I ENTER THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY'S SERVICE--PADRE GIBERT.
I entered the service of the Company in the winter of 1820-21, and
after passing my contract at Montreal in the month of January, I took
up my residence for the remainder of the season with a French priest,
in the parish of Petit le Maska, for the purpose of studying the
French language. The Padre was a most affable, liberal-minded man, a
warm friend of England and Englishmen, and a staunch adherent to their
government, which he considered as the most perfect under the sun. The
fact is, that the old gentleman, along with many others of his
countrymen who had escaped from the horrors of the French Revolution,
had found an asylum in our land of freedom, which they could find
nowhere else; and the personal advantages that had accrued to him from
that circumstance, naturally induced a favourable disposition towards
his benefactors, their laws, and their institutions. Though the Padre
was extremely liberal in his political opinions, his management of his
worldly affairs bore the stamp of the most sordid parsimony. He
worshipped the golden calf, and his adoration of the image was
manifest in everything around him. He wore a cassock of cloth which
had in former times been of a black colour, but was now of a dusky
grey, the woollen material being so completely incorporated with dust
as to give it that colour. His table was furnished with such fare as
his farm produced, with the addition, on particular occasions, of a
bottle of _black strap_. A charming nymph, of some fifty years of age
or so, had the management of the household, and discharged all her
duties with strict decorum and care. I have the beauties of her person
in my mind's eye to this day. She was hump-backed, short-necked, and
one-eyed, and squinted bewitchingly with the remaining one: she had a
short leg and a long one, a high shoulder and a low. In short, the
dear creature seemed to be formed, or rather deformed, by the hand of
nature on purpose to fill the situation of housekeeper for a
priest,--so that whatever might be his age, no scandal could possibly
attach itself to him from such a housekeeper. The man-servant was
directly the counterpart of the charming Marguerite; he also was far
advanced in the vale of years, and was of a most irascible temper. To
stir up Joseph to the _grinning point_ was a very easy matter; and his
frantic gesticulations, when thus goaded to wrath by our teasing
pleasantries, (there were two other young gentlemen beside myself,)
were of the most extraordinary description, and afforded infinite
amusement. We never failed to amuse ourselves at Joseph's expense,
when the Padre's absence permitted our doing so with impunity,--especially
as a small present of tobacco, which was always kept at hand for such
occasions, soon made us friends again. But it sometimes happened that
such jokes were carried too far, so as to render the offering of
_incense_ quite unacceptable, when the touch of _metal_ could alone
produce the desired effect.
I remained with Father Gibert until spring, and shall take leave of
him by relating an anecdote or two illustrative of his loyalty and
benevolence. Some time during Madison's unprovoked war with Great
Britain, an alarm came from the upper part of the parish of which
Father Gibert was _curé_, that a party of Americans had been seen
marching down the country. The _Capitaine_ of militia, who was the
_curé's_ next door neighbour, was immediately sent for, and by their
joint influence and authority a considerable number of _habitans_ were
soon assembled under arms, such as they were. The Father then
shouldering his musket, and placing himself at the head of his
parishioners, led them into his garden, which was enclosed by a picket
fence, and bordered on the highway. Here the loyal band took their
stand under cover of the fence, waiting to give Jonathan a warm
reception the moment he came within reach. The supposed Americans
proved to be a small detachment of British troops, and thus the affair
ended.
On another occasion during the same period the Padre's loyalty and
good humour were manifested, though in a different manner. While
amusing himself in the garden one day, he overheard two Irish soldiers
engaged in conversation to this effect:--
"You know that the ould boy asks every body afore he gives any
praties, if they belong to St. Patrick; well, is it a hard matter to
tell him we do, agrah?"
"Sure you'd be telling a lie, Paddy!"
"Never mind that," said Paddy, "I'll spake."
The old gentleman immediately returned to the house, and entering by a
back door, was snugly seated in his arm-chair, book in hand, when the
two Hibernians were admitted.
"Well, my boys, what is your business with me?"
"We would be wanting a few praties, if your Riverence could spare
them."
"Aha! you are from Ireland, I perceive. Irishmen very fond of
potatoes! Well, my boys, I have a few remaining, and you shall have
some if you belong to St. Patrick."
"Faith, and it is all as your honour says; we are Irishmen, and we
belong to St. Patrick."
The old gentleman ordered Joseph to supply them with the "blessed
root," without any further parley. Then addressing the speaker in a
voice of assumed choler, exclaimed:--
"You are a great raskail! does your religion teach you to tell lies?
You are Protestant both of you. However, if you do not belong to St.
Patrick, you belong to the King of England, and I give my potatoes for
his sake. But you must never try to impose upon an old priest again,
or you may not come so well off."