The Path of Duty, and Other StoriesCaswell, Harriet S. (Harriet Sophia)
General
The Path of Duty, and Other Stories
Caswell, Harriet S. (Harriet Sophia)
Country life -- Fiction; Family -- Fiction; Friendship -- Fiction; Pastoral fiction; Short stories
she might comfort her almost heart-broken husband. Upon one occasion, in
reply to some of his self upbraidings, she said, "I think, Robert,
you're ow're hard on yoursel' now, when ye tak the blame o' puir Susie's
death; ye surely canna think itherwise than the dear bairn's time had
come; an' had we bided at hame it would ha' been a' the same; for we
dinna leeve an' dee by chance, and the bounds o' our lives are set by
Him who kens a' things." These consoling words from his sympathising
wife tended to lighten, in some measure, the burden of sorrow which
oppressed his heart. The weather during the latter part of their voyage
was stormy and uncomfortable, and they were truly glad when they at
length reached the Canadian port. At the city of Montreal they parted
with all those who had been their fellow passengers, as all except
themselves were bound for the Upper Province, while they intended
joining their friends in Lower Canada.
In the days of which I am speaking the emigrant's journey from the
city of Montreal to the townships was toilsome in the extreme; and the
same journey, which is now accomplished in a few hours by railway, was
then the work of several days; and the only mode of conveyance for
themselves and their luggage, were the horse-carts hired for the
occasion. But their fatiguing journey was at length terminated; and they
arrived safely at the bush settlement in R., where the friends of Mrs.
Ainslie resided. That now thriving and prosperous settlement was then in
its infancy, and possessed but few external attractions to the new
comer; for at the period when Mrs. Ainslie's parents settled there it
was an unbroken wilderness. It is needless for me to add that the
wayworn travellers met with a joyous welcome from the friends who had
been long anxiously looking for their arrival. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were
overjoyed to meet again their daughter from whom they had been so long
separated by the deep roll of the ocean; and almost their first enquiry
was for the "wee lassie," who when they left Scotland was less than a
twelve month old. Mr. Ainslie was unable to reply, and looked toward his
wife as if beseeching her to answer to their enquiry. She understood the
mute appeal, and composing herself by a strong effort said: "My dear
father an' mither, a great grief has o'erta'en us sin' we left hame',
an' our hearts are well-nigh broken; we buried wee Susie in the caul
waters o' the ocean." She endeavoured to relate to them the particulars
of the child's death; but her feelings overcame her, and for some
moments they could only weep together. When Mr. Miller was able to
command his voice he said, "God is good, my children, an' overrules a'
things for our good, let us bow before Him in prayer;" and when they
rose from their knees, they felt calmed and comforted, by the soothing
influence of prayer. With the two boys, Geordie and Willie, fatigue soon
got the better of their joy at meeting with their friends, and they were
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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