THE NORTHWEST REBELLION.
"The great heart of the nation heaves
With pride in work her sons have done well,
And with a smile and sigh she weaves
A wreath of bays and one of _immortelle_."
--_Toronto Mail_
It is the spring of 1885--a memorable one to many a bereaved
household. The Northwest Rebellion is at its height and our
brave-hearted volunteers are starting to the front "to do or die."
On that lovely May morn many a patriotic mother looked on her
first-born with a smile of encouragement upon her lips and a dull
aching at her heart. And that boy's farewell kiss! It lingers, oh so
lovingly, upon the quivering lips and pale cheek! But the brave soul
can suffer this much and more if her country needs it. She can send
all--husband, son and brother. Ah, yes, the true heroes are oftenest
found at the quiet fireside, or in some sequestered spot on a lonely
hillside, where, surrounded by the orphaned ones, they struggle on
and on--on to the goal where all such deeds are crowned with a crown
of victory that is unfading.
We need scarcely speak of that time when our beloved New Brunswick
mustered her little band of heroes, when each county gave its share,
when each vied in patriotic ardor and enthusiasm. It is well known
to all. And who among the countless throng that gathered at the
Intercolonial Railway Station of St. John did not feel a thrill of
emotion that perhaps he or she would never feel again?
And there were many of our friends--aye, all that could go--were
there.
Marguerite Verne, with face of angelic purity, stood bidding adieu
to the dear ones. Beside her was Mrs. Arnold draped in her mourning
weeds and looking indeed a changed woman--a woman with a heart now
ready to sympathize with others and ready to do aught that duty
dictated.
"I thought I'd see all the folks here!" exclaimed a voice and Mr.
Spriggins is instantly beside them, his honest face beaming with
patriotic pride.
"Wal, wal, it is wonderful to see sich a crowd. I wouldn't a-missed
it for a good deal," cried he, looking around with an air of
bewilderment.
Mr. Spriggins soon became _more_ excited. The York contingent,
including the Infantry School Corps, now arrived, and judging from
the appearance of the surging mass that formed the escort and moved
to the martial strains of the I.S.C. Band, there never was a more
genuine expression of Canadian loyalty. And the eulogiums passed
upon the worthy little band were heard on every side--"What fine,
orderly-looking fellows. They'll compare favorably with any of the
regulars." True saying, indeed, New Brunswick has a right to be
proud of her volunteers. They are ever ready to respond to the call
of duty, and to the end maintain the reputation of the British
soldier.
But of our friends. Marguerite felt sad indeed. She had witnessed
the parting of an aged mother and her youngest boy, and a mist now
shaded the thoughtful eyes.
Phillip Lawson next joined the group.
"I need not ask if you are going, Mr. Spriggins," said he smiling,
"as I see you are minus the uniform."
"But I'm true blue all the same, sir. I tell you the Spriggins are
never skulkin' when they're wanted. Jim Spriggins goes without any
coaxin' and if it w'ant that I can't get away from Melindy I'd go
too."
"Your brother volunteered, I suppose," ventured Mrs. Arnold, with an
air of interest.
"Indeed he did, ma'am, he and another fellar from the Crossin', and
I brought 'em down."
Mr. Spriggins made a flourish with his brawny arm and beckoned to
the young men who now were introduced, and received warm
congratulations.
As cheer upon cheer rose from the crowd Moses became half frantic
with enthusiasm.
"Tell ye what it is, Mr. Lawson, them's the fellars to scare the
half-breeds. Bet your life on't, they'll soon make quick work of the
Injuns round Frog Pond and Cut Knife Creek."
Marguerite could ill repress a smile as she caught sight of Lottie
Lawson's face, so expressive of quaint humor and mischief.
And now the historic air--"The Girl I Left Behind Me," falls on
every ear. Those inspiring strains played by the 62nd Fusiliers Band
as the train moved off amid deafening cheers and shouts of "God
bless you," will ever be remembered as souvenirs of that eventful
morn, recalling the enthusiasm which then burst forth from the heart
of every true Canadian.
"It seems too bad that they had to go because Riel had to get up
such a fuss. Why don't they get him and kill him off before he will
have the chance of killing many of our brave fellows."
The girl spoke with considerable force as she finished her speech.
"Bravo! little sister," cried Phillip, patting the flushed cheeks by
way of applause.
"And you think the guverment did the square thing by them ere
half-breeds, do you?"
"Certainly, Mr. Spriggins. What right had they to sell out their
claims and go and settle on any place they wished without making any
recompense whatever. How do you think affairs would end if they were
allowed to go on without any stop being put to them?"
"Wal now, see here, Miss Lottie, I believe you'd make as good a
lawyer as your brother. Spose you've a-learned this from his
discourse and sich like. Wal, I b'lieve the guverment is right, and
at the nixt 'lection I'll remember every word you've said. I allus
thought they was the squarest fellars we've ever had yet--them
fellars that got out this ere policy."
"The National Policy; Mr. Spriggins," ventured Marguerite,
smilingly. "People may talk to the contrary but it has done much to
improve matters. I am not a politician but I must say I like the
National Policy and hope it may exist while there is need of it."
"Wal done, Miss Verne, I b'lieve you could lecture better'n some of
them fellars that come up lection times. I'm sure they could'nt hold
a candle to you."
A general laugh succeeded and Mr. Spriggins was delighted to think
he had made such well-timed remarks.
The party had now arrived at the corner of Coburg and Charlotte
streets when the latter hastily exclaimed.
"By Jiminey! I must go and see about a tub that a woman was to leave
for me in the market. It's a good thing I did'nt forgit; for Melindy
would have my head off."
"I don't think Melindy is so dreadful as you seem to say, Mr.
Spriggins," ventured Lottie, who had gone a few steps in advance,
but now turned face to face with the jubilant Moses.
"Will we wait dinner for you, Mr. Spriggins?" asked Marguerite,
looking earnestly at the sturdy son of toil as if she knew the full
value of the rough but generous nature.
Marguerite was one of the few who could fully appreciate the lines
of Scotland's gifted bard--
"A king can make a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and a' that.
But an honest man's aboon his might,
Guid faith he maunna fa' that."
She had moral courage to stand up boldly for those whom the
fashionable world would sneer at. She was not ashamed to recognize a
plainly-dressed acquaintance in the most public thoroughfare, nor
did she ever make an excuse to be pre-occupied when approached by
some coarse but well-meaning inferior.
Other subjects now crowd upon us.
Aunt Hester once more gladdens the Verne cottage with her cheering
presence. Sunshine follows every step of the happy and hearty
matron.
"_Not a bit older_, you say, Evelyn. Now I did'nt come here to
be made fun of in that style. It was no later than this morning that
your Uncle William told me I was greyer than he! Now there's
conflicting opinions enough for one day," and the hearty laugh that
followed showed that Mrs. Montgomery was as full of life as ever.
"William was afraid that you might grow conceited in your old age,"
said Mrs. Verne in a languid manner. To do justice to the latter it
must be said that she was more natural than the Mrs. Verne of
fashionable "Sunnybank."
"That's just what Jennie told him, Matilda," said Mrs. Montgomery,
taking down a pretty panel that Marguerite had just finished.
"It is exquisite," added she viewing the picture from several
points, in order to study the most striking effect of light and
shade.
"Do tell me, Matilda, have you ever heard of the Lister family? Did
they go back to their delightful Parnassus and revel in the music of
their delectable Castalian spring?"
The mock gravity of the speech afforded considerable merriment.
"You have surely heard of the grand match which Urania made," said
Mrs. Verne. "Why it was announced in most of the leading Canadian
papers."
Poor Mrs. Verne! She almost betrayed her besetting sin, but Mrs.
Montgomery, good soul, seemed unconcious of the fact.
"Only think," cried Marguerite, "of Urania talking up those sublime
theories to Sir George Vandewater of Cornwall."
"A Cornish knight," cried Mrs. Montgomery, clapping her hands with
genuine glee.
"And sixty years into the bargain," chimed in Evelyn.
"You are rather severe, my dear," said Mrs. Verne, addressing her
daughter in a somewhat petulant tone, then turning to her sister
added, "Evelyn wishes to imply that Sir George is sixty. I can't see
that he ought to pass for an old man. I've heard that he does not
look an hour over forty; and twenty thousand a year Hester."
"He needs it all! poor man! for he will have a sorry time of it,"
said Mrs. Montgomery in a tone of mock compassion.
"But that's not the best of it, Aunt Hester, I must tell you the
biggest joke you ever heard," cried Fred. Verne, now a handsome
and intelligent stripling of eighteen, who had just appeared on the
scene in time to have his say also. "You know that they went to
Ottawa about a year ago, and shortly afterwards I found a copy of
the Ottawa _Times_ with an announcement that the Misses
DeLister of New Brunswick were the guests of Mrs. Geoffrey Renfrew."
"DeLister," cried Mrs. Montgomery, between fits of laughter. "Well,
Fred, that is the best joke, indeed! No wonder they caught the poor
Cornish baronet."
Mrs. Verne did not relish her sister's raillery, but she had gained
enough sense to say very little about the Listers and their stroke
of good luck.
"I don't know how many letters I commenced with 'Dear Cousin
Jennie,' and just as I got the length of the Listers new title
something always happened to prevent my finishing."
"You need not try to invent any excuses to Cousin Jennie for your
remissness my dear little brother," cried Marguerite, giving the
youth a sisterly embrace with her fair arm, and running her fingers
through the meshes of clustering curls.
"What a pity we never thought of that dodge before," cried Fred,
brimming over with mischief. "I tell you what DeVerne would have
stood high at Ottawa."
"Can't you let the poor Listers alone, Fred," exclaimed Evelyn,
trying hard to look serious, as she glanced at the life of the house
wedged in beside Aunt Hester on the dainty little sofa.
Evelyn now arose to give some orders for tea, Marguerite glanced
over the evening paper, and seeing that Aunt Hester and her mother
were on the eve of a quiet chat went to her own room. It was in the
gloaming and the girl enjoyed that hour more than words can tell.
Her thoughts were happy ones. All was now bright and fair, and if at
times she took a retrospective glance at the unhappy past it gave
her more cause to be thankful. It always brought up a quotation from
a sermon which she heard in a church in Fredericton--
"Night shows the stars; affliction shows the man."
And true indeed. Affliction showed the true Christian piety of the
lovely Marguerite. It brought out all the inherent beauty of her
nature, and when on certain days she prayed for those who had been
tempted to destroy the happiness of her betrothed it was always
thus: "They are only human! God forgive them!"
Apropos of Hubert Tracy's accomplices, we may say they were allowed
to go unpunished.
"Marguerite," exclaimed Phillip Lawson, taking the taper fingers
within his own. "We are too happy to wish any ill upon a human
creature. Let us trust in God, they may yet to see the great wrong
they tried to commit upon a fellow being; and may they feel such
remorse as will be productive of true penitence."
And the young man did not pray in vain. Messrs. Sharpley & Connors
felt much chagrined as they heard through the medium of the press of
the prosperity of the young and talented lawyer and often
experienced a feeling of uneasiness when they thought how matters
might have terminated. And who will not say that at times there
arose before them a great tribunal where they must answer for the
projected crime.