Canadian Scenery, Volume 2 (of 2)Willis, Nathaniel Parker
History
Canadian Scenery, Volume 2 (of 2)
Willis, Nathaniel Parker
Canada -- Description and travel; Canada -- History
In spite of all the trials he had encountered, I found this gentleman
was so much attached to a settler’s life, that he declared he would not
go back to his own country to reside for a permanence on any account;
nor is he the only one that I have heard express the same opinion; and
it likewise seems a universal one among the lower class of emigrants.
They are encouraged by the example of others, whom they see enjoying
comforts that they could never have obtained had they laboured ever so
hard at home; and they wisely reflect they must have had hardships to
endure had they remained in their native land, (many indeed had been
driven out by want,) without the most remote chance of bettering
themselves, or becoming the possessors of land free of all restrictions.
“What to us are the sufferings of one, two, three, or even four years,
compared with a whole life of labour and poverty?” was the remark of a
poor labourer, who was recounting to us the other day some of the
hardships he had met with in this country. He said, he “knew they were
only for a short time, and that by industry he should soon get over
them.”
I have already seen two of our poor neighbours that left the parish a
twelve-month ago; they are settled in Canada Company lots, and are
getting on well. They have some few acres cleared and cropped, but are
obliged to “_hire out_,” to enable their families to live, working on
their own land when they can. The men are in good spirits; and say,
“they shall in a few years have many comforts about them that they never
could have got at home, had they worked late and early; but they
complain that their wives are always pining for home, and lamenting that
ever they crossed the seas.” This seems to be the general complaint with
all classes; the women are discontented and unhappy. Few enter with
their whole heart into a settler’s life. They miss the little domestic
comforts they had been used to enjoy; they regret the friends and
relations they left in the old country; and they cannot endure the
loneliness of the backwoods.
This prospect does not discourage me; I know I shall find plenty of
occupation within doors, and I have sources of enjoyment when I walk
abroad that will keep me from being dull. Besides, have I not a right to
be cheerful and contented for the sake of my beloved partner? The change
is not greater for me than him; and if, for his sake, I have voluntarily
left home, and friends, and country, shall I therefore sadden him by
useless regrets? I am always inclined to subscribe to that sentiment of
my favourite poet, Goldsmith,—
“Still to ourselves in every place consign’d,
Our own felicity we make or find.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account