In two days Malachi and John returned, bringing with them the skins of
three bears which they had killed--but at this period of the year the
animals were so thin and poor, that their flesh was not worth bringing
home. Indeed, it was hardly worth while going out to hunt just then, so
they both remained much at home, either fishing in the lake, or taking
trout in the stream. Alfred and Martin were still occupied with the
farm; the seed had come up, and they were splitting rails for the
prairie fence. About a fortnight after Captain Sinclair's departure,
Colonel Foster came in a boat from the fort, to pay them a visit.
"I assure you, Mr Campbell," said he, "I was very anxious about you
last winter, and I am rejoiced that you got over it with so little
difficulty. At one time we had apprehensions of the Indians, but these
have passed over for the present. They meet again this summer, but the
Quebec government are on the alert, and I have no doubt but that a
little conciliation will put an end to all animosity. We expect a large
supply of blankets and other articles to be sent up this spring, as
presents to the tribes, which we hope will procure their good-will; and
we have taken up several French emissaries, who were working mischief."
"But still we shall be liable to the assaults of straggling parties,"
said Mr Campbell.
"That is true," replied the Colonel, "but against them you have your own
means of defence. You would, in so isolated a position, he equally
liable to a burglary in England--only that in England you would have the
laws to appeal to, whereas here you must take the law into your own
hands."
"It certainly is not pleasant to be in a continual state of anxiety,"
observed Mr Campbell, "but we knew what we had to expect before we came
here, and we must make the best of it. So you have lost Captain
Sinclair, Colonel; he is a great loss to us."
"Yes, he is to go to England for a short time," replied the Colonel,
"but we shall soon have him back again. He must be very fond of his
profession to remain in it with his means."
"He told us that he was about to take possession of a small property."
"A property of nearly 2,000 pounds per annum," replied the Colonel. "He
may consider it a small property, but I should think it otherwise if it
had fallen to my lot."
"Indeed, I had no idea, from what he said, that it was so large," said
Mrs Campbell. "Well, I have a high opinion of him, and have no doubt
but that he will make a good use of it."
"At all events, he can afford the luxury of a wife," said the Colonel,
laughing, "which we soldiers seldom can."
The Colonel then entered into conversation with Mr Campbell, and after
many questions, he observed:
"I have been thinking, Mr Campbell, that it will be very advantageous
to the government as well as to you, when your farm is cleared and
stocked, if, with the water-power you possess here, you were to erect a
flour-mill and a saw-mill. You observe that the government has to
supply the fort with flour and provisions of all kinds at a very heavy
expense of carriage, and the cattle we have at the fort will cost us
more than they are worth, now that we have lost your prairie farm, so
conveniently situated for us. On the other hand, your produce will be
almost useless to you, at the distance you are from any mart; as you
will not find any sale for it. Now, if you were to erect a mill, and
grind your own wheat, which you may do in another year, if you have
funds sufficient; and as you may have plenty of stock, you will be able
to supply the fort with flour, beef, pork, and mutton, at a good profit
to yourself, and at one-half the price which government pays at present.
I have written to the Governor on the subject, stating that we have not
the means of keeping our stock, and pointing out to him what I now point
out to you. I expect an answer in a few days, and should he authorise
me, I may make arrangements with you even now, which will be
satisfactory, I have no doubt."
Mr Campbell returned the Colonel many thanks for his kindness, and of
course expressed himself willing to be guided by his advice. He stated
that he had funds not only sufficient to erect a mill, but also, if he
were permitted, to pay for the labour of any party of men which the
Commandant would spare during the summer season.
"That is the very point which I wished to ascertain; but I felt some
delicacy about making the inquiry. Now I consider that there will be no
difficulty in our arrangements."
The Colonel remained for some time looking over the farm and conversing
with Mr Campbell, and then took his leave.
In the meantime, Alfred and his cousins went out to walk; the weather
was now beautifully clear, and in the afternoon the heat was not too
oppressive. As they sauntered by the side of the stream, Mary said,
"Well, Alfred, what do you think of the Colonel's proposition?"
"Yes," observed Emma, "you are a party deeply concerned in it."
"How so, dear coz?"
"Why, don't you perceive that if the mill is erected, you will be the
proper person to have charge of it? What a change of professions, from
a sailor to a miller. I think I see you in your coat, all white with
flour, coming in to dinner."
"My dear Emma, you don't intend it, I am sure, but you do not know that
you are inflicting pain upon me. When the Colonel made the proposition,
I felt the importance of it, as it would be a source of great profit to
my father; but at the same time, I don't know how it is, I have always
indulged the idea that we may not stay here for ever, and this plan
appeared so like decidedly settling down to a residence for life, that
it made me low-spirited. I know that it is foolish, and that we have no
chance of ever removing--but still I cannot, even with this almost
certainty before my eyes, keep my mind from thinking upon one day
returning to my profession, and the idea of becoming a miller for life
is what I cannot as yet contemplate with any degree of composure."
"Well, Alfred, I only did it to tease you a little, not to hurt your
feelings, believe me," replied Emma. "You shall not be a miller if you
don't like it, Henry will do better, perhaps, than you; but as for our
quitting this place, I have no idea of its being ever possible. I have
made up my mind to live and die in the Canadian woods, considering it my
wayward fate that all `my sweetness should be wasted on the desert
air.'"
"Repining is useless, if not sinful," observed Mary Percival. "We have
much to be thankful for; at least we are independent, and if we are ever
to repay the kindness of our uncle and aunt, who must feel their change
of condition so much more than we do, it must be by cheerfulness and
content. I have been thinking as well as you, Alfred, and I'll tell you
what was in my thoughts. I looked forward to a few years, by which
time, as the country fills up so fast, it is very probable that we shall
have other settlers here as neighbours, in every direction. This will
give us security. I also fancied that my uncle's farm and property
became of value and importance, and that he himself became a leading man
in the district; not only at his ease, but, for a settler, even wealthy;
and then I fancied that, surrounded by others, in perfect security, and
in easy and independent circumstances, my uncle would not forget the
great sacrifice which my cousin Alfred so nobly made, and would insist
upon his returning to that profession, to which he is so much attached,
and in which I have no doubt but that he will distinguish himself."
"Well said, my sweet prophet," said Alfred, kissing his cousin, "you
have more sense than both of us."
"Answer for yourself, Alfred, if you please," said Emma, tossing her
head as if affronted. "I shall not forget that remark of yours, I can
assure you. Now, I prophesy quite the contrary; Alfred will never go to
sea again. He will be taken with the charms of some Scotch settler's
daughter; some Janet or Moggy, and settle down into a Canadian farmer,
mounted on a long-legged black pony."
"And I too," replied Alfred, "prophesy, that at the same time that I
marry and settle as you have described, Miss Emma Percival will yield up
her charms to some long-legged black nondescript sort of a fellow, who
will set up a whisky-shop and instal his wife as barmaid to attend upon
and conciliate his customers."
"Emma, I think you have the worst of this peeping into futurity," said
Mary, laughing.
"Yes, if Alfred were not a false prophet, of which there are always many
going about," replied Emma; "however, I hope your prophecy may be the
true one, Mary, and then we shall get rid of him."
"I flatter myself that you would be very sorry if I went away; you would
have no one to tease, at all events," replied Alfred, "and that would be
a sad loss to yourself."
"Well, there's some sense in that remark," said Emma; "but the cows are
waiting to be milked, and so, Mr Alfred, if you are on your good
behaviour, you had better go and bring us the pails."
"I really pity Alfred," said Mary, as soon as he was out of hearing;
"his sacrifice has been very great, and, much as he must feel it, how
well he bears up against it."
"He is a dear, noble fellow," replied Emma; "and I do love him very
much, although I cannot help teasing him."
"But on some points you should be cautious, my dear sister; you don't
know what pain you give."
"Yes I do, and am always sorry when I have done it, but it is not until
afterwards that I recollect it, and then I am very angry with myself.
Don't scold me, dear Mary, I will try to be wiser; I wonder whether what
you say will come to pass, and we shall have neighbours; I wish we had,
if it were only on account of those Indians."
"I think it very probable," replied Mary; "but time will shew."
Alfred then returned with the pails, and the conversation took another
turn.
A few days afterwards, a corporal arrived from the fort, bringing
letters and newspapers; the first that they had received since the
breaking up of the winter. The whole family were in commotion as the
intelligence was proclaimed; Mary and Emma left the fowls which they
were feeding; Percival threw down the pail with which he was attending
the pigs; Alfred ran in from where he and Martin were busy splitting
rails; all crowded round Mr Campbell as he opened the packet in which
all the letters and papers had been enveloped at the fort. The letters
were few; three from Miss Paterson, and two other friends in England,
giving them the English news; one to Alfred from Captain Lumley,
inquiring after the family, and telling him that he had mentioned his
position to his friends at the Board, and that there could be no call
for his services for the present; one from Mr Campbell's English agent,
informing him that he had remitted the money paid by Mr Douglas
Campbell for the plants, etcetera, to his agent at Quebec; and another
from his Quebec agent, advising the receipt of the money and inclosing a
balance-sheet. The letters were first read over, and then the news
papers were distributed, and all of them were soon very busy and silent
during the perusal.
After a while, Emma read out. "Dear uncle, only hear this, how sorry I
am."
"What is it, my dear?" said Mr Campbell.
"`Mrs Douglas Campbell, of Wexton Hall, of a son, which survived but a
few hours after birth.'"
"I am very sorry too, my dear Emma," replied Mr Campbell; "Mr Douglas
Campbell's kindness to us must make us feel for any misfortune which may
happen to him, and to rejoice in any blessing which may be bestowed upon
him."
"It must have been a serious disappointment," said Mrs Campbell; "but
one which, if it pleases God, may be replaced; and we may hope that
their expectations, though blighted for the present, may be realised on
some future occasion."
"Here is a letter from Colonel Foster, which I overlooked," said Mr
Campbell; "it was between the envelope. He says that he has received an
answer from the Governor, who fully agrees with him in his views on the
subject we were conversing about, and has allowed him to take any steps
which he may think advisable. The Colonel says that he will call upon
me again in a few days, and that if, in the meantime, I will let him
know how many soldiers I wish to employ, he will make arrangements to
meet my views as far as lies in his power. We have to thank Heaven for
sending us friends, at all events," continued Mr Campbell; "but at
present, we will put his letter aside, and return to our English news."
"Dear England!" exclaimed Emma.
"Yes, dear England, my good girl; we are English, and can love our
country as much now as we did when we lived in it. We are still
English, and in an English colony; it has pleased Heaven to remove us
away from our native land, but our hearts and feelings are still the
same, and so will all English hearts be found to be in every settlement
made by our country all over the wide world. We all glory in being
English, and have reason to be proud of our country. May the feeling
never be lost, but have an elevating influence upon our general
conduct!"