"'And is yon a timmer clauchan we see?' pointing to Bytown, quoth the Laird. "'Ay, yonder are the shanties,' I informed him, 'of a village the people are busy building.' "'Ay, there again, noo,' he replied, 'What a queer name ye hae for timmer houses.' "I explained that the first rough house that a settler built was called a shanty; the next, which was more genteel, was called a log-house; and the third and last was a clapboard house. "He expressed some astonishment at this, and wondered 'if I could recommend him to a clout of land ony gate aboot that he could big a bit shanty on an' tak' a blaw o' the pipe in wi' comfort.' "I informed him that land was by no means scarce, and that he might get a farm for an auld sang. 'Ay, mon,' I said, 'a farm larger than Birrboy for an auld sang.' "This seemed to please him much, but he said: 'I hae nae siller, ye see, an' what's the use of a farm without it? I maun e'en see to get into the public works gaen on here and see to lay by a triffle. I wush ye wad be sae kind as to tell me how to act that I might find some employment.' "'Go to the gentleman over the way,' said I, pointing to our military commander, who was out bustling about the works. "'That man with the red coat and the cocked hat?' he inquired. "'The same,' I said, 'and say to him that there was a man sent you to His Honor who thought you might be worth four shillings and sixpence a day as a squad-master of laborers.' "He thanked me and went off and told his story. The Colonel quickly guessed who had sent him, so the Laird of Birrboy was regularly installed in his situation and seemed to understand his duty. "About a month afterwards Birrboy came to me with a long face and said I had been gude, very gude to him, but thae was still a wee kindness I could do him in a quiet way. "'What is it?' I inquired. "'Why the wife, silly body, is down in Montreal, and as I hae a bit shanty bigged here, I wad like tae gang doon an' bring her up, if ye had nae objection.' "To this I replied that I would have none, but that he must apply to the same gentleman as formerly and see what he had to say in the matter.' "'Ay, but there's that in it, I doubt he'll score me oot o' the books when I'm awa'.' "He went to the Colonel and asked the favor to bring his wife, which of course was granted. Off went the Laird as proud as a dog with two tails, but when he came to the bank of the river to the steamboat landing, the said _bateau de feu_, as the French call her, had gone to the other side of the Ottawa to take in part of her cargo. There was no boat about but the Government boat, in which were Colonel By with some ladies and military officers about to take a pleasure sail up to the Falls. This boat had pushed off, but Birrboy waved his hat and cried: "'Hoot, mon, come hither!' "The rowers rested on their oars and he was asked what he wanted. "'I want a bit cast, mon, to the ither side o' the water to the steamboat.'