CANADA AND THE BRITISH IMMIGRANT [Illustration: FRUIT RANCH AT NELSON, BRITISH COLUMBIA] C A N A D A AND THE BRITISH IMMIGRANT BY EMILY P. WEAVER Author of “A Canadian History for Boys and Girls” “Old Quebec: The City of Champlain” “The Story of the Counties of Ontario” “The Trouble Man” Etc., Etc. LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 BOUVERIE STREET AND 65 ST PAUL’S CHURCHYARD EC MCMXIV _The climate has honest heat in summer and honest_ _cold in winter. The sun is seldom hidden, and_ _men see many seasons, and are healthy, strong,_ _and active._—THE MARQUIS OF LORNE, K.T. PREFATORY NOTE By the very writing of this book, I am in a measure offering myself as a guide to any prospective immigrant choosing to avail himself of my services. It is well, therefore, to explain that I myself came out from England, a good many years ago, as one of a large family, to settle in Canada, and so know something at first hand, of the difficulties, the trials and the pleasures that await the newcomer in the attempt to “make good” under unfamiliar circumstances. My father had had no previous experience of farming, but fortunately one of my brothers had had a little training on a Cheshire farm. We settled ourselves on a good-sized farm in a fertile district of Ontario, and there we had an experience probably broadly resembling that of many new arrivals—sometimes amusing, sometimes vexatious, or worse. Of course we made some mistakes and had to pay for them; and we took, I am inclined to think, several years really to settle down. But in the end we all “believe in Canada,” though I dare not say we believe in everything we read about Canada. After a number of years on the farm, there followed for some of us years in Toronto and in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I may claim, moreover, to know something, still at first hand, of many parts and of all the provinces of the Dominion (save one), while it has been my lot to give for many years much time to the study of Canadian history. The purpose of this book is, however, neither to set forth the history of the Dominion, nor to relate our own individual experiences, whilst we were “feeling our way,” as a neighbour once expressed it. It is intended rather to give a general idea of the Dominion as a whole, and of each of the provinces a little more in detail, touching their history only as it seems likely to help to the understanding of what they now are, and of the attitude and ideals of the Canadian people.