Roughing It in the Bush

stricken spot! T

pestilence-th

ys, once popu

noisome as a c

dering, Nature

and feels at h

ly pangs

own might be read in the anxious faces of both passengers and crew. Our captain, who had never before hinted that he entertained any apprehensions on the subject, now confided to us his conviction that he should never quit the city alive: "This cursed cholera! Left it in Russia-found it

ree weeks that our vessel was becalmed upon the Banks of Newfoundland, and to this circumstance I attribute my deliverance from the pestilence. I was weak

d to the city, the Island of St. Helens in front, and the junction of the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa-which run side by side, their respective bounda

the pestilence, rendered the public thoroughfares almost impassable, and loaded the air with intolerable effluvia, more likely to produce than s

nspect the unloading of the vessel, of the frightful ravages o

nts die daily; and if Stephen Ayres had not providentally come amo

Stephen Ay

reply. "There was a man sent fro

this man was

h fear, and our doctors could do nothing to stop its progress, this man, or angel, or saint, suddenly made his appearance in our streets. He came in great humility, seated in an ox-cart, and drawn by two lean oxen and a rope harness. Only think of that! Such a man in an old

he succ

o send for the doctor. The Indian village was attacked by the disease, and he went out to them, and restored upward of a hundred of the Indians to perfect health. They took the old lean oxen out of the cart, and drew him bac

ow his fam

ashes, from the maple-tree; and he gives him a hot draught of maple-sugar and ley, which throws him into a violent perspiration. In about an hour the cramps subside; he falls into a quiet sleep, and when he awakes he is

c-this man sent from heaven. The face is rather handsome, but has a keen, designing

ing was delightful; the white tents of the soldiers on the Island of St. Helens glittered in the beams of the sun, and the bugle-call, wafted over the waters, sounded so cheery and inspiring, that it banished all

beheld a man struggling in the water a short distance from our vessel. H

er to help him. To witness his death-struggles-to feel in your own person all the dreadful alternations of ho

om the crowd collected upon the bank of the river, had no effect in rousing these people to attempt the rescue of a perishing fellow-creature. The boat passed on. Th

sing question at my heart, as I gazed, half-maddened by excitement, on the fearful spectacle. The eyes of a multitude were fixed upon th

n the boat to throw him an oar, or the drowning man would be the death of them both. Slowly they put back the boat-the oar was handed; but it came too late! The sailor, whose name was Cook, had been obliged to shake off the hold of the dying man to save his own life.

as an excellent fellow, and a good seaman. He has left a wife and three children

ible for any of us to witness his e

ves of three women and a child when the boat was swamped at Gross

urest gems are often encased in the rudest crust; and the finest feelin

, an exclamation of unqualified delight at once changed the current of our thoughts, and

tears and lamentations, pressing his young wife to his

hours later, in another steam-boat; and he assured the now happy Maggie, as he kissed the infant Tam, whom she held up to his admiring gaze, that he nev

's flags for our accommodation, of which we formed a tolerably comfortable bed; and if our dreams were of Engl

isit the city to make the necessary

treets were silent, and nearly deserted. Here and there might be seen a group of anxious-looking, care-worn,

such a place, at cheapest rate and shortest notice, painfully reminded us, at every turning of the street, that death was everywhere-perhaps lurking in our very path; we felt no desire

and confidence, too soon to be destroyed. We had scarcely re-entered our cabin, when tidings were

ers. A few minutes sufficed to make the necessary preparations; and in less than half an hour we found ourselves o

us in gloom and apprehension. No one spoke upon the subject; and yet it was evident that it was uppermost in the thoughts of all. Several emigrants had died of the terrible disorder during the week, beneath the very roof

escribed by many gifted pens, that I shall say little about it. The banks of the St. Lawrence are picturesque and beautiful, particularly in those spots where there is a good view of the American side. The neat farm-houses looked to m

t advice; the gentlemen who gave it had just recovered from the terrible disease. He was a middle-aged man, a farmer from the Upper Province, Canadian born. He had visited Montreal on business for the first time. "Well, sir," he said, in answer

a backwood settler, who occupied the opposi

called them, oysters; they were alive! I was once persuaded by a friend to eat them, and I liked them well enough at the time. But I

the former spokesman, who seemed highly

ou put them on your tongue, and I'll be bound you'l

"you deserved it for your barbarity. If I had a good p

old, and slightly sharpened by frost. This seemed strange to me in the early part of September, but it is very common in Canada. Nine passengers were closely packed into our narrow vehicle, but the sides being of canvas, and the open space allowed for windows unglazed, I shive

an unclosed the door, and showed us into a room, redolent with fumes of tobacco, and darkened

her," said he. "Come, I'll show you to the kitchen; there's alway

servant was upon her knees, kindling up the fire; and a long, thin woman, with a sharp face, and an eye like a black

she screamed in a shrill voice, d

women critters are perished with

They have no busin

h has stopped to breakfast with us; and

ast as she could, and eyeing her unwelcome fema

s without any one alighting; and now, when we are out of everything, they must stop and orde

y, continuing to chafe the col

ing, cut into steaks for nine. What'

d pumpkin pie," responded the aide-de-camp, tho

nd ham. "I must have the fire to myself. People can't come crowding here, when I have to fix breakfast for nine; particularly when there is a good room elsewhere provided for th

ls a very substantial breakfast in an incredibly short tim

steam-boat, William IV., crowded with Irish

Scotch gentleman, of large landed property, who had employed him to visit Canada, and report the capabilities of the country, prior to his investing a large sum of money in wild lands. The expenses of their voyage had been paid, and everything up to that morning had prospered them. They had been blessed with a speedy passage, and were greatly pleased with the country and the people; but of what avai

elieve the burning weight at my heart. But with sae many str

ye maun bear up; 'tis God's will; an sinfu' creatures like us mauna

ifferent spectators the anguish that weighed upon his mind! Tears are the best balm that can be applied to the anguish of the heart. Religion te

e elements, I tried to get a peep at the Lake of the Thousand Isles; but the driving storm blended all objects into one, and I returned wet and disappointed to my berth. We passed Kingston at midnight, and lost all our lady passengers but two. The gale continued until daybreak, and noise and confusion prevailed all night, which were greatly increased by

ectly ondacent." She opened the door, and bestowing upon him several kick

adies, the purty darlints, never sent you wid that ugly message to Pat, who loves them so intirely that he manes to kape watch over them through the blessed night." Then making us a ludicrous bow, he continued, "Ladies, I'

protracted the length of our voyage for several ho

E'S

night on the ri

when eve, wit

curtains

, where light

y's last g

in heaven's u

ng stars ste

on the gaz

ought his gl

when o'er the

g shades of

rough their fr

ream's clear

when all ab

o'er these

n pours her

n earth sere

when angry st

o longer v

re heard to

troubled s

when to the p

billows sl

'd on the g

and low the sl

deep rest, at

m,-a pause

ng spell and

slumber a

for labour'

tribes of e

balm and in

nd sorrow, a

t beneath t

d all its so

e bosom o

an finds et

the world c

viour's death

e weary p

passing hu