The Log House by the Lake, A Tale of Canada, by William H G Kingston. 

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A well-to-do English family, with inherited wealth, find that thissituation is challenged in the law-courts. They lose the case, and, aswith Marryat's "Settlers in Canada" in a similar situation, decide toemigrate to Canada. This they do, and have enough money to settlethere, but not in a grand house: it is only the Log House by the Lake. 

There are various adventures with sailing and canoeing on the lake, butwhen the winter comes on, the lake freezes over, and the boys getthemselves into a dangerous predicament, from which they only justescape. 

Unlike with the Marryat story, the decision by the court was valid butthe cousin who won the case was a useless administrator of his fortune, and lost it all through bad advice and dishonest acquaintances. 

What do the family do about it? Read the book, or listen to it, and findout. It's a short book, only three hours to read, and there's asurprise ending for you!

One oddity about the book is that throughout it conversations are mergedinto single paragraphs. This made it a little hard to get theparagraphing correct in our rendition, but we think we have got italmost right now. 

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THE LOG HOUSE BY THE LAKE, A TALE OF CANADA, BY WILLIAM H G KINGSTON. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

It was late in the afternoon when Mr Philip Ashton walked up to thedoor of his residence in Portman-square. His hand touched the knockerirresolutely. "It must be done, " he said to himself. "May strength begiven to all of them to bear the blow!" His hand shook as he rapped. The hall door flew open, a servant in handsome livery stood ready totake his hat and gloves. As he entered the drawing-room his wife anddaughters rose to welcome him, with affection beaming in their eyes, asdid his three sons, who had just arrived at home from differentdirections. 

"Dear papa, you are not well, " exclaimed Sophy, his eldest daughter, leading him to a seat. 

"Philip, what is the matter?" asked his wife, leaning over him. 

"Sit down, dears, and I will tell you, " he answered, pressing her hand. "A severe trial has come upon us, but--"

"Dear Leonard, nothing has happened to him, I pray?" gasped out MrsAshton. Leonard was a sailor son, the only one now absent. 

"Thank Heaven he is well; I had a letter from him only to-day, " answeredMr Ashton. "Many mercies are granted us, and I trust, therefore, thatyou will all submit to be deprived, without murmuring, of the wealth wehitherto have thought our own. Dear ones, the law-suit has been decidedagainst us!"

The young Ashtons were silent for some minutes, but presently recoveredthemselves. 

"We can all work, " exclaimed the three sons, in a breath. 

"Our happiness does not consist in this, " said Sophy, glancing round theroom, "We will make the smallest cottage comfortable for you, mamma. "

"I am sure we can, and do all the work ourselves, " cried Fanny, her nextsister. 

"I can make a pudding, and churn, and could soon learn how to milk acow, " said Agnes, the third daughter, laughing. "I have always wishedto live in a cottage in the country. "

"I've arranged it, " said Fanny. "Agnes shall be cook, I will bewaiting-maid, Sophy housekeeper, Philip bailiff, Harry gardener, andCharley--oh, let me consider--general farm-servant: won't that beexcellent?"

"But you place your mother and me on the shelf, " said Mr Ashton, hisspirits reviving from seeing the way in which his children bore theannouncement he had so dreaded making. "What are we to do?"

"O papa, of course you and mamma are to do nothing. We are all to workfor you, " exclaimed Harry, a fine youth of fourteen, who looked as ifthere was indeed work in him. 

"Of course, " added Charley. "How we ought to thank you, papa, forhaving us taught carpentering, and that we all have such a fancy forgardening. John says, too, that I know almost as much about pigs andcows and sheep as he does; and as for Phil, he knows more abouteverything than all of us put together. "

Philip--Mr Ashton's eldest son--had not spoken after he had firstexpressed his feelings with his brothers. His thoughts were elsewhere. A bright airy castle he had lately raised, had just been hurled rudelyto the ground, and he was stunned by the crash. 

Mr Ashton retired to rest that night with a mind greatly relieved. Hehad not doubted the affection of his children, and he was assured thatit would enable them to bear their reverse of fortune with cheerfulness. When he rose in the morning he prayed earnestly for strength to gothrough the work required of him, and that is never denied to those whoseek it from Him who can alone afford it. In all the work he receivedable assistance from his son. Philip had not left a single debt unpaidat the University, by which, under his altered circumstances, he mightever afterwards have been hampered. Mr Ashton, having never allowedhousehold bills to run on, was comparatively free from debt. 

All his affairs arranged, he found himself with an income--arising froma settlement on his wife--of two hundred pounds a-year, and aboutfifteen hundred pounds in ready money. Once more his family beingassembled, he pointed out to them that though their plans were verygood, if they were to remain a united family they must look to thefuture, and seek in another country the opportunity of developing theirenergies. 

"What do you think of Canada?" he asked. 

"A capital country!" cried Charley, who, as the youngest, spoke first. "I know all about the sleighing, and the skating, and the ice-boats, andthe coasting down snow-hills, and the shooting huge deer, and thesnow-shoeing, and the sailing on the lakes, and the fishing, and thesporting of all sorts, --not a country like it, I should say. "

"It's a country for hard work, I know, " said Harry. "Nothing I shouldfancy so much as cutting down trees, building log-huts, fencing infields, and ploughing and reaping. Ever since I read `Laurie Todd' Ihave wished to go there. " Philip and his sisters expressed themselvesequally ready to emigrate. 

No time was lost in making the necessary preparations, after it wasresolved that they should go to Canada. It was highly gratifying tothem to find that several of their servants wished to accompany them. Two only, however, could be taken. Of these Mrs Summers had been thenurse of all the younger children, and had lately acted as housekeeper. "It would break my heart, marm, if you were to go out to a strangecountry, and I, who am still strong and hearty, not to be with you tohelp you in all your troubles, " she said, with tears in her eyes, toMrs Ashton. "Though you take them like an angel, marm, they aretroubles. "

The other, Peter Puckle by name, had been first stable-boy, then page, and lately footman. He engaged Harry to plead his cause. "The wagesand the passage-money shan't stand in the way, Master Harry, " he urged. "I have not been in the family all these years without laying bysomething, and it's the honour of serving your good father still is allI want. "

The surface of the broad Atlantic was scarcely ruffled by a breeze asthe steamer with the Ashton family on board rushed across it. "Well, Sophy, I declare it is worth being ruined for the sake of the fun wehave on board, " exclaimed Charley, to his eldest sister, who was sittingreading on deck, at a short distance from the rest of the party. 

A gentleman standing by heard the remark, and finding Charley by himselfdirectly afterwards, he observed, smiling, "Why, my young friend, you donot look as if you were ruined. I have never met a happier family thanyours appears to be. What did you mean by saying that?"

"Well, I do not think that we are ruined really, sir, " said Charley, artlessly; "still, my papa had many thousand pounds a-year till lately, and we lived in a large house in London, and had another in the country, and Philip was at Oxford and Harry at Eton, and I was going there; andnow we are to live in a log-hut in the back woods in Canada, and thatmakes us all so jolly, because it will be such capital fun. Don't youthink so?"

"I have had some experience of life in the back woods, " answered thegentleman. "It has its advantages and its disadvantages, though I havelittle doubt but that you will find it pleasant. "

"What, do you live in Canada, sir?" asked Charley. 

"Yes; I have lived there all my life, " said the stranger. "But, myyoung friend, you say that you are ruined, and yet I see that you haveservants attending on you: how is that?"

"Why, they insisted on coming, and would not leave us, " answeredCharley. 

"Would more have accompanied you?" enquired the stranger. "I am afraid, though, that my questions may appear impertinent, "

"If papa would have let them, " said Charley. 

"That fact speaks volumes in favour both of masters and servants, " saidthe stranger to himself. 

From that day Charley looked upon the stranger as an especial friend, though he could learn little more about him than that his name wasNorman. At length the Saint Lawrence was reached, and the Ashton familylanded safely at Quebec, the chief port of the superb province which thegallantry of Wolfe won for England, and which, mainly by theperseverance and energy of Anglo-Saxon inhabitants, has become one ofthe brightest jewels in the British crown. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

"We have gained the day, Mrs Ashton! We have gained the day, girls!"exclaimed Mr Ashton, rushing with his hat on into the smallsitting-room of a red brick house in a dull street of a country town inEngland. Various exclamations broke from the lips of Mrs and theMisses Ashton at this unexpected announcement. For reasons best knownto himself, Mr John Ashton had not informed his wife and daughters ofthe law-suit going on between himself and his relative, Mr PhilipAshton. "Guess the amount!" he exclaimed. That was impossible. "Whatdo you think of six thousand a-year? Every shilling of it, and under mymanagement it will become ten thousand; ay, and more than that, probably. " It was some time before the Ashtons could realise the factof this good fortune, as they called it; but as they realised it theirideas expanded, their aspirations increased. Their eldest son, John, lately articled to an attorney, must be entered at Oxford; the second, apprenticed to a draper, was sent off to Germany to grow whiskers and amoustache, lest any of the country gentry should recognise him as havingmeasured out ribbons for them from behind the counter; while theyoungest was taken from the Grammar-school and sent off, much againsthis will, to form aristocratic acquaintances at Eton. The greatambition of the Miss Ashtons was to shine in London society. Theirfather boasted that money could do everything. It enabled him to obtaina handsome house, equipage, and establishment, and then to commencetheir career in the world of fashion. There were three Miss Ashtons. The two eldest were considered beauties; the youngest, Mary, had beenabsent on a visit, and did not return home till her father was on thepoint of setting off for London. 

"Father, I wish to speak to you alone, " said Mary, on the evening of herarrival. Mr Ashton led the way to his office at the back of the house. He had considerable respect for Mary, though he tried not to show it. "Father, I hope that you will not consider I have been wanting in dutyin having refrained from writing what I now wish to tell you, " shebegan. Mr Ashton looked uncomfortable, but nodded for her to continue, which she did. "While I was with Mrs Musgrave, at Scarborough, agentleman of our name, who happened to be there with some members of hisfamily, was introduced to me. Mrs Musgrave was much pleased with him--we saw him frequently--he at length proposed to me, and feeling surethat you would approve of him, I accepted him. "

"What is his name?" asked Mr Ashton, sharply. 

"Philip Ashton;--he is most worthy--most excellent, " answered Mary, trembling at her father's tone. "He is all--!"

"He is a beggar!" exclaimed Mr Ashton, vehemently. "You will havenothing more to say to him; you understand me clearly; it is not amatter I wish to discuss. " Rising from his seat he led the way out ofthe room. 

Two days afterwards Mary received a letter from Philip Ashton, freeingher from her engagement to him in consequence of their alteredcircumstances, but couched in terms which more than ever convinced herthat he was worthy of her best affections. The family arrived inLondon, and by dint of perseverance, managed to engage in a whirl ofdissipation, which they called pleasure. Mary's cheeks grew paler thanthey were wont. Her sisters said that it was the effect of the Londonseason. John, voting Oxford a bore, came to London, and without muchdifficulty, obtained the character of a fashionable young man abouttown. It might have been doubted whether Mr Ashton himself derivedfull advantage from his large income. Few of his guests knew him bysight, and he had often to steal off to bed fatigued with his labours asdirector of numerous promising speculations in which he had engaged toincrease his fortune. Altogether the Ashton family were very busilyemployed. Some might say that they were like those who "sow the wind toreap the whirlwind. " We gladly quit them to follow the fortunes oftheir emigrant cousins. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

Canada is now traversed from one end to the other by railways, withnumerous ramifications to the north and south, while steam-vessels runnot only on its main artery--the Saint Lawrence--and the great chain oflakes, but also on numerous other rivers and lakes in every direction onthe lines of the highway to any inhabited district. Notwithstandingthis, the romance of travelling through Canada is not altogether doneaway with. Although several of the chief cities contain very largepopulations, Montreal having 100, 000 inhabitants, and Quebec and Torontonot many thousands less, and possessing likewise all the advantagesrequired by civilised communities, yet a very few miles away from themthe stranger may find himself in some wild district where he mightsuppose that the foot of man had never trod. In the summer, steamers onwater compete with locomotives on land in conveying passengers; and whentime is not of consequence, the route by water is generally preferred. 

A few days only were spent at Quebec by the Ashtons after their arrival, before they embarked on board one of those wonderful constructions, anAmerican steam-boat, to proceed up the Saint Lawrence to Montreal. Theentrance was in the side of the vessel, and on the main deck, whichappeared lumbered up from one end to the other with casks, chests, andpackages, a flight of steps led to an upper deck, which had theappearance of a long gallery, fitted up as a drawing-room, with sofas, easy chairs, and every luxury. The glazed roof was supported bypillars, but no access could be discovered to any spot where helmsman, captain, or crew might be posted. Harry, after many enquiries, foundthat the wheel was on a platform on the roof forward, where the captainand pilot stood. He pronounced the vessel to be constructed on two hugearches, having a vast Thames wherry below, with a superstructure ofpicture galleries on a wide platform extending far over her gunwale oneither side. 

Montreal, the head of the ocean navigation, was reached; and then by aseries of magnificent canals the rapids of the Saint Lawrence wereavoided; the lake of the Thousand Isles, with their rocky bases andtree-covered summits, was passed, as were several larger and thrivingtowns, and Lake Ontario was entered. 

At Kingston they embarked on board another steamer, which was far morelike an ordinary vessel than the one they had just quitted. Who shouldcome on board, just before she left the wharf, but Mr Norman. A fewhours afterwards, when Harry and Charley came on deck, they uttered anexclamation of surprise as they looked around. "What, is this called alake, Mr Norman? Why, where is the land?"

"Out of sight, " answered their friend, laughing. "North, south, east, west of us. It is rather hazy to the north, or you would see thepine-fringed shore. We shall soon again see it, as we have to touch atseveral towns on our way. "

Several large vessels were met under all sail, with numerous crews, steering for the Saint Lawrence. 

"Where can they be going to?" said Harry. 

"To Liverpool, perhaps, or to some other English port, laden with wheatfrom the Western States, " answered Mr Norman. "Vessels have sailed allthe way from Lake Superior to England. "

They saw, however, more things to wonder at than can well be recounted. Not the least, in the eyes of the boys, was the fine city of Toronto, with its numerous public buildings. 

"Why, I thought that we were about to enter the backwoods by the time wegot thus far west, and here we are in the middle of as civilised a cityas any we have seen, " exclaimed Harry, on their return from an excursionthrough Toronto. 

"We have many other fine towns still further west, " said Mr Norman, whohad stayed at the same hotel. "If we go into the States we shall find, several hundred miles off, Chicago, which has sprung up as if by thewand of the enchanter. The secret of this rapid increase is itspeculiar position at the head of a great navigable lake, with abackground unrivalled in its corn-producing powers. In the course ofyears we may hope to see cities, towns, and villages, rising atintervals on British territory, directly across our vast continent, united to those which have already appeared in British Columbia. "

Mr Ashton having made all the enquiries in his power as to eligiblelocalities, set off with Philip to select a spot for the future abode ofthe family. He was advised to rent a partially cleared farm, but hissons especially entreated that he would purchase a tract of wild ground, that they might have the satisfaction of feeling that with their ownhands they were bringing their own property from a state of nature intoone of cultivation. He yielded to their wishes, though, perhaps, theplan he was advised to adopt would have more rapidly afforded them areturn for their outlay, and some of the luxuries of civilisation. MrNorman casually enquired the direction in which they proposedprosecuting their search, and on hearing that it was to the north, heremarked that he might possibly meet them. 

We need scarcely say that the Ashton family employed their timeprofitably in seeing all that there was to be seen in Toronto, and thatthey made excursions to Hamilton, and to several other towns accessibleby railway. Mr Ashton lost no time in searching for the desiredlocality, and he and Philip soon came to the conclusion that it was nota thing to be done in a hurry. Fortunately Mr Norman did meet them, and with his assistance they at last found a spot to suit them. "Thenext thing you will have to do is to _get fixed_" he said, laughing. "You will soon find out the meaning of that term, I guess. "

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Note. "Get fixed" is the American cant term for settled. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

Towards the close of a bright summer day, several wheeled vehicles wereprogressing slowly along a broad but roughish road cut through theforest in the northern part of the peninsula of Upper Canada. Incolonial phrase, they were all waggons; but some carried luggage only, and one of them human beings, with a small amount of personalities, inthe shape of carpet bags and hat boxes between their feet. This vehiclewas a long shallow box, or it might be called a tray on wheels, withfour seats across, each calculated to hold three persons, and with a boxfor the driver. The baggage-waggons were of the same build, without theseats, and were heavily laden with chests, casks, bales, and bedding, with other household furniture. They must have been stronger than theylooked, to withstand the violent bumpings and jerks they received asthey progressed along the chief highway as yet opened up in that part ofthe country. The nature of the road varied very much, according to thecharacter of the land over which it passed: now it was of corduroy--thatis to say of trees laid across it, the interstices filled up with clayor sand. In a few places in the neighbourhood of saw-mills, planks hadbeen placed diagonally across the road, secured to sleepers beneath, andover these bits the horses dragged the vehicles at a speed which madethe travellers wish that the whole road was formed in the same manner. This they found was called a plank road. How the machines could holdtogether, or the limbs of the occupants escape dislocation, seemedsurprising as they surged over the first-mentioned style of road. Nowand then the foundation of the road was of rock; and this though evenrougher, caused no fear of its letting the carriages sink through. Hereand there gravel appeared and allowed of firm footing; but the worstparts of all were those undelightful spots called cedar swamps, acrosswhich neither plank nor corduroy had been thrown, and which caused thetravellers to doubt considerably whether they and their vehicles wouldget across or sink beneath the treacherous surface. In such cases, however, all hands uniting with ropes and poles, the waggons weredragged across. 

No one could complain that the road did not go direct for its object; onit went, up and down hill, and across bog and stream, with the samevanishing point between the dark tall thick growing trees ever a-head. Most people would have become very weary of what they had gone throughand of the prospect before them, but the travellers now proceeding alongthe road were the Ashton family; and Mr Norman had prepared them fullyfor what they were to expect, besides which they were always inclined tomake light of difficulties of every sort and kind. 

Their last day's journey was drawing to a close. As they mounted to thetop of a ridge of hills over which the road led, in the distance wasseen the blue surface of Lake Huron, while below them appeared, surrounded by trees, a small piece of water, unnoted on most maps, though covering an area as large as all the Cumberland Lakes puttogether. In the smaller lake were several wooded islands, and therewere promontories, and bays, and inlets, with hills of some height nearit, adding to its picturesque beauty. A wood-crowned height separatedthe smaller from the larger expanse of water, except in one place, wherea river, or an inlet it might be called, formed a junction, whichsettlers on the shores of the former would not fail to prize. 

"There is our future home, " said Mr Ashton, pointing to the side of thesmall lake nearest Lake Huron. "Philip and Peter, with the two men MrNorman sent up, will, I hope, have made some progress by this time, andhave got a roof ready under which you may creep. We shall soon be atthe village, and from thence we must cross the lake in a boat, as theroad round is impassable, or rather there is no road at all. "

Harry, who had a small telescope slung at his back, said that he couldmake out a wide clearing and a shanty in the middle of it. His parentshoped that he was correct, though his younger sisters and brotherdeclared that they should be delighted to camp out in the bush for theremainder of the summer. It was growing dusk as the travellers enteredthe village, which consisted of a store, three or four log-huts, andhalf a dozen shanties or sheds, some the abode of man, and some ofbeast, and some shared by both. The store being covered in with planks, and having three stories, was the building of by far the greatestpretensions. One of the shanties was the future hotel of the place, atpresent, however, affording accommodation to neither man nor beast. Thelandlord stood at the door with his arms akimbo, and the air of a manperfectly satisfied with himself and his belongings, as he watched theapproach of the waggons. He was active enough when they stopped beforehis abode, hoping that some of the party would become his customers. 

"Well, strangers, you look spry after your journey. Glad to see you. We'll become good neighbours, I guess, " was his familiar but not surlysalutation. Mr Ashton took it in good part. "Thank you, my friend, wehave come along very well, " he answered. "Can you tell me, Have my sonand his servant been here lately?"

"Your two young men were up here not ten minutes ago. They've gone backto the boat, I guess. They're no great hands at liquoring. If youshout they'll hear you. "

"Philip a-hoy!" shouted Harry and Charley, their shrill voices soundingclearly through the dark pine forest which shut in the settlement oneither side, and sweeping over the calm waters of the lake. 

"Ay, ay; all right!" was the cheerful reply, and Philip, accompanied byPeter, came rushing up in time to help his mother and sisters to unpackfrom their somewhat uncomfortable conveyance. "It does not do to beidle out here, and so, having our fishing gear, we were employingourselves while waiting your arrival in catching some fish for yoursupper, " he said, as he helped his mother to the ground. "Mr JobJudson here did not quite approve of our proceeding, as he would ratherwe had spent the time in his bar; however, I have brought him up some ofthe proceeds of our sport to propitiate him, for he is an obliging, good-natured fellow, at bottom. I wish him a better calling. "

After all the family had alighted, and their affectionate greetings wereover, Philip exhibited the fine white fish he had brought for MrJudson, weighing some four or five pounds. 

"We have half-a-dozen similar fish for our family supper, so we shallnot starve, " he said, with a tone of satisfaction. "We have notbroached a cask of beef or pork since we came here. "

"And we shall not, I hope, while a bird or beast remains to be shot, ora fish to be caught, " cried Harry. 

As there was not a hut vacant in which to store the lading of thewaggons, Philip arranged to take the family across in the boat, withtheir bedding and other necessary articles, and to return at once forthe remainder. "I am sure that if D'Arcy knew it he would help, but weshall have a full moon up presently, and I would rather get the workdone now than wait for day, when the heat on the lake will beconsiderable, " he observed. 

Mr Judson undertook to watch the luggage. "Not that there's much needof that, " he remarked, "for the Injuns about here is honest fellows, andthere isn't a white settler who'd touch as much as a ha'porth of baccy, 'cept maybe a newly-arrived Irishman, who hasn't learnt the ways of thecountry. "

The boat was of good size, calculated for the waters of Lake Huron, andfitted with mast and sails, though these were not now used. The lakewas smooth as glass, reflecting the bright stars from the clear sky, andbroken only by the fish which here and there rose to the surface, showing their size by the loud sound of the splashes they made. Theirregular borders of the lake rose clear and well-defined on every sidea-head, appearing to be of considerable height, almost mountains, in thedoubtful light of morning. Philip, with Harry, and Charley, and Peter, with a lad they had hired, pulled, while Mr Ashton steered. "Row, brothers, row, " sang out Harry. "Our home is a-head, and daylight ispast. I am glad that the rapids are not near, though, for with ourwell-freighted craft it would be a ticklish job running them, I guess. "

The moon soon rose large and clear, a brilliant globe floating in aetherrather than the pale-coloured disc which it appears in England. As itshot upward in the clear sky it shed a silvery light over the scene, which became perfectly fairy-like in its beauty. "It is well worthleaving all the glare and bustle of London for the sake of enjoying sucha scene as this, " said Sophy, and her sisters echoed the sentiment. "Iremember just such an one on Como, " observed Philip, who had made a touron the Continent during the last long vacation. "But even if the scenewe have left equalled this in beauty, I should prize this far more, "replied his sister. "I will tell you why. I feel that this is our own;we are at home here, and may admire it without regret, because we knowthat we may enjoy it over and over again. "

"Hillo! what boat is that?" shouted a voice from some distance, and adark object glided from behind a tree-covered islet they were passing, and crossed the bright pathway which the moon cast athwart the lake. 

"What, D'Arcy! is that you?" shouted Philip, in return. 

"It's myself, unless I happen to be changed into another gintleman, " wasthe Irish-like reply. 

"All right, old fellow, come along. I want your promised aid, " saidPhilip. "I have some few cargoes of goods to be transported across thelake before the moon sets, and you are the very man I was wishing for. "

"Why, Philip, are you not asking too much of a gentleman who must bealmost a stranger to you?" enquired Sophy, in a doubtful tone. 

"Not at all; we all help each other out here; I have found out that, "answered her brother. "He is a capital fellow, a gentleman to thebackbone, and knows that I will do the same for him with equal pleasure. We are fortunate in having such a neighbour, and from what he tells me, he hopes to have his mother and sisters out when he has got things alittle square. "

D'Arcy's boat was soon alongside. When he heard who had arrived, hevolunteered at once to go to the settlement to begin loading his boat, that he might assist Philip when he wanted to load his. 

"A capital idea, D'Arcy, just like you; do so, old fellow, " was allPhilip said as they parted. 

In a short time the boat was alongside a small wooden pier, whichafforded a convenient landing-place. 

"The house is some way up the hill; I will steer you between thestumps, " said Philip, offering his arm to his mother, while the restfollowed in their wake. A few minutes' walk brought them in front of aplank edifice of the Swiss cottage style; the defects of which, whateverthey were, were not visible by moonlight. There were four doors, and asmany rather diminutive windows. "This is but a summer house, remember, "said Philip, as they stood before the long low building. "We had tobuild our house according to our planks; your room is at one end, thencomes the sitting-room, and then ours, and the girls'. Remember, fivedays ago the foundations were not commenced. We don't take long toraise a house in this country;--but, enter. "

All were delighted, for although the cottage was but a long narrow shed, by means of three divisions and a liberal use of canvas and paper, Philip and his assistants had formed a neat sitting-room and twobedrooms, besides a rougher one for himself and his brothers. In thesitting-room was a table covered with a most attractive looking meal, though decked with neither china, glass, nor plate. A bright lamphanging from the roof lighted up the little room, and gave it much ofthe appearance of a cabin. "We have only to fancy, " said Philip, "thatwe are on board ship without the danger of shipwreck, or being tumbledabout in a storm, and we may congratulate ourselves on the extent of ouraccommodation. We have twice as many cubic feet of air for each personas the passengers on board an emigrant ship, and can admit as much moreas we please. There, make yourselves at home. Father will now do thehonours, and Jem is boiling the kettle for tea in the kitchen. I mustbe off, and hope to be back soon with D'Arcy and your traps. "

Away went Philip down to the boat, whence his father with the rest hadbeen bringing up her lading. Who could have recognised in theenergetic, high-spirited backwoodsman Philip had become, the refined andsomewhat sedate and stiff young student of a year ago. By-the-bye, thekitchen of which he spoke was a lean-to of birch-bark, under which acamp stove had been placed; near it was a shed prepared for thereception of the stores, among which Peter proposed to take up hisabode. Philip's plan of fitting up the cottage was much admired. Tothe walls and roof he had first nailed some common canvas, on this hehad pasted newspapers, which he had again covered with a commoncheerful-looking paper, such as is used generally for covering walls. The table itself consisted of some rough planks nailed to tressels, andthe bedsteads were formed of rough pine poles with canvas stretchedacross them. Shelves and pegs round the rooms would enable theirinmates to keep them as neat as cabins. 

The voices of the rest of the party were heard sooner than was expected. "We pressed the third boat on the lake into our service and havebrought everything, " said Philip, entering with a slight young man, who, in spite of a very rough, much worn costume, looked the gentleman. "Ihave the pleasure of introducing my friend Mr Lawrence D'Arcy, myfellow labourer, who, let me tell you, made every inch of the furnitureof our mansion in a wondrous brief time. He had not begun it yesterdaymorning, for he was helping me to paper the walls till nearly noon. "

"It is the work of a self-taught artist, " said Lawrence D'Arcy. "But, really, there is little to boast of in having put together a few roughpoles. The plan is the only thing to merit commendation. "

Of course everybody thanked Mr D'Arcy, and he at once felt himselfperfectly at home. Never did the finest baronial mansion afford moresatisfaction to the occupiers than did Philip's quickly-built cottage. It stood on a platform on the side of the hill, looking south over thelake, and sheltered by the ground above it from the icy blast of thenorth. There was not space on the platform for a larger building; but alittle way off was a much wider piece of level ground, and here alreadylogs were laid for a log house. 

"The cottage was an after-thought, " said Philip, showing the plan of thelog house. "I knew that we could not get this fitted up in time, andplanking being abundant and cheap, I bethought me of running up a plankcottage which will serve you till you can get into the more substantialmansion. With a stove and additional banking up outside it may be madewarm enough even for winter. " Never was a family more busy, or one morecontented and happy. 

"Our present abode will make a magnificent dairy when we get into thebig mansion, " cried Agnes, as she saw the walls of the log house quicklyrising. "How clean and nice the pans will look arranged round the wallsand the churn in the middle. "

"Your notions are rather too grand, I fear, dear, " said her mother. "Wehave only got one cow, and there will be room here for the milk offifty. "

"Ah! but the day will come when we may have fifty. That beautifulmeadow by the side of the stream to the right will feed almost thatnumber, " said Agnes. 

"I should be content with four or five, so that we may make our ownbutter and cheese, and have cream and milk in abundance, " observedFanny. "I should like to have time to attend to our garden, andpoultry, and pigs; and then, remember, we are not to grow into savages, so we must have reading, and keep up our music and drawing, and thenthere will be all sorts of household work to attend to. "

Sophy sided with Fanny, and Philip put an end to the discussion aboutthe dairy, by telling them that he had calculated on using up the planksof the cottage for the flooring of part of the new house. 

That building got on with wonderful rapidity. Day after day MrLawrence D'Arcy came over with his man Terry, a faithful fellow, born onhis father's estate in Ireland, who had been his servant in the army forseveral years. Philip had, for the purpose of economising heat andsaving roofing, resolved to make the house of two stories. The wallswere formed of horizontal logs; the upper part of each log was scoopedout so as to admit the round of the one above it to fit in, and the endswere deeply notched for the logs forming the walls at a right angle toit. A height sufficient for the ground floor chambers having beengained, notches were cut and the rafters placed across. Shears wereerected to raise the higher logs, and shingles, which are thin splitplanks of fir, formed the roof. The house stood on a platform to raiseit above the snow; the floor being thus some way from the ground. Averandah ran round the whole building, affording a sheltered walk whenthe inmates might not otherwise be able to get fresh air. 

Had not the settlers been so strong handed, the work now accomplishedcould not have been performed before the winter; but it was the fable ofthe bundle of sticks exemplified. Such a building would not have beenattempted except for the sake of the ladies, as the settlers would haveemployed all their strength in preparing the ground for cultivation. That necessary proceeding was not however neglected, and six acres werechopped and burnt off before the snow covered up the brushwood. 

"Here we are, fairly settled in our log house, " said Mr Ashton, as hesurveyed the result of his son's architectural skill. "Let us withgrateful hearts thank our Heavenly Father who has led us thus far insafety. "

CHAPTER FIVE. 

There were signs that the winter was about to begin. Snow-storms hadappeared from over the hill and swept across the lake. Ice had formedaround the edges in shallow pools, but the hot sun had come out andcompletely thawed it. Often among the pine woods the heat wasexcessive. Had it not been for the rich growing tints of the treeswhich fringed the lake and covered its islets, it would have beendifficult to suppose that summer had passed away. There were the brightreds and yellows of the maple, the pale straw-colour of the beech, thecopper hues of the oaks; and, indeed, Sophy found that she could exhaustall the brightest colours of her paint-box, and yet not give sufficientvariety or brilliancy to portray correctly the gorgeous tints of thelandscape spread out before the window; nor was there blue to be foundequal to the blue of the lake, still less of the sky above it. She wasglad that she had finished her drawing in time, for a strong north windsprang up, and a sharp frost sent every leaf, pinched off, flying away, and the next morning a few only hanging to dead boughs gave a somewhatwarm tinge to the otherwise dark green and dark brown appearance of thelake shore. 

"Excellent! it would give my dear people at home some idea of thebeauties we have out here, " exclaimed D'Arcy, who happened to look inthe day Sophy had finished her sketch. "I should be so thankful if youcould make a copy for me; still more so if I might aspire to possess theoriginal. "

"What could have made Sophy blush so just now?" said Charley to Agnes, after D'Arcy had taken his leave. "There the dear thing stands lookingat the lake: what a wonder to see her doing nothing. "

D'Arcy leaped gaily into his boat, hoisted the main-sail, a large onefor her size, cast off the painter, and hauling aft the main-sheet asshe paid-off with the fore-sail, waved an adieu to his friends on shore. The lake sparkled brightly as miniature waves curled over its surface;faster and faster the boat flew amid them, seeming to delight in herfreedom. The breeze freshened; a black cloud came up along the courseof the river from Lake Huron; it rushed across the sky, followed byothers, casting a shadow over the lake. A shriek from Sophy made Philiprush out from his workshop, saw in hand, followed by Harry. The whitesail of D'Arcy's boat had disappeared, and a dark mass was alone visibleon the spot where she had been. 

"He is a good swimmer, and will have got upon the bottom, " cried Philip;but his heart misgave him, for the cold wind had made D'Arcy put on histhick coat and heavy boots; Harry ran towards their large boat. Thesails and oars were on shore. "No, no, --the canoe!" cried Philip. AnIndian hunter, a friend of D'Arcy's, had left his canoe on the beach inthe morning. The paddles were in her. To launch her and step gingerlyin was the work of an instant; and fast as Philip and Harry could plytheir paddles, the light canoe flew across the lake. 

The rest of the family were soon on the shore; Mr Ashton, who saw thedanger to which his sons were exposed in their eagerness to save theirfriend, watching their progress with the greatest anxiety. Heunfortunately did not understand the management of a boat as did hissons; nor did Peter, or he would have gone after them. The canoe tossedup and down, apparently scarcely able to buffet with even the smallwaves, to the lashing of which she was exposed. Still Philip and Harrybravely pursued their course, their eyes straining a-head, and utterlyregardless of the danger they themselves were running. 

"Phil, can you see him?" cried Harry. "I think I do. Yes, surely, there's something moving on the boat's keel. "

"Yes, I hope so: he's lying his length along it; he could not sit up, "answered Philip. "How bitterly cold the wind blows out here. "

"Yes, he will be almost frozen, poor fellow; he will lose his boat, too, " said Harry. "Shall we carry him on to his place, or back to ourown?"

"Certainly, to ours. In his own hut he has no one to look after himproperly; while with us he will have no lack of nurses, " remarkedPhilip. "Paddle away, Harry; he sees us. "

"Hurrah, D'Arcy!" cried Harry, "we are coming to you, old fellow. " Ahand was seen to wave in return to Harry's cheer. "All right--allright!" cried Harry, delighted, "he is there and alive!"

D'Arcy had managed to get one of his boots off, but he had greatdifficulty in clinging to the keel. He did not cry out to his friendsto make haste, for he knew that they were doing their utmost to reachhim. They encouraged him, however, to hold on; for they judged, by thechilly blast which swept across the lake, that he must be numbed andfainting. At length they got alongside the boat; and now the greatestcaution was necessary, lest, in taking him in, the canoe should becapsized. The boat likewise, on being touched, might roll up, and withher mast stave in the fragile side of the canoe. It seemed almostimpossible to accomplish their object without upsetting themselves. Those who know what a birch-bark canoe is like will best understand thedifficulty. 

"Take me in by the head, " said D'Arcy; "I'll crawl in. "

They accordingly paddled round to the stern of the boat, to which Philipmade the bow of the canoe fast, and he was then able to reach oversufficiently to take hold of D'Arcy's hands, and to drag him on till hecould place one foot on each gunwale of the canoe, and then, by drawinghimself back, he took the weight off the bow and gradually drew hisfriend on board. D'Arcy's knees, however, very nearly went through thethin bottom. He asked them to continue on to his clearing, that hemight get off again and try to save his boat; but Philip would not hearof it. 

"No, no, " he answered, "she will drift on shore not far off, and weshall easily be able to find her; and you will catch your death of coldif you are not looked after immediately. "

"But poor Terry will go out of his mind if he supposes that I am lost, "argued D'Arcy. 

"We will try to let him know, " said Philip. "Besides, at our place, ifwe go on, they will not know whether we are all lost, or you are saved. "

This settled the question. "There, lie down at the bottom, and we willcover you up with our jackets, " said Philip. "Give way, Harry. "

To paddle back in the teeth of the freezing wind was no easy work, andmore than once Philip wished that, for his friend's sake, he had gone onto his clearing; still, he guessed rightly, that every means to preventinjurious effects would be got ready. Manfully they paddled on, but thespray from the small but quick-coming waves dashed in their faces, andthe slightest cessation of exertion allowed the light canoe to be blownback again like a feather before the breeze. Nobly they persevered. Once under the lee of the land, they knew that their progress would bemore rapid. At last they caught sight of their own landing-place. Philip gave a flourish with his paddle, and pointed to the bottom of thecanoe. The communication was understood, and a door, with blankets, were ready to carry D'Arcy up to the house. He begged, however, to beallowed to walk up, declaring that he was well able to do so, though hedid not object to having a couple of blankets thrown over his shoulders. He found, however, that he had miscalculated his strength, and withouthelp he could scarcely move. The next morning the effects of thewetting and exposure were more conspicuous, and all the skill of NurseSummers was required to bring him round. For several days he was keptin bed, and even when he was able to get up, the Ashtons would not lethim leave them. "You are utterly unfit for work, my dear fellow, " saidPhilip. "You will get well here much faster than sitting over the firein your own shanty, and leave Terry more at liberty to go on with yourhouse. He is contented enough now he knows we have you in safekeeping. "

It was wonderful with what equanimity Mr D'Arcy consented to remain theguest of the Ashtons. He was not idle, for he read while the ladiesworked, taught Charley to net, and took Philip's place as hisschoolmaster in the evening, and imparted a large stock ofbackwoodsman's lore to all the family. Philip and Harry had, directlythey returned after rescuing him, set off in their big boat, and arrivedat his clearing in time to prevent poor Terry from going out of hismind, which he was nearly doing at seeing his master's boat drift by, and believing he was lost. They found him wringing his hands, anduttering a truly Irish lament as he contemplated the boat which haddriven on shore a short distance from the cottage shanty. So occupiedhad he been in watching the upset boat that he had not observed theirapproach. 

"Och! sad's the day; and I'll never more be after seeing him again, thedear young masther, barrin' it's his corpse is sent up by the cruelwaves on the shore, and I'll be left all alone in this desart counthryto bury him, the last hope of the D'Arcys, instead of in the tomb of hisancestors in ould Ireland. And what'll the poor misthress be doing whenshe hears the news? sorrow a bit could my hand write the words; Icouldn't do it even if I had the 'art, nor my tongue tell it, I'd soonercut it out of my mouth; and sweet Misthress Katharine and MisthressLily, they'll cry their pretty eyes out, they will. " Again he set up along, melancholy howl, not unlike that of a dog baying at the moon. Thesound of the Ashtons' boat touching the shore made him look up, with anexpression of hope in his countenance, as if he expected to see hismaster, but it suddenly changed to one of still greater sorrow when hediscovered that he was not of the party. 

Philip, eager to soothe his anxiety, shouted out, as he stepped onshore, "Come up, Terry, we have him all safe on shore, only rather wetand cold. "

"Is it the thruth ye are spaking, Masther Philip? Arrah, an' I'm shureit is, " cried Terry, rushing towards him with frantic gestures ofdelight. "Just say that word again, he's safe, an' blessins on yerhonest face, for I'm shure ye could not desave a poor gossoon likemyself. " Philip repeated his assertion, and was not a little astonishedto find himself seized in Terry's arms, and hugged till the breath wasnearly out of his body. The honest fellow's feelings then gave way in aburst of tears, which flowed while he apologised for the liberty hebecame conscious he had taken. 

D'Arcy's stay with his friends was prolonged over several days, and itwas not till he was perfectly recovered that they would allow him to goback to his clearing. He found several subjects to ponder on when hegot there. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

The south wind blew softly, the air was pure and balmy, the sun shonebrightly, and the waters of the lake vied with the sky in the clearnessof its azure tints. The birds too were warbling forth a happy song;not, however, with the full swelling chorus of spring, but yetsufficiently to give cheerfulness to the otherwise silent woods. It isa calumny on the feathered tribes of Canada to assert that they have nosong; the blackbird can sing when he is inclined, as sweetly as hisbrother in England, and the Canadian robin's notes are as full of gleeas those of his smaller namesake in the old country. 

"By turning our eyes from the bare maples, beeches, and oaks, towardsthe pine trees, we might fancy that summer had come back again, " saidPhilip; "the Indian summer at all events. Should to-morrow be likethis, I propose knocking up D'Arcy. It's some days since we heard ofhim, and he will be feeling that we got tired of him with his visithere, poor fellow. "

"Oh! don't let him think that, " exclaimed Sophy, earnestly. 

"No, that I will not, " said Philip. "Who'll go? A little recreationwill do some of us good, and we'll work all the better when we comeback. "

Something kept Sophy from volunteering to be of the party, but heryounger sisters jumped at the proposal. 

"I know that you are carefulness itself, Philip, " said Mrs Ashton; "butI entreat you to have but very little sail set. "

"Indeed, mother, I will carry only what is absolutely necessary, "answered Philip. "We need be in no hurry--if the breeze holds, we shallhave a soldier's wind, fair each way. "

The breeze did not hold, and towards evening a thick fog came on. During the night a curious crackling sound was heard, and when daylightreturned, the whole lake appeared frozen over. The entire household wassoon on foot and braving the keen frosty air, to observe the changewhich a few short hours had wrought. There must have been a perfectcalm when the ice took, for the entire surface of the lake was smooth asa polished mirror and of the same hue; while the surrounding trees andevery shrub and blade of grass to be seen was covered with a coating ofthe purest white. Suddenly the sun rose above the wooded hill to theeast, and the whole side of the lake on which its beams were cast, beganto sparkle and flash as if covered with gems of the purest water. Alight breeze waved the branches to and fro, and now they flashed andshone with increased brilliancy, fresh colours bursting into sight tillnot a gem was unrepresented in this gorgeous display of "nature'sjewel-box, " as Harry called it. 

"Well, Fanny, " he exclaimed, "you need not regret being unable to go tocourt, for I am very certain that all the duchesses, and countesses, andlady mayoresses to boot, couldn't make such a display as that. "

As the warmth of the sun increased, the trees began to drip, and thelovely spectacle vanished by noon. 

"We need not regret it, for beautiful as it was, I believe that we maysee many more to surpass it before the return of spring, " said MrAshton. "Ah! little do our pitying friends at home guess the ampleamends which nature makes to us for what we have lost. I prize theblessings we enjoyed in England; but, after all, we have only exchangedthem for others which our beneficent Maker has bestowed on us of equalvalue. "

The ice, though bearing in some places, could not be trusted, and ofcourse the expedition to D'Arcy's clearing was given up for the present;but in the evening, when work was over, skates were unpacked, cleared ofrust, and fitted to shoes. All hands set to work with increased vigourto fell the trees, that they might be burnt off before the snow shouldmake the operation more difficult. "Another night like the last, and Iverily believe we might skate across the lake, " cried Harry, rubbing hishands to restore the circulation of which the cold had deprived them. 

"Look out for frost-bites, my boys, " said Mr Ashton; "Mr Normancharged me above all things to see that you kept your hands and feetwarm. "

The ladies of the family were busily employed in lining the boys' caps, and fixing flaps for their ears, and in making mittens and comforters. One point they had not discovered, and had to learn by experience, theuselessness of English boots and shoes, however thick, for the bush inwinter, and that nothing can surpass, and scarcely any foot-gear equal, a light shoe or slipper, with a very thick ribbed worsted sock over it, put into an india-rubber golosh, which is kept on by a high springgaiter. [See Note 1. ] There was no longer any doubt about the icebearing, and so, having worked hard all the morning, Philip, Harry, andCharley set off with skates on feet, the two latter in high glee at thethought of going so great a distance over the ice. They had beenpractising for the last three days in a shallow bay near the house, andhad no misgivings as to holding out. Philip would rather have gonealone, or at all events, with Harry only; but Charley begged go hard tobe allowed to accompany them that he did not like to refuse him. Theyexpected not to be more than three hours away at the utmost. The skateswere fixed firmly on the feet. Philip wisely tried his by making two orthree outside edge circles and figures of eight. "Are you ready, boys?Follow your leader, and away we go. " Away they went. Right leg--leftleg--resting for fifteen seconds or so on each--their bodies nowslightly inclined to one side, now to the other, like ships making shorttacks. It was exhilarating exercise. Their spirits rose to the highestpitch as they glided on--they shouted and laughed with glee--Charleymanaged to keep up, but what was sport to his brothers, was rather hardwork to him; still he would not beg them to slacken their speed, butkept on bravely till his legs began to ache. They had heard Philip saythat they were not likely to have many such days during the winter forskating; for though there would be no want of ice, it would be soon socovered with snow, that it would be impossible to get over it. Theymight easily, to be sure, sweep a space in the ice clear of snow, butthat would be very tame work compared to flying over miles of ice asthey were now doing. Charley, therefore, would not, if he could helpit, ask his brothers to stop. At last he found himself falling behind. With his utmost exertions he could not keep up with them. While he wasthinking whether he should call out, his foot struck something (it wasthe thick part of a branch which had been floating when the lake froze), and down he came. 

"O, Harry, Harry!" he cried out. Harry heard him, and circling round, skated back to his assistance. Philip had gone some way, when nothearing his brothers' voices, he swept round on a half circle to askthem why they had become so suddenly dull. What was his dismay to findthat they were not near him. Both were stretched their length, as itseemed, on the ice, at a considerable distance. As he turned he wasconscious of a cracking noise, which seemed to pass from one end of thelake to the other. Still he must reach his brothers, or attempt to doso, even should the ice be giving way every stroke he made. 

"Oh, the ice is giving way! the ice is giving way!" cried Charley; butthough the cracking sound increased, Philip did not perceive any othersign of this being the case. 

"What is the matter with you, Harry?" he asked. 

"Oh, I went to help Charley, and tumbled over the same log whichcapsized him, " was the answer. "He says that the ice is giving way, andcertainly the water does look terribly near to it. " Such, indeed, wasthe case. Philip, from having kept his eyes fixed on the land-marksabout D'Arcy's clearing, had not observed this so much as Harry now did, with his nose close down to it. Wisely keeping at a little distance, headvised them to crawl away from the spot where they had fallen, andthen, a little apart from each other, to get on their feet and proceed. Once more they were on their course, but Philip made them keep one oneach side of him, going at a less speed than before. It was nervouswork, though, for the cracking noise increased in loudness till itrivalled that of thunder--seeming to pass under their very feet. Speedand lightness of tread was everything. For himself Philip had no fear. He dreaded only lest Charley should again fall, and so did his best tokeep up his spirits, and to banish the nervousness from which he sawthat he was suffering. As they neared the shore the noises ceased andtheir spirits rose, though they were not sorry to see D'Arcy standing onthe beach to receive them. 

His greeting was cordial. "I have been watching you for some time, anddid I own a pair of skates I should have come out to meet you, " he said. "When you all stopped, I began to form a sleigh to push off to yourassistance, in case any one of you should have been hurt, when Iobserved that you were all on the move again. Instead, therefore, ofgoing on with it, I sent in Terry to cook some dinner, which you will bewanting after your long fly. "

The dinner was the usual bush fare--pork and potatoes (forming an Irishstew), fish, caught before the frost began, and a dumpling, whichprobably had been thought of only when the guests were first descried inthe distance. The young men did ample justice to the feast, and perhapsspent a longer time over it than they intended. They had plenty to say, about their own experiences especially; and when the young Ashtonscompared notes with D'Arcy, they had reason to consider their own trialsfar less than his. He had been left alone to fight the battle of life, or rather with a mother and sister depending on him. After a once fineproperty which he had nominally inherited had been sold in the IrishIncumbered Estates Court, he had found himself with the merest pittanceon which to support them. With a small sum he had embarked for Canada, and was now forming a home for those he loved so well. There werenumbers of men in similar positions, of whom he knew in theneighbourhood and in different parts of the province--not all, however, doing equally well--some were successful, and they were the sober, industrious, and judicious; others were in a bad way, mostly for thebest of reasons, because they were idle, and had taken to drinking--nothard drinking, perhaps. 

"That is not necessary to ruin a fellow, " said D'Arcy. "I know severalof the description I speak of, --gentlemen of birth and education. Thereis one especially, who, probably, begins the day after breakfast bysmoking a pipe or two, then takes axe or spade in hand, and coming in toan early dinner feels his solitude, and that he must have a talk withsomebody. Instead of continuing his work, he mounts his cob, aftertaking a glass or two of rum or whiskey grog--the more out of spirits hefeels the stiffer it is--and rides off to knock up some neighbour, perhaps his equal, or perhaps utterly unfit to be his companion, as faras social intercourse is concerned. On the way he looks in at thestore-house; he has an account, and takes a glass or two more, desiringthat it may be put down to him. Of course he never recollects how manyglasses he has had, nor how his account is swelling. He finds hisfriend, brings him in (probably not unwillingly) from his work, and thetwo spend the rest of the day together. He may find his way home atnight, or he may take a shake-down, and, rising with a splittingheadache, find himself utterly unable to do anything. He is going tothe bad very rapidly. His friends in England send him out moneyoccasionally, under the belief that it is spent on the farm, but it allgoes to pay off the storekeeper's account. Had it not been for thisassistance he would have knocked up long ago. As it is, I expect thathe has already mortgaged his farm, for a small amount, may be; but it'sa beginning--a second will follow--it is so easy an operation, and theend cannot be far off. Now poor Jack Mason will go back to England, hisfriends helping him, and abuse Canada, and say that it is a countrytotally unfit for a gentleman to live in--that hardy, rough fellows maysubsist, but that no one can do more--no one can make a fortune. "

"A man must have energy, talent, and perseverance to succeed here, aswell as at home, " said Philip. "The difference is, that in England, possessing them, he may not succeed; here, possessing them, he mustsucceed. To commence the life of a backwoodsman, he must have healthand strength, with the other qualifications you have mentioned. Oncehaving got a footing in the country, he must watch the openings whichare sure to present themselves: the man of talent will take advantage ofthem, and rise to wealth; the man without talent will go on slowlyimproving his condition, and will be happy and respected. What more cana man desire?"

"I agree with you, Phil; at the same time that I intend to look out forthe openings, and walk in if I can, " answered D'Arcy. "When myguardians decided that I was to emigrate, or rather that they could donothing for me at home, they liberally gave me the choice of Australia, New Zealand, the Cape, or British North America. I have an idea theycared very little where I went, so that I went away and gave them nofurther trouble. I had been dining the day before, in Dublin, at themess of the --- Regiment, which had just returned from Canada, and theywere all high in its praise;--such pleasant quarters, such gaiety, suchsleighing, shooting, fishing, boating. Several declared that they wouldsell out and settle there. Naturally I chose Canada, without weighingits advantages with those of the other provinces; and though I found thereality of a settler's life very different to the fancy picture I haddrawn, having made up my mind to go through with it, whatever it mightprove, I stuck to it, and have great reason to be thankful that I didso. Still, I fancy that people can make fortunes in Australia muchfaster than one can here. "

"May be so; but fortune is not the only thing desirable, " said Philip. "All settlers do not make fortunes in Australia, --we hear only of thesuccessful ones; and then I cannot help thinking, that our Canadianclimate, with its wonderful changes, our varied scenery, ourinstitutions, and our society, --I don't mean in such an out-of-the-wayplace as this, but such as are found at Toronto and elsewhere, --areitems which may be placed to the credit of this Province, and give it asuperiority over every other. I have often fancied that there must besomething monotonous and depressing in Australian bush-life; the veryuniformity of the seasons and of the face of the country must producethis effect. However, old fellow, here we are: and whether the land bea good, bad, or indifferent land compared with others, you and I havemade up our minds to make the best of it. But it is time that we wereoff; we had not intended remaining so long. "

Philip and his brothers started up. "You must have coffee before yougo; it is a home manufacture, and so are all the ingredients. " Terrypoured it out of a veritable big coffeepot--hot, with plenty of sugarand milk. It was pronounced excellent. "See, Harry, you and Charleymay supply your family with first-rate coffee, " said D'Arcy. "We shallhave a thaw before the winter sets in; dig up all the dandelion rootsyou can find; dry them in the sun or in your oven for keeping; roastthem before use; and cut them up and grind them as you wouldcoffee-berries. This is the result. By-the-bye, Phil, " he added, "youtold me that you had not caught any fish lately. It is just possiblethat a change may be pleasant; and if you don't mind carrying a coupleeach of you, will you present them to your mother with my bestcompliments? I have got them slung ready for you, so that you have onlyto throw them over your shoulders as you are starting. " He did notconsider that even a few pounds weight makes a considerable differenceto a skater. Philip, however, did not like to refuse his kind offer, knowing that it gave him pleasure to send the fish, and would give thoseat home pleasure to receive them. Terry accordingly was directed tobring out the fish, which were hard frozen, and were slung with ropes ofgrass, and packed with pads of grass to keep them off the back. 

D'Arcy assured them that the cracking sound they had heard was no signof danger, but, on the contrary, showed that the ice had taken in everypart. 

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Note 1. An Indian mocassin over two pairs of thick socks is good in ahard frost, but gets wet through with the slightest moisture. The mostimportant objects are to allow no pressure on any part of the foot orankle, to keep the feet warm and protected from fallen branches or anyother hard substance rising above the snow. In thawing weather highwaterproof boots worn over two pairs of thick socks or stockings. Theobject of having the outer sock ribbed is to allow the evaporation fromthe skin to have space between the outer sock and the boot; the foot andinner sock will thus remain perfectly dry. The author has walked longdistances with this sort of foot-gear with the greatest comfort. Perfect freedom for the foot and toes is, it must be repeated, mostessential. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

As the hut was close to the lake the skates were buckled on in thewarmth, and together the whole party issued forth, D'Arcy promising tocome across the next day in a sleigh he had built. 

During the brief period they had spent in the hut the wind had changed, and with it the weather. Thick clouds floated overhead low down, lightish in colour though dense; the air was sensibly warmer. Philiplooking at his younger brother said, "Charley, I have a great mind toleave you behind; it will be harder work than coming. " But Charleyconsidered that his manliness was disparaged, and insisted on starting. "Well, we may reach home before the snow falls, " said Philip, shakingD'Arcy's hand, and adding, "We shall all be glad to see you. "

Away they went; but not two minutes had passed before snow-flakes beganto fall, a few only settling on their faces. They were the forerunnersof others; thicker and thicker they fell; now they rushed downhurriedly, covering the surface of the lake with a white sheet. Did thebrothers hear D'Arcy's voice joined with Terry's shouting to them tocome back? They had, however, got so far on their way that, even hadthey been certain of the fact, they would not have liked to do so. Onthey at all events went. Philip kept his eyes fixed on his own hill, but the outline soon became very dim. Thicker and thicker fell thesnow; still they were in their proper course, Philip thought. 

"Can you make out the hill, Harry?" he asked. 

"No, Phil; cannot you?" answered Harry: "what's to be done?"

"Push on, of course; the snow may stop falling, and we may see our wayagain, " said Philip. 

The snow, however, did not stop falling, but rather came down thickerand faster. Charley held out bravely, working on his way through thesnow. Skating was far greater labour than before. This should not havebeen: hard snow would have easily been pushed aside; a part of thismelted as it fell. Philip did not express his fears to his brothers, though he became very anxious. "What can we do?" he kept saying tohimself. "We must keep on; we may hit our home or some parts of theshore which we know, and from which we may reach it either walking overland, or by coasting along on skates. " His greatest fear wasapproaching the commencement of the channel or river which communicatedwith Lake Huron, where, as the stream was rapid, the ice probably wasnot formed, and their destruction would be nearly inevitable. Thedangerous point was to the right of their course; he therefore naturallyinclined to the left. "I wish we were there, " said Charley at length, in a doleful tone. On they went; the pace became slower and slower; theyoungest brother kept very close to Philip. "Really I think we might dobetter without our skates, " observed Charley; but Philip judged rightlythat skates would still avail them most. They went on--on--on. Harrydeclared that they ought to have reached home long before this. Philipthought so likewise, but did not express his fears; it was important tokeep up his brothers' spirits. Had there been a strong wind he mighthave continued to keep on a straight course; but there was not a breath, and the snow came down from all directions, as Harry observed, "just asif a flock of geese were being plucked overhead. " The flakes werealmost as big as feathers. In vain Philip looked out for a break in thethick woolly veil. Brave Charley kept up manfully; his legs weregetting very tired, though. He said nothing; but he could not helputtering low sighs as he worked on, and wishing that he had a pair ofwings to lift up his body. No one could speak except about their hopesor fears. 

At last Charley felt that his knees were failing under him. "O, Phil, Imust stop, " he cried out. 

Philip took him by the hand and cheered him up. "Hold out a littlelonger, dear Charley; we must be near the shore, " he exclaimed. Charleysaid he would try, and supported on each hand by his brothers went on. He was again nearly giving in, when Philip cried out, "Land a-head!--land a-head! High land with tall trees close down to the lake. It mustbe near home. "

They pushed on vigorously. In less than a minute they ran up against arock; the tall trees changed into low bushes, and the high land into aclump of trees in the middle of a small island. Bitter was theirdisappointment. A moment's consideration made Philip and Harry certainthat it was an island they had visited at the southern end of the lake, and three or four miles distant both from their own and D'Arcy'sclearings. On examining the bark of the trees, and the direction inwhich they bent, they were convinced that they had been making a circle, as they had landed exactly on the opposite side to that which they mighthave expected. From the time they had been moving on, they had probablymade more than one circle; if they started off again, how could theyexpect to steer a straighter course. It was evidently growing darker, and night would soon come on. 

The responsibility resting on Philip's shoulders was very great; notthat he felt very uneasy about his brothers and himself, but he was surethat the dear ones at home would be anxious about them. Had he beenalone he would have made another attempt to reach home; but Charleycould not go further, and Harry would very likely knock up. Hedetermined to remain on the island during the night, unless the weathershould clear up and they should be able to see their way across to themain shore. No time, however, was to be lost to prepare for the nightbefore daylight should altogether depart. Philip was too good abackwoodsman to have left home without his axe and match-box. 

"D'Arcy little thought how useful his fish would prove to us, " saidPhilip, as he looked about for the best spot on which to put up a shed. "We shall not starve; for that we should be thankful. "

"And look here, we may have a plentiful dessert, " cried Charley, comingup with his hands full of brilliant scarlet berries of a long oval form. "See, I know that these are good to eat; Sophy was preserving some ofthem two days ago, and said so. " The berries were the high bushcranberries which grow on a shrub about the height of the guelder rose. Charley had soon collected many more than he and his brothers couldpossibly eat, especially as they had no sugar to eat them with. 

"Come, Charley, as you are able to move about, set to work and collectwood, for we shall have to keep up a blazing fire all night, " saidPhilip, as he began to chop away at some small trees to form the postsof his proposed shed. Harry meantime was getting lighter poles andbranches to form a roof. The spot selected by Philip for the hut was ina sheltered nook under some thickly matted cedars which would greatlyprotect it from the snow. The materials were soon brought together; andso expert had the brothers become in all handiwork, that they quicklymade it habitable. The roof they covered with birch-bark, picked upunder the trees from which it fell, as also the lower part of the sides, banking them up with snow. Boughs of spruce-fir formed no contemptiblecouches. In a very short time they had built a tolerably comfortablehut. Their fire was the next thing to be attended to. There was plentyof drift-wood just above the ice, and dead boughs sufficient to keep upa blazing fire all night: it was soon lighted. Two of the fish wereheld before it till they melted sufficiently to allow of being cleaned;Philip then having cut some forked sticks, forced them into the groundnot yet frozen far down, and with a slender rod spitted the fish, whichhe placed on the forked sticks before the fire. "I wish that we couldboil them Indian fashion, " said Harry: "I saw an old squaw perform theoperation the other day, and yet she had only a wooden bucket. She gota heap of stones heated, and then putting some cold water into herbucket she dropped in her fish and began filling up the bucket with thehot stones; the water bubbled and hissed, and the fish were sooncooked. "

Their own fish did not take long roasting. They were pronouncedexcellent, especially seasoned with the cranberries. 

"I say, this is no bad fun after all, " exclaimed Charley, who soonrecovered from his fatigue. "If it wasn't for those at home I wouldn'thave missed it on any account. "

"I begin to hope that they will not be breaking their hearts about us, "said Harry; "they must have seen the snow-storm coming on, and willthink that we remained with D'Arcy. "

Philip hoped the same, and enjoyed the adventure nearly as much as hisbrothers. Supper over and the fire made up, he told them both to liedown while he kept up the fire and watched for any change in theweather. Still the snow continued to fall--not a break in the densemass of clouds overhead appeared. Philip sat with his feet close to thefire, and his back resting against the side of the hut. It wasnecessary to be very watchful, to prevent the flames catching thebranches on which his brothers lay. He had partially closed theentrance with boughs, but an aperture was required to let out the smoke, and he also had frequently to go out and get more fuel, and to watch forthe snow ceasing. Harry and Charley quickly fell asleep. Philip feltvery much inclined to do the same; he tried all sorts of expedients tokeep awake. The hut was not high enough or large enough to enable himto walk about. He would have gone out, but the fire absolutely requiredhis attendance; he did get up, and stood on one leg, then on the other, till he got tired, so he sat himself down again and raked and stirredthe fire as before. There was no want of warmth in the hut. At lasthis hand stopped, and all was silent; if he was not asleep he was verynearly so. Suddenly he was aware that there was something moving in ornear the hut. He looked up, and just at the entrance he saw a hugebrown monster, his eyes looking curiously in, while with its paws it hadabstracted one of the fish which had been hung up to the doorpost tokeep cool. The stick which Philip had used as a poker was in a flame, so, springing up, he dashed it into the face of the intruder--a bigbear--grasping his axe ready for action should the bear retaliate. Bruin gave a loud and angry growl at the unexpected attack, dropping hisbooty and preparing for action. The noise awoke Harry and Charley, whosprang to their feet. "Dash burning sticks in the fellow's face, whileI tackle him with my axe, " cried Philip. It was fortunate that he wasnot alone. He gave one cut at Bruin's paws, but the next instant themonster would have seized the axe and hugged Philip, had not Harrydashed a stick into his eyes, the pain of which made him spring on oneside and tumble over on his back. Charley followed up the attack withanother fire-brand, and Philip with his axe dealt him a blow on the sideof his head which almost stunned him. Another such blow would havefinished the career of Bruin, but as Philip was lifting his weapon Harrycried out, "O dear, dear, the hut is on fire!" Philip, on this, for amoment turned his head, and the bear rolling round got up on his feet, and scrambled away over the snow as fast as he could move. Philip, instead of pursuing him, had to attend to the burning hut; and, what wasof still greater importance, to rescue the fish, which would have beennot only cooked, but over-cooked before they were wanted. Charley had, however, thoughtfully seized them, so that Philip and Harry could attendto the hut. In vain did they pull out the part which was alreadyblazing, the wood of the larger portion was so dry that it also caughtfire, and it was soon evident that they had no chance of saving theirmansion. "What a misfortune, " cried Harry. "I will not say that, "observed Philip. "If the bear had not awoke me we might have been burntourselves; besides, it has just struck me, that this blaze, which islarger than we should have ventured to kindle, may be seen by those athome, or by D'Arcy, and it will give them assurance of our safety. However, let us set to work to repair damages while the flame lasts, forif we once get chilled, it will not be so easy to warm up again. "

The fire afforded light enough to enable the three brothers to cut downa fresh supply of poles and boughs, and well accustomed to the sort ofwork, they soon again had a hut raised of sufficient size to afford themall shelter. The younger brothers were, however, not inclined to sleep, and they intreated Philip to rest, which he promised to do if they wouldundertake to keep awake. At present there seemed no chance of theirgetting away. As soon as Philip had lain down, Harry and Charley armedthemselves with long burning sticks with which to receive the bearshould he return, taking care to hang their fish up inside, out of hisway. He was, however, not likely to come back again, after the warmreception he had received. 

"I thought bears always shut themselves up in winter, and lived bysucking their paws, " observed Charley. "As to sucking their paws, Idon't know, " said Harry; "but I fancy that the brown bear of this partof the world shuts himself up for the greater part of the winter, andonly occasionally comes out on a mild day to forage for food. Iconclude that our friend had his nest somewhere near and was disturbedby the fire, and his olfactories excited by the smell of the broiledfish. I wish that we had caught him, we might have taken home somethingworth having. "

"Do you think that he has left the island?" asked Charley. "Couldn't wehunt him up?"

"Without consulting Philip! and I should not like to awake him, " saidHarry. "But, I will tell you what, we will make some spears in the meantime, and harden their points in the fire, and if we can find him we'lltake him, dead or alive. "

There were some tough young saplings growing just outside of sufficientlength for the proposed object; three of these were quickly cut, andbeing pointed were hardened in the fire, and then again scraped, tillthey became rather formidable weapons. 

"Don't you think Phil has slept long enough?" said Charley, who wasanxious to make trial of his spear. "I am afraid Master Bruin will besneaking off, and leaving us to whistle for him. "

"Very uncivil not to stop and be killed, " said Harry; "but we need be inno hurry; if he didn't go off at first he is safe enough somewhere nearhere, depend on it. "

The snow continued to fall, but it could not have fallen so thickly asat first, or it would have covered the ground with a thicker coat thanit appeared to have done. Daylight dawned at last, and Philip woke up. He was amused by the preparations for a combat made by his brothers, forhe did not believe that the bear would be found. Before going out allthree knelt down and offered up their prayers and thanksgiving for theprotection afforded them. Under no circumstances did they ever omitthat duty. Philip then advised that they should take some breakfast, that they might be ready for any emergency. Another fish wasaccordingly cooked, of which Charley, in spite of his eagerness, wasready enough to partake. He was hoping all the time that Bruin wouldsmell the savoury morsel, and would be tempted to return. Probably, however, he had already had quite enough of their company and mode ofproceeding to wish again to encounter them. 

It snowed still, but not the dry, hard snow of the previous evening, andPhilip felt more than ever anxious on account of the warmth of theweather. Before the sun could have quite risen, rain came, mixed withthe snow, and gradually there was more rain and less snow, till the raincame down so fast that they were glad to get into their hut for shelter. They well knew that nothing so rapidly causes ice to become rotten asdoes rain. They might be prisoners, therefore, till it had sufficientlymelted to allow of a boat being pushed through it. "But it cannot berotten yet, " said Harry. "Let us look out for the shore, and, if we cansee it, push across to the nearest point; never mind the rain. "

"Agreed. "

They crept out of their hut, and worked their way to the shore of thelittle island. The land round them across the water was very faint;still, as they fancied that they could distinguish their own home, andD'Arcy's clearing, and the settlement, they determined to try to reachone or the other. The settlement was the nearest, and if they reachedthat they might easily find their way home. There was a nominal road, though scarcely passable, except when covered with snow in winter. Theywere debating whether it would be better to attempt to skate or to walkacross the ice. 

"We can but pull our skates off if we do not make good progress, " saidPhilip; so they were sitting down to put them on when Charley exclaimedthat he must have a look for the bear; if he was there he would find himout. Off he ran with his spear. He had not been absent half a minutewhen he came running back, crying out, "Here he is, sure enough, inamong the roots of an old tree under the bank. Come, Phil; come, Harry, come; we shall have him, sure enough, for he does not seem inclined tomove. I suspect the tap you gave him, Phil, with your axe, hurt himmore than we fancied. "

The latter remarks were uttered as the three brothers, with their spearsready for action, hurried towards the spot Charley had indicated. There, indeed, was a brown heap, from out of which a set of sharp teethand a pair of twinkling eyes appeared. "There, what do you think ofthat?" asked Charley. The bear lay in a sort of root-formed cavern, under the bank. Some snow had drifted into it, which had been protectedfrom the rain; on the snow were wide stains of blood. His wound wouldcertainly make the bear more savage, and might not have much weakenedhim. Still, forgetting the risk they were running, they all three madea rush at him with their spears. He attempted to get up, seizingCharley's spear from his grasp, and biting furiously at it, but Philip'sand Harry's pinned him to the bank. Still his strength was great, andit was not till Philip was able to get a blow at his head with his axethat his struggles ceased. 

"Hurrah, hurrah! now we may live here for a week, like Robinson Crusoe, "shouted Charley, highly delighted with their success. 

"And leave those at home to believe that we are lost, " said Philip. 

"No, no, I don't mean that; only if we were obliged to stop we mightcontrive to be very jolly, " said Charley. 

They had no little trouble in dragging the bear up the bank, and it thenbecame a question what they should do with him. They could not carryhim away, that was very certain. Cutting him up was not a pleasantoperation, yet they could not hang him up whole. 

"We will secure his tongue, and we must come back for him as soon as wecan, " said Phil. 

They had been so busy that they had not observed that the rain hadceased, and that instead of it a thick fog had sprung up again, completely obscuring the shores. It was so warm that there could be nodoubt that the ice must be rapidly melting. Had this happened at theend of winter it would not have signified, as it would have requiredmany days then to weaken the ice materially. Still, if it had not beenfor the fog they could have pushed across without fear at once. 

"Why did we come without a compass?" cried Philip, not for the firsttime. "Remember, you fellows, never to leave home without one. You donot know when you may require it in this country. " After sitting downon the bank for some time, Philip started up, exclaiming, "They will bebreaking their hearts with anxiety about us. I must go. You two haveplenty of food, and if you will promise me that you will not stir fromthe island till a boat comes for you, or till the weather clears and theice hardens thoroughly, I will go across to the settlement and send onhome overland. I know that I can hit it, as there is a breeze blowing, and I took the bearings before the rain came on. " Harry and Charleywere very unwilling to let their brother go, but at length, when he hadpersuaded them that there was no danger to himself, they agreed to obeyhis wishes. 

Having disencumbered himself of his axe and an overcoat, as well as ofthe remainder of D'Arcy's fish, which he left for his brothers, Philipbuckled on his skates, and taking one of the spears in his hand, away heglided; his brothers, standing on the shore, watched him--his figuregrowing less and less distinct, till he disappeared in the thick mistwhich hung over the lake. "I wish that we had not let him go, " criedCharley. "Suppose any accident should happen to him, how dreadful. Couldn't we call him back? He would hear us if we shouted. "

"No, that would annoy him, as we have no reason for calling him back. We must let him go, " said Harry. "Well, at all events, we can pray forhim, " exclaimed Charley, in a tone which showed that the thought wasconsolatory. They did so immediately, and felt far greater confidencethan before. For themselves, they had no cause to fear. They had foodenough for a month or more, should the frost return, and they had themeans of building a hut, in which they could be perfectly sheltered fromthe weather. They had abundance of fuel, and the bear's skin would keepthem warm at night. There were the cranberries, and probably some otherberries, and they knew of several roots which they thought they shouldfind. "Really, we are very well off, " said Charley, after they hadreviewed their resources. "I don't think there is another part of theworld where, in a little island like this, we could find such amplemeans of support. I shouldn't mind spending a month here at all. "

"Ah! but we could not expect always to find a bear in such a place asthis; and as for the fish, we brought them with us, " said Harry, by wayof argument. 

"But I daresay, if we were to hunt about, we should find some racoons;and if the ice melted we should catch plenty of fish--or we might make ahole in the ice and fish through it, " argued Charley. "By the by, Ihave got some hooks and a line in my pocket; I vote we try. "

No sooner was the proposal made than executed; two fishing lines werefitted--with their spears a hole was made in the easily yielding ice--the bear furnished bait. Scarcely was a line in than a tug was felt, and a small fish was hauled up. They did not know the name, but as itsappearance was prepossessing, they had no doubt that it was fit forfood. Another and another followed; they were delighted with theirsport, and even Harry felt that he should be sorry to have to go away. "If we had but some bread and some tea, with a pot to boil it in, weshould do capitally, " he observed. 

"We may dig dandelion roots for coffee, we can boil water with hotstones in a wooden jug, which we can make, and there are roots whichwill serve us for bread, " said Charley. "If we could but get a fewheads of Indian corn, we might thrive just as we are. "

"We might live, certainly, " said Harry; "but I doubt if we could domore. "

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

We must follow Philip in his perilous adventure. He felt more doubtfulas to the strength of the ice than he had expressed; but should it breakbeneath him, he relied on his long pole to extricate himself. He lookedback every now and then, and he appeared to be taking a straight course;he felt the breeze also always on his left cheek. This inspirited him, though he could not see the shore. The snow was yielding enough, thoughrather clogging about his heels; the fog, however, grew thicker thanever; it was evidently the fog caused by a warm thaw. He had seen manysuch in England. He pushed on boldly--faster than he had gone with hisbrothers--he was lightly clad and carried no weight. Did he hear soundscoming from the shore--sleigh-bells--or sheep-bells--men's voices also?If so, he was probably near the settlement. He was trying to pierce themist, when suddenly he felt his feet sinking from under him, and beforehe could spring back, he was sent gliding down a slab of ice, andplunged in the water. For several yards before him there was nothingbut water. Holding his pole he swam on. He reached the edge of theice: it broke as he clutched it. It is a difficult operation to get outof water on to a slab of ice. He found it so. If he got one end of thepole on the ice the other slipped off. He saw the danger of exhaustinghis strength by useless struggles. He had heard voices. He might makehimself heard, so he shouted--"Help! help! the ice has broken in--help!"

It was a sad fate which seemed about to overwhelm him. Life had manycharms in spite of the one disappointment, which had, rather given agravity to his manner than in any way embittered his existence. He hadhoped to do something in the world--his duty, at all events. He hadmany too depending on him. How would they bear his loss? He lookedupward. A thick veil hung over his head. Below was the dark water--onevery side the wide expanse of treacherous ice and snow. His limbs weregetting chilled; still he would struggle on while consciousness wasallowed him. Had the hole been smaller into which he had fallen, hemight have got his pole across it. It was, however, of much assistance, as holding on to it, he could rest without breaking the edge of the ice. He was certain that he heard sleigh-bells. He shouted louder thanbefore. The bells ceased. He instantly shouted again. A voicereplied, "We'll be with you directly, friend. " His heart leaped withinhim. The voices sounded louder. He discerned objects dimly moving overthe ice, here and there. They must be looking for him. He shoutedagain. They resolved themselves into the forms of two men. Theyapproached him. One had a rope in his hand. "Lay hold of this, we'llsoon have you out, " said the man. Philip passed the rope round hispole, and then grasped it tightly. With care he was dragged out. Theother person stood at a distance. "We must not put more weight than wecan help on this treacherous stuff, " he said. "Why, I do believe thatyou are young Ashton. "

"The same: and you Mr Norman, " cried Philip. "I am indeed thankful foryour timely aid. "

"Which my man rendered, and not I; and which he would have rendered to adrowning dog, so don't say anything about that, " replied Mr Norman. "But we must not stop talking here. The sooner we are on _terra firma_, and you in a warm bed, the better. "

Philip found, on reaching the shore, that he was fully half a mile northof the settlement. Mr Norman, who was on his way to pay his family avisit, was passing in his sleigh at the moment. "I hoped that the snowwould remain long enough to enable me to get up to you, for your roadscarcely allows of a wheeled conveyance, " he observed, as they droverapidly back to the settlement, Philip sitting covered up with furs atthe bottom of the sleigh. A warm bed was, however, not a luxury to befound at the settlement; indeed, Philip assured his friend, that if hecould obtain a change of clothes, he would much rather set off at onceto rescue his brothers. "Not till you are more fit to go than atpresent, " said Mr Norman. "My friend Job Judson, at the hotel, willhelp us; and while you are drying outwardly, and warming inwardly, wewill get a boat or canoe of some sort to shove over across the ice tobring away the youngsters. They are happy enough in the meantime, depend on that; I have had many such an adventure in my younger days, greatly to my enjoyment. "

In a few minutes Philip was sitting wrapped up in a sheet and blanketbefore the almost red-hot stove of the log-hut, y-clept an hotel, whileMr Job Judson was administering a stiffer tumbler of rum-and-water thanPhilip had ever before tasted, probably, though it appeared to him nostronger than weak negus. Believing this to be the case he did notdecline a second, the effect of which was to throw him into a glow andto send him fast asleep. Meantime his clothes, hung up round the stove, were drying rapidly; and when the landlord at last aroused him to putthem on, he found that they were, as he said, as warm as a toast; indeedthey were, he had reason to suspect, rather overdone. He found MrNorman with a large dug-out canoe on runners, with a couple of poles, one on each side, and two men who had volunteered to accompany him. 

"I'd go myself, but I guess I'd rather over-ballast your craft, " saidJob Judson, turning round his rotund figure, such as was not often seenin the bush. Philip thanked him, and agreed that no more persons wererequired for the expedition. 

Mr Norman insisted on going. "Do not be afraid of my being tired, " heremarked; "I have always lived in so hardy a way that nothing tires me. "

Philip was not aware that more than three hours had passed since hereached the settlement. The fog was still as thick as ever. The twomen dragged on the canoe; Mr Norman pushed astern, and placing acompass down on the seat before him, observed, "It is necessary to takeour departure very carefully, or we shall find it more difficult to hitthe island than you did on leaving it to reach the shore. I do notsuppose that there is a person in the settlement can give us thebearings of the island from this. "

"No; but the map of the Geological Survey will, " said the gentleman whokept the store in the settlement. In another instant he brought out alarge map, where the island was clearly laid down. "All right, thankyou, " said Mr Norman: "away we go. " The two men laid hold of thefore-end of the poles; Philip and Mr Norman behind. The ice was farfrom secure; it did not crack nor bend, but it evidently rested on thewater, and such ice generally gives way without any warning or sound. The party, however, pushed dauntlessly on, steadily, but not so fast asPhilip would have liked. He thought, indeed, at last, that they musthave passed the island; but Mr Norman was too good a navigator forthat--it rose up suddenly before them. 

Philip shouted, "Harry--Charley--all right, boys--hurrah!" but there wasno answer. Again he cried out; no one replied. "They are hiding to tryto frighten me, Mr Norman, " he said, laughing, --"the rogues. " Theparty landed and looked about. "O very well, they cannot be here, andso we'll go away, " he cried out, thinking that would make them appear;it had no such effect. Philip began to grow anxious: they wouldcertainly not carry their joke so far. He went round the island, sometimes on the ice and sometimes on shore. As he was hurrying on, what was his dismay to see a large hole in the ice: his poor youngbrothers had met the fate which he had so narrowly escaped. He sawexactly how it had happened; one had gone through, and the other intrying to help him out had fallen in likewise. There had been astruggle, as there were prints of feet and knees in the snow round it;some the water had washed over. 

His exclamations of grief brought his companions to the spot. "Not socertain that anything dreadful has occurred, " said Mr Norman. "Youtold me you had killed a bear: now Bruin has been deprived of his hinderlegs, which make the best hams; and his four paws, which turn into goodsoup; and I don't think that they would have walked off by themselves. Come, let us examine your hut. Ah! the skin too has disappeared. "

"Yes, and I see that the remainder of the fish which D'Arcy gave us arenot here, " said Philip, somewhat relieved. "But perhaps the island hasbeen visited by some trapper, who would naturally carry off the mostvaluable parts of the bear. "

"Ah! but look here: if the island has been visited by a trapper, he camewith a vehicle on runners from the direction of your clearing, andreturned to the same place. There are the marks clear enough still; anIndian would have told us exactly how things occurred. "

"I wish that we had had one, " said Philip, in whom fatigue had producedlow spirits. "The visitor, whoever he was, not finding them, may havecarried off the bear's flesh and returned without them. "

"I think that I can convince you that my conjectures are correct, " saidMr Norman, after looking about for some time longer. "You killed thebear with long stakes: I can find none; they would naturally havecarried them off as trophies. They had skates; none are to be seen, thefoot-prints are those of shoes. "

"How came the hole?" asked Philip. 

"They made it themselves to fish through. See here are some scaleswhich Tom Smith has just brought me, and which his sharp eye detectednear the hole: the fish was evidently thrown down there on beingunhooked. Come, I doubt if any Indian would read marks more clearlythan I have done, though probably he would explain matters in a far morepompous style. The fact is, my experience of bush-life and Indian lifehas been very considerable, as you will understand if you like some dayto listen to some of my adventures. But there is nothing to keep uslonger here. "

Philip was happier, but not thoroughly satisfied. The party set out ontheir return. 

"This ice would not have borne us many hours hence; be ready for a leapinto the canoe, " said Mr Norman. They reached the settlement, however, in safety. The inhabitants were divided in opinion as to whether theyoung Ashtons were lost or not; Philip was eager to reach home to settlethe point. Mr Norman had sent for wheels for his vehicle, as the snowhad melted too much to allow of runners. It was soon mounted, and awaythey rattled, bumped and thumped, Mr Norman singing--

 "`You and I, Billy, have often heard how folks are ruined and undone, By overturns in carriages, by fires and thieves in London. '

"You see, my young friend, we must look out for haps and mishaps in thecountry as well as in town, on shore as well as at sea. Ignorant ofreligion as seamen are, they have a right feeling of a superintendingProvidence, which makes them feel as secure in the midst of the ragingstorm as they would driving about in the crowded city. The truebeliever in Christ is ready to die at any moment. This it is makes weakwomen courageous, while strong men show themselves to be cowards wheninstant death threatens them. "

Philip thought to himself, "How did I behave and feel when I was in thewater this morning?--how when I found the hole in the ice, and thoughtthat my brothers had fallen through?" The journey to the clearing, which across the ice would not have occupied twenty minutes, and not anhour by land had the snow been hard, took up more than two hours, withthe risk of an overturn or break-down every yard, and such jolting asonly well-knit limbs would endure. 

At last the log-house appeared before them. "A very creditable edifice;really, Mr Philip, you were born a backwoodsman, " exclaimed Mr Norman. "I learned carpentering, and the principal rules for house-building, while my hands and eyes have been kept in exercise from my childhood, "was the answer. "That is the preparation required for all settlers inthe bush, and which so large a number want and fail of success inconsequence--or at all events waste precious years in gaining at a heavycost the knowledge with which they ought to begin. I commenced theworld without a sixpence, and have worked my way up to wealth andindependence by the proper use of my hands and head. A settler, torise, must have both. We welcome hands in the province. The possessorof a head benefits himself chiefly--not that we could get on withoutheads either. "

As they drove up to the door, D'Arcy was the first person to meet them. Philip's heart sunk within him in spite of what Mr Norman had beensaying. He hoped to have seen his brothers. "Where are the lads?" heexclaimed, eagerly. "All right, come in. I will take your horse round, Mr Norman, " said D'Arcy; and as the door opened, the boys' voices wereheard from their room. The rest of the family quickly came to theentrance to welcome them; and D'Arcy, coming back, explained what hadoccurred. He had seen the blaze of their burning hut, but notsuspecting the cause, had gone across the lake with his canoe onrunners, to ascertain if they had got home safe, not sorry for a goodexcuse for his visit. His appearance naturally caused great dismay andanxiety. He, however, afforded his friends some comfort, by assuringthem that he believed the missing ones would be found on the island, towards which, supplied with a compass, he immediately set out, accompanied by Peter, and carrying provisions, cordials, and blankets. His satisfaction was considerable when laughing voices proceeded fromthe direction of the island, and he found the young gentlemen amusingthemselves greatly by fishing for tommicods. Taking the best parts ofthe bear, he hurried back with his rescued friends to prevent Philip, should he arrive first, from setting off to meet them. 

Philip's long delay had again caused his family great anxiety. A happyparty, with grateful hearts, assembled round Mr Ashton's supper-tablethat evening--a table framed by his own hands, while most of theluxuries were supplied by the industry of those sitting round it. Inanother year there would not be an article of food on it which had notbeen produced on the farm, or procured from the lake, or surroundingwoods. Not the least happy was Lawrence D'Arcy; and perhaps a glance atMiss Ashton's countenance might have told the reason why. 

"Well, Mr Norman, I am glad at length to see you here; and I can assureyou, that your prognostications as to my liking the country, have beenmore than fulfilled, " said Mr Ashton. "I have never for an instantregretted coming out here; and I believe that I am happier, and that mywife and children are so, than we should have been had we lived on thelife we had been proposing for ourselves in London, when I found myselfdeprived of the property which I thought my own. "

"God's merciful Providence overruled your plan for your own and yourchildren's good, " said Mr Norman. "I know nothing practically of largecities, and little enough of towns; but from what I have read, I suspectthat the temptations to evil in them are great, and the advantagescomparatively small, when the chief object of man's life is considered. No life can more conduce to virtue and a healthful state of body andmind than that which the industrious settler in the country leads outhere. He has hard work and rough living, may be; but what is that, whether he be gentle or simple, compared to what he would have had toendure, had he without fortune remained idle at home? That is thequestion all settlers must ask themselves over and over again, wheneverthey get out of sorts with the Province. "

CHAPTER NINE. 

"It is the fashion to say in England, so I hear, that Canada is not thecountry in which people can make fortunes, " said the sheriff; for suchwas the office Mr Norman held in his county. "I grant that it is notthe country in which fortunes will come of themselves; but, putting thelower province out of the question, I should like to know how the ownersof the nice estates and pretty villas scattered so thickly throughoutthe upper province became possessed of them. How has Toronto sprung upinto a first-rate city? How have Hamilton, London, and twenty othertowns risen in a few years into importance? How is it that thousands ofcomfortable farms are found in all directions? Look at our canals--atthe thousands of vessels which navigate our lakes and rivers; at oursaw-mills, and grist-mills, and manufactories of all sorts; at the tensof thousands of acres of corn land; at our pastures; at our oxen andkine; at our flocks of sheep; at our horses; at our public and privatebuildings; at our churches; our colleges; our schools; our hospitals;our prisons; at all the conveniences of a highly civilised communitywhich we possess, and then let me ask to whom do all these thingsbelong? To the inhabitants of the province. Who are they? Men mostlywho began life in it; some few whose fathers lived in it; but very fewindeed whose grandfathers were born here. Of these, the capital of thegreater number, when they began this career, might have been counted byshillings;--did I say shillings? I would rather say strong hearts andhands, without coin at all; some few might have reckoned by pounds, fewer by hundreds, and very few indeed, if any, by thousands. Then howdid they become possessed of all this wealth? Why they made all thiswealth, they created all these advantages, by their labour, theirintelligence, and perseverance. They are theirs--to enjoy--to benefitby. It is said in England, `We do not find rich Canadians come back andsettle at home, as so many Australians do. ' Granted; Canada, I say, isessentially the country to reside in. People who have made fortuneshere do not go away, for the best of reasons; because here they have allthe requirements of civilisation, all the advantages which theAustralians go to England to obtain. I say too that numbers do makevery handsome fortunes--though I grant, as I before observed, thatfortunes don't come of themselves; but, which is better, no one who ispersevering, industrious, and intelligent, fails to become independent, and to start his children well in the world. I don't want to disparageother provinces, but I say that we Canadians can and do make fortunes;and what is more, we have the means of enjoying them thoroughly, withoutgoing to other lands to do so. "

The sheriff had got on a subject on which he always grew eager, thoughhe was at length obliged to pause for want of breath. "Take myself, forexample, " he continued; "I rose, if you like, from the bottom of thetree; and I know fifty--I may say a hundred men, who have got up as Ihave done--my brother-sheriff of the next county among them. My fathercame over from England. He was a baker by trade; but though he knew howto make loaves, he did not know how to read. He came to theneighbourhood of Kingston first, and worked as a journeyman. When hehad saved a little money he set up for himself; then he got a share in aflour-mill, and bought a little land;--then a little more; and then theflour-mill became his; and lastly, he sold the whole at a considerableprofit, and moving westward, pitched his tent at Pentanquishine, on LakeHuron. He invested largely in land; and troops being stationed thereduring the war with the States, and it becoming a naval station, herealised a considerable profit. Though uneducated himself, he wasdesirous of giving his sons a good education; so he sent us all to thebest school in the province--I might say the only one--kept by theReverend Dr Strachan, now Bishop of Toronto, in that big city, thenknown as "Muddy Little York. " The excellent doctor, of whom we allstood in reverential awe, had the art of imparting knowledge; and Ibelieve I, with others, benefited much by it. Of my two elder brothersI will say nothing, except that they tyrannised over me and anotherbrother younger than I was. He and I were fast friends, and made commoncause against them. As Pentanquishine could not supply us with clothingfit to appear in at Toronto, our father directed us to get it at thatplace, and entrusted our elder brother with money to pay for it. He gotclothing certainly, and paid the tailor, but it was for himself and notfor us, and we were allowed to go on wearing our shabby clothes. Iprotested vehemently against this iniquitous proceeding, but Arthur, myyounger brother, who was of a more gentle nature, yielded quietly andsaid nothing. 

"There was to be a public examination, at which all the big-wigs in theplace were to attend; and I told my brother that if he would not orderus both proper suits of clothes I would run away to our father andcomplain. He laughed at me, not believing that I would make theattempt. I was as good as my word, for pretending I was ill oneevening, I got leave to go up early to bed. Instead of going to sleep Iwatched my opportunity, slipped out of the house with all the moneyArthur and I could collect, or rather save, in my pocket, and running onall night, before morning I was far away towards Lake Simcoe. You see, boys brought up in the bush, as I was, have no fear of being out alone, and can find their way in any direction they have a mind to follow. Besides which, it was a beaten cart track I followed, mostly in the linethe railway now takes. Great changes since then! I might have beencaught even then, for I was pursued for some distance; but I wasovertaken by an old acquaintance--a carter, or rather a packer orcarrier--Jack Johnson by name, to whom I narrated what had occurred. Myelder brother had on some occasion offended him, and this made him, probably, more ready to take my part, and to render me assistance. `Jump into the waggon, lad, and hide thee away, and if any one comesafter thee I'll show him that Jack Johnson's waggon is just as much hiscastle as any man's house is, and if he pries therein he must take theconsequences. ' What those consequences would be he did not say, but heflourished his heavy whip with a ferocity which made it probable thatthe head of anybody who interfered would be broken. With this consolingreflection I fell asleep, for I was very tired after my long run duringall the night. I knew, also, that Jack would be as good as his word, soI had no fears to keep me awake. 

"We jogged on all day, stopping only to bait and water the cattle. Nowand then I awoke and looked out; it was the same scene--forest on eitherside, with now and then a small lake, or pond, or creek. Jack was athis horses' heads, whistling away, as if he had nothing in the world tocare for. He hadn't either. He had been a workhouse-boy in the oldcountry, and would have ended his days as a labourer, and now he waslaying by a good bit of money every trip, and expected to be able to buya comfortable farm before long. So he did, and has brought up anumerous family, all well-to-do in the world, and lives himself ascomfortably as any man with four or five hundred a-year would, I guess, in England. At night we stopped at a log-hut, the only inn on the road, and Jack brought me some food and told me to be quiet, and that we wouldbe off early in the morning. 

"The second day passed much as did the first, except that I had lost allfear of being overtaken. The confession is somewhat humbling, but thetruth is, I was not considered worth sending after. `Let the chielgang, --wie sae little brains in his head he's sure to fall on his feet, 'observed the doctor, when informed of my flight--so I was told. In theevening of the second day we reached Holland's Landing, at the south endof Lake Simcoe. Settlers had begun to take up the land on either sideof the lake: they were chiefly naval and military officers, forced intoidleness at the end of the war, without any previous training for thelife they were to lead, or knowledge of what would be required of themas settlers. The naval men did the best, and many of them succeeded, asdid a few of the military men, but the greater number, after a fewyears' trial, I might say months, left in disgust, or ruined. Manynever came even to occupy their grants. Jack's business was to supplythese gentlemen with goods, which most of them came to fetch atHolland's Landing. 

"As he was going no further, I had now to consider how I was to performthe rest of my journey West. While standing in the bar of the storewith Jack, who should come in but a trapper, known to him, Jean Baptisteby name, to make some purchases. `Whither bound, friend Baptiste?'asked Jack. I could make out clearly enough the meaning of his reply, but I cannot repeat the extraordinary mixture of Canadian, French, English, and Ojibbeway, in which it was couched. He intimated that hewas going a few days' journey west, over ground where there was then anabundance of beaver, martin, mink, and other fur-bearing animals, whichare rare enough now. Jean Baptiste showed his Indian origin by hislong, Jewish-like countenance, dark eyes, and raven black hair. He wasdressed in skins, the hair being inside, in spite of the heat, hisleggings and waistcoat ornamented with bead-work and gaily-dyedporcupine quills, and mingled with coloured fibres and worsted. 

"I slept in Jack's cart, and just at daybreak Baptiste came and rousedme up. I thanked Jack heartily for his kindness, and with a stout stickin my hand, with which he presented me, set off to follow mystrange-looking guide towards his camp. Here, under a lean-to ofbirch-bark, I found Mrs Baptiste, an Indian squaw, who, if not a solaceto him in his hours of trial, took a great deal of trouble off hisshoulders, for she worked for him from morning till night like a slave, with small thanks. In the way he treated his wife he was no better thanan Indian. She had her hand-sleigh already packed, and as soon as weappeared she harnessed herself into it and began dragging it off withoutsaying a word. Talk of the romance of Indian life, there is none of itof an elevated nature. All the stuff novelists have written is sheerdownright nonsense. It is simple brutality from beginning to end. Ispeak of the natives I have met with before they became Christians. Baptiste, on the strength of his being a French-Canadian, on hisfather's side, called himself a Christian, but he was as ignorant ofreligion as was his squaw; and here let me remind you, whenever youwrite to your friends in England, tell them that there is a grandopening for missionary labours among the wide-scattered Indian tribesstill existing on this continent. Something is being done, but muchmore may be done; and not only is there work to be done among Indians, but among the out-settlers, and especially among the lumberers on theOttawa. Never mind whether they are Romanists or not. They never hearthe Gospel of free grace preached from one end of the year to the other. I believe that a missionary going among them would find abundant fruitas the result of his labours. 

"To return to Baptiste. He had set his traps in the forest along theroute we were to take, and so we had to push our way through it, sleighand all, he scarcely condescending to help his squaw when it stuckbetween the stumps of the trees, she also looking with supreme contempton me when I attempted to help her; indeed she, I fancy, considered merather officious than otherwise. I travelled on for several days withthis unattractive couple, and yet I believe that they were really fondof each other. They were hospitable in their way also, for their potwas always well supplied with meat, and they gave me as much as I couldeat. It was not of the choicest land, I must confess, for everycreature the trapper caught went into it, with a mixture of herbs androots, among which garlic predominated. 

"At last Baptiste told me that he had come to the end of his journey, and that I must find the rest of the way by myself. `I will try, ofcourse, but it strikes me that I shall not succeed, ' was my answer. `IfI had a gun and powder and shot, or even your traps, I would get on fastenough as soon as I could find my way into the blazed road, but out herethe thing is impossible. If you will not come along with me I must goback with you. '

"He signified that he would be glad enough to have my company, but thathe had promised Jack to see me on my way, and that his honour wasconcerned in doing so. He could not go on himself, but he would findsome Indians who would guide me if I could pay them. I had threedollars in my pocket, I told him. He said half that sum would contentthem if I would pay it them. He soon found the trail of some Indianswhom he knew to be his friends--we came up with them. The bargain wasstruck with two of them to see me safe all the way, and Baptiste told methat they were highly delighted though they took care not to show it. They were accompanied by their squaws; indeed, an Englishman of fortunewould as soon think of travelling without his valet as an Indian withouthis squaw to perform every menial occupation he may require. There wasnothing romantic in the appearance of my friends; one wore an oldshooting-coat, which he had trimmed with coloured worsted, while theother had fastened a blue checked shirt over his other garments by wayof ornament; the rest of their costume being more in the old Indianfashion of leather and fur. They were dirty in the extreme, and notover good looking; but they had honest countenances, and I had no fearof their not treating me fairly. One of them went before me to clearthe way, the other followed at my heels to pick me up should I stumble, and the squaws brought up the rear, all in single file. The squaws hadto build the wigwams--or, rather, lean-tos--when we camped, to collectsticks for the fire, to cook the food, and to bring water from thenearest stream or pond; their masters condescended to catch the game. They were not such expert trappers as Baptiste, but then they atecreatures which he would have rejected--nothing that could be masticatedcame amiss to them. I should have fared badly, but the second day, justafter we had camped, we came suddenly upon two bears with two youngcubs. They were as much surprised at seeing us as we were atencountering them. One of the Indians who had a fowling piece fired, and hit Mr Bruin in the brain, whereon Mrs Bruin trotted off with oneof the cubs; while the other Indian with his bow shot the cub which hadremained with his father. 

"I was eager to exhibit my prowess, so followed the retreating bears, hoping to kill the cub with my stick. Fortunately they took the waynear the camp, when the squaws, seeing me, ran out and caught hold ofme, telling me that as surely as I had killed the cub the mother wouldhave turned round and torn me to pieces. Though I still wished to go, they held me tight till the bears were out of sight. I believe fullythat they saved my life, and certainly it was pleasanter supping on abear than making a supper for one. 

"At last we reached Pentanquishine, and so thankful was I to get therethat I gave the honest Indians two dollars instead of one and a-half. Ifear that they spent the greater part, if not the whole of the sum, atthe grog shop before they left the settlement. 

"`What! who are you, you little ragamuffin?' exclaimed my father when hesaw me, for by that time so torn had become my garments by the thornyshrubs, that they literally were in shreds. `You are no child of mine;get out with you, you little ill-conditioned cub. ' I ought not to havebeen surprised at this greeting, though it was not pleasant to myfeelings. 

"I had considerable difficulty in persuading him who I was, and of thetruth of my statement as to the cause of my leaving. At last he didbelieve me, and declared that he would break Dick's head and stop hisallowance for the following half. Dick, when he came home for theholidays, made me beg him off, not the getting his head broke, for thathe laughed at, but the having his allowance stopped, which he guessedmight be done. 

"When I went back at the commencement of the next half, the Doctor tookno notice of what had occurred, and from having been the most ragged, Ibecame one of the best dressed boys in the school. This was not alwaysto last. My elder brothers went home to begin life, leaving me andArthur. We were very glad when they went, for they bullied us terribly. A year passed, and then came a letter with a black seal, and we heardthat our father was dead. Dick, who had come of age, inherited hisproperty, and it seemed had the power of doing with us just what heliked. It arose thus: our poor father had been seized with the desireof having his eldest son a gentleman of fortune, and thinking that byleaving him all his property he could do so, he beggared the rest of us. Dick wrote us word that we must earn our own living, but that he wouldbe a brother to us, and to show his affection he apprenticed me to achair-maker, and my slight, delicate young brother Arthur to ablacksmith. 

"Mine was not a bad trade, for furniture was in great demand. `If thatis to be my calling I will go at it, ' said I to myself. I did so, andsoon could turn a chair very neatly out of hand. Arthur could make nohand at the blacksmith work--his arm had not strength to wield a hammer;I went to his master and asked him to let him off. `No, I never doesanything without an equivalent, ' was his answer; `but I'll tell youwhat, youngster, I happen to want some chairs for my woman and childrento sit on; now, if you'll make them for me, slick off hand, your brothershall go free, I guess. ' The bargain was struck. I was anxious to getpoor Arthur free, for every day was killing him with labour for which hewas so unfit. I set to work at once, and each moment that I could sparefrom my proper duties to my master I employed in making the chairs. Iwas determined that he should not say that they were not good chairs--strong and handsome. The blacksmith was highly pleased with them, andinstantly freed my brother and made me a present of a couple of dollars. With this sum and a little more I had made by working out of hours, Iset Arthur to trade on his own account, to keep him till my term wasout, which was to be very shortly. From the day I had left school I hadnot neglected my studies, and I used to read all the books I could layhands on during every spare moment. Life is short enough as it is, andpeople make it still shorter by idling away their time. I knew that Ihad plenty of work to do, and I found out early that to get it done Imust not lose a moment. I consequently not only kept up the knowledge Iobtained at school, but got a fair amount besides. 

"We worked on for three years, I making chairs and Arthur selling them, saving money, but not very fast. I had no fancy to go on chair-makingall my days, and I wished for a more active life. 

"I had paid a visit to Holland's Landing a few months before this, and Ifound that my friend, Jack Johnson, was still driving a thriving tradewith the settlement along the shores of the lake; but he had not a goodhead for business, and I saw that a great deal more might be made of itthan he made. A steamer was building to run on the lake. She was tocommence running in a few days. I applied for the office of purser, orsteward--call it which you will. I obtained it, at a low salary, stipulating that I should be allowed to trade, to a certain extent, onmy own account. That was all I wanted. My plans were at once formed. Jack was to purchase and bring up the articles from Toronto, and Arthurand I to go round to the farms, as far as we could reach, and to obtainorders, large or small. All were fish which came into our net, from anounce of tobacco to the furniture of a house or the machinery for a sawmill, provided we could get security; it would have been folly to tradewithout that, especially with some of our customers. 

"We paid considerable sums to the steamer for freight, and, pleasing theowners, were able, with their aid, to increase our credit and ourbusiness. It is extraordinary how reckless some of those we dealt withwere in giving orders for goods and in mortgaging their property assecurity, without a prospect, as far as we could judge, of their beingable to pay us without allowing the mortgage to be foreclosed. That youmay not think ill of me on that account, I may say that we thus had anopportunity of being of considerable service to many of theseimprovident gentlemen. Our trade throve, and I soon found that it wouldbe convenient to establish a store at the principal place at which thesteamer called. Arthur took charge of it, and the flourishing conditionof the concern showed that we were right in our expectations. 

"Our capital increased. We were compelled to foreclose some mortgages;and as we did not wish to keep the farms of which we thus becamepossessed, we sold them at more or less profit. We were in the way ofhearing when land was to be sold at a cheap rate, either improved orunimproved, and by purchasing such land and re-selling to newly-arrivedsettlers, who became good customers, we profited considerably. We gotthe best of everything, and our desire was to supply those who bought ofus with what we knew they would most require, and which would give themsatisfaction. 

"As soon as I had established a business I left the steam-boat and wentto live on shore, at the store, having first taken to wife the daughterof my old master. A very good wife she has made me, and I should like, some day, to bring her over to see you, Mrs Ashton; but you mustn'texpect to see a fine lady, such are not the good wives of this province. For many years she was a hardworking housewife, when helps were beingsnot to be procured for love or money. The station of life which I thenoccupied was different to what I now fill, but my good wife has had noambition to change her style of dress or living with our change ofcircumstances, from the feeling that she might appear out of place. Infact, my dear madam, you will understand that she is not vulgar, and isessentially free from all vulgar ambition. Here I must bring the sketchof my early life to a conclusion, remarking that what my brother and Idid, hundreds of others have done in this province, and thousands morewill do if they will practise self-control, labour industriously inwhatever station they are placed, and be ready to step into any openingwhich may present itself, always doing their duty, and praying forstrength and guidance above. "

CHAPTER TEN. 

Although the Canadian winter impedes agricultural operations, there isplenty of work to be done both out-of-doors and in-doors, especially ona newly-cleared farm. Chopping down the trees goes on, and if thebrushwood has been collected before the snow falls, the huge trunks canbe dragged together and piled in heaps to be burnt off. It may seem asad waste of good timber, but it is the least expensive way of gettingrid of what cumbers the ground; besides which, the ashes very muchassist to fertilise it. The Ashtons, however, found that they coulddispose of theirs at the newly-erected saw-mills, if they could get thelogs there. Not a tree could be moved, however, by any force they couldcommand, till the snow fell and hardened. The logs then were draggeddown over it on to the ice, where they were easily formed into a raftand floated across the lake to the mills at breaking up of the ice inspring. 

The first fall of snow had entirely disappeared, and the lake had becomefree of ice, to be covered again, however, by a far thicker coat thanbefore, and equally smooth. Harry and Charley were eager to have anice-boat, and they persuaded Philip, in spite of his many avocations, toassist them in making one. The great point was to have good runners. These should have been made of iron, but as that was not to be procured, they got some hard wood of sufficient length, which being slightlycurved up at the ends, served admirably. The boat had, therefore, whatHarry called two keels. This was the most important part;--the boat wassimply a long box with seats across it. The rudder, which was an oarfixed in the stern, had a sharp iron blade which would dig into the ice. The craft was rigged as a schooner, and had a very creditableappearance. A long pole with an iron head helped to steer her and toput her about. 

With eager haste she was launched on the glass-like expanse. "Let usstand across to D'Arcy and astonish him, " cried Harry. "We can carryhim the invitation to spend Christmas-day with us. " There were nodissentient voices. Philip took the helm, Harry managed the head-sails, Charley the main. The wind was on the quarter. The sails could not behoisted till they were ready to start, as the ice offering noresistance, she would either have blown over, or run away before thewind. Philip was not quite so sanguine of success as his brothers. Theword was given--Harry shoved round the head of the strange-lookingcraft, and far enough off to allow the rudder full play. The sails werehoisted--the sheets hauled aft--a fresh breeze filled them, and to thedelight of her architects, away she shot in splendid style. Sheanswered her helm admirably. It seemed but a few minutes beforeD'Arcy's clearing hove in sight. Philip fired off his gun to draw hisfriend's attention to them, and they had only time to haul down theirsails before, with the impetus the craft had attained, she glided up tothe landing-place, and sent them all tumbling forward, as she made abold attempt to run up the bank, only prevented by Harry with hisiron-shod pole. 

D'Arcy required no great pressing to embark with them. They all looked, they declared, like veritable Arctic voyagers, with their fur caps, flaps over their ears, and bearskin and buffalo-skin coats, kept in bysashes or belts. The settlement was first to be visited. Such a craftas theirs had never been seen there, and created no little interest;though on Lake Ontario, before Toronto, ice-boats of a more elegantconstruction are constantly used when the ice will allow of it beforethe snow falls. 

The store was visited, and commissions, the list of which filled twocolumns of Philip's note-book, were executed, and then, with aconsiderable addition to their lading, they once more got under way. They had now to beat back; but the boat lay closer to the wind than ifshe had been in water, and though she made some lee-way, they beat backin a wonderfully short space of time. They were so delighted with theirsail that they could scarcely keep out of their boat. The whole circuitof the lake was visited, and they talked of taking her into Lake Huron, when, perhaps fortunately, down came such a fall of snow as to makerapid progress over the ice impossible, and they once again returned totheir more serious occupations. 

The snow became every day harder, till a crust formed on the top of it, which made walking over it where it was not beaten down, both difficultand painful. Some Indians had encamped in the neighbourhood for thepurpose of trading with the pale faces, and obtaining food and clothing. Two of them at this juncture came with some slight oblong frames, between three and four feet in length, with net-work filling up theinner portion. What they could be, none of the younger members of thefamily could guess, till the Indians fastened one to each of their feetand began to move along over the snow on the lake. "Snow-shoes!snow-shoes!" cried Charley; and forthwith a bargain was struck forseveral pair. The squaws brought some the next day of a lighterconstruction for the ladies of the family, and a new source of amusementwas found enabling them also to take the exercise so necessary forhealth. Bravely Sophy and her sisters faced the cold, bitter and bitingas it was, and with their brothers made their first attempt to walk insnow-shoes on the lake. 

They were all thus engaged, laughing and shouting and enjoying theamusement, when an object was seen in the distance approaching them, andthe silvery cheerful sound of sleigh-bells floated up to them throughthe calm air. "Bravo--excellent!--that is what I like to see. Weshould hear nothing of sick headaches in Canada, if all the young ladieswould put their pretty little feet on to snow-shoes, and step over thecountry as you are doing, or rather will be doing before long, for youare on the ice just now, " cried Mr Norman from a handsome sleigh whichdrove up to them. The horses' harness, surmounted by a belfry, as Harrycalled the frame to which the bells were suspended, was covered withbright-coloured braiding, and rich skins filled the sleigh itself andhung over the back. From among them a lady's head was seen. "Allow meto introduce my wife, " continued Mr Norman. "She has just told me thatshe has already fallen in love with you all; but do not let us bring youin--we will wait for you at the house. "

Sophy, however, soon began to find that she had had snow-shoeing enoughfor one day, and the rest of the party discovered, when they took theshoes off, that their insteps ached more than they had ever before done. Still they were all ready to try again the next day. Mrs Normanproved to be exactly the sort of person her husband had described her;though homely, she was entirely free from vulgarity, and as she hadlived all her life in Canada, she possessed and was glad to impart alarge amount of information most valuable to Mrs Ashton and Sophy. Shepromised to remain a week with them, to give them instruction innumerous departments of domestic management of which they were ignorant. "It's a pleasure, ma'am, to tell you these things, " she remarked toMrs Ashton; "you take them in so kindly, and don't seem to fancy thatyour own ways are better, and that you know more than the personteaching you, as some people do. "

The winter passed by pleasantly and usefully. There were some days wheneven the most hardy of the party had no inclination to go out; this waswhen there was a strong northerly wind and an intense frost, and thefiner particles of snow were carried through the air and struck the facelike so many Liliputian arrows discharged by an army from that far-famedland of Liliput. There was, however, abundance of work to be done inthe house, and plenty of hard exercise in sawing up logs for the stovefires. These, while the severer frost lasted, were never allowed to goout, and no one had reason to complain of the want of warmth inside thehouse; indeed, the walls were so thick, that they retained the heat inthe way an ordinary brick or plank building could not have done. Oldand young declared, that in spite of cold and snow, they had never spenta happier or pleasanter winter. Probably the happiness of the eldersarose from seeing their children contented and well employed aroundthem. There was one absent--Leonard, the midshipman. They almostwished that he would give up the sea, and come and live with them. MrAshton had not even suggested that he should do so, though his necessaryallowance took away a large portion of the slender income on which thefamily had mainly to depend. His parents were amply rewarded by hearingof the high character he was gaining for himself. D'Arcy was a frequentvisitor; he would have been more frequent, but duty kept him labouringat home. Occasionally Philip went over to help him in return for theassistance he gave them. The winter passed away so rapidly that theycould scarcely believe that spring had really come. The snow melted, the green grass appeared, the leaves burst forth, the flowers bloomedand gave their fragrance to the air, the birds warbled forth their notesof joy, and all nature seemed alive and busy. If time passed quicklyduring the months of winter, it flew by still more rapidly now whenthere was so much to do that every moment of the twenty-four hours wasfully occupied, a very small portion only being devoted to sleep; butthen, as Harry declared, they all slept very fast, so that they reallygot as much as they required. They were all up at dawn of day, and buta short time was allowed for meals till they assembled round thesupper-table by the light of their home-made candles, the most socialand pleasant meal in the day, when the hard work was over and any lightindoor occupation could be engaged in. Even then there was no light orfrivolous conversation; constant steady work had sobered their minds, and they had no taste for what was not real and earnest. Generally MrAshton or Philip read some interesting book, the subject of which wasafterwards talked over, while comments were generally made as theyproceeded. 

It is not necessary to describe the various occupations in which thefamily were engaged. One of the most amusing and not the leastimportant, was the sugar-making from the neighbouring sugar-bush ormaple grove, before the snow had disappeared from the ground. They weresurprised at the large amount of sap which even a single tree gaveforth. This being collected in wooden troughs placed under the spoutsformed in the trunk, was next transferred to a huge cauldron, where itwas boiled, and then turned out to cool and crystallise. They were inthis way able to obtain an ample supply of sugar for their tea orcoffee, for preserving fruits, and for their puddings during the year. The demand for it became considerable, when, as the summer advanced, allsorts of wild fruits were found in the woods, and strawberries andraspberries in prodigious quantities. 

The Canadian spring soon merges into full-blown summer. The boat hadbeen for some time launched, and Philip acting as captain, with Sophyand their mother as passengers, and Harry as crew, started in her to paytheir visit of welcome to D'Arcy's mother and sisters, who had justarrived at his clearing. The Ashtons were very much pleased with them. They were just what they expected D'Arcy's relatives would be. Sophyhad not been to the clearing for some time; D'Arcy invited her toaccompany him over it. On one side stood a cottage almost completed. D'Arcy produced a plan. "That is what it will look like when it isfinished, " he observed. "For whom is this?" asked Sophy. "For mymother and sisters, " was the answer. "Then who is to inhabit yourhouse?" asked Sophy, though the moment she had uttered the words shewished that she had kept silence. "I shall be very miserable, if youare not its mistress, " said D'Arcy. 

They were the first couple married in the new church at the settlement, mainly built by Mr Ashton's exertions. He had hitherto, from his firstarrival, conducted a service at his own house, open to all who wouldattend. 

Mr Norman wrote to Mr Ashton to say that he would pay him a visit. "Ihave come on business, " he said after the usual greetings were over. "Iam a patriot, and I am anxious for the improvement of the country. Yoursons are excellent young men, with talent and sense. The education ofthe two younger is not complete, and Philip might improve hisagricultural knowledge with advantage to himself as well as to theprovince. On these grounds I beg to invite them to take up theirresidence at my house at Toronto, while they take advantage of the veryliberal means of instruction which that city affords. There are someimportant lectures on agriculture which are about to commence. Charleyshould go to Upper Canada College, and Harry to the University; and, mydear sir, as I have no young people depending on me, you must allow meto defray all expenses. "

Mr Ashton could not decline so generous an offer. It is possible thatHarry and Charley were slightly disappointed at having to go to schoolagain, but Philip was most thankful for the advantage offered him. D'Arcy undertook to assist Mr Ashton in his labours on the farm duringPhilip's absence. The three brothers started together. Their life inToronto was very different to what it had been in the bush--round hats, frock-coats, and Wellington boots, superseded wideawakes, shooting-jackets, and hobnailed shoes or mocassins; and their hammers, saws, and axes, were exchanged for books, while social meetings ofvarious sorts occupied many of the evenings when there were no lecturesto attend. Harry and Charley now and then sighed for the woods andtheir lake, but as they took long walks every day, their health in noway suffered by the change;--indeed, they could not help confessing, that however pleasant it might be to carpenter, and dig, and look aftertheir horses and cows, and to sail and row on the lake, they had brainswhich might be employed to some better purpose, if those brains wereproperly cultivated; so they stuck manfully to their studies and made aprogress which surprised even themselves. "I believe that it is thefine clear weather of this climate which helps us, " observed Harry; "Iknow that I feel twice as bright as I used to do in England. "

Philip found ample occupation in a variety of ways, and said that hefelt as if his old college days had come back, as he sat in the studyhis kind friend had given him, surrounded by his books and papers. Dutyhad made him turn backwoodsman; his inclination would certainly have ledhim in a different course of life. He in time formed many agreeableacquaintances, both among the families residing in the city and thesingle men. 

"By-the-bye, Ashton, " said one of his acquaintances, with whom he waswalking home from a lecture, "I met last night, at Mrs Stewart's, alady of your name, a very pretty and agreeable girl, though rather graveperhaps. She has only just arrived with a family of the name of Mason, who have come out to settle. There are a number of young Masons, andshe was spoken of as the governess, but from the way she was treated sheis rather a companion friend of Mrs Mason's, I should think. "

"I know of no relation of ours likely to come out here, " said Philip, atthe same time a very curious sensation circling round his heart. "Didyou hear her Christian name?"

"No; they only called her Miss Ashton, " said his friend. "She sang, andvery sweetly. "

"What is she like?" asked Philip. 

His friend began to suspect that he was interested in the stranger, andhe replied, "I told you that she is pretty, with clear eyes, a fineforehead, and regular features, and rather short than tall, I shouldsay. A good figure, certainly, and a bright complexion; no, notalways, --it brightened up, I remember, when she was speaking; and herhair, that was not light, --was it black or brown?--yes, I am certain, arich brown. There, I have given you the fair stranger's portrait to thebest of my power. "

"Very extraordinary. Where do the Masons live?" asked Philip. 

"I will ask Mrs Stewart, and get you introduced to them, " said hisfriend. "You will not find them where there are balls or commongaieties going on, I suspect. "

"That makes it still more probable, " thought Philip. He made very fewnotes that evening of the lecture he had attended. 

There was to be a private missionary meeting at Mrs Stewart's house, and Philip and his brother received an invitation. There were many ofhis Toronto acquaintances in the room, the rest were strangers. Helooked round the different rooms in vain for Mary Ashton, for she itwas, once his affianced wife, whom he expected to meet. Two youngladies answered somewhat the description his friend had given him, stillhe did not like to ask if a Miss Ashton was present, lest his hopesshould be rudely dashed to the ground. The speakers had not arrived, and people were moving about from room to room. He tried to compose hisfeelings by talking to his acquaintance on the subject of the missionabout to be advocated. While he was talking Harry came to him, and, touching his elbow, said, "Phil, I have just been introduced to a verynice person, who, curious enough, has our name. I do not know if sheknew mine, but I saw her afterwards watching me round the room, and Iwant you to find out who she can be. She may be a cousin of thefiftieth degree, perhaps, and I should like to find some relations outhere. "

Philip did not stop to hear more, but hurrying into the room his brothermentioned, he satisfied himself that Mary Ashton was really there. Shediscovered him. He advanced, and saw by the pleased expression of hercountenance that he might venture to take a seat by her side. Explanation quickly followed. He told her how he had come out toCanada, and how successful he and his family had been in establishing ahome for themselves in the wilderness. 

"I have a very different tale to tell, " she said with a sigh, and hercountenance grew sad. "My home is broken up. The wealth my poor fatherso suddenly acquired has been dissipated and lost. Without thenecessary experience for business, or, perhaps, I should say wanting thecalculating craft of the successful speculator, he suffered himself tobe involved in transactions of an extensive nature, which he was led tobelieve would double his wealth. They proved to be the fraudulentschemes of sharpers, planned for their own profit and my father's ruin. It was in vain that he was warned of their designs--he was infatuated, and would listen to no counsel but that of his treacherous betrayers, who plunged him deeper and deeper into obligations and liabilities, which, in the end, engulphed the whole of his large fortune. He hadeven to fly the country to escape a prison, and is at this moment inhiding from his creditors until his affairs can be arranged. Everythinghad to be given up. My mother's small portion is barely sufficient tomaintain her and my sisters; my brothers, ill-prepared for the lot thatis before them, are abroad in the world, making their way as they bestcan; as for myself, not choosing to add to my mother's burdens, I haveaccepted the post in Mrs Mason's family which I now occupy. She is anold and well-tried friend, who has known me from my infancy, and bothshe and her children regard me as one of themselves. They urged me toaccompany them in their removal to Canada, and cast in my lot withtheirs. What better could I do? Of my own family, not one advised myremaining in England. I accepted my dear friend's offer--and thus ithas come to pass that we meet once more. "

Whether Philip and Mary Ashton understood all the interesting addressesgiven on that occasion may be doubted. 

"I say, Harry, " cried Charley, some days after this, "I am so glad thatPhil is going to be married. That Mary is a nice girl, and she willmake some amends for Sophy having gone away. Not that she is likely tobe up to her--I should like to see the girl who could be. "

A short time after the family were reunited at Ashton Clearing, to whichPhilip had brought his wife, Charley acknowledged that if not superiorshe was fully equal to Sophy. Harry had made up his mind that noemployment was superior to that of a settler; and, anxious to resume it, he studied very hard while at college, and took a most creditabledegree. The farm had now grown into a very pretty little estate, towhich the name of Ashton was universally given. Cottages had beenerected on the property, and had been eagerly taken by new comers. Sawand grist-mills had been built in the neighbourhood, and many otherhouses and cottages. Harry had, with his father's assistance, purchaseda good-sized farm near Ashton, and had secured another for Charley, sothat they might be near their father to render him the assistance herequired. 

His family had long known what had been Philip's secret wish. They nowunanimously assured him that he might properly follow it, and entreatedhim to do so. It was to enter the ministry. A church was required atAshton--the funds were forthcoming--before it was completed Philip wasordained and became its minister. Few rejoiced as much as his devotedwife at seeing his talents employed in the noblest cause in which ahuman being can engage. 

There was one cloud in Mary Ashton's otherwise serene life--not one ofher family wrote to her, and she could hear nothing about them. Mr andMrs Ashton had their hearts gladdened with a visit from their sailorson Leonard, now a lieutenant, his ship having come to Quebec. From himPhilip first heard of the fate of any of the John Ashtons. "I wassurprised, " said Leonard, "to hear among a batch of lads just joined, the name of Thomas Ashton. He was not a prepossessing youth, but as hehad evidently had a better education than the generality of those whoenter the service, he had a fair prospect of doing well if he behavedproperly. He did not though, and was constantly in scrapes, drunk, anddisorderly. He was under confinement for such offences, when he caughtthe fever in the West Indies. The surgeon came one day and said that hewas very ill and wished to see me. I of course went to the lad, whothen told me that he knew who I was--that he was the son of John Ashtonwho got our property. It was dreadful to hear him speak of his fatherwho had cheated us he declared, and cheated all his family, and everybody else. He seemed to consider that he had a claim on me inconsequence of our relationship. I did all I could for him by procuringhim better attendance than he would otherwise have had, and by shiftinghim into comfortable quarters where he would get the benefit of pureair. He soon began to mend, and then I took the liberty of reading himsome serious lectures as to his past conduct and scandalous mode oflife. He took my reproof in good part; and you will be pleased to hearthat when he was at length restored to health, he became quite a newman--scrupulously faithful in discharge of his duty, sober toabstinence, and cheerfully obedient to orders. He has had a narrowescape from death, and is, I trust, thankful to God that he was not cutoff suddenly in his mad career. He is grateful to me for the service Irendered him--says, indeed, that I saved his life; I shall takeadvantage of that feeling to keep him right, if I can. I have trustedhim with some responsibility during my absence, and if, on my return, Ifind he has done well, that will afford me a pretext for helping himforward, which it would give me real pleasure to do. "

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Philip had little doubt but that his father and he had been deprived oftheir property by unfair means, though he never even breathed such anidea to his wife. He is, however, able to assure her, with allsincerity, that he does not regret its loss, and that he is convincedthat his father is happier with his children collected around him andall actively employed, than he would have been had he retained hiswealth and lived on in the world of fashion. 

Two of Mary's brothers found their way almost in rags to Ashton, havingin vain endeavoured to find employment in England. They expressedthemselves ready to work, and Harry and Charley afforded them somepractical lessons, which enabled them to begin with advantage. At firstthey complained that their limbs ached terribly; but in a short timethey had to confess that food honestly gained by hard labour, was farpleasanter than the bread of idleness. They persevered, and in thecourse of a few years were able to purchase land for themselves. Theyare now hard at work clearing it, and bid fair to become useful membersof society. 

Philip Ashton's sons will, undoubtedly, secure an independence; andwill, probably, from their known integrity and energy, be employed insome of the more important offices of the State. Indeed, they all lookback with pleasure to the day when they took up their abode in "The LogHouse by the Lake. "

THE END.