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 so 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 Forster 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 defense. You would, in so isolated a position, be equally
liable to a burglary in England--only with the difference 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 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, relative
to his farm, 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 authorize 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 labor 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 forever, 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 can not, 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 can not 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 it's 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 neighbors, 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
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 bar-maid 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
behavior, 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 can not 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
afterward 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 neighbors; I wish we had,
if it were only on account of those Indians."
"I think it very probable," replied Mary; "but time will show."
Alfred then returned with the pails, and the conversation took another
turn.
A few days afterward, 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 foot. 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, etc., 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 newspapers 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 realized on
some future occasion."
"Here is a letter from Colonel Forster, 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!"