Roughing It in the Bush

to lend-is tha

pride and ornament of their own cupboard for years, no sooner enter upon foreign service than they are broken; wine-glasses and tumblers, that have been handled by a hundred careless wenches in safety, scarcely pass into the hands of your servants when they are sure to tumble upon the floor, and the accident turns out a compound fracture. If you borrow a garment of any kind, be sure that you will tear it; a watch, that you will break it; a jewel, that you will lose it; a book, that it will be stolen from you. There is no end to the trouble and vexation arising out of this evil habit. If you borrow a horse, and he has the reputation of

feel that you are bound to him by the heavy clog of obligation. If of a usurer, the interest, in this count

lers, and the lower order of Americans. Many of the latter had spied out the goodness of the land, and borrowed various portions of it, without so much as asking leave

leighing; and as the bargain was concluded in the month of September, and we were anxious to plough for fall wheat, it was necessary to be upon the spot. No house was to be found in the immediate neighbourhood, save a small dilapidated log tenement, on an adjoining farm (which w

ence before entering upon it, but thought ourselves very fortunate in obtaining a temporary home so near our own property, the di

it to bursting-"Home!" I repeated it waking a thousand times a day, and my last prayer before I sank to sleep was still "Home! Oh, that I could return, if only to die at home!" And nightly I did return; my feet again trod the daisied meadows of England; the song of her birds was in my ears; I wept with

rop of rain, and I began to think that the fine weather would last for ever; but this eventful day arose in clouds. Moodie had hired a covered carriage to convey t

it won me from my melancholy, and I began to look about me with considerable interest. Not so my English servant, who declared that the woods were fright

my summer shawl as closely round as possible, to protect her from the sudden change in our hitherto delightful temperature. Just then, the carriage turned into a narrow, steep path, overhung with lofty woods, and after labouri

nd plunging into a short path cut through the wood, he pointed to a miserable hut, at the bottom of a steep

seen such a shed called a house before. "You must be mis

ye upon me, and smiled, half-humor

ou have much to learn, and more, perhaps, than

none to the house, but to the open space from which that absent but very necessary appendage had been removed. Three young steers and two heifers, which the driver proceeded to drive out, were quietly reposing upon the floor. A few strokes of his whip, and a loud burst of gratuitous curses, soon effected an ejectment; and I dismounted, and took possession of this untenable tenement. Moodie was not yet i

freak of fortune. This, turned upon its side, served us for a seat, and there we impatiently awaited the arrival of Moodie, Wilson, and a man whom the former had hired that morning to assist on the farm. Where they were all to be stowed might have puzzled a more sagacio

st in its present welfare, and the fair prospect of its future greatness, I often

d made a fire, and Hannah roused herself from the stupor of despair, and seized the corn-broom from the top of the loaded waggon, and began to sweep the house, raising such an intolerable cloud of dust that I was glad to throw my cloak over my head, and run out of doors, to avoid su

a hammer and nails was not to be found. At length Hannah discovered it, tied up with some bedding which she was opening out in order to dry. I fortunately spied the door lying among some old boards at the back of the house, and Moodie immediately commenced fitting it to its place. This, once accom

rt to do with borrowing? Patience, my dear, good

rd her laudable endeavours to make herself heard-the door was suddenly pushed open, and the apparition of a woman squeezed itself into the crowded room. I left off arranging the furniture of a bed

our proceedings in the most impertinent manner. The creature was dressed in a ragged, dirty purple stuff gown, cut very low in the neck, with an old red cotton handkerchief tied over her head; her unco

I asked myself. "What

manner, her keen black eyes glancing obliquely to every cor

the conversation by drawling through her

ces; and I told her that I did not want a

ms pass our'n about noon, and I says to father, 'Them strangers are cum; I'll go and look arter them.' 'Yes,' says he, 'do-and take the decanter along. May be they'll want one to put their wh

act of disinterested generosity thus to anticipate w

began, "this is re

airs on us. We are genuine Yankees, and think ourselves as

ith Canadian ladies and gentlemen is very small. I did not mean to offend you by using the term girl; I was g

say! How ignorant you must be! may be

skey. But, pray take the decanter home again-I am

and she planted it resolutely down on the trunk. "You

bottle, I said no more about it, but asked h

creek? There is a fine water privilege not a stone's-throw from the door," and, jumping off the box, she disappeared as a

ttle here?" said Moodie. "It is all an e

said James, looking up from his work. "Th

t no more about it, until it was again brou

the floor, and the chairs and tables we had brought from -- gave an air of comfort to the place, which, on the first view of it, I deemed impossible. My husband, Mr. Wilson, and James, had walked over to inspect the farm,

"You old country folks are so stiff, you must have every thing nice, or you fret. But, then, y

nough to tell me your name. I suppose you must live in the ne

ashamed of my own; 'tis Emily S--. I am eldest

hought I, "if he resembles t

ombed elf-locks, and a face and hands that looked as if they had been unwashed for a month-who did not know A from B, and despised those who

at 'ere decanter I bro

it." I rose, took it from the s

; that would be mean, father says.

into a hearty fit of laughter, in which I was joined by Hannah. Our young lady was mortally o

es smart! Why do yo

lp it. This bottle, it seems, was brought over for your own convenien

well; I know there is some i

s rum for t

untry folks are all fools, and that's the reason they get so easily sucked in, and be so soon wound-up. Cum, fill the bott

poor weanling child in return; but when I asked my liberal visitor if she kept cows, and would lend me a little new milk for the baby, she

article in the town, where, of course, it was in g

I'll bring you some to-m

o return the rum?" I sa

s the name given by my neighbours to the

ke candles, starch, and soap, she never dreamed of being required at her hands. This method of living upon their neighbours is a most convenient one to unprincipled people, as it does not involve the penalty of stealing; and they can keep the goods without the unpleasant necessity of returning them, or feeling t

s own). The land had never been broken up, and was full of rocks and stumps, and he was anxious to save his own from injury; the consequence was that the borrowed implement came home unfit for use, just at the very t

e slack, and weary of her importunities, I said I had none. She went away in a rage. Shortly after she came again for some pepper. I was at work, and my work-box

me a tarnation big

, and pointing to the door, told her to walk out,

the incorrigible wretch. "You told me that yo

lack?" said I,

pieces of wood," pouncing as she spoke

you that; I w

I only wants to borrow it ti

a number of things which you have borrowed

look, and carried of

orthy English farmer who resided near us; and he fell a-laughing, and told me that I did n

der them to leave the house; but I believe I can put you in a better way still. Buy some small article of them, and pay them a trifl

oon Miss Satan brought me a plate of butter for sale. The price was

g her a dollar; "but you

dollar I got rid of this dishonest girl for ever; r

en. A cadaverous-looking woman, very long-faced and witch-like, poppe

nt to buy

e weeks at the tavern, were called roasters; and not understanding the

a goo

ess '

you ask

Yor

any weight. I don't like the

what do you mean? Would you expect

There was evidently some

t, I will buy it, though I must confes

my she-merchant, drawing a fine

nny bird. This little matter settled, I thought she would take her depart

snuff here?" says she,

use of tho

cky and snuff? T

ded in a mysterious

you how your te

rd," said I, wondering w

ut have you any

t what sort of a cust

borrow some? I ha

you before. I am poor, and you are rich; besides, I'm troubled so wi

ven you will buy a quarte

xing tone, "Where should I get money? Lord bless you! people in this country have no money; and those who come out with piles of it, soon lose it. But Emi

do you live, and w

the creek, at the back of your'n. The farm belongs to my eldest son

ou sw

like Sam Hill; and I used to swear mighty big oaths till about a month ago, when the Methody parson told me

drop the rest; women nev

s heer'd they were very ignor

her what she wanted. As she was going off,

u have a fi

e best in th

to hum, and I gues

What i

rce is apples cut up and dried, to make int

odd

ou'll give me twenty bushels of your best apples, and find me with half a pound of coarse thread to stri

ted her offer, and Mrs. Betty Fye departed

s of affronting her, but without success. Winter came, and she was still at her old pranks. Whenever I saw her coming down the lane, I used involuntarily to exclaim, "Betty Fye! Betty Fye!

e, what do you

what a thing 'tis to be poor! First, I want you to le

y were made of

this is a new fixing of my own invention. Lend me the fl

said very

was anxious to see how far her impudence would

stockings. I have to go to Oswego to see my h

to any one. If I lent them to you

the gown, you will let me have some black slack to quilt a stuff petticoat, a quar

me so many things that it will cost y

ll let you off the tea and the sugar, if you will lend me a five-dollar bill.

axed to supply your domestic wants, at a ruinous expense, besides the mortification of finding that they have been deceived and tricked out of their property. If you would come honestly to me and say, 'I want these things, I am too poor to buy them myself, and would be obliged to you to give them to me,' I should then ac

d at my lecture on honesty, "you know what the Scriptur

oubtless you may have heard," said I, disgusted with her

pled applicant. She lifted up her voice and cursed me, using some of the big oaths temporari

or stealing from me. It is even worse than stealing, the things procured from you being obtained on false pretences-adding lying to theft. Not having either an oven or a cooking stove, which at that period were not so cheap or so common as they are now, I had provided myself with a large bake-kettle as a substitute

rally sent for it; and asked him what th

pan; but now we can borrow this kett

me; but I must decline letting his mother have i

way at a quilting bee, and we were still in bed, when I heard the latch of the kitchen-door lifted up, and a step crossed the

m come for

can't have it this morning. We ca

ng up the kettle, which had been left to warm on the hearth,

or the Ya

le, and the dame very coolly told him that when she had done with it I might

t at all hours of the day, opening the door and walking in and out whenever he felt inclined. I had given him many broad hints that his presence was not required, but he pa

ld; I cannot do it with you here. Will

ing over our books and papers, looking at and handling everything. Nay, I have ev

ted my

s I shan't hurt the youn

ot with y

e never do anything th

to sweep the room-you had

e rubbed his eyes, and moved a little nearer to the door. Another sweep, and, to escape its inflictions, he mou

): "Well, I guess you did me then; but

s visit; so I found by experience, that once smartly rebuked,

s of apples, I sent a Cornish lad, in our employ, to Betty Fye's, to

ling from his arm. Thinking that these were a specimen of the

, this is al

out of twenty b

s left of your share; that when they were fixed enough, she put them under her bed

y dealings w

ow to refuse her. After I had been a loser to a considerable extent, and declined lending her any more, she refrained from coming to the house herself, but sent in her name the most beautiful boy in the world; a perfect cherub, with regular features, blue, smiling eyes, rosy cheeks, an

about Betty B--, and I must

of union between them; and, in return for these little attentions, they suffered themselves to be milked before they returned to their respective owners. Her mode of obtaining eggs and fowls was on the same economical plan, and we all looked upon Betty as a sort of freebooter, living upon the property of others. She had had three husbands, and he with whom she now lived was not her husband, although the father of the splendid child whose beauty so won upon my woman's heart. Her first husband was still living (a thing by no means uncommon among persons of

we were sitting at work together. She was a West Indian, and a negro by the mother's side, but an uncommonly fine-looking mulatto, v

he beautiful young Betty, her daughter." Perhaps this was rather mischievous on my part, for t

as a friend had come from the States to visit her, and the only one she had, had been made into a best "pinny" for the child; she likewise begged a sight in the lookin

To weigh a new-born infant. The process was performed by tying the poor squalling thing up in a small shawl, and suspendi

iend. A maid-servant asked her mistress to go out on a particular afternoon, as she

rrival of an English family in our immediate vicinity drew off the attention of our nei

f a party is given in any of the small villages, a boy is sent round from house to house, to collect all the pl

ergyman's family in the village; and as it was nearly time to dress, I went to the peg to take down my gown. Was it a dream?-the gown was gone. I re-opened the trunk, to see if I had replaced it; I searched every corner of the room, but all in vain; nowhere could I discover the thing I sou

d your dress," she

know whe

friend of mine, and I showed her your dress. She admired it above all things, and borrowe

f borrowing a person's dress without the leave of

d I saw no more of my blanket; at length I sent a note to the lady, requesting it to be returned. I got a very short answer back, and the blanket, alas! worn threadbare; the borrower stating that she had sent the article, but really she did not know what to do without it,

act we were strangers, and the knowing ones took us in; and for many years we struggled with hardships which would have broke

g during the night was necessary. The last candle was burnt out; I had no money to buy another, and no fat from which I could make one. I hated borrowing; but, for the dear child's sake, I ove

. It happened that a pane of glass was broken out of the window frame, and I had supplied its place by fitting in a shingle; my friend Emilia S-- had a large Tom-cat, who, when his mistress was absent, often paid me a predatory or borrowing visit; and Tom

. The thought instantly struck me that it was Tom, and that, f

I flew to the door, and pursued him half over the field, but all to no purpose. I can see him now, as I saw him then, scam

" than I did that night. My poor boy awoke ill and feverish, and I had no light to assist him, or even

! THY GLO

so

! thy glo

r cheer t

of thy mi

fresh tear

hose fondest

he dista

he forests

their hom

felt the ch

adows ca

y day-my dre

my own

ndent soul

ships to

eep to cros

ve land

a thought

nt shores

spring-tide b

my ment

ed in my in

nds I le

voice, that

me be r

hildren ro

d's smile

gretful t

my though

gratitud

hty hand

in the w

my infa