Thus in one short day was the family of Mr. Campbell changed from a
house of joy to one of mourning. And true was the remark of Malachi,
that misfortunes seldom come single, for now they had another cause of
anxiety. Emma, by her imprudent exposure to the intense chill of the
night air and the wetting of her feet, was first taken with a violent
cold, which was followed by a fever, which became more alarming every
day. Thus, in addition to the loss of one of their children, Mr. and
Mrs. Campbell were threatened with being deprived of two more; for their
nieces were regarded as such, and Alfred was in a very precarious state.
The wounds had assumed such an angry appearance, that Mr. Campbell was
fearful of mortification. This accumulated distress had, however, one
good effect upon them. The danger of losing Emma and Alfred so occupied
their minds and their attention, that they had not time to bewail the
loss of Percival; and even Mrs. Campbell, in her prayers, was enabled to
resign herself to the Almighty's will in taking away her child, if it
would but please Him to spare the two others who were afflicted. Long
and tedious were the hours, the days, and the weeks that passed away
before either of them could be considered in a state of convalescence;
but when her prayers were heard, and, as the winter closed, their
recovery was no longer doubtful. A melancholy winter it had been to them
all, but the joy of once more seeing Emma resume her duties, and Alfred,
supported on cushions, able to be moved into the sitting-room, had a
very exhilarating effect upon their spirits. True, there was no longer
the mirth and merriment that once reigned, but there was a subdued
gratitude to Heaven, which, if it did not make them at once cheerful, at
least prevented any thing like repining or complaint. Grateful for the
mercies vouchsafed to them, in having Alfred and Emma spared to them,
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell consoled themselves in reference to Percival, with
the reflection that, at so early an age, before he had lived to be
corrupted by the world, to die was gain,--and that their dear boy had
become, through Divine grace, an inhabitant of the kingdom of Heaven. By
degrees the family became cheerful and happy; the merry laugh of Emma
once more enlivened them, Alfred again recovered his former health and
spirits, and Mrs. Campbell could bear the mention of the name of
Percival, and join in the praises of the amiable child.
The spring now came on, the snow gradually disappeared, the ice was
carried down the rapids, and once more left the blue lake clear; the
cattle were turned out to feed off the grass the year before left on the
prairie, and all the men were busy in preparing to put in the seed. As
soon as the snow was gone, Malachi, Martin and Alfred, without saying a
word to Mrs. Campbell, had gone into the forest, and made search for the
body of poor Percival, but without success, and it was considered that
he had wandered and died on some spot which they could not discover, or
that the wolves had dug his remains out of the snow, and devoured them.
Not a trace of him could any where be discovered; and the search was,
after a few days, discontinued. The return of the spring had another
good effect upon the spirits of the party; for, with the spring came on
such a variety of work to be done, that they had not a moment to spare.
They had now so many acres for corn, that they had scarcely time to get
through all the preparatory work, and fortunate it was that Alfred was
so much recovered that he could join in the labor. Malachi, John, and
even Mr. Campbell, assisted, and at last the task was completed. Then
they had a communication with the fort, and letters from Quebec,
Montreal, and England: there were none of any importance from England,
but one from Montreal informed Mr. Campbell, that, agreeably to
contract, the engineer would arrive in the course of the month, with the
_bateaux_ containing the machinery, and that the water-mill would be
erected as soon as possible. There was also a letter from England, which
gave them great pleasure; it was from Captain Sinclair to Alfred,
informing him that he had arranged all his business with his guardian,
and that he should rejoin his regiment and be at the fort early in the
spring, as he should sail in the first vessel which left England. He
stated how delighted he should be at his return, and told him to say to
Emma that he had not found an English wife, as she had prophesied, but
was coming back as heart-whole as he went. Very soon afterward they had
a visit from Colonel Forster and some of the officers of the garrison.
The Colonel offered Mr. Campbell a party of soldiers to assist in
raising the mill, and the offer was thankfully accepted.
"We were very much alarmed about you last autumn, when the woods were on
fire, Mr. Campbell," said the Colonel; "but I perceive that it has been
of great advantage to you. You have now a large quantity of cleared land
sown with seed, and if you had possessed sufficient means, might have
had much more put in, as I perceive all the land to the north-west is
cleared by the fire."
"Yes," replied Mr. Campbell; "but my allotment, as you know, extends
along the beach, and we have sown the seed as far from the beach as the
property extends."
"Then I should recommend you to write to Quebec, and apply for another
grant on each side of the stream; indeed, at the back of and equal to
what you now have."
"But if I do, I have not the means of working the land."
"No, not with your present force, I grant; but there are many emigrants
who would be glad of work, and who would settle here upon favorable
conditions."
"The expense would be very great," said Mr. Campbell.
"It would; but the return would indemnify you. The troops at the fort
would take all the flour off your hands, if you had ever so much."
"I am not inclined at present to speculate much further," replied Mr.
Campbell, "but I shall see how this year turns out, and if I find that I
am successful, I will then decide."
"Of course, you will but act prudently. You can send down to your agent
at Quebec, and ascertain what would be the probable terms of the men you
might require. But there is another way, which is to give them the land
to cultivate, and the seed, and to receive from them a certain portion
of corn in return, as rent; that is very safe, and your land will be all
gradually brought into cultivation, besides the advantage of having
neighbors about you. You might send one of your sons down to Montreal,
and arrange all that."
"I certainly will write to my agent and institute inquiries," replied
Mr. Campbell, "and many thanks to you for the suggestion; I have still a
few hundred at the bank to dispose of, if necessary."
About three weeks after this conversation, the _bateaux_ arrived with
the engineer and machinery for the flour and saw-mills: and now the
settlement again presented a lively scene, being thronged with the
soldiers who were sent from the fort. The engineer was a very pleasant,
intelligent young Englishman, who had taken up his profession in Canada,
and was considered one of the most able in the colony. The site of the
mill was soon chosen, and now the axes again resounded in the woods, as
the trees were felled and squared under his directions. Alfred was
constantly with the engineer, superintending the labor of the men, and
contracted a great intimacy with him; indeed, that gentleman was soon on
such a footing with the whole family, as to be considered almost as one
of them, for he was very amusing, very well bred, and had evidently
received every advantage of education. Mr. Campbell found that Mr.
Emmerson, for such was his name, could give him every particular
relative to the emigrants who had come out, as he was so constantly
traveling about the country, and was in such constant communication with
them.
"You are very fortunate in your purchase," said he to Mr. Campbell; "the
land is excellent, and you have a good water-power in the stream, as
well as convenient carriage by the lake. Fifty years hence this property
will be worth a large sum of money."
"I want very much to get some more emigrants to settle here," observed
Mr. Campbell. "It would add to our security and comfort; and I have not
sufficient hands to cultivate the land which has been cleared by the
fire of last autumn. If not cultivated in a short time, it will be all
forest again."
"At present it is all raspberries, and very good ones too, are they not,
Mr. Emmerson?" said Emma.
"Yes, miss, most excellent," replied he; "but you are aware that,
whenever you cut down trees here, and do not hoe the ground to sow it,
raspberry bushes grow up immediately."
"Indeed, I was not aware of it."
"Such is the case, nevertheless. After the raspberries, the seedling
hardwood trees spring up, and, as Mr. Campbell says, they soon grow into
a forest again."
"I do not think that you would have much trouble in getting emigrants to
come here, Mr. Campbell, but the difficulty will be in persuading them
to remain. Their object in coming out to this country is to obtain land
of their own, and become independent. Many of them have not the means to
go on, and, as a temporary resource, are compelled to act as laborers;
but the moment that they get sufficient to purchase for themselves, they
will leave you."
"That is very natural; but I have been thinking of obtaining a larger
grant than I have now, and I wish very much that I could make an
arrangement with some emigrants. The Colonel says that I might do so by
supplying them with seed, and taking corn in return as rent."
"That would not be a permanent arrangement," replied Mr. Emmerson. "How
much land, do you propose applying for?"
"Six hundred acres."
"Well, sir, I think it would meet the views of both parties if you were
to offer terms like the following--that is, divide the land into lots of
one hundred acres each, and allow them to cultivate for you the fifty
acres that adjoin your own land, with the right of purchasing the other
fifty as their own property, as soon as they can. You will then obtain
three hundred acres of the most valuable land, in addition to your
present farm, and have fixed neighbors around you, even after they are
enabled to purchase the other fifty."
"I think that a very good arrangement, Mr. Emmerson, and I would gladly
consent to it."
"Well, sir, I shall have plenty of opportunities this summer of making
the proposal to the emigrants, and if I find any parties who seem likely
to prove advantageous as neighbors, I will let you know."
"And with such expectations I will apply for the additional grant," said
Mr. Campbell, "for to have neighbors in this solitude, I would almost
make them a present of the land."
"I suspect that in a few years you will have neighbors enough, without
resorting to such an expedient," replied Mr. Emmerson, "but according to
your present proposal, they may be better selected, and you may make
terms which will prevent any nuisances."
The works at the mill proceeded rapidly, and before the hay-harvest the
mill was complete. Alfred was very careful, and paid every attention to
what was going on, and so did Martin, that they might understand the
machinery. This was very simple. Mr. Emmerson tried the mill, and found
it to answer well. He explained every thing to Alfred, and put the mill
to work, that he might be fully master of it. As it was a fortnight
after the mill was at work before Mr. Emmerson could obtain a passage
back to Montreal, Alfred and Martin worked both mills during that time,
and felt satisfied that they required no further instruction. The
soldiers, at the request of Mr. Campbell, were allowed to remain till
the hay-harvest, and as soon as the hay was gathered in, they were paid
and returned to the fort. Captain Sinclair, who, from his letter, had
been expected to arrive much sooner, came just as the soldiers had left
the farm. It need hardly be said that he was received most warmly. He
had a great deal to tell them, and had brought out a great many
presents; those for poor little Percival he kept back, of course. Emma
and Mary were delighted to have him again as a companion, and to resume
their walks with him; a fortnight thus passed away very quickly, when
his leave of absence expired, and he was obliged to return to the fort.
Previous, however, to his going away, he requested a private interview
with Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, in which he stated his exact position and
his means, and requested their sanction to his paying his addresses to
Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, who had already perceived the attentions he
had shown to her, did not hesitate to express their satisfaction at his
request, and their best wishes for his success; and having so done, they
left him to forward his own suit, which Captain Sinclair did not fail to
do that very evening, Mary Percival was too amiable and right-minded a
girl not at once to refuse or accept Captain Sinclair. As she had long
been attached to him she did not deny that such was the case, and
Captain Sinclair was overjoyed at his success.
"I have spoken frankly to you, Captain Sinclair," said Mary; "I have not
denied that you have an interest in my affections; but I must now
request you to let me know what are your future views."
"To do just what you wish me to do."
"I have no right to advise, and no wish to persuade. I have my own path
of duty pointed out to me, and from that I can not swerve."
"And what is that?"
"It is that, under present circumstances, I must not think of leaving my
uncle and aunt. I have been bred up and educated by them; I have as an
orphan shared their prosperity; I have a deep debt of gratitude to pay,
and I can not consent to return to England to enjoy all the advantages
which your means will afford, while they remain in their present
isolated position. Hereafter circumstances may alter my opinion, but
such it is at present."
"But if I am willing to remain with you here to share your fortunes,
will not that satisfy you?"
"No, certainly not; for that would be allowing you to do injustice to
yourself. I presume you do not mean to quit your profession?"
"I had no such intention; but still, if I have to choose between you and
the service, I shall not hesitate."
"I trust you will not hesitate, but determine to adhere steadily to your
profession for the present, Captain Sinclair. It will not do for you to
give up your prospects and chance of advancement for even such a woman
as me," continued Mary, smiling; "nor must you think of becoming a
backwoodsman for a pale-faced girl."
"Then what am I to do if, as you say, you will not leave your uncle and
aunt?"
"Wait, Captain Sinclair; be satisfied that you have my affections, and
wait patiently till circumstances may occur which will enable me to
reward your affection without being guilty of ingratitude toward those
to whom I owe so much. On such terms I accept you willingly; but you
must do your duty to yourself, while I must discharge _my_ duty toward
my uncle and aunt."
"I believe you are right, Mary," replied Captain Sinclair; "only I do
not see any definite hope of our being united. Can you give me any
prospect to cheer me?"
"We are both very young, Captain Sinclair," observed Mary; "in a year or
two, my uncle and aunt may be less lonely and more comfortable than at
present. In a year or two the war may end, and you may honorably retire
upon half-pay; in fact, so many chances are there which are hidden from
us and come upon us so unexpectedly, that it is impossible to say what
may take place. And if, after waiting patiently for some time, none of
these chances do turn up, you have yet another in your favor."
"And what is that, Mary?"
"That, perhaps, I may be tired of waiting myself," replied Mary, with a
smile.
"Upon that chance, then, I will live in hope," replied Captain Sinclair;
"if you will only reward me when you consider that my faithful service
demands it, I will serve as long as Jacob did for Rachel."
"Do so, and you shall not be deceived at the end of your services, as he
was," replied Mary; "but now let us return to the house."
Captain Sinclair departed the day afterward, quite satisfied with Mary's
resolution.