, and when I came out I had an errand down
the street, and presently met the old trader, all broken up and
crying like a child. I said, "What is the matter?" and he burst out,
"Oh, it is George! Poor George!" "What George?" I asked; and he
said, "My son! my son!" And then it flashed upon me--for I knew his
son, like old Tom, the Indian, had become a victim of the same curse.
Ah! thought I, this is retribution quick and sharp.
I went on down to the town hall, into which the lifeless body had
been brought, and there, sure enough, was _poor George's body,
chilled to death out on the ice while drunk!_
One of the gentlemen present said to me, "John, you must go and break
this sad event to his wife."
I pleaded for someone else to go, but it was no use. I was
acquainted with the family, had often received kind notice from this
poor woman who now in this terrible manner was widowed, and with a
troubled heart I went on my sad errand.
What had spoken to her? No human being had been near the house that
morning, and yet, with blanched face, as if in anticipation of woe,
she met me at the door.
I said, "Be calm, madam, and gather your strength," and I told her
what had happened. It seemed to age me to do this; what must it have
been to this loving wife to listen to my tale! She sat as dead for a
minute, and then she spoke. "John, I will go with you to my
husband;" and, leaning and tottering on my arm, I took her to where
her dead husband lay.
It is awful to stand by the honorable dead when suddenly taken from
us while in the prime and vigor of life, but this seemed beyond human
endurance. No wonder I hate this accursed traffic.
I was very busy and happy during my stay in Orillia. My employer and
his good wife were exceedingly kind, and I became acquainted with
many whose friendship I value and esteem to-day. At the end of the
year I had saved all but $10 of my $60 salary, and with this to the
good and with father's hearty encouragement, I started for college
once more.
This time I was at home at once. Even the old halls and class-rooms
seemed to welcome me. Dr. Nelles took me by the hand in a way which,
in turn, took my heart. I received great kindness from Dr. Harris
and Dr. Whitlocke, Mr. (now Dr.) Burwash and Mr. (now Dr.) Burns. I
had these grand men before me as ideals, and I strove to hold their
friendship.
That year at college, 1859-60, is a green spot in my memory. It
opened to me a new life; it gave me the beginnings of a grip of
things; it originated, or helped to originate, within me a desire to
think for myself. Everywhere--on the playground, in the class-rooms,
in the college halls, in the students' room--I had a good time. I
was strong and healthy, and, for my age, a more than average athlete.
I could run faster and jump farther than most of the students or
townboys. I knew my parents were making sacrifices to keep me at
college, and I studied hard to make the most of my grand opportunity.
Thus the months flew almost too quickly, and college closed and I
went home; and, being still but a young boy, was glad to see my
mother and brothers and sisters, and to launch the canoe and fish by
the hour for bass and catfish, and even occasionally a maskinonge.
Why, even now I seem to feel the thrill of a big black bass's bite
and pull.
What excitement, what intense anxiety, and what pride when a big
fellow was safely landed in my canoe!
One day I was lazily paddling around Limestone Point. The lake was
like a mirror. I was looking into the depths of water, when
presently I saw some dark objects. I slowly moved my canoe to obtain
a right light, so as to see what they were, when to my surprise I
made out the dark things to be three large catfish.
Quietly I baited my hook and dropped it down, down, near the mouth of
one. They seemed to be sleeping. I gently moved my baited hook,
until I tickled the fellow's moustache. Then he slowly awoke and
swallowed my hook. I pulled easily, and without disturbing the
others put him in my canoe, and repeated this until the trio were
again side by side.
This was great sport--this was great luck for our table at home.
In a little while Conference sat, and my father was appointed to
Norway House, Hudson's Bay.
This news came like a clap of thunder into our quiet home at Rama.
Hudson's Bay--we had a very vague idea where that was; but Norway
House, who could tell us about this?
Now, it so happened that we were very fortunate, for right beside us
lived Peter Jacobs. Peter had once been a missionary, and had been
stationed at Norway House and Lac-la-Pliue; therefore to Peter I went
for information. He told me Norway House was north of Lake Winnipeg,
on one of the rivers which flow into the Nelson; that it was a large
Hudson's Bay Company's fort, the head post of a large district; that
our mission was within two miles of the fort; that the Indians were
quiet, industrious, peaceable people; "in fact," said he, "the
Indians at Norway House are the best I ever saw."
All this was comforting, especially to mother. But as to the route
to be travelled, Peter could give but little information.
He had come and gone by the old canoe route, up the Kaministiqua and
so on, across the height of land down to Lake Winnipeg.
We were to go out by another way altogether. I began to study the
maps. This was a route I had not been told anything about at school.
In the meantime father came home. And though I did hope to work my
way through college, when my father said, "My son, I want you to go
with me," that settled it, and we began to make ready for our big
translation.