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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commengant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminpnt par la dernidro page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la derni&re image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ►signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s A des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, 11 est film6 d partir de S'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I f STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND TALES OF THE EARLY DA YS OF CANADA FOR CHILDREN. BY ■4 .:^\\^;^ L,: KATHERINE A. YOUNG. HAMILTON. t r^ Y TORONTO : THE COPP, CLARK, COMPANY, LIMITED. 1898. 159135 • / ^ o6/- Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by Tmk Corp, Clark Comi-anv, Limited, Toronto, Ontario, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture. J I T»V ^ * ■1 ' TABLE OF CONTENTS. Paob. The Maple-Tree's Story 1 A Trip Through Canada To-day 6 Long Ago in Canada 9 The Red Man . 13 The First White Men 20 Jacques Cartier 22 The French Girl on the Lonely Island 32 Samuel de Champlain and the Indians 38 The Missionaries and the Indians 45 On the Shores of Lake Huron 54 The French Gardens of Acadia . . . . . ' . . . . 61 A Band of Heroes 65 Brave Madei,eine 74 The English and the French at War 80 Acadia and Its Sad Story 88 The English Take Quebec 94 Pontiac and his Indians Fight the English 104 The Hero of Queenston Heights . . . . . . . . . Ill Laura Secord 116 Tecumseh 118 •i :i STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. THE MAPLE-TREE'S STORY. The Maj)le-tree and the Horse-chestnut grew close together, just by the side of the big school They both were very fond of the children, and might often have been seen with their branches twined together peeping through the windows. This morning the Maple seemed in high spirits. Indeed she had just been given a new spring dress, and very proud she was of it, too. No wonder either, for it was such a dainty, fresh shade of green, and her branches looked so grace- ful with their weight of baby leaves, from which the sun had kissed away the last stubborn twist and wrinkle. The Horse-chestnut felt rather dull. She was not dressed yet, and was out of sorts because the Sim had not given her enough help. The spring days had been chilly, so she had not been 2 STOIUES OF THE MAIM.K LAND. al)le to open her sticky l)U(ls nor prepare her clusters of snowy blossoms. And here was tliat tall Maple with every branch clothed and her blossoms all ready. lieally, she felt quite plain and dowdy beside her. " What's the matter ? " she asked in her quiet manner. '' You're making a dreadful fuss, rust- ling your leaves, and shaking yourself so often." " Oh ! " cried the happy Maple, '' I was just trying to get up a breeze to bend me o v^er to you. You were so busy you wouldn't look, and I wanted to tell you what I heard this morning." " What was it ? " asked the Chestnut, full of curiosity, for the Maple being tall heard much more than she did. *' Listen ! " said the Maple, bending her head. And the spring breeze carried the words of the children's song out to the trees : " The maple leaf, our emblem dear, The maple leaf forever. God save our Queen, and Heaven bless, The maple leaf forever." All the Maple's branches shook with delight as she heard the soft music. THE MAI'LK-TKKKS STORY. 3 "You know my pietty ^\v(m haf is tlie em- blem of (Jamida/' slie said, tnniiiijij to tlie Horse- chestmit. ''And I've often told you liow many of our family live in this country, and have lived here for hundreds of years. Indeed, I have heard my grandfather say that we had relatives in every part of the land. Our family were here when there were no white folks^only great bands of red-skinned Indians. There were more forests then, and whole hundreds of us lived together. My father used to tell me wonderful tales of those days." • " Well, you have told me all that before," said the Chestnut-tree. "Tell me what you heard to-day." " I was coming to that," answered the Maple, who, like everybody else, wanted to tell her story in her own way. " The children were all listen- ing to a story to-day. I wondered why they were so quiet and peeped in at them. The story sounded so much like my grandfather's stories, that I waited to hear it. It was lovely; all about the country and the people. The children iiked it, and so did I. I tapped on the windoAV to let I 1 4 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. them know how I liked it, but of course they never noticed me." " Of course not ! " said the Chestnut. " They just thouglit the wind was blowing your branches. But the story — what about it ? " '' The story was all about their country — Canada, what a big, beautiful place it is. They heard about the great high mountains, and the wonderful forests, where nearly every kind of tree , may be seen. They heard about the large lakes, the long rivers, the deep mines far down in the earth, and the rich flowers, fruits and grains. And do you know it is really more than foiu^ hundred years ago, since a great man sailed from a country far across the seas, and found out the country we live in, for the first time. The man's name was Christopher Columbus, and he came from a place called Spain. I don't know where that is, and I don't suppose the children do either." *' Oh, I think they do," said the quiet Chest- nut. " You see they're people, and people know more than trees." THE MAI'LE-TIIKKS STORY. 5 **Well, about some tilings," said tlie Maple, who thought she knew quite a lot herself. "Then there was a good deal more ahout the big forests that I was used to hearing about before my Grandfather Maple died, and about the Indians whom the white people had to fight at first, before they could get a plaVe in the land. And now there are many millions of people living here, there are great noisy cities, long railroads which go from one end of the country to the other, and boats which sail over the gi*eat lakes, and down the rivers." "I v^^ish I had heard it," was the Chestnut's answer, when the Maple finished her story. " Oh, I'm sure there is to be another story to- day. We shall watch and wait for it." So the branches of the two trees were twined lovingly together as they peeped through the window. And this is the story they heard that bright Spring afternoon, though no one would have thought they were listening. A TRIP THROUGH CANADA TO-DAY. We like to go fast, and indeed we need to go fast, for we want to tp^ e a long journey, so we will step on a train. Of course we must sit by a window, because we want to see how quickly everything flies past us, as the puffing iron-horse carries the long train of cars behind him. On we rush, past fields of tasselled corn and golden wheat. Out in the hot sun the busy farmers stand, hard at work, for they must gather in their summer's (^rop. We pass the pretty farm-house, where the roses climb, and the yellow sunflowers and the gay hollyhocks hold up their bright heads and smile at us. - Now we see a field where the horses, cows, and sheep are busy cropping the sweet, green grass. They lift their heads lazily as we whizz past them, and gaze with wonder at us. One merr^ little colt takes a rim with us as far as the fence of the field. Our last backward look 6 A TIUP JllROUGH CANADA TODAY, lY. to go so we it by a quickly i-horse rn and e busy \f must 3re the ind the ds and ;, cows, i, green e whizz 5. One I far as rd look sees him galloping wildly back to his playfellows. And we are far ahead, seeing something new. Now it is a thick, green woods. It looks so cool and quiet, we wish the train would stop and let us get off to wander there awhile. We can almost think we see the wild flowers and the dewy ferns. And we know, too, that there we should see the merry squirrel and |he saucy woodpecker, with their friends, all gay, and happy, and noisy. But we are far past the green woods now, and the iron-horse and his load are crawling over a high bridge. Far below us we see the silver water of a river. The breeze sends a gentle little ripple over the water. A merry boat-load of children are picking yellow and white water- lilies, and shouting gaily at us as the train moves along. Next we catch a flying glimpse of a tiny white house. A group of bare-footed children stare at us as we pass. They wave their little brown hands in greeting, and a white handkerchief floats far out of the cai* window in reply. And now we reach a big, noisy city. The *: ■lit 8 STOIUES OF THE MAl>LE LAND. 1 ' ,c. ^ larc^e station. Here we see train rattles into a lai^e bt tram !<* i ^or^r^lp evervwliere. mere ,3 no.se and cent , ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ™r' !u e ctric car whirl, us as quickly a. station. An '^""^ streets, past tall the steam engine '^'""Jl^ \^^,, ^ith light, buildings and blocks of ^^^w^s past pretty ^e run ^etween^:^: ^^^^^^^^^^ till at supper and a long nap. u we see There ,nd bells eave the aickly as past tall rith light, ast pretty es, till at ready for LONG AGO IN CANADA. But a trip through the land of Canada was not always like the one we have just had. We will try to think back two hundred years or more. We find ourselves in the loi% ago, and nov^ we will take another journey through the same land. Things look very strange to our eyes. What a wild looking place ! We are almost afraid to trust ourselves in those thick, dark forests. They look as if they were the home of many wild creatures, and we are not very anxious to meet with wild animals. But, of course, we have our guns with us, for we may catch our dinner in that woods. How different everything looks ! There are no roads, and if there were, we have no waggons to travel in ! We cannot go by the raih'oad either, for there are no rails to be seen, no fine car on this trip, with windows, and cushions, and electric lights, and no strong engine to pull us along. 10 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. W' M^ W We follow a narrow, beaten track for a while, but we cannot go very far, for a long stream of water stretches across our path. But we can go on the water, for here we see a boat. Even this looks strange. It is a long, slim, odd-looking boat which we call a canoe. ^ Into it we step, and are surprised to feel how quickly we are carried down the silent river. The shore on each side of us is very beautiful. The wild fowl fly up in great numbers, frightened by our quiet coming. All along the banks of the river the thick, green stuffs hang heavy. Trees, and shrubs, and vines are there closely twined together, while dainty flowers, tall strong reeds, and brown bulrushes grow almost in reach of our hands, as we pass along. There are no sights of pretty farm houses on our way. We pass through no lively city, see no tall buildings, and no church spires. But instead we see miles and miles of thick trees, great stretches of flat land, and long shining rivers. But we can go no farther in our canoe just now, so we jump out on land. We have to LONG AGO IN CANADA. 11 carry our boat with us, however. It is very light, and we will need it when we come to water again. Through the dense forest we again follow the narrow path. Such a thick growth we pass through ! Very few trees have felt the axe in this woods. The berries hang ripe and red on the bushes beside us. Very few merry children have ever ceme here to pick them. We forget to feel frightened of the animals we see, for at the first sound we make, they speed away more frightened than we are. Everything is very beautiful, very wonderful, but very, very quiet. It is so quiet that we really begin to feel frightened at the great stillness. Soon, however, we leave the dark woods and find ourselves standing on a little clearing, right in the midst of a crowd of strange-looking people. ^ It is a new and surprising sight we now see. Such fierce, dark-looking men and women are here, the like of which we have never seen before. In a flash it comes to us. We know who they are, these tall, silent, red children of 12 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. ■r the forest. They are the Indians, and we have been travelling through the early home of the red man. Our trip has ended at a real Indian camp. We are sure to find it interesting to watch them. 80 we will stay awhile with the Indian, and see how he lived so long ago. THE RED-MAN. Here we see a group of such queer-looking houses. The Indian calls them his wigwams. They are built of the branches of trees joined together at the top. Then they are covered over with sheets of bark, which the Indians peel from the birch trees around them. Over the bark the Indian hangs curtains made of the skins of deer. We step close up to one of these wigwams and peep inside. These are friendly Indians, so they do not mind us. Right in the middle of the floor of the wigwam we see an Indian woman building a fire. Looking up, we see the smoke rising to the sky through a real Indian chimney — only a hole at the top of the wigwam. On the ground we see the bed — not a very fine one, we think. Just a soft nest of dry pine- needles gathered in the forest. Yet the Indian sleeps very soundly here, and if the house does look poor and small to us, he and his children are very well pleased with it, and live very happily in it. 14 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. Sometimes, for company and for safety, a row of these wigwams are built, making a long narrow house called the "long-house." Then a number of Indian fitmilies^ live there together. We are making this visit in summer-time, so we find most of the Indians wearing no clothes at all. If it were winter we should find them dressed in clothes made of the skins of wild animals. Hound the thick forests they find plenty of bear, buffiilo, and beaver. When they kill these animab they get all the material they need for clothes. Over in one part of the camp we see a large crowd. Here are a lot of young Indians getting ready for a feast. They have painted themselves all over in bright colore. In their hair they have stuck long stiff feathers. They are making hor- rible faces, and dancing and singing in a very wild manner, getting ready for the good time they will have, we suppose. We do not feel very much like going to the feast with such company, so we leave them very gladly. The Indian seems tr> us a very lazy man. We see so many lying around doing nothing, while the THE UED-MAN. 15 poor Indian women are doing all the hard work. Some of the women are working with clay. As we watch them, we see them make a very good pot out of the wet clay and put it in the sun to hake hard. They have to make all their own pots which they need for cooking. Some other women are cutting wood. Others are carrying water from the lake far away. Some old Indian " squaws " are cooking the dinner, and others are sitting making the clothes out of the deer skins and furs. Some of the Indian men and boys have been out hunting. We see them coming back with only their spears and arrows. We think they have shot nothing, but in a little while some of the women come along carrying between them the animals which have been shot. The men never carry home anything they have killed. They think that beneath them and leave it for the women to do. - Down by the lake we come across some more Indians fishing. The hooks they are using have been cut out of bone. Some, however, have nets. We find some here, too, making a new canoe, 16 STOKIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. i''i or boat. Over a light wooden frame they have stretched the bark cut from the birch tree. All the cracks and seams in this canoe will soon be daubed with pitch. Then, the boat the Indian loves will be firm and water-tight. If we could talk to the Indians standing around us, they would tell us many strange things about themselves. If we should ask them : *' Do you believe in God ? " they would say : " Oh, yes ! The Indian believes in the Great Spirit." The Manitou, or chief spirit, they call their God. They would tell you, too, that they think that all animals have spirits. Sometimes before they catch a fish, or bear, or fowl, they talk to them, and ask them to be good, and let themselves be caught. Then they say : " We will treat your })ones well, and see that you are properly cared for." The Indians are divided into many tribes. Each tribe has a number of families in it. Each family has a name taken from a plant or an animal. So in the camp we hear of the Wolf THE RED-MAN. 17 family, the Cat family, and the Turtle family. Each tribe has its own doctor, or "medicine- man," as they call him. This "medicine-man " is held to be very wise. He cures all the sick people, and also tells of things that are going to happen. The Indian believes firmly all he says, and is in great fear of the " medicine-man." The tribes are always fighting with each other. They use arrows, spears, and axes called toma- hawks to fight with. The Indians are cunning fighters, and often are very cruel when they take a prisoner. They torture him, as they call it, and take great joy in it. Sometimes the really savage tribes kill and eat their prisoner. After killing an enemy they take off his scalp, that is the skin of his head, with their tomahawks. They carry this home as a prize, strung around their waists. The more scalps an Indian carries home to his village, the greater man he becomes. That is the Indian of long ago. The Indian of to-day does not look much like him. The Eed* man, like the country, has changed his looks a good deal in two hundred years. 2 18 SToimiS OK THK MAIM.K LAND. i m- M til t 1'^^ Tlio Tiidiaii cnnip av(5 liavo just loft is nowliero to 1)0 found to-dav. Souio Indians (H)nie to our cities from tiii^ Indian I'oserves round about us. But tliey do not come in war-paint and feathers. IS' or do they l)ring long strings of purple and white beads, ''wampum" they called it, to use foj* money. Now they wear clothes like ours, and use money made of silver and paper, the same as we do. But for many years they lived just as we have now seen them. They did not know nor care about the white people living in the other half of the world. But one day the white man came and the Indian's free, happy, life was over. Once lie had roamed over the whole land, now he has to live in a small part of it. Once the Indian owned everything — now the white man owns it all; Once the land had been his happy hunting- ground, now in many places it is strange and unknown to the Red-man. But it took a long time to change all this. TIIK KED-MAN. 19 Many fierce wars were fought before tlie wild savages were tamed, and made willing to live as the white man lived. We have many traces of the Indians left to us. Some of our largest cities, and rivers, and lakes still bear Indian names. Even the name of our country, Canada, came first of all from an Indian name Kanatii, which means " a group of huts." As we have found out so much about the Ked- man, we will now want to hear how the white man first found Canada, and how he made a home there for himself. THE FIRST WHITE MEN. Ill .1. m • ■ " That was a fine story about the Indian camp. I wish we were going to hear some more of it." It was the voice of the Horse-chestnut whisper- ing softly to the Maple. '' Oh ! I've heard so much about the Indians I'm a little tired of them," said the lofty Maple, shaking her branches very proudly. " I'm glad we are soon going to hear about the white men," she went on. "They think more about us trees than the red men did. The white men plant us on their streets, water our roots carefully, trim our branches, and take great pride in us. . But what did the red men do ? Why, they cut our young saplings down to help build their homes whenever they felt like it, and peeled our bark off, too. They killed us, or spoiled our beauty, without thinking or caring anything about it." " Well ! " said the Chestnut, " I suppose there were so many of you, they had to do something to keep you down, or you wo^ild have taken up THE FIRST WHITE MEN. 21 all the land. You may say what you like, but I wish I had lived in the woods of Canada then." "Well, I would far rather live on the streets of the city now," laughed the Maple. " Do you think the Indians would have cared anything about your snowy blossoms and their dainty blush you talk so much about ? " The Chestnut looked proudly down on the soft green tufts she was so tenderly caring for, and shielding with her thick leaves. "They couldn't help it," she whispered softly to herself, but she did not say so to the Maple, for she was afraid that lady would laugh at her. Anyway, the story they had been waiting to hear for some days was just started, and they must not lose one word. They could finish their talk again. JACQUES CARTIER. .^f Our country is still called the New World. For many years the people living in the oldest parts of the world did not know anything about that part of the world where we live. Because great seas stretched out for miles from the shores of their land, they thought that all the rest of the world was water. But after the brave sailor from Spain, Chris- topher Columbus, had found a path across the unknown ocean, others soon followed. Now right across that wide ocean, just opposite to our country, there is a country in the Old World called France. Of course, the King of France soon heard that land had been found across the sea, and thought he might as well try to get some of that great new land for France. In one of the little seaport towns of France, where there were many sailors, men who loved the sea and did not fear its wildest storms, lived Jacques Cartier. Now Jacques was a brave, strong sailor who could sail rough seas and loved 22 JACQUES C ARTIER. 23 adventure. He was willing to be the King's messenger and sail to the new land. With Heveral boats from the King, and a number of sriilors like himself to sail these boats, he started across the broad, unknown Atlantic Ocean, which stretched between his sunny land lying to the south, and our colder country lying towards the north. His orders were to discover all the land lie could and take it in the name of the King of France. Jacques Cartier made at least three visits to ( anada. Crossing the seas was not very easy in those days, and we may be sure Cartier and his men were very glad to sight the land, even if it was the coldest, barest spot in Canada. For the first land they touched was the rocky shore of l^abrador. From their ships, as they rowed along close to the shore, they could see people moving about on the land, or shooting past them in long, strange- looking boats. Before the Frenchmen left their ships they tried to make friends with these Indian savages who gathered around them. At first the red men were shy, and rather afraid of i 24 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. these strangely-dressed ''pale-faces" who talked s( strange and came to their land in such odd boats. But as the sailors were very kind to them, and gave them presents, — hatchets, knives, beads, and toys — the Indians soon became friendly. And vi^hen at last Cartier landed at a point along the coast where there was a huge split rock, the Indians received him quite gladly. And when he set up a large wooden cross with three fleur-de-lis on it, and the words " Long live the King of France," the Indians did not seem to mind. Of course they did not know what he meant by doing this. They thought he was putting up the cross to his " great spirit," and never dreamt he was, by this act, taking their land from them and handing it over to the King of France. Yet that was what he had done, for that cross stand- ing there was to show all nations that France was the first country of the Old World to plant its banner in the New. But the simple Indians said "Good-bye" to the French ships and the French sailors in a very friendly way, giving them their furs and fish, and JA^'QUES CARTIER. 25 talked so Id boats, em, and , beads, mdly. a point ge split gladly. )ss with ong live seem to 3 meant ting up dreamt m them 3. Yet J stand- France o plant " to the a very sh, and getting the treasures they prized in return. The old chief of the tribe even let his two sons sfo away on the French ships, dressed in clothes like the Frenchmen. When Cartier made his second trip to Canada, he took with him more ships and more men. This time he stayed longer, and saw much more of the country and the people. It was on this trip that he found out Canada's great river, the St. Lawrence. On the feast day of St. Laurent, one of the saints which Frenchmen honor, Cartier and his men entered the little bay at the mouth of the river. In honor of the day, Cartier called it St. Laurent Bay, and afterwards the whole river and gulf took the name which it bears to this day, to tell of the first fleet of ships which floated on its waters. The two Indians who had gone to France with Cartier, had come back witli them on this trip to show them the way. So following the course of the great St. Lawrence, the Fi'ench ships sailed slowly on. They could see the Indians watching them im 26 STOIllES OF THE MAPLE J.AM). 14 % IP' s- from the shore, Init now they knew how to treat them. A few little presents always brought the Indian canoes crowding round them, loaded with Indian corn, fruit and fish. They were quite willing to trade these with the Frenchmen for beads or hatchets, or other things which pleased them. Once, as they neared an Indian village, the chief of the tribe came out in state to visit Cartier. He had twelve canoes filled with Indians, in war-paint and feathers, with toma- hawks, and bows, and arrows. They wanted to know if the *' pale-faces " had come for peace or war. Cartier took the chief into his cabin and bv many signs showed him that he was kind and friendly. . Donnacona, the chief, then kissed Cartier's arm and put it round his own neck — the Indian's way of showing how friendly he was to the Frenchmen. When Cartier's boats reached the Indian vil- lage, the Frenchmen landed, and were welcomed with joy by the Indians. They crowded round them, yelling and screeching, the squa^vs dancing JACQUES ('AUriKK. 27 ill the water and singing them their wild Indian songs. This Httle village lay at the foot of some great I'ocky cliffs. Then, those great rock hills looked down on Stadacona, a little cluster of wigwams. NoiVy those same rocks frown on the mighty city of Quebec, one of Canada's most interesting spots. But the Indians here told Cartier of another larger Indian village farther up the river, and Cartier was anxious to go there, too. The In- dians at Stadacona did not wish him to go, and tried to frighten him by telling him of dangers he would meet on the way. The Frenchman only laughed at them, and, taking his ship, sailed on. And now the French sailors were to see sights that would repay them for all the trouble they had had on their journey. It was the fall of the year, and Canada the fair had put on her most brilliant dress. The banks of the river hung thick with vines and trees, whose green leaves had been changed to crimson, purple, and gold. Among the leaves they caught glimpses of bright 28 STORIES OF THE MAW,!: LAND. 5 colored birds, and as they mWed silently on they heard their cheery songs. If chey came near to the nhure, great flocks of wild fowl rose like a cloud round their ships. They could see on the Hhore the wild vines hanging heavy with gra[K*«. Coming slowly near to an ii^land in the river, they saw rising ahead of them a beautiful hill- slope crowned with trees. Below it lay the village they were seeking, the great Indian town of Hochelaga. , As they landed they were met by an Indian chief and his band of bravef;. Around a fire, which wan veiT welcome in the cool fall air, all seated themt^*lve?t. The chief then spoke to tliem in his Indian tongue, and afterwards took tmm them the usual gifts of hatchets, knives, and l>eads. All night long, after Cartier had gone liack to his boat, the savages on shore kept up their noisy welcome, dancing, and singing, and shouting. Here Cartier had a rather strange task before him. The Indians seemed to think he could cure their diseases by touching tliem. So the JACQUES C ARTIER. 29 sick, the lame, and the blind people crowded around him to get this healing touch. The I'rench sailor hardly knew what to do, but he 1 cad to them a part of the Bible, made the sign of the cross over them, and said a short prayer, riien when he had given them a present they went off pleased. Before Cartier left this village he climbed the mountain. He was so pleased and delighted with it, that he named it Mont Royal, or Royal Mountain, from which we now have the name Montreal. At the foot of that mountain now stands the largest, finest city of the Dominion of Canada. It first got its name when Cartier, pleased with its beauty, planted the cross of France and sailed back to Stadacona. But the Frenchmen found it hard to bear the long, cold Canadian winter which now followed. Before spring twenty-six of the sailors had died from the cold and disease. Cartier sailed for home when winter had gone, and it was five years before he made his third trip to Canada. This time he found unfriendly Indians waiting ^0 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LANt). for him. When he had gone ])aek to France the the last time he had taken with him the chief Donnacona and some of his braves, to let the people of France see how much power he had got in the new land. Donnacona and the other Indians did not want to go, and felt very homesick and unhappy. Away from their free, wild life they died, and Cartier had to go Ixick without them. The Indians of Canada came crowding out to him as usual when his ships came up the river. They wanted news of their friends, and Cartier, afraid to tell them the truth, told them lies which the Indians were wise enough not to believe. This winter was worse than the last to Cartier and his men, for they were not only sick, half- frozen and unhappy, but they were afraid to trust the Indians living all around them. When spring came, Cartier was glad enough to get back to France, without finding out much more of the country. It is not likely that he ever saw Canada again, for he settled down in his old home in France. JACQUES (^AllTIEll. 81 But Jacques C-articr had done a great deal. He was the first man to open up our great l)eautiful country, and Canadian boys and girls all have cause to remember the brave French sailor, Jacques Cartier. ,%<^^ L-IBRARV ^;i JUL 8 1^08 I •" V \ THE FRENCH GIRL ON THE LOKELY ISLAND. ^^M m No one has ever heard or read of all the strange adventures which happened to the first >Aiiite settlers of Canada. . Many of those people who left France for the New World never went back to tell of their wonderful wild life in the new land. Most of them died out in Canada far from home, and found a lonely grave in the dark forests, or beneath the stormy waters of the ocean. Foi* those early days were full of trouble and danger to Jill. Not many of us would care to leave ovu* comfortable, happy, homes, sail far over a stormy sea, and land in an unknown country, with no house to live in, and no friends to gather around us, but savage Indians or wild beasts. It is little wonder then, that those who did come, went gladly back the first chance they had. But there is one story told of these early days which many of us would like to hear, because it 32 THE FRENCH GIRL ON THE LONELY LSLAND. 33 tells us what it really was like to live in our (country in the early days. The story is about a young, French girl who bore the very pretty name of Marguerite de lloberval. Marguerite's uncle was a Frenchman, who had got leave from the King to go to the new world to try to start a French colony there, in that wonderful country which Cartier had found. To do this he took with him a number of people in his ships, who were willing to live in Canada, as they thought. And being very fond of his gay, bright, happy little niece, he took her too. Marguerite was a great favorite, and was loved by all her uncle's friends. But alas ! before the new land was reached Marguerite had done wrong and disobeyed her uncle. And while he loved her, yet he was hard and stern, and said she must be punished for her wrong-doing. They were nearing (^anada now, and as they began to see the shores of Newfoundland, they passed close by a lonely island. When sailors pass that dark spot, they look 3 u ii[H>n i ovil spi of Iho VV'WS (i T\w luMV. a tcM'ri But old nu winds |>.'ISS(U1 t^ut SWlHM shij) s; tlu^ SI ivju'hr liltlo wliito sioht. would tMiouj;- diod o ^u Ik sign o L iV SroUlES OF THK MAIM.K I.AN'O. t with urivil ioar. and tt»ll wild sioriivs of irits livini>* uj>on it. V.\cu al>ov(> Iho ro; wators lliov sav, tlu^v can lu\ir groans and oniiui*' iVon\ tin* rocky sj>ol. snip of storn ('a[)lain Ivoborval stoppod Poor Mar^utM'ilo. with a rrv for nion'v. 1 hcv hard unt»lo not to [>unish hor in such bl(* wav. * all in vain, Tor Ikm-i^ sin* was lol't. with InM* rsc tor company, at tin* nu*rcy of tb.o crui*l and savage Insists, whih* her nucha's ship I slowly on. * one on that ship could not lH\ar to lcav(* Mari'ucritt* to sut'h a lonely t'at(\ As (hi* iiilcd otV. lu*r yount»' loyi*r cast hinisclt' into *a, and luMUi;' al>K* to swim wi*ll. vsoon h\ lu*r on tin* shore. lM>r a lon^ whih* tins band ol thr(*i* stood tluM'i*. watcl UUiJ tl u* sails of the ship (ill thi\v ladinl out of T\\c\ !U)[>ed and hopt*d that tlu* unch* t'eei sorry, think In* had i)unish(*d thi*ni h, and return tor them. Ihit t*yeu this hope )ut as days and W(*i*ks passed by without u t'tl u* r(*turninii' sails THK KI5l".N( II ii\\{\. ON TIIK I.ONKI.Y Isl.AND. :j5 TliiM'i* w.'is nolliini; tor iIhmu (o do hut to make ih(> host of th(Mr iuMni lot. Out of th(» houii'hs of {\w tivi*s thoy huilt thoni- sclvos a ru(li\ HttK^ hut. rhoy hail souu* puis, so f'ouud [)louty of work lo do, shoot iui:»' wWd t\>\vh htvirs aud othtM* animals. Hv this nti»aus tht»v i^ot food aud skius out oC w hioh tlu\v could niaki* clotluvs, for th(» wild, stonuy wiutiM' would soon ho upou tluMU. And th(^ dark davs passiMl on. lont»lv days in iIimmI, for thon^ was no coniiKMny hut tin* tnvs aud rooks, and wandiM'iui;' animals. .\t ni^ht llu^y lioard st rani»t* nmsio, as tlu^y sat in tiuMr littlo hut, hut it was only tin* wail of tin* ^vinds. tho dash of tho wators, or tho roar o( tin* wild lu*asts. Th(*rc* amid tin* still (|uii*t of tln*ir isla'.nl houn\ durinj;' tin* I'old winti*r days, a littK* ohild was s(*nt from Ui*ayi*u to hrij;ht(*u tin* liyos of tho lonoly family. But alas 1 it did not takt* kindly to tho oold, cvuiA, winter winds, autl stayod hut a :sin>rt tinio to ohiOor its vouns»' nn>tln*r. 36 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. Poor Marguerite, it is hard to tell how she lived through the long, dreary days, for it was not long before Death broke up the little family circle and left her alone. There on the island for nearly two years she lived by herself, praying often that God would take her too, to His bright home. Many an hour she sat watching the restless, moving sea. Beyond that sea lay France, her sunny home-land. How she longed to see it once more. And with her hand to her head she strained her eyes to see, if by any chance, a vessel's sail was in sight. One day her watching eye saw the wished-for sail. Oh ! that they might see her ! How far away they seemed ! With great care she gathered together the twigs and grass and dry branches, and before long the flames of a huge bonfire flamed up to the sky. The smoke was seen by the sailors. At first they were afraid when they saw the smoke coming from the much-feared island of demons. But by-and-bye they came nearer. THE FRENCH GIRL ON THE LONELY ISLAND. 37 They were able to see a woman in her strange dress of skins making signs to them. The rough sailors had only to hear Marguerite's sad story, in order to pity her, and want to help her. Very soon she was on the sea, bound for France. Kind friends welcomed her back, more than ready to make up to her for all she had suffered. So long as she lived, we are sure Marguerite never forgot those three years of her life in wild Canada. Many a strange tale she would have to tell. But none of them have been left to us, and except her name we know very little of Marguerite, who spent three years alone in Canada. SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN AND THE INDIANS. / One of the best known and best loved French- men who came to Canada in those early days, was Samuel Champlain. In those days he won the name of '* the father of New France," and what he did for young Canada has been told in many ways. Even yet, ,we hear echoes of his deeds and his name. In fLower Canada we find a beautiful lake bearing ihis name, because he first found it out; and /there, too, is pointed out Champlain street and I Champlain market, spots where in early days j the great Frenchman had his home. i Champlain was an explorer. That is, he was a man who dearly loved to wander over all parts of the country, and find out all about it. He was a brave soldier, and very fond of adventures. When he came to the new country he wanted to travel over all the great lakes and rivers, and try to find a path through the new world which would lead him into the old world. 38 SAMUEL DE CTIAMPLAIN AND THE INDIANS. 39 But ther(3 was another great thing he hoped to do. He had a great love and pity for the poor red men, whose Hves seemed to him to be so unhappy. They did not believe in his God, for one thing, and when he came to live amongst them he hoped to be able to make them good men and lovers of the true God. But he soon found that work among the Indians was very hard work. To begin with, all the red men living in wig- wams were not good friends. We saw before that the different tribes were always fighting with each other. Now the strongest of these tribes, the ones which had the most power, were the Iroquois, or Five Nations. These were very brave, fierce Indians, and they were always ready for war. They never spared any one, but rushed on their enemies with raised tomahawks, ready to do their worst. The other tribes of Indians, mostly those called Hurons and Algonquins, were in great fear of these savage Iroquois, who showed neither pity nor fear. When Champlain came to Canada to build 40 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. 1 up homes for all who cared to live in the new land, he tried at once to find the Indian villages which Cartier had visited. But not a trace of Stadacona or Hochelaga could be seen. They had all been burned and ruined by the wars of the Iroquois. Quite near to where the village of Stadacona had been, Champlain tried to start a new village. The place he picked out to build his fort was called by the Indians living around it " Kebec," meaning " a narrow place." Just at this point the great river St. Lawrence does become nar- row, so the new village got its name Quebec. Here Champlain set his men to clear away the thick trees and build a Tort. This he called his home ; here he made himself a garden, with flowers and vegetables in it, and here, some time afterwards, he brought his wife, Helen Champlain. For four or five years this kind, gentle lady from France lived in wild, stormy Canada. We remember her now by the name of an island near Montreal, called Helen's Isle, after the wife of Champlain. SAMUEL DE CHAMl'LAIX AND THE INDIANS. 41 She was very good, and 1)rav(\ too, and won the hearts of the rough Indians. She loved to teach the squaws and their children. The Indians round there were friendly to Champlain, and were veiy pleased with the lovely, white lady, his wife. Like other French ladi(\s of her time, she always carried a little mirror hung at her waist. The Indians would crowd round lier, peering into it, to see their own faces. Then they said to each other that the white ladv nuist love them very much, for she carried th(M*r pictures so close to her all the time. . The Huron and Algonquin Indians came to trust Champlain very nuich. They felt that he was their friend, and they asked him to visit their part of the country. They were quite willing that he should build a fort and teach them about his God, if he would only help them to fight the hated Iroquois. , This he promised to do, and went with them long journeys through the land, searching and ever finding something that made him love the mm 42 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. great, new land better tlian ever. On one of these journeys he first saw the beautiful stretch of water, Lake Champlain. Not far from it lay the bark w^igwam villages of the Iroquois. And here Champlain helped hi.s Indian friends to fight the Iroquois. But oh! how he hated to see them torture the prisoners which they gairied in the battle. He l^egged of them to set them free, but they were too fond of their cruel tricks to do that, even for the " man of the iron breast," as they called Champlain. Champlain had very hanl times on his journeys with the Indians. They would not help him to explore the country at all. One time he had to spend a whole winter witli them in the heart of the forest, for they would n:-- 44 STORIES OF THE MAI'LE LAND. loveJ land. When lie died and left his two small towns, with no one to care for them, all Canada felt sorrow for the loss of one who had tried to do so much for her. THE MISSIONARIES AND THE INDIANS. *'What is a missionary, anyway?" asked the Horse-chestnut of the Maple. "I never heard of one before." " Oh, I don't think we have them in Canada now," replied the Maple. "But I beheve they send them away to other countries. A mission- ary is a person who teaches about the Bible." ''Well, then, we have lots of them here," said the Chestnut. " No, we haven't. What do we need mission- aries for ? Look at all the churches you can see, just as we stand here." " But you said, a missionary taught about the Bible, and isn't that what they do in the big churches ?" ** Well, it isn't in the same way. They do not call them missionaries when they do their teach- ing in churches." The Maple was not quite sure herself, but then she did not want to let the (yhestnut know that. 45 hi I'm i 46 STOIUES OF THE MAPLE LAND. i .. " Then a missionary never has a church ? Does he do all his teachinir outside?" Really, that Chestnut was troublesome, asking so many questions. ''How should I know?" the Maple said quite crossly. ''I never saw one. Anyway, if, you will wait and listen, you will soon hear all about what they used to do in Canada. And I suppose what they did here then, they do in other coun- tries now. For I have heard that they do send men and women from Canada now, away to the other part of the world, to India and China, to teach about the Bible." So the Chestnut had to be content w^ith this, and wait patiently till she heard the story of the first missionaries in Canada. As soon as a new country is discovered l)y the daring explorers, and settled by the brave people who are willing to risk their lives in the new land, they are always followed by good men and women with the Bible, anxious to tell of God, and of His love for all men. This is what happened in young Canada's early days. Side by side with brave soldiers and THE MISSlONAltlKS AM) THE INDIANS. 47 eager explorers like ( 'haniplain, went the ])lack- robed priests, the Jesuit missionaries. They, in turn, were followed l^y good, brave women, also anxious to teach the gospel and care for the sick and the poor ones. These men and women cared little for the riches of the country ; they did not care to see how big it was, nor to see how many towns they could build up, nor how many fur-skins they could take from the Indians. But they did want to show the Indians their true God, and build up firmly their church in the new land. So from old France came many brave men and women to the new world. For weary months and long years they lived among the Indians, working for them, praying "or them, loving them, and trying to win their *ove in return. We should think that the Indians would be only too glad to return their kindness in giving up so much to work for them. But instead of that, the Indians very often 48 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. •;> . ■M hiiUnl them, said evil tilings against tlieni, and even put sonio of them to death. Tli(^ first nn'ssionary to Canada was Paul Le Jeune. He came to Canada while Champlain was still living. He kept a book in which he wrote down all that happened to him in his work among the savages. When he first saw the Indians he thought them a very queer- looking people. He was sitting in the cabin of the ship in^^ which he had crossed the ocean, when suddenly in walked ten or twelve Indians. They were a fearful sight to the eyes of the Frenchman. '^^^ Some had their cheeks painted black, their noses blue, and the rest of their faces red. Others had a broad l)and of black across their e\es, and otners had tried to make themselves l()(^k like a rainbow. For clothes they wore old, shaggy bear-skins. The mission.iry ])egan his work with a small school of two pupils, one a little Indian boy, the other a negro, and not one of the three could tell what the other was saying. Le Jeune was very anxious to learn to speak THE MISSIONARIES AND THE INDIANS. 49 Jiidian, and tried in every way to learn the language. . One time he came across a band of Indians who were fishing for eels on the St. Lawrence Iliver. ^K. little boy asked him into his grand- mother's house, which was a bark wigwam, of course, where many eels were strung up CO dry. , The missionary was given some smoked eels on a piece of birch bark. The s(|uaws sat round toasting their eels on a stick over the fire.. Then, when all was ready, the feast began. It was neither very clean nor nice for the missionary to see the Indians wipe their fingers on their hair, or on that of their dogs. He tried to talk with them, but he found it very slow work. At last, however, he got Pierre, a young In- dian who knew both French and Indian, to come and live with him and be his teacher. In the little mission house they had built on the St. Lawrence Eiver, the priest and the In- dian sat together on wooden stools round a rough table. Pierre was not a very kind nor a very nice friend, and the missionary had to keep ifrrr fm »*ii ■ Mm 50 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. coaxing him by little presents of tobacco to niakf' him work. But all winter they kept at it. The snow lay deep all around them, and the Indians had great fun teaching the priests to walk on snow-shoes. How they laughed at their many slips and falls in the deep drifts of snow. Soon, however, the weather grew warm, and the soft days of spring drew near. The Indians gathered around Quebec in large crowds. The missionary used to take his stand at the door and ring a bell. This gathered a crowd of chil- dren who came running round him. Then he would teach them to pray, and to sing hymns. When school was over he gave each of the children a dish of peas to coax them to come back at his next bell-ringing. In the fall of the year the Indians always started out on a hunting trip. When the mis- sionary heard of this he thought he would join them. He thought l)y going to live right with them, he would learn so much about their ways, and might be able to do them some good. There were about twenty in the party, men, THE MISSIONAKIES AND THE INDIANS. 61 women and children. Pierre was one of the party and his two brothers, one a great hunter, who was good to the missionary. The other was a wicked medicine-man who hated the mis- sionary and did him ail the harm he could. For five long months they were all away. When winter came they tramped through thick forests, piled high with snow, across frozen lakes and ponds, carrying great loads on their backs and on their sledges. These were their kettles, axes, and big rolls of birch bark for covering their wigwams. When they stopped to camp, these loads were thrown down. The squaws cut long poles of birch and spruce saplings, or young trees, while the men cleared a big space in the snow where they could build their wigwam. To cover the boughs with bark, to hang a bear- skin up for a door, to cover the ground inside with the green spruce branches, did not take long — and behold their home was ready. Into this hut they all crowded — men, women, children, and dogs — and lived there as long as they chose to stay at that spot. 52 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. i if i'^ It was neither very warm nor very pleasant. The cracks in the bark covering let in the snow and bitter winds. The priest says himself that as he lay on his bed of spruce boughs he could watch the stars in the sky above, through the hole at the top of the wigwam. Sometimes, indeed, the missionary got very tired of the dirt, the heat, the smoke, and the unkind talk of the Indians. Then he would go out into the deep forest, and there, with the snow piled high around him, and the frost gems sparkling on the trees, he read his evening prayers by the light of the moon. The Indians stayed in one place only so long as any game was to be found there ; then they moved their tent again. Sometimes they would hunt for days and catch little or nothing. They were always very cross when they had to come back empty- handed. Some of them even blamed the mis- sionary for bringing them bad luck. At these times they would live for days on the bark of trees or bits of leather. As long as the tobacco lasted they were happy, though, because they THE MISSIONARIES AND THE INDIANS. 53 could always smoke, and this partly satisfied their hunger. When the milder days of April melted the snow, and warmed the air, they turned their steps towards home again. The missionary felt rather sad. He was ill and unhappy. Coming home he had nearly lost his life on the water, and it seemed as if his long months' troubles had been for nothing. The Indians did not seem to love him or his God any better than before. But his friends in the mission house were filled with joy to see him again, and gave him a warm welcome. Champlain himself was glad to see him back, for many of them had feared that the Indians might put him to death. So for a while the missionaries rested content in their home, doing what they could with the Indians who came to Quebec with their skins and furs to trade. But Paul le Jeune had not given up his wish to help the Indians scattered over the big country, and before very long a new plan was formed. And this we will hear about as the work of the missionaries. fe-f if ON THE SHORES OF LAKE HURON. A very large number of Huron Indians lived away to the west, on the shores of the lake which to this day bears their name — Lake Huron. A party of these Indians came down to Quebec and round about there to trade. When they w^ent back to their home, Champlain got them to take with them three missionaries. It was a long, weary joiu'ney, nine hundred miles, and it was nearly a month before "the fathers " reached the forest shores of the blue Huron Lake. They were w^eary and worn out with their long, rough journey, and half-dead from the cruel treatment they had received from some of their Indian guides. But they were well received by the Indians there, and before very long a mission-house was built in one of the Huron towns. It w^as built very much like the Indian wig- wams. A frame-work of strong sapling poles was first made, and covered over with sheets of bark. 54 ON THE SHORES OF LAKE HTfRON. 55 Inside it was divided into three rooms, each of which had a wooden door — a wonderful thing in the eyes of the Indians^ The first room was a sort of hall and store-room in one. The second and largest room was kitchen, dining-room, workshop, school-room and bed -room. Mieir fire was on the ground in this room. The third room was the church or chapel. Here they said their prayers, here they had their images, and here hung their pictures. The missionaries had plenty of visitors. The Indians were all very anxious to see inside the liouse of the " black-robes," as thev called the priests. One of the greatest sights, to them, was the clock. They called it the "Captain." They thought it was alive and asked the priests what it ate. They would sit aromid very quietly waiting tor it to strike. As the last stroke sounded one of the Frenchmen would cry ** stop ! " To the Indians' surprise the clock at once stopped, as they thought because the Frenchman told it to do so. " What does * Captain ' say ? " they would ask. i 56 STORIES OF THE MAI'LK LAND. " When he strikes twelve he says, * Hang on the kettle/ and when he striken four he says, ' Get up and go home ! ' " wa.s the answer. They used to renieniher the.se words. Whih* they were always ready to «tay to dinner, the} always walked (juietly out when " Captain " struck four. And the missionaries would be left in peace to read ank at a tiny insect through the glass which made it look such a fierce monster. The missionaries tried very hard to learn to speak like the Indians, and never lost a chance to do them good. The Indians came to trust them very much, and chiefs of other villages often came to ask them to live in their village. At one time the missionaries had eleven mission houses in the Huron district and priests working in all of them. But through it all they had many trials. At one time they were l>lame' round had only known this, they would liave rushed in and made sliort work of them all. But they wr^re afraid, and so they watched and waited, hoping to get into the fort by some trick or })lan. Very soon a canoe was seen coming slowly near. In this canoe was Madeleine's visitor, a young French lady with her husl)and and family. Poor Madeleine was very much afraid that tlie Iroquois would see them, fall upon them, and kill them at once. None of the men would go to the river to warn them, so Madeleine by a little trick fooled the watching Indians, ran o the river, and by her courage soon got the whole family safely into the fort. And now she had some more frightened, helpless ones to care for. For a whole week, they kept the Indians away. When any of them came nt^ar, they were fired at. Madeleine even had the only cannon in the fort fired off, and the wondering Indians waited, thinking the fort was indeed full of soldiers. 78 STORIKS Ol' THE MAl'LE LAND. At night tlu'V fould hear the cry, ''All's well!" ring out from the fort to the block-house. During all the week Madeleine hardly dared to stop watching to eat her meals, and she slept like a soldier indeed, with her head on her arms and her gun beside her. Her two brothers, brave little lads as they were, did all they could to help her, and the two soldiers, though frightened at first, soon became a great help to their young leader. The Indians did not quite see how it was done, but they found tliat if they went near, a gun went off close beside them. So they kept far enough away. But help was near. Some of the men who had been working in the fields when the Indians came, had got away to Montreal. There they told of the Indians coming, and help was sent to Castle Dangerous. The two l)oys in the fort brought the great news to Madeleine. A French soldier and forty men were seen in canoes on the river. Madeleine was glad enough to give up her place of leader to the brave captain whose BKAVE MADELEINE. n coming was so welcome. Tlie Tro(j[Uois did not wait long when they saw the French so^ H.^'s, but quickly made off. The Governor at Montreal was told the whole story of Madeleine's bravery, and we may be sure that her father and mother soon came home to rejoice over the safety of their brave chihlren. And through the patter of the rain-drops, the Maple found time to whisper, " There were girl- heroes then ; I think it is quite likely there are some yet." THE ENGLISH AND THE FRENCH AT WAR. Now all these things we have been hearing about Canada, happened m the days when France owned Canada. Since the days of Cartier, Canada had been in the hands of the French people. The people were nearly all French, the governors were sent from France, and the priests were there teaching the religion of France. But England also had a place in the new world. The land lying south of Canada liad y this time a large number of l)oth English and Dutch people living in it. For about a hundred \ears after the first white people came to live in the new world, the people in the two parts of the big country lived at peace with each other. Both sides wanted to be friendly with the Indians, as the chief trade of tlie new cdtihtry was in Turs, which they got mostly from the 80 THE ENdLISFE AND THE FREN(;H AT WAR. 8V Indians. Now tlic Ii*(M[ii()i,s Indluns wvw mure friendly to tho KiioHsli jx'oplc, wliilc the Uin'ons and Algon(£uins stuek cIohc^ to the J<'i'i;neh. At first tlie En^]/,-h and llie I'rencli lei I lie Indians figlit amongst t/;e^iiHelveM, iind look no part in tlieir wars. But the Ii I f le iro(jiiois hecanie more and IHUre . it from the attacks of the linital Iroquois, and was not goin,i»' to givc^ it up, just because the Englisli asked for it. No, lie would give up his own life first — and his ])rave .spint put courage into the hearts of his soldiers. To help him, a large l)ani to tell of the tiTue the Canadians had 6) 872-4503 ;\^^^ A i s » ACADIA AND ITS SAD STORY. If 1 it 1 1 m m In the early days, the place we now call Nova Scotia was known by the name of Acadia. It was then, as now, a beautiful place, its fields were rich and green, its skies were blue and sunny. There were many pretty bays, winding rivers and shady valleys. Its people were mostly farmers, quiet, busy, happy people. In the days of Champlain, a little town had been started there and named Port Royal. This town was taken by the English just before they tried to take Quebec from the French, and England's flag now waved over Acadia. But the people of Acadia were French. They liked the French rule and the French people. And they did not like the English. They were always hoping the French would win their land back again, and so would not obey the English governors who were sent to them. In this they were led on by* the French from Quebec. A French priest, who was a missionary 88 i ACADIA AND ITS SAD STORY. 89 N ova It fieJds e and nding were n had This thev and They 3ople. were land igh'sh Prom nary among the Indians, did all he could to make the Indians, as well as the French, work against the English. The French of Quebec did not like to give up the hope that Nova Scotia would be once more under French rule. The English soon saw that there would be no peace in the land, and no real English rule there as long as the Acadians were so true to the French. So the people of Acadia were given their choice, either to say they would be true to England and fight for her, or else to leave the country altogether within a year. Leave their country ! The farmers would not think of it. Be true to England ! They did not want to be that either. So they stayed on, thinking they were safe. The English surely did not mean to put them out. But England did mean it, and we will see how she did it too. It was the lovely warm month of August. In the land round the beautiful Minas river, every- thing still held the glow of summer upon it. In the valley the grain stood yellow, waiting for the t^' 90 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. .1 harvest. The cattle on the hillsides ate the sweet, green grass and looked quietly round with content in their eyes. The people were busy in the rich fields and gardens gathering in their heavy crop. Everything was calm and quiet until one day the news came to the surprised village — an English soldier and three hundred men had landed on the shore of their river. "What does he want?" the people asked each other eagerly — but no one knew. As the days passed on and the soldiers did them no harm, their fear seemed to pass away. The work of the village went on as usual. The barns were filled, the cattle looked after, the fruit gathered. On Sunday they walked to their little church, and at nights they met in each other's homes for iriendly talk. Some of them had even begun to say that the soldiers would pass the winter with them in their quiet homes. But the English soldier and his men were only waiting a chance to do their work. For ACADIA AND ITS SAD STORY. 91 the lith in ieir lay tbey had been sent to drive these poor people from the land they loved so well. When the harvest was nearly over, a message was sent through the village. All men old and young, and all boys ten years of age and over were ordered to meet in the church on a Friday afternoon at three o'clock, to hear what the English leader had to say to them. The farmers did not know what to make of such an order. But they made haste to get all their work done by Thursday night, so as to have time for their holiday on Friday. The church was full on Friday afternoon and strangely quiet when the English leader, as kindly as he could, told them his awfui news. By order of the King of England the Acadians were to be sent from the country. They would be taken away in English ships. They could take their money and as much of their goods as the ships would hold without loading them down. But all else was to be left. Cosy homes, rich fields, full barns, cattle — all was to be left behind, while the people who had worked so hard to get them must be taken far away. - 1 r-f; 92 8T011IE8 OF THE MAPLE LAND. *...-^- ^ !*^> -r H 1 There was wild weeping in that village when the news was spread. In that church the men were to be kept prisoners till the English ships came to carry all away. At different times a few men were let out to visit their wives and children, who could do nothing to help them but only wait round and weep at their hard lot. At last, when October frosts had begun to colour their loved hillsides with red and golden hues, the English ships arrived. The work of getting all on board began. The people then began really to feel that all was too true — that they must pack up their goods, march on the English ships, and leave their homes forever. It was a sad sight. Even the English soldiers felt it, and did their hard duty as kindly as they could. Mothers and children got on the ships weep- ing and mourning. The weak and the old ones were carried carefully, by sad, kind friends, all alike broken-hearted at leaving their homes. The English leader was good to them. He tried to put all near friends on the same ship. ACADIA AND ITS SAD STORY. 93 The soldiers did not treat them l)adly, nor hurt their goods. But they made tbem leave their homes and watched carefully that no one should get away. The last ship sailed away before Christmas, and the village was left empty. The houses, barns, mills and church were set on fire and the only living creatures to be seen were the cattle, still grazing on the quiet hills alone. From other parts of Acadia, the people were driven out in much the same way, and found homes in many different spots. Some came back very soon after, but many of them never saw their early home again. THE ENGLISH TAKE QUEBEC. The first fight which took place in Canada between the English and the French was not the last one by any means. The two peoples never stopped fighting for many years, after that first battle. The English had been getting the better of France, too. They had taken som^ of their strongest forts. But the. prize they wished for was Quebec. If they could take that rock- bound fort, all Canada would be open to them. In the Old Land, France and England were at war. It was not strange, then, that their children in the New, were eager to fight also. A brave soldier. General Montcalm, was sent from France to take charge of Quebec and the soldiers there. He was a well trained, wise leader, and under him the city and the country seemed quite safe. But against the French general the English 94 i^{ THE ENGLISH TAKE QUEBEC. 95 soldiers proudly set their hero, General James Wolfe, whose name will ever cling to Canada. General Wolfe was a very young man to be the leader of a large army. But he had been in the English army since he was fifteen years old, and by his wisdom and bravery had worked right up to the top. He was not a very fine- looking man, and he was not very strong of body either, for he was often sick. But he was so wise and gentle, so kindly and true, and brave, that all his soldiers loved him. They were ready to go anywhere with him or do anything for him. With an English leader full of courage bound to take Quebec, and a brave French general to take care that the English did not get in, it was hard to tell who would win in the end. The English were full of hope, trusting to their wise general and well trained soldiers. The French, in turn, laughed at the thought of any- one taking their rocky mountain fort. It was not so very many years since they had quickly sent the English from their shores. Montcalm at Quebec made every place strong. 96 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. Every way into the city was closed except one, and that was to let their own soldiers in from the river front. Big black cannon stood on the hills, pointing down on the river. All along the river front were l)ig ships loaded with guns, while fire-ships and fire-rafts floated on the river in front of the city. There seemed no place for the English to make their way into the city. At last the English ships sailed up the river, and the French tried their first plan. This was to destroy all the English ships, at once, with their fire-ships. The fire-ships were loaded with pitch, tar, fire-works, and other things which catch fire easily. These boats were sent out on the river right into the middle of the English ships. Then they were set on fire, and the French thought the whole line of ships would burn up. But the English soldiers and sailors stood watching as one after another of the fire-ships took fire and blazed up till the whole river was in flames. The noise and the flames were dread- ful. But the English sailors were not afraid. THE ENGLISH TAKE gi;EBp]a 97 They rowed out in boats to tlie l)uniiiig ships, towed them out of harm's way or ran them ashore. And the great plan of the governor to burn up English boats failed at the very start. The English tried many ways to get into the city. Montcalm, in his strong place in the town, looked on and smiled at the different plans of the English. As long as he could keep Wolfe and his soldiers out of the city all was well. Once they got in things might be different. Wolfe was very anxious to meet the French on the field of battle, for he was sure his soldiers could face them — but no way was open. If he could but find a way to climb the steep hill and reach the broad plains on the top, where each might fight fairly ! But the summer passed away and little had been done. Many of the soldiers were sick and unfit to fight. Worst of all, Wolfe himself took sick and lay ill with a fever for many days in a farm house. The English were very down-cast. But if the French still held Quebec, they were in a bad way, too, though the English did not know it. 7 98 STORIES OF THE MAl'LE l.AN'D. There was sickness uinong their soldiers, too ; food was scarce, and tlie town was almost in ruins from the attacks of the English soldiers. Montcalm hardly knew how his city could stand the biting cold of a Canadian winter. But Wolfe was better again. The soldiers gathered their courage for one last trial. The young general, pale and worn, stood with glass in hand, carefully looking over the heights. His keen eye hit upon one spot where it seemed easy to get up. This spot is now known as Wolfe's Cove. From this cove a little crooked path led to the top. Up this path he would send a few men to guard the top till the whole army could follow. Who would go ? Twenty-four soldiers offered themselves at once to be the first to climb the steep side of the cliff. On a dark night they were rowed to the spot, Wolfe himself being in one of the first boats. In deep silence they reached the shore. The French soldiers, in the darkness, took them for Frenchmen coming with supplies. In a few minutes the brave twenty- four had taken prisoners the soldiers guarding s, too ; ost in •Idiers. stand )ldiers The glass His easy Wolfe's th led a few could ffered b the they ng in they I the with enty- 'ding THE ENGLISH TAKE QUEJJEC. 99 the cove, and were at the top, the ri^st (juiekly following. It was liard work to clinih that steep hill, hanging on to the rough hushes that gr(»w on the sides, but the young general was one of tlie first to reach the top. At last he stood with his army on the grassy plains, facing the city of (Quebec, ready to tight and win, or die. When the day broke, Montcalm heard the startling news : " The l^^nglish ai'my is on the heights ! " Quickly he ordered his soldiers round him, and galloped to the Plains of Abraham, where the English wei'e. On his big black horse the French leader rode up and down, waving his sword and calling his men to fight for the glory of France. At ten o'clock in the morning the two armies met. The French soldiers in their white uni- forms, and the Indians and French traders in their odd dress, faced the scarlet-coated English- men, and the Highlanders in their kilts. The French fired on the red lines of men which faced them, but the English waited for their leader's word. Riding at their head Wolfe gave the order. *• 100 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAXIX IT £1 m Witli wild cheers the English red-coats nished on the French. The lines liroke, and the French fell in heaps around them. The English still pressed on, and soon drove them before them to the city. The battle of the Plains of Abraham was won in a fnv minutes. Montcalm was shot through the body, but lived till he reached the city he had tried so hard to save. The brave Wolfe was shot three times. The third time he fell, never to rise again. Loving arms carried him to a quiet spot. Only once did he speak, and that was when he heard the cry, " They run ! they rmi ! " ^' Who run ? " he asked, trying to rise, " The French ! " was the glad answer. With a happy smile the General turned on his side. " Now God be praised, I die in peace." The brave voice was silent, and the lion heart had stopped beating. Wolfe, the hero, had given up his life for his country. The little spot where he fell is still green. A stone there tells the simple story — " Here WoKe died victorious." m THE ENGL1SF[ TAKE QUEBEC. 101 His body was taken to England. It lies still in "Westminster i\bbey among England's good and great ones. All England wept over her brave soldier, and in a little English village Wolfe's mother wept for her true son who had died so nobly. Down in Quebec stands a splendid nionument on which the names of the two great soldiers, Montcalm and Wolfe, are joined together. Canadians were proud to raise that stone to the two great men who gave their hves up, lighting for Canada. But with the battle of the Plains of Abraham, France lost Canada. From that time the Union Jack has floated over Canada's fair land. Eng- lish and French now joined hand in hand to make the new land great. ** I think the holidays are near," said the Chestnut tree to the Maple. '' Why ? " the Maple asked. " Well, you see, it is getting very warm. My blossoms have gone long ago." ** Is that why you think the holidays are 102 STORIES OF THE MAl'LE LAND. ^1 near ? It has been warm for weeks now, and school is still open." The poor Maple felt badly just then. Some boy who had not been thinking of the harm he might do, had swung on a branch of hers, until it broke. It was a big, beautiful ])ranch, too, hanging heavy with leaves. No wonder the Maple carried a sad heart under her thick, green leaves. She could not tell of her trouble to anyone but the Chestnut, and that good tree had been trying to think of some way to make her forget about it. But it was hard work to talk to a cross tree. However, she did not feel much hurt. "Oh, no!" she said brightly. "That is not why I think the holidays are near. I have heard the children talk about it. They are all going away to the country, and to the lakes, and other fine places." "And we stay here and see nothing," said the Maple. "Why, now. Maple, you know trees never want t( go away. I'm sure I should hate to leave the school-yard," THE ENGLISH TAKE QUEBEC. 103 7y and Some rm he , until mging Maple eaves, le but trying about 5 tree. is not heard going other d the " But we will not hear any more stories for two whole months," said the Maple, who was bound to be miserable just then. " I'm sorry for that," whispered the Chestnut. **I never knew so many things had happened before, I didn't know people liked to fight each other. We never see them do it now." " Oh, they stopped all that when the English took Canada. They made the Indians do right, I'm sure. I wish we could hear some more about the Indians, though. Perhaps we'll have another story yet." "Let's look in and listen now," said the Chestnut, bending over. And, as they peeped in, what was their delight to hear the name of the new story. never to to ■,>L~"* PONTIAC AND HIS INDIANS FIGHT THE ENGLISH. The English were now the rulers of the New World, but the Indians were not at all pleased with the change. They did not like the English as well as they did the French. The English had not had as much to do with the Indians as the French had, and they did not know so well how to treat them. They stopped giving them the little presents of hatchets, beads, and other things, which the French always had ready for their Indian friends. For a long time, too, the French had given the Indians guns and powder, as well as clothes. And now the English would give them none of these things, and the Indians felt themselves ill-used. Then the English fur traders were not like the iM'ench traders. They were often very cruel to the Indians, cheating them and treating their women and children very unkindly. 104 9Mi PONTIAC FIGHTS THE ENGLISH. 105 ^HT THE f the New all pleased veil as they I to do with hey did not hey stopped 3hets, beads, always had ad given the as clothes. tiem none of , themselves not like the rerj cruel to reating their When the French soldiers and their officers were at the forts, the Indians used to come in to see them, lounge round, look at everything, and make themselves very much at home in their simple, easy way. But the English soldiers would not let them stay round the forts. They thought they were a great bother, and used to order them roughly away, sometimes touching them with their guns to make ^hem move faster. The Indians felt this to be a great insult. And all through the country great bands of white people were going to take up land. Wherever they went the Indians had to get out and go deeper into the forests to be by them- selves. And the thinking Indians saw that the white man would soon own the whole land, and there would be no place for the red man at all. All these things made them uneasy and un- happy. As they had always liked the French, they were quite ready to blame the English for all their troubles. The French did not like the English either, and they helped to make the Indians feel worse towards the English. 106 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. mti They told the Indians that their '' Great Father," the King of France, had been sleeping when the English crept in and stole Canada. But he was awake now, and his great armies were even now on the way to save his red children from the hands of the English. From all this sprang a great Indian war, which lasted for nearly three years after the English took Canada. The great mover in this war was Pontiac, a very noted Indian chief of the Algonquin In- dians. He was a man of great power among the Indian tribes. At this time he was about fifty years old. He was very brave and strong, could speak well and plan well, and was very cunning and wise. When his mighty voice was heard calling the chiefs of the tribes to a great meeting, they all gathered quickly round him. From village to village, and from camp to camp, the messengers went with the signs of war. These were a black and purple war belt made of wampum, and a tomahawk stained red. PON'J'IAC FIGHTS THE ENGLISH. 107 In every case the chiefs took Ihe belt and picked up the hatchet. By this tliey showed themselves ready for war. Their plan was to go to all the forts where the English soldiers were, destroy the forts, kill Lhe soldiers, and drive all the Enghsh out of the land. Pontiac himself Hved with his own tribe on an island in the Detroit river. From his cabin of bark and rushes he could look across at Fort Detroit, where the English soldiers were. He picked on this fort as the first one he and his brother Indians should take. One bright May morning, he and his savages marched into the fort ready to take it and all within it. But an Indian girl had told the English officer all about Pontiac's plan. So, when the bold Indians went into the fort, they found everywhere plenty of armed soldiers to receive them. The Indian chief was greatly vexed and an- noyed to see that his plan must fail. But with great cunning he said to the officers that he was much surprised to see so many soldiers ready 108 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. with their guns. '' For," he said, " we have only come to smoke the peace-pipe with our EngHsh brothers whom we love." But the " English brothers " knew he did not love them, though he said he did, and they watched him pretty closely. In a few days he was joined by other bands of fierce Indians, and together they made an attack on Fort Detroit. For a long time (several months) the war lasted, but, at last, the Indians were driven back and beaten by the English. But at other forts, the Indians did more harm and mischief than at Fort Detroit. Close to the edge of the deep blue waters of Lake Huron, stood Fort Michillimackinac, the strongest fort in that part of the country. Near to it is the island of Mackinac, called so by the Indians, who thought it was shaped like a turtle. For their name for the fort meant in Indian '^ The Great Turtle." In the early days the Jesuit priests had started a mission there. At Fort Michillimackinac there was now a mission house, a fort, and a cluster of Canadian houses. It was also a gi*eat centre for the fur trade. There were many tribes of In- PDNTIAC FIGHTS THE ENGLISH. 109 dians living round tlic fort, and they were all willing to join Pontiac in liis war. They were just waiting their chance to seize the fort and the soldiers there. When the news was l)rouglit that Pontiac had started to take Fort Detroit, they could wait no longer. All the tribes gathered themselves to- gether and made ready to take Fort Michilli- mackinac. Early one fine day in June the soldiers were enjoying a holiday. Outside of the fort two tribes of Indians were playing a game of ball. The soldiers stood round, near the gates, watch- ing the friendly game. Everything looked peaceful and pleasant. The gates of the fort were wide open. The captain and his men were careless and happy, without sword or guns near them. The Indian chiefs moved around, too, enjoying themselves, while any number of Indian squaws stood quietly near, wrapped in their coarse blankets. The Indians in the game were leaping and jumping in the grass, yelling and screaming as they chased the ball. Suddenly a shot sent the ball flying near to 110 STORIES OF THE MAIM.E LAND. the gates of the fort. Hushing after it went the screaming band of savages. Before the soldiers had time to act, the cries were changed into the fierce Indian war-whoop. The squaws handed out the hatchets which they had under their blankets. The Indians leaped on the soldiers, cutting and scalping without mercy. The officers were led away prisoners, and Fort Michilli- mackinac was in tlie hands of the Indians. It did not take them long to clear the place, and the cry soon arose, ''All is finished." The Indians stayed there for a few days drinking and feasting in the empty fort. Then they began to feel afraid of what they had done, and fearful of what the English would do to them when they found it out. So they ran away, but not before the fort was cleared, and not an English soldier was to be found arourid there. But the Indians did not gain anything by their fight with the English. In a few years the English had quite got the better of them. Pontiac died, and the Indian tribes went back to their hunting and fishing in the forests and lakes. The red man's land had become the home of the white man. THE HERO OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. On the grassy slopes of the heights which run along the Niagara river, near the little town of Queenston, there stands a fine monument. Many Canadian boys and girls have climbed the steep hill to look upon the tall stone which Canada was pleased to put there in honour of her hero, Major-General Brock. This brave soldier, who was killed at Queenston while fighting for Canada, left a name behind him which will always be dear to the sons and daughters of the fair Dominion. In the New World the English settlers had fought with their mother-land across the seas. And now, next door to Canada was born a new country, the United States of America. But the people there were not satisfied even to be free and to own their land. Canada was a big, rich country lying very near to them. Why should they not have her, too, and drive Old England's flag from the New World ! Ill 112 STOUIKS OF THE MAPLE LAND. 80 to gain Canada, another war was begun. For tln'ee years the Americans tried hard to take Canada, and make it part of their country. But at last they had to give up, since C^anada fought so hard to remain true to England. Early in the war the battle of Queenston Heights was fought. The Canadians won the battle, but at great cost, for there she lost her loved leader, Brock. Niagara River stretches along for some way between Canada and the United States. Stand- ing on the heights at Queenston, we can look across the blue waters of the river, partly ours and partly our neighbours'. We can see the people on the other side in their houses, their factories, and their streets. On the morning of October 13, eighty-six years ago, the trees in the gorge and on the slopes of the heights must have looked very beautiful. The early frosts would just have touched the thick growth of leaves, and scarlet maples, yellow beeches, and crimson oaks would be mixed with the dark green pines and firs. But there was no time then to look on the bright colours of the leaves, or to watch the pale THE HERO OF (iUEENSTON IIEKSHTS. n:i moi'iiin^* sun shining* on the (jiiict water of tlie river. Instead, soldiers W(U'e running to and fro on the banks, eagerly watching the I'iver. For boats were seen, filled with American soldiers, crossing from the other side to C^anada. The Canadians on the heights gave these sol- diers a warm enough welcome from the mouth of the cannon placed on the cliti'. Tmt the Ameri- cans were in charge of a brave soldier, who ui'giMl his men on, until in a short time, a strong body of soldiers were on the C.anadian side, ready for battle. General Brock was not at Queenston, but at Fort George some miles away. He had risen before daylight, and hearing tlio noise of cannon knew at once that the Americans were making an attack on Queenston. On his horse he galloped at full speed to the battle. Day was just l)reaking, and he saw the heights filled with American soldiers. Sti'aight up the hill Brock rode at the head of his men, cheering them on with his hearty words, " Follow me, boys ! " But one of the enemy, picking out 8 "'^^i 114 STORIES OF THE MAPLE I.AXI). the brave General from amongst liis men, shot at him and he fell, shot through the breast. With a cry the men l)ehin(l him sped on, anxious to get at the enemy who had killed their loved leader. Brock only lived long enough to ask that his death be kept from the rest of the soldiers. While the l)attle went on, the General lay in a house at Queenston, cold and still in death. The Americans were driven right to the brow of the hill, and were in a place of great danger. Behind them was the foaming Niagara River, before them the angry Canadians, who were twice as fierce now without a leader as they had been with one. And now more soldiers and a new leader came for the Canadians, and once more they dashed on the enemy. The Americans had lost a number of their men and could not stand against the sudden storm of bullets rained on them bv the Canadians. Their brave leader fell Amidst the shouts of the soldiers and the yells of the savage Indians in the Canadian army, they fled to the edge of the steep. Numbers threw themselves THE HERO OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 115 over the cliff, some swam across the river, and some got away in boats. The American leader sent in a flag of truce, and the battle of Queenston Heights was won. Besides the monument standing on Queenston Heights, there is another stone in memory of Brock in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England. There lies the great soldier's sword and helmet. On one side of the stone is carved a scene show- ing the General dying in the arms of an English soldier. An Indian standing sadly by, shows the deep love that the red man had for the brave English soldier. In these days a whizzing electric car carries you quickly round the heights to the bottom of the hill. There we may see a big square stone. Many years ago the Prince of Wales, on a visit to Canada, placed that great stone there to mark the spot where Brock fell in battle. .•■><■:' LAURA SECORD. The war went on for three years, and the names of Stoney Creek, Beaver Dam, Lundy's Lane and other places now point to spots where battles were fought in that war. All Canada joined hands to fight bravely and well. Young men and old men, and even the women and girls helped — taking their share of work at home when the men were called away to fight. But one woman, Laura Secord, did more than stay at home. She did a very brave act, for which her name is remembered to-day and placed amongst the brave ones of Canada. She was the wife of a soldier living at Queen- ston. This soldier had been hurt in the battle of. Queenston Heights, At Beaver Dams^, near to where the city of St. Catharines stands now, there was an English officer with a few soldiers and a few Indians. Secord heard that the Americans were going to attack this place. He was too ill to go himself 116 J LAURA SECORD. 117 to tell the English, but his wife offered to g(^ for him. Early in the morning, she started off for her long walk of twenty miles. Her way led through thick woods, where she had to pick her way care- fully for fear of snakes or animals, and also keep out of the way of American soldiers. It took her all day to reach her stopping-place. Here she first came across a band of Indians, who scared her by their yells and fierce cries. But she was soon taken to the officer in charge and gave him her news. He made such good use of his time that when the Americans came to take, they had instead, to give up to the English. WW ftt»: TECUMSEH. ^ss^ It was during this war, too, that we find the name of another great Indian chief, Tecuniseh. This time, though, the Indian is fighting on the side of the EngHsh ; not against them, like Pontiac. Tecumseh was a fine Indian and a great fighter. His name in Indian meant ** a tiger crouching for his prey." He did not think tiie Ariierieans had treated him well, and was only too glad to join the English to fight against them. When Brock called a meeting of the Indians and asked them to help him in his fight, Tecumseh made a great speech. He told Brock that all the Indians were ready to give their last drop of blood, fighting for their " great father," the English King. Tecumseh had great power over the other Indians. He kept them back when they would have been too wild and fierce. 118 TECUMSEH. 119 The Indian chief felt very sad at the death of. Brock, but he kept right on fighting with the Enghsh. He was killed in one of the battles of the war. He and his braves were in the swamp, not far from a river, when the Americans came upon them. The rest of the English soldiers, had run away, but the Indians stayed and fought the Americans. The American leader shot Tecumseh just as the red man had his tomahawk raised to strike him. The soldiers treated the red man's dead body very badly, though he had died a brave death, fighting for the people and the country he loved. Amongst his people are to be found still very many who love the English. For Canada, after all, has been very kind to the red man, whose land she took. The two trees still stand side by side, whisper ing to each other. The school is quiet now and the windows are closed. jV"^' -m. M •%; 120 STORIES OF THE MAPLE LAND. They feel very lonely and quiet without thai children. They have very little to talk about and there is nothing at all to listen to. But often in the cool evenings we may see their branches twined together. If we could listen to them, perhaps we should hear the Maple telling the Chestnut some of her Grand- father Maple's stories. For we may be sure that half of the stories that might be told of Canada's early days, were not heard in the school-room. ' without the o talk about dn to. we may see If we could lid hear the r her Grand- f the stories y days, were