AT HOME.
Now we are at home and I am thankful. There they nestle in a pretty
valley, the simple house, the store, and beside the brook, the mill. The
music of the workman's hammer alone breaks the stillness that pervades
the scene, and the hills send back the echo without a discordant note.
The hills were covered with trees, principally poplar and spruce,
interspersed with berry-bearing shrubs. A most beautiful and enchanting
location.
That little settlement of our own was situated upon Frog Creek, about
three miles west of the lake of the same name, and distant from the Frog
Lake Settlement, our nearest white neighbours, about two miles. But we
had neighbours close by, who came in to see us the next day, shaking
hands and chatting to us in Cree, of which language we knew but little.
The Indians appeared to be very kind and supplied us with white fish
twice a week which they procured from the river for which in return we
gave sugar, tea, prints, &c., from the store. Christmas and New Year's
were celebrated in about the same manner that they are amongst us
civilized people. Both Indians and squaws put on their good clothes,
which at the best of times is very scant, and do their calling. They
salute the inmates of each house they enter with a congratulatory shake,
expecting to be kissed in return. Just think of having to kiss a whole
tribe of Indians in one day, that part we would rather do by proxy. We
would not countenance it in any way. On Christmas day we went out for
a walk along Frog Creek; on our way we came to where two little Indian
children were catching rabbits with a snare, they stepped to one side
and let us pass, and were delighted to have us watching them while
catching their game; and further on some of the squaws had holes cut in
the ice, and having a sharp hook were catching fish. In this way they
get fish all winter, and to look at these "shrimpy-looking" women
trotting along with their brown babies slung in a sort of loose pocket
dangling away behind their backs, it was comical in the extreme, they
would stop and look and laugh at us, our appearance being so very
different to their own dark skin and sharp eyes. They wear their hair
hanging, strung with brass beads, and have small pieces of rabbit fur
tied in; and the men wear theirs cut very short in front, hanging over
their brows, and ornaments of every description. These people don't set
at table on chairs, rich or poor; they squat down on their feet in a
fashion that would soon tire us exceedingly. Then at night they wrap
themselves up in a blanket, lie down and sleep as soundly as we would in
our warm feather bed and blankets.
My husband and the men worked hard during the next two months on the
mill in order to get it finished before the spring set in. As far as the
weather was concerned it was very favourable for working. The men lost
no time from the cold. During that period the thermometer ranged from
zero to 60? below but the air was so clear and bracing that the cold
was never felt. I have experienced more severe weather in Ontario than
I ever did in this part. I have heard of north-west blizzards, but
they are confined to the prairie and did not reach us. It is the most
beautiful country I ever saw with its towering hills, majestic rivers,
beautiful flowers and rolling land. I had made up my mind to see nothing
but frost, ice and snow, but was agreeably disappointed.
Nothing of an eventful nature transpired, during those two months,
the mill was about completed and Williscraft and the other men were
discharged with the exception of Mr. Gilchrist, who assisted my husband.
The machinery was all in position and everything done but finishing up,
when on the 17th of March, two men, strangers, made their appearance at
the mill and asked for employment. They said they were weary and worn
and had left Duck Lake in order to avoid the trouble that was brewing
there. One was Gregory Donaire and the other Peter Blondin, my husband
took pity on them and gave them employment. They worked for us until the
massacre. They were continually going too and fro among the Indians, and
I cannot but believe, that they were cognizant of everything that was
going on, if not responsible in a great degree for the murders which
were afterwards committed.