Canoeing in Kanuckia: Or, Haps and Mishaps Afloat and Ashore of the Statesman, the Editor, the Artist, and the ScribblerHabberton, John
General
Canoeing in Kanuckia: Or, Haps and Mishaps Afloat and Ashore of the Statesman, the Editor, the Artist, and the Scribbler
Habberton, John
Canoes and canoeing; Québec (Province) -- Description and travel
The disgust of the voyagers on the next morning, when they found
themselves reduced to breakfasting on bread and coffee, was provocative
of vigorous paddling, and a large town was soon reached. The voyagers
passed en route a small Indian camp, in which were exhibited some of
the positive results of civilized environment, for one of the men had
a beard, and the only visible squaw wore an apron with pockets. As the
town was one at which the expedition expected many letters, there was
a movement in force upon the post-office, which consisted of two cigar
boxes upon the table of a sitting-room; one of these contained letters
received, and the other mail matter to be transmitted; one contained,
after the expedition had received its letters, a single postal card,
and the other, when the voyagers deposited their home and business
correspondence, was so full that the pleasant lady in charge was
visibly affected by the sudden increase of business. There were several
streets of very old and very quaint cottages, and a church, externally
a duplicate of every other church on the river, and containing an
odd yet touching assortment of votive offerings. Among these was a
huge model of a full-rigged ship; this swung aloft from the centre
of the ceiling, and doubtless kept nervous worshippers from the pews
directly beneath it. The value of such an object of contemplation must
be inestimable for the adolescent portion of the congregation, that
is if the Acadian fancy is as much given over to dreams of piratical
adventure on the high seas, as is that of American youth.
Three women were upon their knees in the church; two were utterly
oblivious to the entrance of the outlandish foreign quartette, but
the third kept alive the faith of man in womanish curiosity, for she
stared at the party as long as it was visible. The four sailors walked
around the side aisles past the "Stations of the Cross," more, it must
be admitted, from longings artistic rather than devout, and were about
to leave the church, when two bright looking youths of seventeen or
eighteen entered the organ loft, and sang several hymns, accompanying
themselves with the organ which was presumably blown by a third. The
Vice interviewed them and asked what portion of the service they had
been conducting, and learned that they had been singing merely for
amusement. Fancy two healthy young Americans going into church during
business hours, and singing hymns for purposes of personal diversion!
Their associates would promptly cut their acquaintance, their employers
would discharge them for laziness, and their parents, if truly
affectionate, would hasten to call a physician skilled in treating
the victims of mental aberration. The quartette concluded that their
fond imaginings regarding the uses of aerial ships had been at fault.
Maritime adventure can have no place in the Acadian mind.
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