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J N niK OLD J 11 i)G I-; I.IFK W A (., iiLOW. m •ffiL .'it TiiOR <>l'' 'SAV ^].i^.K. TjiE rL0(.iO!A]u;i{ ' ■■ .S.iTlKK AM' lil MAN \ .\ U" i! ( ," •ViSE :^A'.'"'? vM: ^!At.lA:> iV -'I' v\Ai -■ I '^ ,.0 1'^- >K^K..vi-rB. ■* V '.> ■«<-. r ■ -^ ■V. • ■';«.';.■ 1 ' , ^ ' ,? r ' ' • t I ■ ' if, .-■I'': ';'. fv ' <■ y'' ^ ', 'i ,'■• . 't ■■■ ' rmsm vW4 "■-■ #■? #:■;-. ^^v/'^lr ,.. >lf^^.7:: :■ ^•^'- v| .-»■",■ '■ , ■ • ■ '.,■"■.» ^' '^K'ttJ'J »*lr.a iii'i*' w Y . • " > ' /J yJlf t .v^lMl • '' ■ ' '■ --'.-." •'fjj ■J .-.J™. /].. I'" Ui_ i m:''' >"•' "l Si k'' .\ '■ '• .r. THE OLD JUDGE; (o5^ OB, LIFE IN A COLONY. BY THE AUTHOR OP "SAM SLICK, TILE CLOCKMAKER," " NATURE AND HUMAN NATURE," " WISE SAWS AND M >DERN INSTANCES," KTC ETC. IIal)(o(iue senoctuti r.iitirimm gratiam, qunp milii soritioiiis aviilitatcm au\it, jKitioiiis et cibi isusUilit. Cickko l>e JSexectute. LONDON: lUJRST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 13, GEE AT MARLBOROUGH STREET. A^^,^'^"' /. 260124 JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS 0124 PREFACE. The following skctclics of "Lif*.' In a Cvilouv" wero drawni from nature, after a residence of lialf a century among the people whose habits, manners, and social con- dition they are intended to delineate. I have adopted the form of a tour, and the character of a stranger, for the double purpose of avoiding the prolixity of a journal, by tlie omission of tedious details, and the egotism of an au- tlior, by making others speak for themselves in their own way. The utmost care has been taken to exclude anything tliat could by any possibility be supposed to have a personal reference, or be the subject of annoyance. The " dramatis pcrsonoo " of this work are, therefore, ideal representatives of their several classes, having all the characteristics and peculiarities of their own set, but no actual existence. Should they be found to resemble particular individuals, I can assure the reader that it is accidental, and not inten- tional ; and I trust it will be considered, as it really is, the unavoidable result of an attempt to delineate the features of a people among whom there is such a strong family likeness. In my pre\^ous works I have been fortunate enough to have avoided censure on this score, and I have been most anxious to render the present book as unobjectionable as its IV rUKKACK. ]^r«^lrs. l\tli(l(';il sUi-lclu^s I ]\\\\v m1)s1jiIm(m1 IVoin iil- t«>;4('lli('r , pi'oviiiciiil ;iii(l Itu'.il iiMjiirs jut loo iiisij^inriciiiil to inlcrcsl \\\c i';(Mi(M'iil rt';i(l('i\ Jiiid ( lie policy of (li(> ( 'oloniiil ( )irn't» is loi'iMLVii lo 1M\' siilt)("c(. Tlic Jihsiird iiii|>oi'l;iiiC(' jill;n'li('(l in tliis counlry (o Irillos, (lie ornn;ii;ii;"c iA^ rm;il polil iciniis, lli(> llimsy veil of piilriol isiii uiuliM' wlnCli srllislnu'ss sIimncs (o 1ii(1(> llio (IdonMily oC its vis;io-(\ iuul \\\o iillcMiipl lo iidopl lli(> iiiMcliinrry ol' u l;iiL;n oinj)irt* lo iho <;-o\(Miiiiumi1 of ;i siiimII coloiiv, pr('S(>iit miuiy ol)j(*('ls lor ri(li«MiIt> or s;ilii(>; l)iil llioy roiild jiol, ho ji|t- proacliod willioul llu^ suspicion of p(M'son;dily, Jind llic di- riM'l inipulalion orprcjndicc. As 1 consider, l)o\V(>vci-, lli;i( llic work would l)c incouiplol(M\ illntnl i;ivin!^' some idc.'i. of 1 lie lorni of i;(>\(Mnni(Mil under wliiidi llie inli;d)il;inls of llic lowtM' colonies li\(\ 1 ^y.wc ])rep;ir(Ml ;i. xrvy briid' onllini^ of it, willioul any conmuMil. Tliost^ persons who lake no in- ttM'csl in such nialliM's can pass il ovei', and l(>avo it ior othtM's w1n> may premier inlormalion lo amns(Mn(Mil. 1 liavc also avoi(hMl, as I'ai' as praclicahl(\ lopics common lo »>thcr count iMi^s, and (Mid(Mvoui-(>d lo selcM't sc(M1(>s and cliarai'lcrs pin-nliar to ll»c colony, and not. lo he found in hooks. Some simihiiitv iIumc must n(H'(\ssarilv ho helween nil hranclics (d' thi^ Ani>'lo-Sa\on family, sp(^akin«4" llie same hmii-ua^'c. and livini;- nndtM' modilications of the sanie form of i>-ovcrnm(Mit ; hut still tluM'i^ iwo sliadtvs of dillertMicc Avhicli, tlion^-li not strongly marked, arc plainly disccrn- ihlc to a practistnl eye. i\u'ios lion oiiinilms ini;i, lU'C laiiuMi ilivtM'su. This distinctive^ character is prodnciMl hy tlu^ iicccssilios and condition o\! a lu^w country, hy the nature of the climate, tlic^ ^vant oi' an I'.stahlisluHl (liurch, lioroditary rank, entailment oi' testates, and the suhdivision of Lihour, on the one hand, and the ahsenci* of iiationalily, independ- ence, and lve])ublicau institutions, on the other. IMir.FAfiK ;'1)sliiiii('(l from iil- re loo iiisi}4iii(i('jiii( »Ii«'y of llir ( 'oloiiinl !i1)siii' ^•lMM;ili'iolisiii lie (Irlonnily of i(s IcllilKM'V ol' !l. \[\V'J:v loiiy, prcstMil Miii'iy \- couM noil l)o ji|»- tn;ilily, :in idc.'i. of o iiiliiil)i(;iii(s of llic (M'v briof oulliiK^ of us who l;ik(' no in- T, jiiid loaves it lor llUlscMIUMll. il)lo, lopics coininoii ) s«d(M't .s('iMu\s and iiol. lo he foMiKl ill (^ssarily bo Ix^lwcoii sjH^dvin^- tlio same s of llu^ sanio lonii lados ot' dilloi'iMicc •o plainly disciMMi- 1(1 ivcrsii. I by llio iUH'ossilI(^s tlu^ nalnro of the Muii'cb, lioroditai'V division ot' Libour, ionalit V, iiulopciul- other. rolonlsls dlflrr n^^aln in lil pai'licnlaiiy Iho subject (»f this work, is oil on found suporinlondin^- the cullivalion of a. farm and bnildin;;" u vessel at the same 1 ime ; and is not oidy able to calch and cure a. car^^o of li sh, but to lind his way willi if. to Ihe West Indies or the Medllerranean ; Ik- is a. man of nil work, but expert in non* — knows a. little of many things, but nolhin;^- well. Ib> is irre;^ular in his pursuits, "all tliin;j;s by turns, and nothing;' l(»n;^'," ai d vain of his uhilit y or infoi-mat ion ; but is a, hardy, fratd<, eo(,d_ii;it urerl, liospilable, maidy fellow, and withal (pilt<^ as e-ood-lookin;^- lis his air hie Nose, a. sof)ri(/in/ acrjiiired from a. sii[)eiior {)r. ito of that nam(% of IIk; ^-ood (jualities of which he is never tired of talking-, bein*^ jinxious, like; most men of small [tropc.-rty, lo exhibit lo the best, a.dvaiita;i;e lla; little Iw; hafl. AlthouL;'h this tei'in is aj)i)licabl(! to all natives, it, Is mow [»arlicuhirly so to that portion of the population de- 6C(Mid(Ml from emi;^'raiils from IIk; New I'in;4land States, cither pr(>viotisly to, or innn(>diately after, tin; American ]i(^vobition. Th(i a(!(;ont of tJu; \\\\U) Nos(> is provincial, in- ^cb'nin^ moro to Yard^eo than to l']n<^lish, his utt.ei-anco ra- pid, and his conversation liberally <^farnlsh(!d with Ani(;]'ic'an phras(M)lo<>y, and much (udlvcned with dry humour. P'rorri the diversity of trades of which he knows somelhin;,'-, and the variety of occupationH in which he has been at o:) limo or another enf^ag-ed, ho us{\s indiscrimin;itely the technical terms of all, in a manner that would often puzzle a stranger to pronounce whether he was a landsman or sailor, a farmer, "^"'■Jik I ' i I I I ; i VI PREFACE. inccliaiiic, lumberer, or fislierman. These characteristics are more or less common to tlie people of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton, and the scene of these sketches might perhaps to a very great extent be laid, with equal propriety, in those places as in Nova Scotia, But to Upper and I^ower Canada they are not so applicable. The town of lUinoo, so often mentioned in this work, is a fictitious place. I have selected it in preference to a real one, to prevent the possible application of my remark to any of the inhabitants, in accordance with the earnest desire I have already expressed to avoid giving offence tc any one. Having made these explanations, I now submit the work to the public. ^1 .Ji ^ liese cliaracteristics of New Brunswick, n, and the scene of ;ry great extent be 3S as in Nova Scotia, re not so applicable, ioned in this work, , in preference to a ition of my remark ce with the earnest id giving offence to tions, I now submit CONTENTS. lAL CHAPTER I. THE OLD JUDGE II. HOW MANY FINS HAS A COD ? Oil, FORTY YEARS AGO nr. ASKING A GOVERNOR TO DINE . . IV. THE TOMBSTONES V. A BALL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE V[. THE OLD ADMIRAL AND THE OLD GENE VII. THE FIRST SETTLERS VIII. MERRIMAKINGS IX, THE SCHOOLMASTER; OR, THE HECKE THALER X. THE LONE HOUSE XI. THE KEEPING-ROOM OF AN INN ; OR, JUDGE BELEIl's GHOST NO. I Xn. THE KEEFING-ROOM OF AN INN; OR, SEEING THE DEVIL. NO. II. .. .. .. .. ., ., ,, XIIL THE KEEFING-ROOM OF AN INN; OR, A LONG NIGHT AND A LONG STORY. NO. III. XIV. THE KEEFING-ROOM OF AN INN; OR, THE CUSHION-DANCE NO. IV XV. THE KEEPING-ROOM OF AN INN ; OR, A CHASE FOR A WIFE NO. V XVL A PIPPIN ; OR, SHEEPSKINS AND GARTERS XVII. HORSE-SHOE COVE; OR, IIUFEISEN BUCUT, NO. I. XVIII. HORSE-SHOE COVE ; OR, HUFEISEN BUCHT. NO. II. I XIX. THE SEASONS ; OR, COMERS AND GOERS XX. THE WITCH OF INKY DELL XXL COLONIAL GOVERNMENT PACK 1 8 26 56 67 90 109 113 127 140 155 178 198 212 229 253 273 284 302 320 339 i I ! I ) i •' ii 1 II Ot u he sec riv f ii Jli THE OLD JUDGE; OIJ, LIFE U A COLOXY. CHAPTER I. THE OLD JUDGE. m§ A PEW days ago two strangers wore sliown into my study : ono of them, stopping aside, pointed to liis com])anion, and said, "'J'his, sir, is tlie Eeverend Gabriel Gab of Olympus." The otlior ])erformed the same kind ofTiee for his friend, saying, "And this, sir, is the Eeverend Elijah "Warner, of the Millerite persuasion, from Palmyra, United States of America." The former, Avliose name was by no moans inappropriate, explained with great volubility the object of their visit, wliicli he said was twofold: first, to pay their respects to me; secondly, to make some inquiries about the great bore in the river in my neighbourhood. ■■ Had there been a mirror in the room I should have been tempted to have pointed to it, as they woidd have tiierc seen two nuich greater bores in their own persons ; for, if there is any one subject more than another, of which I am heartily tiri'd, it is the extraordinary tide of this remarkable river. It attracts many idlers to the village, wlio ])ester every one they meet with questions and theories, and seldom talk of anything elec. If, however, the visit of these gentlemen wearied me, in cdnscqucuco of the threadbare "^ubjt^ct of our discourse, it ai|ttuscd me not a little by the whimsical maimer of its intro- duction ; it not only had novelty to recommend it, but itsbrevity enabled th(>m to enter iii mcdias res at once. I shall therefore imitate their example, by introducing myself and explaining my business. -^ I I' 2 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, I am, gentle reader, a traveller, and my object also is two- fold : first, to pay my respects to you, and, secondly, to impart rather than solicit, information. When I left England, my original destination was New York and the far \Vest, after which I purposed making a rapid tour over our North Americai. Colonies. In pursuance of tliis plan, I took passage on boai\ of one of the British mail-steamers for America. It is well known that these ships touch at Halifax on the!: way to and from New York and Boston ; this apparently cir. cuitous route being actually thirty-six miles shorter than tlit direct course.' In twelve days after leaving England I foiuii, myself in Halifax. Of my voyage out I shall say nothing. lie must be a boli man uideed who would attem|)t to describe the incidents of: common passage across tlie Atlantic, with any hope whatever o: finding a reader. It was, like all similar trips, though as com- fortable as sucli an aflair can be, anything but agreeable, and though short, tedious to a landsman. Off the Port of llalilai we encountered a thick fog, and were obliged to slacken ou: speed and use the lead constantly, when we suddenly emerge, from it into bright, clear, dazzling sunshine. Before us lay tin harbour, as calm, as white, and as glittering as if covered wit! glass ; a comparison that suggested itself by the beautit'ii reflections it presented of the various objects on shore; wliil behind us was the dense black mass of fog, reaching from tin water to the heavens, like a wall or cloud of darkness. 1; seemed as if Day and Night were re])osing together side V gi; side. The first object that nu^t our view was the picturesque litt! church that crowns the clilf overlooking the village and havei of Falkland, and, like a siclla maris, guides the poor fisheruia: from alar to his home, and recalls his wandering thoughts t that other and happier one that awaits him when the stui'ii. and tempests of this life shall have passed away fur ever. Tli entrance to this noble harbour, the best, perhaps, in Amerie;. is exceedingly beautiful ; such portions of the landsca])e as ai denuded of trees exhibit a very high state of cultivation ; wlii! the natural stei'ility of the cold, wet, and rocky soil of the baek ground is clothed and concealed by verdant evergreens of sprue iir, ]Mne, and hemlock. On either hand you ])ass formidab! fortifications, and the national flag and the British sentiiu bear testimony to the power and extensive pos^v ssions of dui old England. ' Sec the second series of The Chickmiiker, chapter xxii., in which tL. route wuri first suggested, and the actual distance given. -J I LIFE IN A COLONY. { object also is two- secoudly, to impart [ left England, mv the far AV est, aftf: our North Americai. ok passage ou boari erica. I at Halifax on thci: this apparently cir- es sliorter than tlit inir EuvSsion3 of dca. apfcr xxii., in wliicli tl: a'U. town of Darti ith On the right is the rapidly increasing town ot iJartmout ©n the left, llalifax, situated in ea-tcnso on the slope of a long high hill, the cone-like siunmit of Avhich is converted into a citadel. The etlect from the water is very imposing, giving the idea of a nuich larger and better built place than it is — an illusion productive of nuu'h sidjseipient disappointment. Still further on, and forming the northern termination of the city, is the GoNornment Dockyard, of which I shall s[)eak elsewhere. Here the harbour contracts to a very narrow space, and then gufldenly enlarges again into another aiul more sheltered body of water, eight or ten miles in length, and two or three in width, called Bedford Basin. On a nearer approach to the Quay, old dingy warehouses, trumpery wooden buildings, of unecpial size and dispropor- tionate forms, and unsubstantial wharfs, in bad order and re[)air, present an unpromising water-side view, while the accent of the labourers and truckmen, who are nearly all Irishmen, form a singular combination of colonial ar.jhitecture and European population. The city itself, which has been greatly improved of late years, does not, on a further acquaintance, altogether remove the disagreeable impression. Although it boasts of many very handsome public as well as private edifices, and is well laid out and embellished with large naval and military establishments ; it has not the neat or uniform appearance of an American town, and it is some time before the eye becomes accustomed to the card-board appearance of the houses, or the fliiigular mixture of large and small ones in the same street, jhe general aspect of the city is as dilferent from that of any Other provincial town, as it is from a place of the same size ^ither in old or new^ England. The inhabitants, who are com- |)osed of English. Irish, Scotch, ami their descendants, are es- timated at twenty-two or twenty-five thousand. It is a gay and hospitable place, and, until recently, when agitation and political strife made their baneful appearance, was a united and ]|appy comnuuiity. It is not my intention to describe localities — my object is to lelineate Life in a Colony. There is such a general uniformity :|tt the appearance of all the comitry towns and villages of these Ipwer provinces, ami such a similarity in the character of the tenery, that details would be but tedious re[)etitions, and, (sides, such topographical sketches are to be found in every lk)ok of travels on this continent. I have said thus much of Halifax, because it is not only the capital of Xova Scotia, but, from its proximity to Europe, has lately become a most im- )rtaut station for English and American Atlantic steamers, as II 4 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, '' 1 '!! it alvvavs lias been for the Britisli navy. A few words wil! suffice for Nova Scotia. TJie surface is undulating, seldom or never exceeding in altitude five hundred feet above the level of tlie sea. It is greatly intersected with rivers and their tribut- ary brooks, on the margins of which are continuous lines of settlements, and the coast is everywhere indented with har- bours more or less capacious, in most of which are either towuj or villages. In the back-ground the forest is everywhere visible, and penetrated in all directions with roads. Althou^li extensive clearings are made yearly in the interior, priiicij)a]|'. by the children of old settlers, in which back wood life is to lu' seen in all its simplicity, yet the country has passed the periuii of youtli, and may now be called an old colony. Of the habits, maimers, and modes of thought of t!u people, few travellers have had such an opportunity of becomln:: acquainted as I have. At the suggestion of ]\[r Barclay, a member of the provinci d bar, with whom 1 accidentally becaiiu acquainted on my arrival at Halifax, I abandoned for a tiiiii. my intention of ])roceeding to New York, and from thence to the South and AVest, and remained in this country for a j)eriui! sudlciently long to ac(|ulre that knowh'dge of Anglo-Americau character without which rjipid travelling on this contincmt i< neither convenient nor instructive. By him I was conducts; to lllinoo, an interior town, about fifty miles from Halifax. art there introduced to Air Justice Sandford, a retired Jud^'. of the Supreme Court of Judicature. By the considerate kinJ- uess of these two gentlemen, I was enabled to see all that w;;.« desirable to be seen, and to undiM-stand many little ])oints ii, the character of the people which, without tlicir valuable ex- planations, Avould have either escaped my notice, or have becL unintelligible. Jlliuoo is situated at the head of the navigation of the In- ganish river, and is a neat, thriving town, consisting of about a hundred and fifty Avooden houses, painted white, after the prevailing American taste, nu)st of them being decorated will: green A'enetiun blinds, and all enclosed by board fences vi different patterns. The glare of the glossy white is somewhat relieved by the foliage of the gardens thatevervwhere surrouiu; the houses and t:u])[)ly the inhabitants with fruit and vegetabkv\ Such is lllinoo, the description of which will answer for any other rural village, the dilference in general being one of situ- ation, rather than appearance, and of size, more than beauty. Three miles further up the river, and above the influence o: the tide, is Elmsdale, the residence of Judge Sandford. Tin house stands on a rismg piece of ground in the centre of an '^i i I LIFE IN A COLONY. A fow words •svill lulatiug, seldom or b above the level of [•s and their tribiit- oiitinuous lines of ndented with har- icli are eitlierto\vh.> •est is everywheie roadn. Althoiiul! xlcnsivo island, formed by two branches of the river, one of iviiich is a small brook of about twenty yards in width, and the other the main stream. The island consists principally of tlhivial soil, but is interspersed hero and there with gently iwclliiig knolls of loam, covered with oaks, maples, and yellow birches, while the meadow land is decorated with large single flins of innnense size and great beauty. The margin is secured ^.gainst the elleets of the current by the roots of the shuinach, the wild llowering pear, and dwarf .j^van tree, and the still nterior, pnncipally |troiiger network of the roots of the giaut elms that enclose the cwood lite IS to l)t' |3];)j.e on all sides. On the south-west and east this valley is iheltered from the wind by a mountainous ridg(% through a winding and almost concealed gorge of which the river prcci- 'r)ilatcly issues, previously to its forming the biforcation that converts Elmsdale into an island. The house, which was built by the present proprietor's father, an American Loyalist, is a large commodious cottage of one story in height, covering a great deal of grouiul, and con- etruetcd after the manner of the German settlers on the Hudson, having long projecting eves, and an extensive, elongated range of buildings, protruding from the back part, devoted to the use of domestics and farm piu'poses, and which is eilectually concealed from view by an almost impenetrable icdge-rowof spruces. Two noble, primeval elms, at either side of tlie hall-door, rejoice in their native soil, and with their long, um- brageous, pendent branches, equally deny admission to the rain pnd sun. The interior of the house corresponds, to a great. iBxtont, with its outward appearance. The furniture is in Igeneral old, solid, and heavy, like that used in our former )tice, or have beoL ■:colonies before the rebellion, which contrasts oddly with an occasional article of lighter form and later and more fasaion- :able manufacture. Thev are tvnes of the old and the piesent Igeneration ; for, alas, it is to be feared that what has been igained in appearance has been lost in substance, in things of pir more value and importance. It is a place of great beauty lat all seasons of the year ; but;, in spring, wlien vegetation first kvhite is soniewha; Irlothes the mountains, and in autumn, when the frost tinges it rvAvhere surrouih; f\ith iiuiumerable hues before it disrobes it, it is preeminently :^o. The forest, to which you are attracted in siunmer by its- 'jgratet'ul shade, is rendered still more agreeable and cool by the liujucrous rapids and cascades of tlie river; and even winter. i passed the periuil ny. •t thought of t!u t unity of bccomiii;: of Mr Barclav, a Lccidentally becaiiu ndoned for a tinu nd i'rom thence td :)untry for a periuii 3f Anglo-Americaii 1 this continent i< 1 I was coiuluctoti iles from Halifax, 'd, a retired .Tudi^'. considt'rate kiiul- to see all that w;:.^ ny little points ii. their valuable ex- ligation of the In- insisting of about 1 white, after the ng decorated willi V board fences of uit and vegetabkv\ ill answer for aiiv being one of situ- e tlian beauty. \e the influence of ;e JSaudford. Tin I the centre of an drearv as it is everywhere in the counti-v, is here stripiied of i\^"ind its rigour by the barrier the hills present to the stormy To this hospitable and charming mansion I was so fortunate i 1.1 e THE OLD JUDGE; OR, as to bo invited by tlio .Tudiifo, at tlic aii i me, hut little to diversify the monotony of life ; hut the arrival <:iny the Jud^'e and the circuit hnvyers is no\vlool very good criterid;. DviiK'o. Tlie J'ciic! tlio talent and edii- V class iniippdiatclv mrv and trado.siiicii juxtaposition, am: vitli tlu3 otlior, wit!; tut ions in cliffercn* courts cstablisli(>(" Judges of which om the magistrate^ L^ratuitonslj. The d Avholly upon the f the Peace in the nrc conducted wit!; hers, they present- but, in all cas(>s. ole count3^ The air, Avhere people muse themselves, boxing, sinoldii;:; of various kinds, The temperance inal men as judges, o])le, have no less than without the ct is the improve- judieial establish- ni^nts. As nn illustration of tlio conditi(m of some of Ihoso Obuutv Courts in the olden time, tht» .Tud'j;(» related to nie the ftjlowiug extraordiiuiry story that occurred to himself: — Shortlv after my return froni FiUr.')pe, about forty years ago, I att('ii(h'(l the Westt'rn Circuit of the SupriMue Court, which tliBU tcriniuated at Aiuiapolis, and nMnaiue(l behind a tew days, ft from i'lymouth, to obtain TXv assistance in a cause which was to be tried in a day or two ill tiu5 county court at that place. The jmlges were at that period, as I have j)reviously observed, not protessional men, but mnL,Mstrates, and equally unable to administer law, or to pre- serve order; and the verdicts generally depct d(Ml more upon tfce (leclaiuatory powers of the hr.vyers than tlu» nuM-its of the ciuses. The distance was great — the journey bad to bo ])(M'- foriued on horseback — the roads were bad. the accomtnodation worse. I had a great repugnance to attend these courts under any circumstanct's ; aiul, besidc^s, had pr(>ssing engagements at home, I therefore declined accepting his retainer, which was the largest that at that time had ever been tcMid'-red to mo, and beg'jjcd to be excused. If the fee, he said, was too small to render it worth my while to go, be would cheerfully double it, for money was no object. Tiie cause -was om^ of great im- portance to his friend, ^Ir ^ohn Barkins, and of deep iutiMVst to the whole comnumity ; aiul, as the few lawyers that resided within a hundred miles of the place were engaged on the other Bide, if I did not go, bis unfortunate friend would fall a victim to the intrigues and injustice of his op])onents. In short, ho was so lu'gent, that at last I was prevailed ui)on to consent, and we set oft' together to prosecute our journey on horseback. Tlie agent, Mr AVillium llobins (who had the most accurato and capacious memory of any man I ever met), proved a most entertaining and atrreeable companion. He had read ti ijreat deal, and retained it all ; and having resided many years near Plvmouth, knew evervbodv, everv place, and everv tradition. Withal, he was somewhat of a hue^ourist. Pind- ing him a person of this description, ,]\y eurio>ity was ex- cited to know who and what he was ; and I put the question te him. ' " [ am of the same profession you arc, sir," he said. I immediately reined up. I I !■! -Jli -'it 10 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, " If that be the case," T ropHoii, " my good friend, you mi; try tlio cause yourself. I cannot consent to go on. The nr, thing tliat induced me to set out ^yith you was your asserti that every lawyer, ^vithin a hundred miles of Plymouth, \v retained on the other side." " Excuse me, sir," he said, " I did not say I was lawyer." " No," I observed, "you did not ; hut you stated you we: of the same iirofession as myself which is the same thing." "Not exactly, sir," h- said. "I am a wrecker. I a liloyds' agent, and live on tlie misfortunes of others ; so do y( When a vessel is wrecked, it is my business to get her oil", to save the property. When a man is entangled among i shoals or (piicksands of the law, your duty is similar. AV^e a' both wreckers, and, therefore, members of the same professic: The onlv ditl'erence is, you are a lawyer, and I am not." This al)surd reply removing all difficulty, we proceeded > our journey ; and the first night after passing throutjjh Die! reached Shingle Town, or Spaitsville, the origin of which, as i related it to me, was the most whimsical story I ever hear It is rather long for an episode, and I will tell it to you sor, other time. The next morning we reached Clare, a townsli wholly owned and occupied by French Acadians, the desceni ants of those persons who first settled at Port lioyal (as I ha- just related), and other joarts of the province into which tlk had penetrated, previous to the occupation of the English, will not trouble you with the melancholy history of the' people at present ; I only allude to them now on account ot little incident in our journey. As we appi'oached the chapi we saw a large number of persons in front of the priest's hous haviug either terminated or being about to commence a pr cession. As soon as Kobins saw them, he said, — " Xow I will make every man of that congregation take ( his hat to me." " How ? " " You shall see." He soon pulled up opposite to a large wooden cross that stnr by the way-side, and, taking olf his hat, bowed his head im- reverently and respectfully down to the horse's neck, and the: slowly covering again, passed on. W^hen we reached the crow every hat was lifted in deference to the devout stranger, \\\. had thus courteously or piously sainted the emblem of tlv faith. As soon as we had escaped the wondering gaze of t! people, he observed, — w in th ro ap pa th a 01 0( sp ag to of th in \l ui an he th Tl th hii as 8h hi tb ta wi of in m tl a fi OR, LIFE IX A COLONY. 11 good friend, you mi; it to go on. The or, ou vras your assort! ilea of Plymouth, u lid not say I was it you stated you we: s the same thins;." im a wrecker. I n 's of others ; so do y( less to get her oil", ■ entangled among t: ty is similar. AVe ;)• 3f tlie same profesisie: and I am not." ulty, we proceeded . assing throuu^h Di;:^ origin of which, as I al story I ever hear ill tell it to you sni: hed Clare, a townsli Lcadians, tlie descen Port Eoyal (as I ha- ivince into which tlu on of the Englisli. holy history of tho- 1 now on account of pproached the cha]> t of the priest's hoii> to commence a pr e said, — congregation take < ooden cross that stnr bowed his head iiii> orse's neck, and tlif we reached the crow devout stranger, -w! the emblem of tlv ondering gaze of t! " Tliero, lawyer, there is a useful lesson in life for you. TTe wbo respects the religious feelings of others, will not fail to win indulgence for his own." In the afternoon we arrived at Plymouth. As we entered the villai^e, I observed that the court-house as usual was sur- roundt'd bv a noisy multitude, some detached groups of which appeared to be discussing the trials of the morning, or antici- pating that which was to engross the attention of the public on the succeeding day. On the opposite side of tlie road was alari^e tavern, the hospitable door of which stood invitingly open, and permitted the escape of most agreeable and seducing odours of rum and tobacco. The crowd occupied and tilled the space between the two buildings, and presented a moving and agitated surface ; and yet a strong current was perceptible to a practised eye in this turbid mass, setting steadily out of the court-house, and passing slowly but constantly through the centre of this estuary into the tavern, and returning again in an (>ddy on either side. Where every one was talkiui]: at the same time, no indi- vidual could be heard or understood at a distance, but the united vociferations of the assembled hundreds blended together, and Ibruied the deep-toned but dissonant voice of that hv'dra- headed monster, the crowd. On a nearer ajiproach, the sounds that comj)osed this nnceasing roar became more distinguishal)l(\ The drunken man might be heard rebuking the profane, and the profane overwhelming the hypocrite ' itli opprobrium for his cant. Neighbours, rendered amiable by licpior, embraced as brothers, and loudly proclaimed their nnchaugeable friend- ship ; while the memory of past injuries, awakened into fury by tlie liquid poison, pla^Lnl others in hostile attitude, Avho hurled defiance and abuse at each other, to the full extent of their lungs or their vocabulary. The slow, measured, nasal talk of the degenerate settler from Puritanical New England was rendered unintelligible by the ceaseless and rapid utterance of the I'reuch fisherman; while poor Pat, bludgeon in hand, uproariously solicited his neighbours to light or to drink, and ^nerously gave them their o[)tion. Even the dogs caught the uifection of the place, and far aliove their masters' voices might occasionally be heard the loud, sharp cry of triumph, or the more shrill howl of distress uttered by these animals, who, with as little cause as their senseless owners, had engaged in a stupid conflict. A closer inspection revealed the groupings with more pain- ful distinctness. Here might be seen the merry, active ii;^i i t 12 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, Xegro, flapping his mimic wings and crowing like a cock token of defiance to all his sable bretliren, or dancing to t sound of liis own musical voice, and terminating every evoluti, with a scream of delight. There, your attention was arrested bv ferocious-looking savage, who, induced by the promise of liqu" armed with a scalpiiig-knit'e in one hand and a tomahawk the other, exhibited his terrific war-dance, and uttered his d moniac yells, to the horror of him who personated the victi: and suffered all the pangs of martyrdom in trembling ap[)i hension that that which had begun in sport might end reality, and to the infinite delioht of a circle of bovs, win morals were thus improved and coufinned by the conversuli and example of their fathers. At the outer edge of the thro: might be seen a woman, endeavouring to persuade or to i'or her inebriated husband to leave this scene of sin and shan and return to his neglected home, his family, and his duti^ Xow, success crowns her untiring exertion . and he yields : her tears and entreaties, and gives himself up to her gen: guidance ; when suddenly the demon within him rebels, and '. rudely bursts from her feeble but affectionate hold, andreturi shouting and roaring like a maniac, to his thoughtless ;i! noisy associates. The enduring love of the agonized woiii; prompts her again and again to renew the effort, until at l;i some kind friend, touched by her sorrows and her trials, leii her the aid of his powerful arm, and the truant man is led i. captive to what was once a happy home, but now a house destitution and distress. Tliese noises ceased for a moment , we arrived at the spot, and were superseded by a comma;. issued by several ])efsons at the same time. " Clear the road tliere ! jMake way Cor the gentlemen ! '' AVe had been anxiously expected all the afternoon, and 1. command was instantly obeyed, and a passage opened for : by the people falling back on either side of the street. As v passed through, my friend checked his horse into a slow wa, and led me with an air of triumph, such as a jockey dispLi in bringing out his I'avourite oil the course. Kobins was ;; important man that day, ITe had succeeded in his ir.issiii: lie had got his champion, and would be ready for fight the morning. It was but reasonable, therefore, he thouui to indulge the public Avith a glimpse at his man. He noddi familiarly to some, winked silly to others, saluted people at distance aloud, and shook hands patronisingly with those tli: were nearest. He would occasionally lao- behind a momeir and say, in an under but very audible tone — " Precious clever fellow that ! kSeea it all — says we are a. Pi th Bt( ta tir sb th thi th: lat of Co COl do ma isn are hei ma mo on ele ma evi BOf say tha sei; bin kin mu are ma an( ma elei -ii R, LIFE IN A COLONY. 13 )wing like a cock 1, or dancing to t lating every evolntii tion was arrested by the promise of liqui i and a tomahawlc , and uttered his d ersonated the victi in trembling appr sport might end circle of bovs, avIk . by the conversali er edge of the tln'o. persuade or to I'ur le of sin and shaii nnily, and his dutii on- , and he yields : elf up to her gen, lin him rebels, and late hold, andreturi his thoughtless a; the agonized woiii; le effort, until at ];i ; and her trials, leii truant man is led i , but now a house ased for a moment ;, cded by a comniai e. r the gentlemen ! " le afternoon, aiul t issnge opened for 3f the street. As v )rse into a sIoav wa. as a jockey displa rse. Kobins was ;; eeded in his ir.issic c ready for fight lerefore, he thouul. man. lie nodtk saluted people at ngly with those tli; i" behind a mo men (1 all — says we are a ri»ht-surc to win it! I wouldn't be in those fellows the plaintilf's skins to-morrow for a trille ! He is a powerful man, that ! " and so forth. The fu-st opportunity that occurred, I endeavoured to put a stop to this trumpeting. " ]\)r Heaven's sake," I said, "my good friend, do not talk siic-h nonsense; if you do, you will ruin me! I am at all times a dilUdent man, but, if you raise such expectations, 1 shall assuredly break down, from the very fear of not fuUUling them. 1 know too well the doubtful issue of trials ever to say that a man is certain of winning. Pray do not talk of me in this manner." '• You are sure, sir," he said. " AVhat, a man who has just landed from his travels in Europe, and arrived, after a journey of one hundred miles, from the last sitting of the JSupreme Court, not to know more than any one else ! Fudge, sir ! I congratulate you, you liave gained the cause! And besides, sir, do vou think that if William Eobins says he lias got the right man (and he wouldn't say so if he didn't think so), that that isn't enough? A\^hy, sir, your leather breeches and top-boots are enough to do the business! Nobody ever saw such things here before, and a man in buckskin must ki'ow more than a man in homespun. But here is ]Mrs Brown's inn; let us dis- mount. I have ]ir(Knii'ed a privaie sitting-room for }'oii, which on court-days, militia trainings, and times of town meetings or elections, is not very easy, 1 assure you. Come, walk in, and make yourself comfortable." ' AVe had scared v entered into our snuofcrerv, wh'ich was evidinitlv tlie landladv's own apartment, when the door was Boftly opened a few inches, and a beseeching voice was heard, saying — '■ Billy, is that him? If it is, tell him it's me; will you? that's a good soul ! " " Conie in — come in, old Blowlvunl!" said I\ol)ins ; and, seizing the stranger by the hand, he led him up, and introduced him to me. "Lawyer, this is Ca])ta'n John Barkins! — Captain Bar- kins, this is Lawyer Saiulfoi-d! He is our client, lawyer, and I must say one thing for him : he has but two faults,' but they are enough to ruin any man in this province; he is an honest man, and speaks the truth. I will leave you together now, and go and order your dinner for you." John J3arkins was a tall, corpulent, amphibious-looking man. that seemed as if he would be equally at home in eithrr element, laud or water. He held in his hand what he called a u THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, ii' nor'-wester, a large, broad-brimmed, glazed hat, with a po; projecting beliind to shed the water from oil' his club quci, which was nearly as thick as a luiwser. He wore a loi narrow-tailed, short-waisted blue coat, with large, white-plai buttons, that resembled iSpauish dollars, a red waistcoat, spotted Bandanna silk handkerchief tied loosely about ! throat, and a pair of volununous, corduroy trousers, of t colour of brown soap, over which were drawn a ]jair of fisli- men's boots, that reached nearly to his knees. J lis waistci and his trousers were apparently not npon very intimate ten: for, though they travelled together, the latter were taught feel their subjection, but, when they lagged too tar behii they were brought to their place by a jerk of impatience t'l throatened their very existence. He had a thick, matted In of black hair, and a pair of whiskers that disdained the elh: inacy of either scissors or razor, and revelled in all the c.\ berant and wild profusion of nature, llis countenance u much weather-beaten from constant exposure to the vicissituc of heat and cold, but was open, good-natured, and manly. ISi; was my client. He advanced and shook me cordially by t hand. " Glad to see you, sir," he said ; " you are welcome to P. mouth. ]\ly name is John Barkins ; I dare say you liave oft heard of me, for everybody knows me about these parts. A. one will tell you what sort of a man John Barkins is. Thii: me — that's my name, do you see ? I am a parsecuted iii;;. lawyer ; but i ain't altogether quite run down yet, neither. liave a case in court ; I dare say ]Mr lv(.)bins has told you of He is a very clever man is old Billy, and as smart a chap his age as you will see anywhere a'most. I suppose you ha often heard of him before, for evervbodv knows AVilli;. liobins in these parts. It's tlie most important case, sir, v\ tried in this countv. If I lose it, Blvmouth is done. Thcr- an end to the iisheries, and a great many of us are a gonig sell off and quit the country." I will not detail his cause to you in his own words, becau: it will fatigue you as it wearied me in hearing it. It posses- no public interest wliatever, though it was of some importaii to himself as regarded the result. It appeared that he ]i fitted out a large vi-ssel for the Labradore lishery, and tak' with him a veiy full crew, who were to share in the profits loss of the adventure. The agreement, which was a verbal vi was, that on the conqjletion of tlie voyage the cargo should sohl, and the net proceeds be distributed in equal portions, iv half to appertain to the captain and vessel, and the other k. to un me thf to Hi na an< me ma stil rou al( up as I jud In and put cho at a unf If! the he ( teU thai nev otfi sma ma( (an rigl Bai hioa u LIFE IN A COLONY. 15 ed hat, with a pe^ I olf his club quel. He "vvore a loi. ,h large, white-plat , a red waistcoat, d loosely about 1 iroy trousers, of t awn a ])air of iislii uees. His waists I very intimate ten: atter were taught j;on me again in the morning befoie Court, and bowed to him in a manner too significant to be misunderstood. He, however, still lingered in the room, and, turning his hat roiiml and round several times, examining the rim very carefully, as if at a loss to discover the front from the back part of it, he looked up at last, and said — ■ " Lawyer, I have a favour to ask of you." " What is it ? " I inquired. " There is a man," he replied, "coming agin me to-morrow as a witness, of the name of Lillum. He thinks himself a great judge of the tisheries, and he does know a considerable some, I must say; but, d him! I caught iish afore he was horn, and know more about fislung than all the Lilliims of Plymouth put together. Will vou just ask him one question? " "Yes, fifty, if you like." '"Well, I only want you to try him witli one, and that will choke him. Ask him if he knows ' how many 11ns a cod has, at a word.' " " What has that got to do with the cause ? " I said, with unfeigned astonishment. '"Everything, sir," he answered ; "everything in the world. If he is to come to give his o])inion on other men's business, the best way is to see if he knows his own. Tarnation, man ! he don't know a cod-fish when he sees it ; if he does, he can tell you ' how many fins it has, at a word.' It is a great catch that. I have won a great many half-pints of brandy on it. 1 never knew a feller that could answer that question yet, riglit otf the reel." He then explained to me that, in the enumeration, one small fin was always omitted by those who had not previously made a minute examination. "Xow, sir," said he, " if he can't cipher out that question (and I'll go a hogshead of rum on it he can't), turn him right out of the box, and tell him to go a voyage with old John Barkins — that's me, my name is John Barkius — ami he will larn him his trade. AVill you ask him that (piestion, lawyer ? " " Certainly," I said, " if you wish it." 11 ill '!i! i Mill iM I ■■Ihlj 1 C'lir'- ",l '■'I ■ flii' 10 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, " You will p^aiii tho day, then, sir," he continued, mi, elated ; " you will gain the day, theu, as sure as fate. Go' bye, lawyer ! " Wheu he had nearly reached the foot of the staircase, heard him returning, and, opening the door, he looked in a said — " You won't forget, will your — my name is John Barldi ask any body about here, and they will tell you who I am,: everyhody knows John Barkins in these parts. The ot! man's name is Lilluui — a very decent, 'sponsible-looking m. too ; hut he don't know everything. Take him up all sli ' How many tins has a cod, at a word ? " says you. If you i lay him on the broad of his back with tliat question, don't care a farthing if I lose the case. It's a great satisfief; to non plush a knowin' one that way. You know the qu tion?'^ " Yes, yes," I replied, impatiently. "I know all about i' " You do, do you, sir ? " said he, shutting the door beh: liim, and advancinLj towards me, and lookintj me steadilv ini face ; " vou do, do vou ? Then, ' how many tins has a cod, a word?'" 1 answered as he had instriu'ted me. " Gad, sir," he said, " it's a pity your father hadn't ma] iishernuin of you, for you know M»ore about a cod iu)W t'. any man in rjymouth but one, old John Barkins — that's i mv name is John Barkins. Evervbody knows me in tli parts. Bait your hook with that question, and you'll c, old J ii 11 urn. 1 know. As soon as he hac it in his gills, d: him right out ot* the water. Give him no time to phiy— with him, and whap him on the deck; hit him hard over i liead — it will make him open his mouth, and your hook ready ibr another catch." " Good night, Mv Ijarkins," I replied ; '• call on me in i morning. 1 am fatigued now." " (iood night, sir," he answered; "you won't forget?" Dinner was now announced, aiul my friend Mr Kobins ;r myself yat down to it with an excellent appetite. Hav; done ample justice to the good ch(\^r of ]\Irs Brown, and liii;> ed our wine, we drew up to the lire, which, at that si^ison the year, was most accei)table in the morning and evening, ;;: smoked our ciirars. Bobins had so many a'ood stories, a: told them so uncommonly well, that it was late before we : tu'cd to rest. Instead of being shown into the bed-rooiu had temporarily occupied for changing my dress before diiitt 1 was ushered into a long, low room, fitted up ou either s: w re it its la do ec he A BU an im pa mi ni^ a\ ou wh wh hn( bre {.? tioi but No eau the JOU] pos slui atte mul fellc how R, LTFI-: IX A COLONY. he continued, m\\ ^^^^ hcrihs^, with a loekor running]; round tlie base, and in all sure as fate. Go. rggpects, e.xci^pt the tikyli^^ht, resembling a cabin. Straii;j;e as it ap[)e:ired, it was in kfepiiiu; with the i)lcice (a llshiiii; port), )t of the staircase. -^ population, and the liabits of the people. Mm Jirowii, the lor, he looked ni a JanJlaJv, was the widow of a seafaring man, who had, no doubt, iitted up the chamber in this manner w'ith a view to ime is John Earkii g0oii,)ini/e room, and thus accommodate as many passengers (as 11 you who I am,; j.^ ^yonlJ dcsiirnate his friiests) as possible in this sailor's home, e parts. ilie ot. _A. hmq) hmig suspended from the ceiling, and aj)peariHl to be >onsible-looking in ike hiin up all sib says you. If you i ith that question, .t's a great satisfaet; You know the qu ' I know all about ;• ;ting the door hv\\: :infi: uie steadily in i flUpplird and trinuned for the night, so as to alVord easy access and e^a'css at all hours. It was almost impossible iu)t to imagine one's self at sea, on board of a crowded coasting- packet. Ivetreat was impossible, and therefore I made up my mind at once to submit to this whimsical arrangement for the night, and, having undressed myself, was about to climb into a vacant berth near the door, when some one opposite called out^ — father hadn't ma 1 bout a cod now t! 1 ]5arkins — that's i knows nie in tli on, and you'll c\. ;i it in his gills. " Lawyer, is that you ? " It was my old tormentor, the skipper. Upon ascertaining any tins has a cod, ^}^q jj- -^^-ij^^ }^Q iuimediately got out of bed, and crossed over to where I was standing, lie had nothing on but a red niglitcap, and a short, loose ciieck shirt, wide open at the throat and breast. JJe looked like a huge bear walking upon his hind- legs, he was so hairy and shaggy. Seizing me by the shoulders, he clasjx d me tightly round the neck, and whispered — '" ' How many fins has a cod, at a word ? That's the ques- tion. You won't forget, will you ? " " Xo," I said, " 1 not only will not forget it to-morrow, no time to play— but I shall recollect you and your advice as long as 1 live, it him hard over i Now let me get some rest, or I shall be unable to plead your h, and your Iiooa cause for you, as 1 am excessively fatigued and very drowsy." " Certainly, certainly," he said ; " turn in, but don't forget '• call on me in i the catch." It was some time before the hard bod, the fatigues of the 5U won't forget?" journey, and the novelty of the scene, permitted me to com- friend Mr llobins s.poie myself for sleep ; and just as I was dropping olf into a nt appetite, ll-av. sluhihcr, I heard the same unwelccme s6unds— Mrs Brown, and lini; :^' Lawyer, lawyer, arc you asleep ? " ich, at that si>ason ll ailed ed not to he;rr him, and, after another ineflectual ning and evening, :v.at1|mpt on his ])art to rouse me, he desisted ; but i heard him my good stories, a:iui|fctcr to himself — as late before we : . v" Plague take the sarpent ! lie'll f;)i-get it and lose all : a into the bed-rooiiifeller that falls asleep at the he'ni, ain't lit to be trusted no y dress before dinu^hoW." .ed up ou either b. -I was not doomed, however, to obtain repose upon such ' 'Ml ! m 18 THE OLD Ji:UGE ; OR, oasy torms. The skipper's murmurs Imd sfnrocly (lied .iwavl uIh'U ci J''roiU'li lislicrnmii from St .Mary's Jiay I'Mtcrcd tlic^l J room, aud, stuiubliui,' over my saddle-baL^s, which he anathu mati/cd iu bad Freuch, l)ad i''u'j^lisli. aud in a hini^uaL;!; coin.! pouudi'd of both, aud ('ud)c'llished witb a few words of IndiaLJ origin, he ealled out loudly — " CeU'st.iue, are you here ? " This iuterrof^^atory was responded to by another from thtl uppei' end of the room — '• Is that you, J3aptiste ? Which way is tlie wind ? " X or -nor -west. (I rv a III pn 1] Then 1 unist sail for Halifax to-morrow." "W^hile J>aptiste was inidressiug, an o])eration which wa^ soon perforuied (with the exception of the tiuie lost in ])ulliiH olf an obstinate and most intractal)lo pair of boots), tliefollo^vj ill,;- absurd conversation took ])hu'e. l.'pon hearing the wor. llalifac (as he called it), j^aptiste expressed great horror i llie ])lace, and especially the red devils (the soldiers) wit which it was infested. He said the last time ho was there, i; h his own words, " I answer hiui, ' What the devil is that t YOU ? ' and ran olf so fast as mv leirs wonld carry me, ai: faster too ; but the villain knew tlie way better nor me, ai. just stuck his ' bagoinit ' right into my thigh, ever so far ;. one inch. Oli ! " said Baptiste (who had become excited 1 the recollection of the insult, and began to jump about tL i floor, making a most yillanons clatter with the half-drov boot.) " Oh ! I was very mad, yovi may depend. I could lur nnirder him, 1 was so vexi'd. C .i ! I was so tl mad, 1 i;. | straight olf to the vessel without stopping, and — jumped rii; into bed." Celestine expressed great indignation at snch an nnprovokr | and cowardly assault, and advised him, if ever he caught tb soldier again, alone and unarmed, and had his two growii-i sons, Lewis and Uominiipie, with him, to give him a son: | drubbing, and then weigh anchor, and sail right out of t :| harbour. He congratulated himselt^ liowever, that if t J soldier had run the point of his bayonet into his friend, he li lately avenged it by making a merchant there feel the point T Ell ivj; }h da\ he at as iiiv Ijfu the grc. kiio the! tinn a cu and iron Riu and are bet ify( "I. i'or 1 any pai't an e wliii. iner the sinal aboL drop clea] LI IT. IN A COLONY. 10 a laiiLrunLTc c'()ii,..1 id — ^jumped v\^..- rive him a soui| a joke that was equally sharp, and penetrated deeper. Tfchad j)iiivhas('d iLi;oods, he said, of a trader at Halifax ipoii tliis e\- preiss ])r()iinsi' — "]f you will trust ine this s|)riiiLr, I "^viH P''»y you last fall. The iiurchant," lie observed, '"lliou,i,dit 1 was lalkinof bad Enu'li^l'- hut it is very good English ; aiul when last I'all i-onies airaiu. 1 will kee}) my word and ])ay him, but not till then. Don't he hope he nuiy get his monev the dav betore yester- immediately called, and the jury placed in the box. Previou? to their being sworn, I in([uired of Barkins whether any o: them were related to the plaintilfs, or had been known to ex{)iv>< an opinion adverse to his interests ; for if such Avas the case, i: was the time to challenge them. To my astonishment, 1, immediately rose and told the judges he challenged the whok jury, the bench of magistrates, and every man in the housc.- a deliance that was acc()mj)anied by a menacing outstretclu ! arm and clenched list. A shout of laughter that nearly shoo!; the walls of the building followed this violent outbreak Nothing daunted by their ridicule, however, he returned t' the charge, and said, " I repc^at it ; I challenge the whole of you, if you dare ! " Here the Court interposed, and asked him what he mean; by such imlecent behaviour. "Meant!" he said, "I mean what I say. The straii- lawyer here tells me now is m^^ time to challenge, and I claii my right ; I do challenge any or all of you ! Pick out any i:i: present you ])lease, take the smartest chaj) you've got, put i;- both on board the same vessel, and I challenge him to catc! spit, clean, salt, and stow away as many lish in a day as I ca;. — cod, ])()lluck, shad, or mackerel ; I don't care which, for il- all the same to me ; and I'll go a hogshead of rum on it I In;:; him ! A\nil any man take up the challenge ? " and he tunu slowly round aud examined the whole crowd. " You wou : I LIFi: IX A COLOW* 21 nn ant i format io, as lively as ^ I saw he was a the kind in the ' lie asked, with . ) taste of your sle of Siible eolt. I years ! AVell. i; hokliii^f back li:- he returm-d tl,' she W(>iit, slouly }j him ! he's oiil;. in't even lit for ir!" le to the eourt- The panel \v;!> i box. Previ()b> whether any o: \nown to expiT>< 1 Avas the ease, i: istonishnient, h enged the whuk in the house- inji outstretclitv lat nearly shool: iolent outbreak., he returned tj if you dare ! " what he nieaii;^ V. The strani:^^ iij;e, and 1 elaii:. ick out any in:r., lu've got, put ^e him to eatclil a day as 1 cai:| e whieh. for it'."! rum on it I he;i: and be tunu :| " You wouij hvoii't you ? T gues^ not ; you know a trick wortli two (if that, 1 reckon! Tlicre, lawyer, there is my eliallenge; now go o n wi th t: le cause \l As soon as order Avas restored the jury were sworn, anil tlie laiiititfs coinisel opened his case and called his witnesses, the ist of v.hom was Mv liillum. '•That's him!" said IJai'kins, piiitiiig both arms round my llieek and nearly choking me, as he whis[)ered, *' Ask him ' Iiow hiiauv iins a cod has, at a word r'" 1 now stood up to eross- [examine him, wIumi I was again in the skipper's clutches. Don't forget! the (piestion is . . . ." •• If you do not sit dcnvn innnediately, sir," I said, in a loud ami authoritative voice (for the scene had become ludi- cniiis), ''and leave me to conduct the cause my own way, i itiliall retire from the Court! " lie sat down, and, groaning audibly, put both hands before [his face and nmttered, — " There is uo dependence on a man tliat sleeps at the lielm!" 1 conunenccd, howevei', in the way my poor client desired : [for I saw ])lainly that he was more anxious of what he called Btuinping old Lilluiu and nonplushing him, than al)oiit the re- iBult of his trial, although he was lirmly convinced that the one depended on the other. '• ILow many years have you been engaged in the Labrador fisher V, sir ? " '' Twenty-five." '■' You are, of course, perfectly conversant with the cod- fishery ? " '■ Perfectly, I know' as much, if not more, about it than any. man in Plymouth." Here J ^su-k ins pulled my coat, and most beseechingly said, — " Ask iiim " " Be (piiet, sir, and do not interrupt me ! " was the con- solatory reply he received. '' Of course, then, after such long experience, sir, you know a cod-fish when you see it ? " "I should tliink so ! " •' That will not do, sir. AYill you swear that you do ? " "I do not come here to be made a fool of! " " Nor I either, sir ; I require you to answer yes or no. "Will you undertake to swear that you know a cod-llsh when you see it ? " " I will, sir." i ;, i ill 1 i I'l '^i ! .; :h I ' ^! Ji !'! 22 Tin: OLD .irDGE ; OR, IForo Barkins roso and struck the 1:)1)1(> \\\\\\ lila (ist a blow Ihat ncaily split it, and, tuiaiiui; to iiu', said, — • Ask liiiii ....'' Silt nci', sir ! 1 a irain V( •cit'cratcd. Let tluM'c 1)1' 110 on inistakr."' I coiit iiiiicd. " I will repeat tlu> (piestion. Do \ uiidei'take to swear that voii know a coil-iish when \(»ii st v itr*' '* I do, sir, as wi'll as I know iiiv own naiiu^ when T see it." '* Then, sir, how many tins has a cod, at :i Wdrd r " Here the blow w;is ijiven, not on the deal slab of the table, but on niv I)aek, with sueh force as to throw mo forward (»ii my two hands. ''Ay, lloor blin ! " said 7]arkiiis, '"let him answer that question! The lawyer has yon thei'c! How many liiis has a coil, at a woi'd, yon old sculpin r " " I can answer von that withont hesitation." 'Mlow many, tlien r " " L(>t me sec- throe on the back, and two on the belly, that's live ; two on the nape, that's seven ; and two on tin shoulder, that's nine. ,Niiie, sir ! " "INlissed it, by (~Josh!" said iJarkins. "Didn't I tell you so? I knew he couldn't answer it. And yet that fellow has the impudence to call himself a lisherman!" Here I recjuesti'd the Court to interfere, and compel my mifortunate and excited client to be silent. '•Is there not a small iin beside?" . ^aid, '•between tlu' nuder jaw and the throat ? " " I believe there is." " You believe ! Then, sir, it seems yon are in doubt, ami that you d(j not know a cod-fish when you see it. You may go ; I will not ask yon another question. Go, sir! but let nic advise you to be more careful in vour answers for the future." There was a nniversal shout of laughter in the Court, and Barkins availed himself of the momentary noise to slip his hand under the table and grip me by tlie thigh, so as nearly to sever the ilesli from the bone. ••Bless your soul, my stout fresb-Avater fisb ! " be said; "yon have gained the case, after all! Didn't I tell yon he couldn't answer tbat qnestion ? It's a great, great catch, isn't it?" The plaintiffs bad wbolly foiled in their proof. Instead ot contenting themselves with showing the voyage and their ser- vices, from which the law would have presumed an assumpsit to pay wages according to the ordinary course of business, anil •4 lc;i tip( a t to tn no Iki' 11]) thi COI ad .i'" aft asli C(l. pr. wli ]f lea ]VJ dul snu thi dis by re 11 jucl ten out he[ to we soi: fill' thi nil hel (H'l uf lllllii I.TTK I\ A (OI.ONV. 23 1 hia fist a blow on tlio Lelly. iiid two ou tin loavinix the (lt'fiMiil;iui to y.vttsr tlial tlic .'iL^'rconuMii was ii titu'cial one, tluw attfinplcd to j)n)Vo too iiiucli, l»y cstahlislun;^ M iit'uativi': and, in tloini; so, made nut, a siiHu-icut (U'ti'iUH' lor Jiarkiiis. Kiiowiiii; liow much tlopi'iidt'd upon tlio last addn'ss totlu' jiifv. when tlu'jiidujo was iiicompclt'iit to direct or con- trol llirir drrisioii, I closi'd on tlio |)laiiil itl"s case, and callod 110 witnesses. The jury were iut'orined hy the jud^e. that, liavini,' noA heard the ease on the part ot' the |)laintiirs and also on the i)art ol' the dot'cndants, it was their duty to make up their minds, and lind a M'rdiet tor one or the other. i\rt(>r this verv ahh\ intellictiiy the acidity of the wine by taking a glass of clear brandy (which I call the naked truth) between eveiy two of Madeira. Ah, here is the brandy, lawyer 1 Your very good health, sir — pray help yourself; and, ^Ir. Protho- nolary, here's better manners to you in future, ^eniores irriorcs, sir, that's the rule." J I ere the constable knocked at the door, and announced that the jury were in attendance. " Don't rise, j\lr iSamlford," said the judge ; " let them wait: haste is nt)t dignitlcul. Help yourself, sir; this is very good brandy. I always like to let them appear to wait upon me, in- stead of their thinking I wait upon them. AVHiat with the prothonotary treading on my toes and the jury on my heels, 1 have enough to do to preserve the dignitx of the Ccmrt, I assure you. Jjut Tcnipus j)rti'i('yh(hctur est, as we used to say at Cam- bridge, ^'assachuselts ; that is, John Adams, senior, and our class, for I was contemporary with that tidented and distin- guished — ahem — stingy rebel! Help yourself, sir. Come, I won't leave any of this aqua vifce for that thirsty ])rothonotary. There, sir," he said, smacking his lips with evident delight, "there is the Jhiis and his J/ne. Now let us go into court. But give me your arm, sir, for 1 think I feel a slight twinge of that abominable gout. A dreadful penalty that, that Nature assesses on gentility, iiut not so fast, if you please, sir ! true dignity ddights in otiinn, or leisure; but abhors neqot in m, or hurry. Haste is the attribute of a ])rothonotary, who writes, talks, and drinks as fast as he can, but is very unbeciiiiingthe gravity and iii'ijesty of the law. The gait of a judge should be slow, stately, nnd solemn. But here we are, let us take our respective seats." As soon as we made our ap])earaiice, the tumultuous wave of the crowd rushed into the court-house, and. Purging backward and ft)rward, gradually settled down to a level and trancpiil surface. The panel was then called over, and the verdict read uloud. It was for the defendant. ! :!!|i"''' LIFE IX A COLO^Y or lentlcman to ar he knew liat a cod was, and yet couUln't tell how many lliis it had, .it JB word! Who would have thought that milkst)p of a lawyer would have done so well ? He actually scared me when 1 Jirst saw him; for a fellow tliat smokes cigars instead of a ])ipe, jiriiiks red ink (port wine) ine-tcad of old Jamaiky, and has a air of hands as white as the belly of a Hat fish, ain't worth his ap, ill a general way. Jlov.'sumdever, it don't do to hang a ellor for his looks, after all, that's a fact; for tluit crittur is ike a singed cat, better nor he seem_ . ]Jut, come, let's liipiorl" I ditl not see him again till the evening, when he came to Congratulate me upon having done the handsomest thing, he aiil, as everybody allowed, that ever was done in Plymoulh,— liown the greatest lisnerman in it (in his own conceit) that ho idii't know a cod-iish when he saw it. '• It was a great catch that, lawyer," ho continued, and ho aiscd me up in his arms and Avalked round the room with me s if he were carrying a baby. " Hou't forget it, ' How many lis has a cod, at a word?' Yaw never need to wanL a half- liit of brandy \vhile you have that fact to bet upon !" ihe next day I left Plymouth very early in the morning. iVluii I descended to the door, I fouiul both Kobins and Bar- iiis there, and received a hearty and cordial I'arewell from both f them. The latter entreated me, if ever i came that way '^^ igain, to tavoiir him with a visit, as he had some capital .la- ; luiica fortv vears old, and would be <2;lad to instruct me in the ^ lahits ot lish and tishermen. ; " I will show you," he said, " how to make a shoal of maek- : M'cl follow vour vessel like a i)ack of donfs. 1 can tell voii how s ;u make them rise from the bottom of the sea iu thousands, \>. :l ■ '(''If !ii 4 lili . i! iiiiiili i ': 2G THE OLD JUDGE ; OK, 1 wlien common folks can't tell tlier(3 is one there, and tlien Ikiw to I'eed nncl coax them away to the very spcit you want to take them. I will show you how to spear shad, aiul how to strib the fattest salmon that ever was, so that it will keep to i^o to the l"'ast Indies; and I'll larn you how to smoke herrings with- out drvin' them hard, and tell vou the v.'ood and the ve^etahL v that give them tl;e highest flavour; and even them cussed, dm good-for-nothing all-wives, I'll teach you liow to cure them ^ you will say tluy are the most delicious fish you ever tasted iii all your life. 1 will, upon my soul! And now, before you I want you to do me a good turn, lawyer. Just take this litt silver flask, my friend, to remember old John Barkins bv, whin he is dead and gone, and when people in these parts shall say whci you in(piire after him, that they don't know such a man as oi John Barkins no more. It is a beautiful article. I found it in the pocket of a ca])tain of a Spanish privateer that boanki! my vessel, and that I hit over the head with a handspike, sn hard that he never knew what hurt him. It will just suit vou, for it only holds a thiudjle-full, and was made a purpose fc: fresh-water ilsli, like Spaniards and lawyers. Good-bye! Gin; bless you, sir! A fair wind and a short passage to you !" I had hardly left the door, before I heard my name shoutc': after me. " ]Mr. Sandford ! — lawyer! lawyer...." It was (dd Barkins. I anticipated his object ; I knew i: was his (dd theme, — " Lawyer, don't forget the catch, ' IIow many fins has a cod at a word?'" CIIAPTEU III. ASKING A GOVERNOR TO DINE. The arrival of an English steamer at Halifax, and the lam' ing of a Governor-general for Canada, have formed an :i ■ engrossing topic of conversation duriiigthe past week at llliut' Jn the winter season, when but few vessels enter the port, ai: during the j)eriod that intervenes between seed-time and lini' vest, when the operations of agriculture are wludly suspended ])olitics are ably and am])ly discussed, and very sapient cdi jectures formed as to the future, iu those interesting- and val'- J LIFE IN A COLONY. 27 ', nnd thon liow )ii ^vallt to take! (I how to strike keep to jj;o to! ' horrinjjjs Avilli- 1 the voi;('t:ihl(> em cu;^i>e(l, dry. to cure them >> u ever tasted in , before you cjo. fc take this lilil' arkiiis l)y, "svlu n ts sliall say when ich a man as (i!i:. cle. I tVmml it !er that hoardcii a handspike, sn ill jnst suit you, e a purpose lor jrood-bye ! G^k e to you !" ly name shoiite-; ject ; I knew i: ly fins has a cod I ;e. 5 ix, and the laiv!' formed an a!.' week at llliiui CM" the port, an: Ml-time and liaf' holly suspendtv, LMW sapient coi' sting and vaiii' hlc normal schools for statesmen — the debating societies, averns, blacksmiths' shops, tap-rooms, nud the sunuy and heltered corners of the streets. Erery one, liowever humble is station may be, is uncommonly well-informed on allairs of tate. A man who can scarcely patch the tattered breeches of atriot, can mend with great facility and neatness a constitu- ioii, and he who exhibits great awkwardness in measuring few yards of riband manifests astonishing skUI in handling lie measures of a government. Irdeed. ])rovincials liavc a atural turn for political economy, as tiie Gerniansand Italians lave for music; and it iti the principal source of amuseiuent 1 they possess. If Lord John H'lssell were to spend an evening at the pub- fiic room of the Exchange in this town, he would find such Dpics as the corn-laws, free trade, responsible governm(Mit, and cpi'al of the union, disposed of to his entire satisl'acti(tn, in a iianner so lucid, so logical and conclusive, that he could not Ifail to be botli astonished and edified. He would be convinced ithat the Ccdonial OlUce should be removed IVom Downing l^treet, London, to Shark Street, Blueberry Scjuare, Illinoo, ,tv\lu're th(n'e are master minds capable of directing, reconciling, land advancing the complicated interests of a vast and ])opulous lenipire. To such a zealous statesman discussions of this kind ould, no doubt, be exceedingly interesting ; but, as they are 00 deep and difficult for my comprehension. I prefin* listening the graphic, though rather ascetic, " Sketches of Life in a iColonv," by my friend Barclay : — IB • '' a.' ^ • Two such important and sinudtaneous arrivals, sir, he said, s those of a steamer and a Governor, always create great in- ercst in this country— the one for wonders achieved, and the Jollier ibr wonders to be performed. Indeed, they are so idi'ii- ititicd one with the other, that the reception and fiu'ewell they ■scverady receive are precisely similar. The ap])roa(di of both is regarded with intense curiosity, and witnessed with gi\'at Sanxiety by the whole population, on account of the novcdties 'they are expected to bring witli them ; and both the great ^liip land the great man depart so noiselessly and so quietly, as not ieveii to disturb the dulness of that drowsy town Ilalifav, for, al;is! their sojourn here is a tale that is told. The formal landing and final embarkation of a (jlovernor present s'"ch a Biugular contrast, tliat they are well worth describing. As soon as it is known that this high functionary is on aboard, all tlie little world of Halifax rush with impetuous haste, llike a torrent, into AV'ater Street, and i'rom thence through a narrow passage like an arched tunnel, down an abrupt declivity. 1!W- in! '1 1. 1 i' 'iliiiii I > 'I I'll ;iiiii ^i 2S THE OLD judge; OR, to a loiifij, ii.irrow, diiiirv, and unsafe wlinrf, the oxtreniitv of' out Avhicli is covered (with the exeeption of a footrf>li' of ab nine feet wide) Ly a h)\v miserable shed, tliat is (ii> discovering some blot in his escut- cheon, or some fail lu-e in his conduct wherewith to vilify or I abuse him hereaft(M'; for such is tlu; 7-(>source only of low and ^ignoble minds. J^ut, alas! colonial addresses are connnonly I but unmi^auing compliments, and the ])romi,ses of support they contain are always accompanied by a nuMital reservation that a ^valuable e(piivalent is to be rendcMHMl in return. As soon as ho |fliuls it n(>eessary to call for fh(» fullihuent of this voluntary jengagennMit, he finds to his astoiiishnu'iit that this harmonious laud happy people are dividiMl into two pai'ties, GonsiM'v.alives |and (rreat Liberals. AVh.at that tiM'm Conservatism means, I klj not exactly know; and it is said that in England Sir liubert 80 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, ''■I ,: = i .'li Peel is tlie only iri.in tliat does. ]>ut in a colony it wonltl yn; zle that wily and canieleonrlike politician even to conjecture i- Hi^iiificalioii. .1 lake it, liowever, to be an abandonment of li .- j)i'iiici[)le, and the .substitution of expediency in its place; reliiKpiisbiuent of any j)ohtical creed, and the adoption (;t' slidin<;-scale whereby tenets rise or fall according to })opu];. j)ulsation. (ireat Jiiberalisni, on the other hand, is better in derstood, for it is as ancient as a r{>[)ul)lic. It I'csts in tluNii on universal suflVage and equal ri;L^hts ; but in 2)ractice exhilji: the exchision and tyranny of a niajoi'ity. The real objects of these two auiiable and attractive parti, are so well masked under higli-sounding words and specioi;| professions, that the limited period of gubernatorial rule genei'ally half ex})ired betore a sti'auger understands theiil AVhen, at last, he attempts to re. oncile these conflicting factioii' and to form a mixed goverinuent, that shall comoine all t'l., great interests of the country, the Conservatives inform him.;. very moderate and temperate language, and with nnich cdi j)lacency, that they are both able and willing to govern the [ir vince themselves, the ])rosperity of which has b(>en greatly ip vanced by their sound and judicious policy. They adnut tli they have confeia-ed several important appointments of W upon their own relatives, but entreat him to believe that aliii: ty never entered into their consideration ; for, as they are ti Lest qualilied themselves to form an adnunistralion, so ;!'; their connexions the most suitable for public oilices. At tl same time, they proclaim their extreme anxiety to carry ol liis views, and promote the peace and harmony of the count n and, as a proof of the great sacrifice they are willing to niak oifer to him n resignation of one seat at the council-boai which is attended with great labour and unaccompanied by ni remuneration, and also one legal appointment, to which fi large salary of eighty pounds sterling a-year is attached. The Great Liberals, on the other hand, with a vast displ of learning (for they have some distinguished jurists amoL them), treat him to a long dissertation on the British Coibt tution, the ])rinciples of which they have derived, with inlinr industry ami research, from the notes of an American edirn' of '' Blackstoue's Connnentaries," and inform him that tlu are ready to take olHce, if he will turn out all the present il cumbents for their benefit, or create an equal number of situ tions of ecjuivalent value, to support them while thus enga'];' in their disintei'ested laboiu's for the public good. They frank state to him that work requires food, that they are sturdy im. aud have a good appetite, and, moreover, that bread and hoiie 1.1 FE IX A COLONY. 31 jny it would pii/.j to coujei'tuiT indoiinu'iit of i in its ])1.1L'C ; . lie adoption (if , Di'ding to popul;,: md, is bettor ui It rests iu theor jl L practice cxliibi: " attractive parti; rds and specidi .'rnatorial rulr ., idei'stands tlici: i)nilictinij;t:icti()i:' I coin.)ine all ti.. ves intbrin hiiii.L -1 ^vith much cd! to govern the pr s been m-reatly a- They admit llr )intments of la: K'lieve that aliln, ^, as they are tl listralion, so a: c olllces. At tl., iety to carry oi- y of tlie counti'v | l) willing to innk'ii he council-hoaivl ?ompanied by :u Mit, to which ti s attached, ith a vast displ;; ;| ed jurists ainot. le British Const- ived, with inlini: American ediiii 1 him that tlu dl the present ii nund)er of situs | Idle tlius engiip- [)od. They frank y are sturdy nii\| ; bread and hoiiej [will not appease their hunger. ]Ie thoi'efore linds himself, to liis ania/A'iii'.'ut. in what the Amei-icaus witli some humour, but jiiioi'c ('l('L;:nu'i', call '' a considerable fix." \)\\\ this is a painful subject, and 1 will not pursue it. foi' 1 J]ki\(' nothing in connnon with either Conservatism or (Jreat ! Jidx'i'alism, Avhich 1 believe to be mei'e modilieations of the Ipjuiie thing. 1 have done with polities long since. AViien I [did thiidc or talk of them, 1 belonged to a j)arly now nearly [extinct in these colonies - tlie good old 'J oiy ])ai"ty, the best, Itlie truest, the most attached and loyal subjects her ^Majesty level- had. or ever will have, in JS'orth America. 'J'here ar(> only la few of them now survi\ing, and they are old and inlii-m nu'u. hvith shattered constitutions and broken hearts. They have I ceased to recruit, or evi>n to nuister, for several years ; for who Kvould enlist in a body that was doomed to ine\ itahle marlyr- Idoiii. amid the iiulilR'rence of their frieiuls and the derision cd' [llieir I'uemies r Hunted and ])ersecuted by rebels and au'itators, jtliev were slnuuefully abamloned to theii- cruel fate by those for [wliDin they had l"ought and bled, and whole hecatombs of them iWere at diil'erent times olfered up as a sacrifice to appease the sanguinary wrath of the inlidel deities of sedition. Of late, they have enjoyed comparative repose, i'or they have neither inllueiice nor numbers now to render them objects of proscrij)- [tiou or insult. Let us, however, throw a mantle over these jdis^iistiug ulcers in the body politic, and anuise ourselves by jpliooting Folly as it ilies. J^et us pass oxer tlR> intervening ; space of the (governor's rule. I liave described to you his llanding; we will now proceed to the wharf again, witness his I embarkation for his native land, and mark the agreeable change. The steamer has arrived from Boston cii roalc for J'^ngland. She has no passengers for Halifax; and a few bagmen and a subaltern or two, whom nobody knows, are the only jiersons to be taken on board. ^I'lie rabble are not there, the Governor's jKitronage has been small, and he has not been able to find olllces for every applicant. The naked have not all been clolhed, and many of the hungry liave been sent emj)ty away. Tliey have seen him continually; he is no longer a novelty; his day is past, his power is gon(% and tlu>y liave now nothing to hope or receive from his bounty, and nothing to fear or en- dure from his disap[)robation. (1 roups of gentlemen and ladies, gay carriages containing many a familiar face, heads of de[)art- nu'iits, and the respectable part of the community (many of whom are personal friends, and warmly attached to him), occupy the wharf, which now appears to atford suillcient s{)ace for the purpose. Instead of the noisy and vulgar cheer with which he m "ml on THE OLD JUDGE; OR, 'III ii iiljl I I 'Mil! ! I •Uiilml'' Avas rocoivcd, the tremulous voice, tlie starting tear, the silent but eloquent pressure of the hand, couvinee liiiii that, it'he liaaj not received all the support that was so spontaneously and in- sincerely ottered to him, he has secured more of atfection audi regard tlian he could have expected in so short a time; audi that his lionest endeavours to benefit the country have bi'eii duly appreciated by all thosj whose good opinion is wortli having. Such is the usual course of events here; but sometimes the same idle and turbulent crowd attend a Governor at his eui- barkation tliat honoured his arrival, and wlien that is the case. and they form his exclusive escort, he has good grouiuls tor self-examination, and he nuiy, with propriety, ask himself what he has done to deserve such a degradation. Considering a (xovernor, apart from his political opinions, as the iiead of society at Halifax, it is amusing to liear the in- (piiries and conjectures as to the pr()bal)le manner in Avhich iu- will receive his guests, or wiiether he will contract or eulai> the circle of people to be admitted at the palace. There is in little anxiety among the maiinnas, to know whether he is mar- ried or single, and who the persons are that compose his stall. The young ladies are not less interested in ascertaining whether he is likely to enliven the tedium of winter by giving balls, for, 3n this important subject, the practice has not been uniform. Tratlition has preserved, and atfection has cherished, the memory of dear old Groveruor Lawrance, who lost his life iu the service of the fair sex, by over-exertion iu attempting ii fuliil a vow to dance with every young lady in the room. For this voluntary martyrdom, he has been very properly canon- ized, and St Lawrence is now universally considered as tlii' patron saint of all jVova Scotia assemblies. Among another class, there is an equally important inquirv: Will he dine out? On this point also, as on the other, thcr. are many conilicting precedents, from Governor Parr, whu^ preferred dining anywhere to being at home, to his Excellency j Governor Iin-irAr, who, iu my opinion very properly, dined uo-| where but at home. As the distributor of rank and patronage and the arbiter of fashion, the course to be adopted by one] who is to administer the affairs of the country for five years is a matter of great importance to people who ai'e desirous of ac- quiring a position in society ; for, until recently, any personj Avhom a Governor countenanced by accepting his nivitation, be- came thereby a sort of honorary member of the higher class. My attention was first directed to this peculiarity manvj years ago, iu the time of Sir Hercules Sampsou. A merchautj I jiropose I Cha , to coun g 1 IlL'V W( i lived in the con Ciiannii <'f lier a llian lie. ;«| ctjually : I jii'cat go ible as.si royal pa ' It w; i^ipnrchei j^vcll as 1 fand dre; I curtains ilijoutvi'U lilvery co |repeated, fatigued, ing-room liiieut of appeared lid not s ^fliers, at Ii verted 3Pa^-y anc pat made 51' the Go Iu tho LIFE IX A COLONY. 33 I the silent t, if he luis I sly and in- lection tiiiiij time ; and have hiTu! )ii is worth i iietimos the ' at his em- is the case, :i;rouiuls tor uiiself what 'al opinions, hear the in- iu v.hicli Ik' t or eiilar-v There is ii'^ ;r he is mar- ose his stall', ling whether ng balls, tbr, ;n iinitbriu. icrished, the t his life iu tempting tu ^ room, ^^'-{i )erly canon- li ered as tk ^antinqnirv; other, thciv Parr, whu Is Excellency ]y, dined uo- Id patronage ]pted by one| iive years is'' lifirous ot ac-| any person! Lvitation, he- L;her class, [iarity many] A mere haul I of the name of Chanuing, who liad b(\gun life witli a small jiro- ])crtv, wliicli, hy great industry, and a long course of uj)right and honourable dealing, he had increased into a large fortune, was verv anxious that the (jrovcruor should impress the Tower mark of his a])probation upon himself and his silver by dining with him. He had looked forward to this period with nuicli auxietv for many years, and had built a large and commodious house,* which he tilled Avith I'ich and expensive furniture. I'pon the arrival of Sir Hercules, he waited npon him with slow and hesitating ste})s, and, according to the usual etii[uette, solicited the honour of his dining with him, and naming a time ;>r that purpose. The Governor, who was a considerate, kind- liearted, affable old man, readily acceded to his wishes, and proposed that day week for conferring happiness npon him. Chamiing returned, with a lighter heart and quicker pace, TO coiunnmicate the overpowering news to his agitated wife. They Avcre an affectionate and domestic couple, and had always lived in perfect seclusion. Great were tlie fears and many the conferences that preceded this eventful day. Poor 3Lrs I'lianuing was lost in a wea of dotd)ts and perplexities. None jewellery, was quite overpo\\ering to the timid and ujiaccuston; ed senses of poor Mrs Channing. The Governor was a tall, gannt, iron-framed man, with ;r erect and military bearing, that appeared to increase a statin naturally disproportioned. His head was bald; the baud c ■'t ami f lliiiii, •was [pure rt |cliiiiate lof 8ir pnd be; httle oi 'ither i : thctt," i " thixt} I v\ ith h( I va.s ag: f'vident i'i\ not ft air w, Iwonld |)ivttyl Lor( lan in "'^^j;iL LIFE IN A COLONY. TimP, f>i* of t'.ic Philistine woman lus wife, liavini^ removed hi.s hair, which ii f^iua 11 )raisi; u )()U liiiii, Jlc uas tall, raliuT sli'-ht, irraccrul remarkably well <;()t up, and had an air ot'lashion and clt'. tache and an imperial of tlie most approved form andimexcept- ionabk; colour. Jlis pale complexion gave tlie idea of apot'tical turn of mind. Jlis forehead Avas hi evident that the brilliancy of his eyes arose from their peculinr texture, and not from that which usually produces animation. But this secret was well concealed from tlie world by his grcar reserve, Ibr he was seldom lieard to utter anything beyond " How very good ! " a remark which every occurrence elicited. In one respect, he evinced a little humour, by adding tlif syllable "bus" to words — as dogibus, horsibus, and catibus, So distinguished a man could not fail to have imitators ; ami many a ])ri>tty young lady was heard to speak of her ])in-a-bii.\ thread-a-bus, and book-a-bus, as Lord Edward says. Take hin: altogether, he was without a rival lor personal appearance, i: I we excei)t the ex([uisite drum-major of the before-nanuij " thixty-thixth " regiment, who divided the empire of heari: with the aristocratic lieutenant ; the one leading captive tin manunas and their daughters, and the other their maids. Or. entering the room, he bowed condescendingly, though some- what formally, to IMrs Chanuing ; the inclination of the body | being from the hip-joint like that of a wooden doll. The Hon. j\lr Trot/, on the contrary, was more distinguisl>| ed for a form that exhibited a singular compound of streni,^!!! and activity. He was the hcau ideal of a light infantryman. Jlr was the boldest rider, the best swimmer, the most expcr: | pugilist and swordsman, an irresistible billiard-player, and t!.; best shot in the garrison. His habits were temperate, whir!. with continued and svstematic exercise, enabled him to It always ready, or on hand, as he called it, for anything. 11- was a good economist, and understood how to make the im < of the small alloAvauce of a younger sou. He sported the be?!' ]t len. LIFE IN A COLONY o/ )osto\vln<]f m ;ht, <,a':u'crul. and clc^fiiuv and polished lU'inluT. IK' ,vas evidently also a luouv ind nnoxci'pt. ■aot'iiportiral titluT narrow. ^^ell dol'uied a critic, per- poon. It tliil L'neral Ixnuity. o ^distcn, ni).l AVith respect iss; lor it avus tlioir peculiar cca animation. Id hy his ^'re:it ything- bevoiul rrcncc elicitmi. by adding tlu- i, and catibus, imitators; aiu! ;' ber pin-a-bib. lys. Take hiir ap])earance, i: betbre-nanu'i; iipire of beart: njj; captive tin; L'ir maids. Or. , tbou md of strenui: fantryman. b- niost ex per: player, and ti.- mperate, %vhi*" )led bim to b anytbing. b- make tbo iii'>' sorted tbc best' appointed tandem of any man in tlie ])hu'e. wliicli lie kept iointlv \viib another «jHicer, Avho |)aid more than his sjiare of the expenses, in consideration of bein<^n'elievi>d from the trouble of using it. Jle had also a beautiful and very fast yacht, ■which he sustained upon the same friendly and e(piitable terms. The (JoviTUor, perbaj)s, Avas not aware how admirably Avell calculated he was to aid him in concilialing the atlections of tho i)tH)ple ; for, in his absence, he was very fond of informiuu; colo- nists, for whom he bad a [)roud contempt, how much he was interested in the IS'egroes and liidiaus of JS'ova fScotia, who alone could boast of jiurity of blood, and were the only gentle- jiicn in it. Un Avould in([uire, with an innocent air, when the province llrst ceased to be a penal colony; and when infornunl lit had never been one, would alfect great Hurj)rise, as bo thouirht he could trace the debasing clleetsof the system in the lialiits and morals of the people, lie was indignant at tbo local raidv of Honourable being concc^'d to ])eople lilling c(M'- itain ])ublic oflicea, whom be called houourabh^ carriboos; and rc([uested that that pr(!ilx might be omitted in any written |coinmunication to bim, lest be might be supposed to belong to Buch an ignoble berd. When be entered the room, be was •eviilently sull'eriug from cold, for be ])roceeded directly to tbo liirc, turned bis back to it, and put his hands behiiul bim to anil them. It was an advantageous position, as it enabled iiii to take a cool and leisurely survey of tbc company, and to c scon to advantage bimself. Captain Howard, tlie military secretary, was a pbilantbro- ist, and a j)ious and zealous member of the Low Church party, le was a distributor of tracts, and talked very elocpUMitly and [earnodlv of such books as "The Drunkard's Grave," "The iner Saved," '"The LVnitent Thief," 'aVodigal Son," and 'The Last Dying Confessions of a Convict." He was a great nomy to ])rivate balls and amusements, and to public assem- )lies and theatres. Tbe only pleasures to whicb he was iu- lulgcnt were the pleasures of tbe table, being a capital judge )f wine, of whicb be drank freely. He abhorred beggars, vhoni be threatened to send to Bridewell, and orthodox clergy- avn, whom be devoted to a worse place. Jle disapproved of Ddiscrimiuate cbarity as encouraging idleness, and jireferred eoking out objects for bis benevolence to their obtruding hnnselves ; as it enabled bim, wben be gave a sixpence, to ac- ompany it witli that whicb was far more valuable, a, long cture. Some of tbo part}^, following tbe example of his Excellency, o\\ took tbeir seats ; but tbe Grovernor, wbo bad sat dowu ou 38 THE OLD JUDGE I OR, ' li a small ottoman near jNErs Channinf]^, was restless and nnertsv. At first, he drew himself a little further forward, and tlicii re- moved as far back as possible ; and, finally, rose up and turned to ascertain tlie cause of thv> inconvenience he had experienced. He immediately exclaimed — " Good God, I have killed this cat! AVas there ever anv- thinjif so awkward or f j shocking ? " Mrs Chauniny the aid of a JJo?(sririJ('\s' WanurJ, ]\Irs Channing judged them to bo " Cotelettes a I'ltal- jenne," " Chartreuse d'lin Salpi(;on de Volaille," " JJoudins a la liehelieu," " Quenidles de YolalUe," " Croquets," t\;c. &c. ; )ut she was nncertain. They were too dilllcult to remembiT ; ind, if remembered, nnprououuceable. She was afraid of hav- im ' .-rm. 42 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, !! ''*' 1 i! m ■\\ ' !^i iiilli 1 ' i'l ' \ ! i J ! fS .^ 1 lili jii hi . ing her knowledge tested and her ignorance exposed by Troi,z, who was noted for his malicious impertinence. I'ortuue, how. ever, favoured her, and slie owed her escape to the tact of a servant, who found himself in a situation of similar diftlculty. The first of these mysterious dishes that he presented to the troublesome aide, called forth the dreaded incjuiry, "What \-i the name of it?" Ecp.ially ignorant with the rest of tlie liousehold, he afl'ected not to hear the question, withdrew the dish, passed on to the next person, and never offered him ano- ther until he found one lie knew by name as well as In- sight. The crisis was now passed, the lady's fever instantly subsided, and she breathed freer. At the mention, of moosi'. meat, Lord Edward, to tlie astonishment of everybody, com. menced a conversation himself, a thing almost unknown before. He asked the young lady who had amused him so much by saying she had killed a cat in shaving, what the plural of raoojc Avas. " IMice," she replied, with great readiness. " Miceibus ! " he repeated. '• llow very good ! " and re- laj)sed again into his usual taciturnity. The two favourite wines at Halifax at tliat period Avcre champagne at, and Madeira after, dimier. Trotz therefore, u:' course, voted them both vulgar, called them kitchen wine , and, when pressed by the host to take a glass Avith him, and askeii ■which he would take, — " Anything hut champagne, sir," he said. Channing was shocked ; he had imported it himself, he liaJ spared no expense, was a good judge of its quality and flavour, and he could not understand liow it could be rejected with sue!: evident disgust. He prudently asked no questions, but smileci, bowed, and talked to some one else. Miss Sampson observed to the bishop that Trotz was like a " thithle, he thcrathed tho thockingly ! " AVliich was honoured with tlie usual remark from another person, " How very good ! " Caj)tain Jones now made his appearance, and ii very od^i one it certainly was. He was one of the most eccentric uuii in the navy. In roughness of manner and disregard of dres*. lie was of the old Benbow scliool ; in practical skill aiiu science he was at the head of the modern one. He was hi dreadfully absent that he unintentionally said and did tlif most awkw\ard tilings imaginable ; and the only redeeming' point in his absurd behaviour was, that it was entirely livt from affectation. He was dressed in an old shabby frock-coa: with a pair of tarnished epaulettes, his hands bore testimoiiv I ^ LIFE IN A COLONY. 48 )odl" and re- hen wine^ , aiui Trolz was like V from another to tlieir familiarity with the rigcjing, and he had not suhmittod liimself to a barber for two days, at least. He took his seat near me, and tiien for the first time appeared to be conscious That he was late for dinner; but he ap})lied himself without loss of time to remedy the defect. The arrival of sucli a man ill such an attire naturally occasioned a pause, by attracting (vervhody's attention to him. '• Pray," isaid Trotz (wIkj sat nearly opposite to us) to his inM(r])bour, but loud enough to be distinctly heard, '' who is tliat old quiz .' Is he a colonist ? " '• Captain Jones, of 11. M. ship Tiumdcrer, sir ; very much jit vour service ! " said the sailor, with a very unmistakable air aiul tone. Trotz qudled. It was evident that, though a good shot, lie preferred a target to an antagonist, and wanted bottom. True courage is too noble a quality to be associated with swaggering and insolent airs. •• How very good ! " said Lord Edward. "Very," said the chr.rming Colonel; "very good, indeed! He may be an oddity, but he is a line manly old fellow; and vour friend had better be cautious how he wakes up tliat sleep- iug liou." The Captain ate heartily, though rather inconveniently slow, which protracted the removals, and kept ns all waiting, jt Avas a matter of business, and he performed it in silence. * Once, however, he looked up, complained there was a draught iu the room, and, drawing a soiled black silk cap with a long pi'udeiU tassel from his pocket, put it on his head, and resumed liis ein])loyment. Although Mrs Channing was unac([uainted ,^ ..■ with the names of many of her dishes, there Avas one she rather ])ri(led herself upon — a pudding, which, when the Governor declined, she pressed upon his attention, saying, that she had made it herself. This was too good an op])ortunity for Trotz to pass unnoticed ; he, therefore, begged ]Miss Sampson to par- take of it, as the hostess had made it with her own hands : lay- ing an emphasis on the latter words, which produced, as he in- tciuled, an involuntary smile. Channing saw and winced under the ridicule, although he was unable to discover whether it was excited by the pudding or his wife. To make matters worse, Captain Jones, whose appetite was now satistied, and who had only heard the word pudding, to which he had just hecn helped, added to their mortification by one of his bliuulering ri'inarks. He said that it was rapital, and that he had never tasted but one like it before, and tliat was in IMexico. ''I went there," he said, "with the Admiral, to settle some I" Pi u THE OLD JUDGE; OK, w "'llWI ii ,,,,11111 I II. II ih aii!! III iiii. ;|tllillliil 'ill' ' "'iiiiii" , fi': ! Iilililill little difference we had witli the government of that conntrv. and the President asked ns to dine with liini. AV'liat makes nie recollect tlie pudding is liis wile made it herself. He had two beautiful daughters ; one about eighteen, and the other twenty years of age, who were covered witli jewels of a size, brilliancy, and value far beyond anything I ev(>r saw in I'lurope. 1 a^^kcd him wlitre madam liis wife was. 'To tell the truth,' herej)lii'il. ' she is in the kitchen superintending the cookery for the din- ner.'" The Governor, witli his usual tact and good-nature, turncii the conversation to another topic. He adverted to his recent government in the AV^est Indies, and was speaking of some very uin*easonable request of the people, the refusal of whii.!i haii made him very ur.popular at tlie time. Jones, with his customary inattention, thouglit he was speaking of some one else, and said : — " Your friend was a devilish lucky fellow, then, that tlun- did not serve him as I once saw the Chinese ])unish one o:' their gods. They had been praying to him for rain for thirty days, and at the end of that period, seeing no appearance of a shoAver, they pent tliree of their mandarins to him and gave him ii sound drubbing, Indeed it is a wonder tliat they did Udt Lynch him, as they did the Governor of Antigua in 171 (i, Colonel Park having rendered himself extremely obnoxious, tin- whole wliite population rebelled, and, besieging his house, ])ui him to death, and killed arid v.ounded thirty-six people whuiu he had assembled for his defence." ^ " How very good ! " said Lord Edward. Jones, to whom this remark had been several times applied. was somewhat in doubt as to its e(piivocal uieaniug. lie h:ta already repressed the insolence of one aide-de-camp, and wtb. quite prepared to avenge that of the otlnr. "Gad, sir," he replied, "you would not have thought it so very good if you had been there, I can tell you, for they hung his stall' also I " Then turnin.g to me, he said, in an nnder-tone. — " AVho is that gentleman opposite, who did me the honour ' Tlic Covcrnor, Ensicrn Lyndon, and thirtcon or fourtoon poldier?, ^V(;''■' killod on this occasion ; and Captain Newel, J^ientenant AVui'thington, anl twenty-six soldiers, wonnded ; besides a nnnd)er of the Governor's fricmlN who Averc dreadfully beaten and bruised. On the part of the assailants, Cap- tain rig'istihle. with nil credit l'( a.nd of 1, she liad .■"nirably sleigh w f lor a l\ii tliat "b iVom thi Lady Sa resumed versatioi years in il)factico and use ^gaiters, • comfort ' dotes of ., "^-^ iliere is Uiress of [absurdity hvlio hav LIFE IX A COLONY. 45 :1 gavoliiin ti ley did imt Ki in 1710. noxious, tilt' ; house, 1)111 ople \vliuni J mesnpplioil- lie hail ip, and \vai thoup;ht it ju, for they the houour PoUlicrs, '.vcro .rthing'ton, and riKir's iViciu^, i-^sailants, Cap- J the tliirty-sixtii 1 , a full accouiu | rant EdwarilVs )art is, that no to call mc an old quiz, for I intend to have the pleasure of inalvin!:,' his acquaintance to-morrow?" ••T-r-o-t-z," I said, spelling his na.ne, so that the familiar lie called them, to Avhich they certainly bore a very strikin;: resemblance. " Mithibus ! Oh ! you I thocking ! quithe ! " Avas her r'^plv. Notwithstanding this and other mortifications tha • he haJ eiHlui'ed, Channing Avas, on the Avhole, elried and pleased. lie knev/' that a man Avho steps out of iris proper sphere in life must inevitably jjrovoke ridicule, and alt'.ou.gh good breeding may suppress it in his presence, it cannot fail to find vent at liis expense afterwards. He remained behind in the dining-room a few minutes. His property had been acquiied by care and . ecjnon'V, and could only be preserved by the same mean^. He Avas now enabled to be liberal, but liberality does not neces- nose, .1 cr;i(dvCi ,\/i ' LIFE IN A COLONY. r perforni ' liey should •ess subscr- ce, I would ?ir trousers should eou- nstciid of ;i syringe. I splints and od as to be sling for a c-box, iillcd liion of til'.' :rengthenin'4 iate service, lergency. I irriingement. 1 his clothcH, jrvice than ii ;ood humour, the Colomd; kr ho was the e), Channiui^ rawing-rooui. )0 abundant: wn that wert' oned remarls n»T these Avas LI'S, the loii'.^ and extended, id asked pi ■ laked mitc, as very strikioi: ^vas her r?ply. , tha ; ho had pleased, li*? e in life must breeding may d vent at liij dining-room by care and same mean^ oes uot neces- V pnrilv include extravagance ; he therefore locked up the ^^me aiul the dessert, and tlien followed his guests into the drawing- rouin. ][ere tlie attention of the company was engrossed by a beautiful and precocious little boy, the ciiild of his cddest (liui'diter, who was then living at Jiormuda with her luisbaud. Tin'' moment he saw his grandfather (which word ho had ;il)l)reviated into Danny), lie ran up to him, and claimed the rt'W.'U'd of his good bediaviour. It was evident he had been drilled and bribed into silence upon the subject of the defect in the face of Sir lEercules, for he said — *• Dannv, give me the orange you promised me, for I did not sav the (Jovernor had a great big nose." Even the terror of his relatives and the politeness of the ronipanv were overcome by the absurdity of tliis remark. Everv one laughed, and anu^ng the rest none more heartily and good-naturedly than his Excellency himself. " Come here, my little man," he said ; " it is a very big nose, a very big nose, indeed : but it has had too many jokes cracked upon it not to be able to bear another from such a pretty bttle boy as you." As the Governor advanced the littlo fellow receded, until his progress was stopped by the corner of the room. His terror now became insupportable, and he called to his grandfather for assistance. '•Kick him, Danny ! " shouted the child. " Throw a stone at him, Danny ! Make the dog bite him, Danny! " lie then threw himself on the floor, and kicked and scream- ed most furiously, until he was carried out of the room by the nurse. "How very good ! " said Lord Edward. " Cai'ital, iDy Jove ! " said Trotz. But Miss Sampson, knowing the unfortunate cause of it all, Itliouglit "it wath thocking." Lady Sampson, who prided herself upon her singing (as |every one does upon what they cannot do), was luw induced to tak'e a scat at the ])iano and favo')r the company with a song, which she e?r.ecuted, if not to the deliglit of all present (for her voice was verv false), at least to her own entire satistaction. I have oitcn observed, that most people, however pleased they may be with themselves and their own personal app"arance, prefer to Bing of beings and characters wholly diiferent. A pale, con- Bumptive, diminutive-looking little man, delights ii; the loud and rough soDg of a sailor pirate, that speaks ofthundei and forked ;^ liyiitning, and l ountaiu waves. A ga^nadier-sort of person '' i'i m ; m 'Iplilll ■■ „i III i I ! I ii i !^ i i iS^'liiliil' I'll .(|i!mii'iiii;!l t' ''^' ilillllii i:l| ! I! Il'l'l it :^ ill :f i I 111 if 48 THE OLD judge: OR, idolizes little Ca])id, and wishes to be thought to resemble him, It' asked lor a aoug, he begins — I'm tlie Cupid of llowcrs — ■ A lutrry liirlit tliiiii,^ ; I'm lord of these bowers, And rule like u kiiij^. TJiere is not ii leaf Ever tlirilled with tlio smart Of Love's pleasant <:rief, liut was sliot tlirouifli the heart, Ly me— 1)y nie — little mischievous sprite, Kindling,' u love-mateh is all my delight. Stout and well-developed women warble of elfs, sylphs, ani beings of aerial lightness. The Governor's lady, under the influence of this inscrutaV. ■ law, sang — Thine ear I will enchant, Or, like a fair//, trip upon the green — and one or two others of a like nature, and was loudly applau '. ed ; for a little gubernatorial circle at Halifax has its courtier^ and parasites as well as tliat of the Tuileries or Buckinglia:. PalP';e. After this magnificent display of taste and talent, .Mi- Sampson followed the great enchantress. She would have likf to have sung Italian, as most yoimg ladies do who neither ii;.- derstand the language nor know the pronunciation, for they ver properly imagine they can give a greater effect to it on that a- count, and, besides, there is something beautifully mystical in ti.i strains of an unknown tongue ; but Lord Edward was a jiuk' of music, and always applauded her singing ; she therefore ai • pealed to him to select a song for her. " Oh, that charming little songibus," he said, " you sir.: so sweetly, so dninely. It begins, ' Sing n j those gentle straii.^ agam. Sweetly and divinely are strong but most agreeable worJ; when applied to one's voice. She was pleased, and consoled tkj having given up the horrid Italian, and began, " Thing me tliothe gentle tlitrains again." AVith the exception of the air of ab- surdity given to it by lisping, she sung it tolerably well, I'orj ladies generally do well when they are pleased. '• .1 low very good ! " said his Lordsliip. " Thank you, thaal; you — it is exquisite ; but tliere is a beautiful little songibri> called ' Sing me those strains again.' Would vou favour u^ with that ? " Miss Sampson looked at him to see what he meant, but, al;l^ the unalterable face told no tales ! Cold and briijrbt like moon- VII' III' LIFE IX A COLONY. 49 cscmblc liini, s, sylplis, aih lis inscrutfiiji ■ nidXj applau;> s its courtit^ c Buckiiiglin:,. ndtaleut, 3l:^- ouldhaveliki. 10 neither iii- . for they vcr it on tliat a • mystical in tL •d was a jiuk' therefore ar- id, "you ?i:.. gentle straii.^ jreealile wonl? id consoled i'l ling me thotl; the air of a;- -ably vrell, il-r ank yon, than.; little songibu^ vou favour v.^ ant, but, ala^ iiihtlikemoou- \c Viiht.it wore its usual calm and uninteresting expression. Still in A, as very odd, ahehad jiust sung it ; but then lie always expressed iu'iiLsc'lfoddly. AWas lie quizzing lier, or was he really so pleased ;l^: to desire to liear it repeated? Sweet-tempered young ladies, iiko 31iss Sampson, generally ado])t that interpretation whero iiu'y can that is most agreeable to their wishes ; and she sung it over again in her best manner, and with very good efu'ct. " liow very good ! " he said, approvingly ; '* but, ah, pray don't leave us yet! It is (piite refreshing to hear such sounds, rhcri' is a little songibus 1 think 1 heard you once sing; it is a« :!c'autii'nl thing." '• What is it ?" said the delighted fair one, looking up at her !;;dlant and charming friend, and at the same time e-\ecuting a I 'irouiatic run on the piano. " What is it 'r " " Perhaps I can recollect it. It begins, ' Sing me those gen- ile strains again.' " Her eyes became suddenly dim, there was a total ecll])se of those beatitiful orbs, and for a moment she was in utter darkness, siio was so near fainting. There coidd be no mistake now, ho had not heard a vrord of it; and was so completely absorbed in i'onteiHjdating himself in a larg;e mirror, that he had even for- gotten the phrases of unmeaning com})li;nent he had so mechani- rallv used. Exerting herself to conceal her vox;ition, she rose ; nd returned to her seat. This pninfnl disclosure of total in- iiili'erence had dissolved in fui instant some little airy fabrics Iut imagination had been rearing during the past year ; and what rendered it the more provoking was, that the slight was oilered in public, and by one of her ovni '' thett." The Bishop, meanwhile, liad taken but little part in the con- A or.<:itioii. Tlie topics were new to him, and he was thrown out. Sow he made an ell'ort to draw it tov»'ards the subjects that filled liis heart, namely, himself and his projects, lie described the agreeable voyage he had made M'ith Captain Jones from J'higland, extolled his kindness in otlering to land him at the Isle of Sable, and expressed his wonder that clergymen slu)uld in general bo ,-j unpopidar with sailors. " I will tell your Lordship," said the Captain. " T am in- elined to think, although you are better informed on these sub- jects than 1 am, that Jontdi must have been a very troublesome i)as>^enger before such good-natured fellows as seamen would have handled him so roughly as to throw him overboard. But, talking of the Isle of Sable, reminds me of what I ought to have '/mentioned to your Lordship before, that we sail for that charm- ling little island — that Paradise of the Gulf Stream, that scene of I primitive innocence, to-uight, at eleven o'clock. If you will bo ■Ii ' '"filSl. %]■■' 'I ! Pi H ! !■':: imm I lilllfl iiiliii 60 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, on tlic Kinpj'a AV'harf'at Imlf-past ton, sliarp, ^vItll yonr traps, I uill liavo soint! of my ' little lambs ' there to attend you. J uill answer for their being there at that moment. I'or they know I. an u tin; most ])unetual man in the world. 1') The Bishop was disconcerted. It was a short notice — too Fhort, indeed, to be at all ai^reeable ; but eccentricity knows i limits, and recou^nises no laws: so, making the best of it, he de- parted with his friend, \vho took his leave contrary to all coloniiil etiquette, ^vhicll restrains any one from retiring until the Go- vcriior sc ts 11 le exam[)le '• What a very odd man Captain Jones is! " said his Excellency. " Very," replied the Colonel ; " but, at the same time, he is one of the most valuable oiUcers in the service, although I con- fess his indulg(>nce to his men is sometimes very perplexing to liis friends, lie is an exact and rigid disciplinarian, but shows them every kindness compatible with a strict ol)servance of duty. lie calls them ' hislnnibs,' ami they are allowed to come on shore in very large parties, and have got up a very pretty ([uarrel with my fellows. Sometimes the soldiers charge them, and drive them into their boats, but oftener they have the best of it themselves ; yet, in all cases, he complains that those dare-devils (his lambs) have a hard time of it, and are ill used. Eccentri- city is often the accompaniment o'* great talent, and that is the reason so many blockheads atfeci it. His, however, is genuine, although he is not to be compared, in that respect, with a gen- tleman of my acquaintance in one of the adjoining provinces. I took shelter from a thunder-shower one day in a country inn, to which others had iled for the same ])ur])ose, and among the rest, one of the most eminent men of the bar of the colony. Every one was tired and bored to death by the con- tinuance of the rain, but he was at no loss for amusement. He made a small bow of whalebone, and, procuring a large needle (wdnch the landlady called a darning-needle), for an arrow, he put on a pair of spectacles, and commenced shooting mosqiutocs, as they flew by or about him, to the great danger and inlinite an- noyance of everv one in the house. I never saw a more eawr sportsman, or one more delighted when he made a good shot. His shouts of laughter came from liis very heart." Here the conversation was enlivened bv a very absurd inci- dent. Among the guests was a rough old Commissary-General, who was exceedingly deaf. A merchant, a vulgar acquaintance of Channing, taking pity on his iniirnnty, sat down beside him for the purpose of talking to him. The old gentleman, takiiii^ up liis trumpet, asked his friend why his wile was not of the party. I th d LIFE IX A COLONY. il (( Ono of 'our hrats' is ill," replied tlio merolianf-. '• TluMi I know how to T)ity voii," said the Conuiiissarv. " Tiiey are a f^reat imiciaiico ; i am plagued to deatli with them, 1 have so many." "It has tiie croup," answered the other, raisiiii; Ids voice. "A coop! " rej)lied the deaf man ; '"that is not a had iilea, it' Aou could only manage to coa.v them into it, but 1 never c'ouKl. Tiiey have nearly cat me out of house and home." '' J[o\v shockinjj; ! " said tlio otlier, in jj^reat amazement. '* Shocking;, sir !" lie continued, becomiu!:; animated with In's piihject ; " there never was anything like it in the world. JJut I'll tell you liow to get rid of them quietly. Don't use arsenic, be- cause you might poison yourself, but stoep some bread in prussi(^ acid, and give them as much of that as they can cat, and you will soon find a dilfereuce in your baker's and butcher's bill, 1 can tell you." '• What in the world," asked the merchant, with unfeigned astonishment, "are you talking of?" '■ Eats, to be sure," was the answer. •' And I was telling you," rejoined the other, slowly, distinct- ly, and loudly, "that one of my children had the crouj)." The etlect was electrical ; everybody was convulsed, except the unruliled aide-de-camp, Avho contented himself with merely observing — " How very good ! " Here the Governor's sleighs were announced, which was a signal for the breaking up of the party. The play was now concluded, and the actors withdrew to their homes ; but there was an after-piece enacting elsewhere, the humour of which was broader than was agreeable, either to the host or his guests. Channing escorted his company to the hall, where were de- posited their cloaks and wrappings, but led the (jlovernor and his staif into his study, where they had disrobed. The door, though shut, was not closed sufllcieutly lor the action of the lock, and, pushing it open, he found to his amazement another " thett,'* enjoying themselves infinitely more than that which liad been assembled in the drawing-room. The black cook had belted on the Governor's sword, and decorated her woolly head with his military hat and , knnes, which she wore jauntily and saucily 11 Ik' 11 lis II 11: ii !i|i:l ■ii ^' li,;. '1- iiilllllll I Ji I! r.ipid and dangerous river, has more reason to rejoice at his Bal'ety, than grieve over any little damage hia bark may have sustained. He tlierefore returned to the drawing-room with a cheerful liice. 13oth liimselt' and his wife breathed freer, like people relieved fruiii tlie weight of an oppressive burden. Patting his wife alfectionatelv on her shoukler, he said — " AVell, Jjctsy, notwitlistanding some blunders and mis- takes, 1 think it went off very Avell, on the whole, as lawyoi* lieynard said, when he returned from tlic funeral of his wife." Then, passing his arm round her waist, he observed to me (whom lie had requested to remain) — " Doesn't she look well to-night, Barclay ? I never saw her look better since the day we first " " Don't talk foolishly, Channing ! '' said his partner, dis- engaging herself from his embrace, but lot)king well pleased with the compliment (for ladies of a certain age never hear Avith indilference that time has dealt lenientlv with their charms). " Don't talk foolishl}' ! I am afraid you have taken too much wine to-night ! " He then turned to me, and rubbing his hands, said — " Well, Barclay, that is a very nice, sensible, allable old man, the Governor. Is he not ? What do you think of Lord Edward Dummkopf ? " "I think," I replied, "that there is an uncommon affinity between himself and his name. Ho belongs to one of the oldest families in England. He is of Saxon origin, and in the German language his name signifies Blockhead. There is no liarin in him ; indeed, there is no harm in an empty room ; but the air is apt to be so uncomfortably cold, as to induce you to Avithdraw from it as soon as possible." " But Trot/ ? " he in(|uired. "He," I remarked, "is probably descended from some low retain^T on the Dummkopf estate, for his name is also 8axoii. and signifies Insolence. In the olden time, most names had a f)ertinent meaning, and both these peoj)le seem to have in- lerited the qualities to which they are indebted for their an- cestral cognomen." "I quite agree with you," he said, "in your estimate of them ; and Sir Jleicules, I fear, will add another name to the long list of governors whose personal stalf have rendered them- selves and the Government House distasteful to the })ublic'. But come with me to the study, and let us have a glass of wliiskey-punch and a cigar, for it is not often we have tiie plea- sure of seeing you at Halifax." I atljoi ^picu 'htcrsto sub;>ist (if they can) upon the piti- ful pension of a lioutenaufs widow — a lieutenant of forty-one years I ! !" m LIFE IN A COLONY. 57 meet, wlicse sarcastic tone and manner of conversation disguise a kind and good lieart. • Here," said my eccentric friend, Lawyer Barclay, as lie is universally called, " here, as elsewhere, the receij)t which the crave gives for a human being is written in a prescribed form. I'Xhe name, the age, and the date of his death, are minutely and r.ccuratelv entered. ]f he has filled an oflice of ini])ortance, or hu'longcd to a learned profession, or served in the Assembly, and, obdve ail, if he has been a member of the U])])er Jiouse of the Lcfjislature, and borne the title of Honourable, it is recorded at |lar<;e: while, on the other hand, if he ha:-; derived his support Ifro'm an l';onest trade, the dii^honest tombstone i.^fuses to men- Ition it, lest it might Avouud the aristocratic feelings of his aspir- |iiii]j posterity. '• It is said that truth is to be found in the wine-butt and the jdepths of a well. If revealing the secrets of others bo truth, line may be the element it loves. The well can only give it ,licn exhausted, and then the fact it has to coiinnunicate is found to be scarcely worth the trouble of the seai'ch, namely, tliat le well is empty. AVherever it is to be sought lor, one thing js certain, it is not to be found on a tombstone. Tl'.e l)roken- icartcd husband whoerccts a monument to record his inconsola- )le grief for the loss of his wife, ere one short year has passed, or tlic sound of the sculptor's mallet has ceased, refutes the pomp- )U8 falsehood by a second marriage ; and eyes as liriglit and mice as sweet as those that are closed by death seduce him in- to a disavowal of his own words, ' Here lielh the best of wives,' md compel him to acknowledge ' Here the husband lies.' The dis- eonsolati^ widow whose affections are biu'ied in the gi'ave other icar husband, near whom she desires soon torejiose in death, feelri ler heart reanimated with the genial warmth of returning;- spring. [t rises from the earth with the primrose, shakes oil' its wintiy torpor, and reappears with rene\\ed life and vigour after its pliort seclusion. The admired of all admirers no U)nger refuses [o be comforted. The churlish miiL^er receives the homage of isinccrity from his h' 'r even after death, when his cold and louldering ear can no .onger listen to its llattering accents. A khaste and beautiful allegorical figure of aliection is seen wecp- ig over his urn, wliich rests on a ])edestal that resembles a loncy-chest ; you are lost in dotibt whether the tears so copi- biisjv shed are caused bv unexpected lei'^acies to others, or bv Ihc protracted delay of j)ossession. Tliis is a double fraud. It leprcsents the dead as worthy of love, and the living as capable If loving. It is not gratitude, but a decent observance of a r poL'ritical custom. 58 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, SI yiiiini. 111 I I ill iijii .,i!:lliil;!. Jil!lJllllllllll|| k " But wliy are men so shoclvcd at tlie mention of that on a i tombstone wliich the deceased published througliout his life to all the world ? In this churchyard, numerous as the graves art^, I no man is designated as tailor, barber, butcher, baker, or shoe. maluT ; yet, doubtless, there are scores of each who placed tlu^H; ominous and forbidden words on their signs in the largest lettciv, and the most attractive and coiispicuous form. There is, indei , one exception, if such it can be called. This marble was erei;. ed to a man who is described as ' a servant,' but it was raised a; the expense of 'a friend,' that styled himself his master, wh, in emnuerating his excellent qualities, has not forgotten topr- claim his own liberalitv, nor been ashamed to inform us th.utl has expended more money in extolling his services than in n. warding them. It has been said that the grave knows no (1>. tinctions. The rule is now^ reversed, it seems. All are n : reduced by it to a level, for the level is on a smnmit, and alhir elevated to it. Be it so; but then strike ont all your degrd- your D.D.'s, your M.D.'s, tlie words Judge^ Councillor, Ear. rister. Esquire, and let the rank of the dead be uniform. Of;; places in the world, a graveyard, at least, should be conseernti to truth. As it is, it seems devoted to ilatteiy, vanity, ambit is : ostentation, and falsehood. All sects retain their peculiarit: here, and endeavour to perpetuate them. A little more taste, a;., little more expense in the monument (but with a contemptu disregard of veracity in its record), indicate that a chnrchnuin deposited there (for the Church in the colony embraces t: greater part of the npper class ot society). A neat, plain, i^i; stantial one, with the modest assurance that tiie soul of thd ceased was immediately conveyed to heaven, proclaims the sal to have been a Dissenter. "The conunon Christain emblem of the Cross is more in ih among Komanists than others, but you may identify them : their pious horror of Protestants. It would be dangerous to found in such bad company, for the Pope has declared they ca: not be saved ; and who can question such high authority? Tlir therefore, very wisely, lie apart from the dust that is polluted I; heresy. If you are still in doubt, read one of the inscription; and a scrap of Latin sets the matter at rest. It is an appropr.' ate tongue, for it is " a dead language." In this curtilage, tliti which is the common burial-place of all, sectarianism and Ik ion have found their way and oil'ered their distinctive badi^oji; their followers. The highway of life has been extended intoti: churchyard, and is thronged in its nsual manner. Here arc t: handsome equipages and expensive trappings of the rich, I' sobriety of the middle classes, and the destitution of the iiaiiii "i: I'J LIFE IN A COLONY. 59 Hess and unknown poor. The scale of colonial precedence siir- Ivivcs iiiortalitv. T'lie initred b^'sliop still regards, ^vith a conde- flcending and patronising air, the poor curate ; and the grocer looks down from his marble monument U])on his quondam labourer Avith his turf covering, and maintains his relative ])osi- tion in the society of the dead. The iron railing boasts of its juality and durability, and regards -with pity or contempt the teinp(irary and trumpery wooden enclosure. The classic urn ipneals only to the hearts of scholars, and the bust to the man 3f taste; ■while all look np to him Avho represented his King, Hid Avhosc titles are almost as long as his eulogium — the old rovernor — the fountain of honour, and the distributor of pa- tronage and of rank. '• Amid all this vanity — here and there is to be found some consistency — the anti([uated virgin preserves her acidity of tem- jcv to the last. She is one of those of whom vulgar people so [dlv and flippantly predict 'that they dry, but never die.' Ac- justonied to hear £,uch agreer.ble com])liinents, she antici])ates ihe sneer or the smile of youth npon ilnding the word ' jNUss ' Issociated with seventy-tour years of age ; and as in lit'u i^ho laintaiued the privilege of the last word, so in death she klaims a right to the first ; and youth and beauty are admonished Ihat ere lung they must undergo the penalty of the law of their lature, and be humbled in the dust like herself. She thus Lvt'nij;es the slights and injuries of an nnfeeling world, and, con- |istent to the last, evinces her fondness for disagreeable truths. '• The houses of this silent city are of various sizes. Tlu-re krc fashionable squares, there are streets of less pretension, and [here are suburbs that are but little fi?quented, for they are the ihodes of the lower orders. If you must dwell among the lat- ?r, it would be best to preserve a strict incorjnito. A mansion St Giles's would prove your habits to have been dissolute, ^our associrtes depraved, and your means exhausted. It would lisijjrace your posterity for ever. A respectable address is a jttcr of credit, but the occupant of mean lodgings is cut by his ?(iuaintance and disowned by his family. If you would bere- krded as a gentleman, you mustassociate with fashionable ])eople, [nd reside among them. The churchyard, strange as it may ^eem, is a true but painful picture of life — ostentation without, prru])ti()n within ; peace and quiet on the surface, but i\w mrni ;;t the heaj't. Ah, poor human nature ! your last resting- ttboe, the grave, would be eloquent, if you did not stifle its voice. '0 not read theso inscriptions, iny friend," he continued, there is no dependence to be placed on anything but the gures J the tale they tell is not true. But come with me, and CO THE OLD JUDGE *, OK > I ^'1 '!iM N i|ii I 'I ' ! sil! ii '"llijllib^lll: l.iiim'l III ,; ;,i ;■,'■:.! i iiiiil liiiiiir „„ 1|: I'' P hi'' ' "!"■'■' iiiliiir!:, I{ II I 11 :: II I'll i I will show you a grave that bears that upon it that carriiij conviction to the heart." On a little mound, in a distant corner of the churchyard, waJ a f^rove of spruce-trees, euclosinpj a verdunt spotof sinal) dhiiesi sions. Here was a solitiiry grave, having at the foot a coiiiir..;| field-stone to mark its tei-minatiou ; and, at the head, anotherij the same kiiul, one side of wliich was dressed with a cliisel. aii' bore the inscrivriion " "'rai;.' Mertor., ISIO." Tht .vhole ofii.;.&^ littl'^ pla'- r/ gr '\nd ^'uA v aclosed by a rough rustic railii. having a suiall g;j.>.' Ibr ^le purpose of access. The grave Y,i:|ij not covered wiLli s ;'i:> bui. f^ecornted with patches of tbrgct-ii-^i not and other simple floweu emblematical of the feeling the oltject with which they were jdaced there, and wasencir(;i| by white rose-bushes. At tue upper pai't of the enclosure, ontside of the railing,stood a weeping willow, the light pendii^ tracery of which I'eil like the dishevelled hair of a moi;r; ' ''"l whose head was bending over the body it loved and laimn! . The little sj)ot was kept in perfect order, and tended with i. most careful neatness. '• There, sir ! " he said, '"'there, at least, is truth. That :'■.. pie and natural embellishment is the votive olVering ofaji widow to her only child. Those ilowers are weeded by !.■• hands, and watered with her tears. AVhere is the sting of ilefiiS or t!ie victory of tlie grave, when, lilce t!iat little imu3cent r.::ft helpless victim, the dead survive decay, and rise again:! dwell in the hearts and allections of the living? 1; refreshing to see simplicity and truth amid so nuich ;.. is false and unnatural. This is a strange world. Take ii individually, and there is much that is good and ann'ahL' him ; but take man collectively, and they are always r;r;i| clous or unjust. Parties are but combinations, under plaiisi^:; pretences, to deceive the people; public departments are strrJ and cruel ; governments are ungrateful -,, ]iatronage is eii'i.rf blind and cannot distinguish, or seliish .and capricious. A m who serves his country Avith ability and zeal is too apt t>^ '''. at hitiL, to his cost, that his country, like a corporate body. neither a soul to think, a heart to feel, a head to remembci'. | a spirit of liberality to reward." " Come, come, my friend," said the Judge, well k-nowingt'' cause of this bitter ebullition, " you have too much rea;;;i):i !J complain, I fear, to do so calmly. Let us not enter into t'l-* speculations on this day and in this place. Let us rather yi. to the influence of the objects around us. J, too, am ibiul this spot for the lasting affection it exhibits. Fathers ;i.. forget their offspring, and children lose the remembrance II III LIFE IX A COLONY. 61 ! weeded by bj le sting of dcai'J inuoeent rJ Ibe'r pni'ents ; Inisbands and wives may be rcjdacod. and brotbcrs Ind iUriUr- be to cacli other as ^:tranii;t>rri :iml even as i'oes, but the love «. i mother endurcth I'or ever. A I'atlier sii})p]ies th(3 muts''>t*his child from his purse, a uiotl:' '• from her bosom. 'VL'U th'' ;Tr'.vi* itseh cai.not extini^'uish Jier devotion. !Slio ouriis o> 'r hei deceased uifant in "^(/utude and in silenee. It alwavs before her. Its voice is in her ear, and its smile is iu r licai't. ]Mer\orv x.iises up the little idol to her admiring es bv dav, and the too vivid dream reanimates it by nighl. cr niateriial aliections regard it as a living being, and she iic-s to fondle and embrace it, while the divinity witliin her iimathi/.es with it as celestial, and invests it Avith the attrihules t'li inini.stering angel. !She holds strange and mysterious eom- uuiii^s with it, for love such as hers has an ideal world of its 11. Her wounded spirit llutters against the barriers of its man prison, and strives to escape and join that which has ' pu. immortality ; ' and at last, when wearied with its ineilectuju iinjoles, it yields in timid submission to the law of its natu' it iiu! .Isies the hopes that that which is imperishable may bo Tinitted to revisit the object of its love, and illumine by its jystical presence the depths of its 'gloom. Ifer grief, there- e, produces at last its own solace, and she cherishes it with an iiil)le but firm reliance upon the mercy and goodness of (ind, lat lier child shall be fully restored to her in another and a ttor world, where they shall dwell together in nnity for evei*. '• There is something, as }'0u say, about this little grave lat is very attractive; for youth is innocent, and innocence is ravs an object of interest and of love. As:,c, on tlie e(jii- rv. is venerable, but not loveable. I see nothing in the ter- nation of a ri})e eld age to occasion grief, unless there has n a misspent life. There is nothing to regret v/here all, or ire, has been given than was promised — * Liisisti f^^atis, cdisti satis atquo bibisti, Tcnipus abirc tibi est.' it youth, prematurely cut olf, awakens many a painful reflec- ^n. I recollect being greatly struck with a monument erect- to a young ollleer at Shelburne, who perished under vei-y niHar circumstances. The story itself is short and simple, \t, as it is connect(>d witli the rise and fall of that ill-fat-'d luelancholv town, 1 will L',ive you the historv' of both to- 111"* '«.' ^ V ^ piicr. iict us sit down on tliis tombstone, for it is a fitting |lt from which to tell a tale of mortality. "Last summer 1 made a tour of the provinee, and revisited scenes of my former judicial labours. The growth and im- m illil I'SilJI :l;,::'i !■■ :i I'i!' H H '^'Mm 62 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, provcmcnt of the country far oxceoded my cxpcctailona. ]A many places \vlK'rc the road ran, a few years a<;o, tliroiiL;], jJ unbroken forest, it \vas now bordered on eitlier sidi; by a cfii.. tinuous line of farms ; and substantial liousea and lar;^'o hcrG>j of eattle evinced the eouditiou of the new po})ulati()n. TL towns and villap^es were ii;reatly increased, and an imj)ro\. J system of husbandry liad clianged tlie whole appearance of t;- country. Tlie habits of the people also liad undergone ;,' alteration for tlie better no less striking and gratifying. >i;. it was by no means a journey of unmixed pleasure. A gent;. ation had passed away, if not from life, from its businet^s a: duties. Many whom I had known 1 could not at lirst rcn.. nise : care, time, and disease had not been idle. TheyouuLH,: become men, the men had grown old, and the old had dicil ; Avithdrawu from view. 1 was a stranger among stranuv;. The houses I had fre([uented during the circuits were cit; • enlarged, remodelled, or rebuilt. A new race of people w., comed me, and the well-known voice and the well-known t;: were nowliere to be heard or seen. JNIy local interest was l same, but my personal interest had gone, and gone for ever. " At home, these changes arc so gradual that they are , most imperceptible. The vacant place soon collapses, ov occupied by another, and harmonises with all around. It 1- <'t)mes incorporated with the rest, and cannot be distinguisl;., from it. In this manner, an entire revolution is etfected, a:. yet that revolution is so slow and so gradual in its groAvth, u: contains so nnich to which we are daily accustomed, that t eye cannot discern Avhere the old ceases or the new hvx'. But, when we return to past scenes, after an absence of iiia;. years, the whole change bursts on our astonished view at one VVe knew it as it was, we see it as it is, and we feel and kii it is not the same. AVe are painfully reminded, at the sa:. time, that we have been ourselves no less under the inlhuii:j of this universal law of nuitability : we return to our own. aiJ our own knoweth us no more. The face of Nature, thoi:.] here and there partially transformed by the hand of man, v: in the main unaltered. The mountains, with their wavy oJ line distinctly marked against the clear blue sky, or their siir:* niits enveloped in mists, were the same as when my youtliij eye first rested on them. The rivers, the valleys, the murni!; iug brooks, the wide-spread alluvial meadows covered av;:. grazing herds, the sheltered and placid lakes, and the riigi;^ cliils and bold promontories that invaded the sea, or resisted:! assaults, were all unchanged. The road also on the sea-slKl wore the same familiar aspect, and the ceaseless roar ot'u I'i!, LIFE IN A COLONY. 03 icctaiioiiH. I3 j;o, throiij^h ai| 5idt5 by II cor.. tid largo heri;«^ piilation. Th d an iin])vovi. )L'arance of li,.^ imdergoue a:j ■atilying. Sti. ire. A geutr-l s business ai: at IJrst reci.^^ The yoini'ilia )ld had died 1 long stranijerJ lits were citW of people \\t\ ,vell-kiio^vii I'ac- nten^st was t'trl ;one for ever, lat they are :\ collapses, or :| around. It h\ be distingui^.^ is eileeteil, :il. L its grOAVth, TiL omed, that t: the new hv^^ 3senee of mar ed view at oiii c feel and kii -' .ed, at the s;il r ,er the inthui to our own. -1- Nature, tin ;. and of man. v their wavy < _y, or their t^i: ; len my youtl.: ■ys, th*e muvm.: s covered v: , and the riigf ea, or resisted i1 on the sca-sliq eless roar ot'u ocean saluted my ear with the same voice that first awakened mv adventurous hope to ])ass to that fatherland that lies beyond the <'reat deep. At night, as I walked out meditating on tlio past" the pale silver moon and its starry host proclaimed that itlu'V also were unchanged, and recalled many ii loiig-forgotteu Bcciie in years by-gone, before all that has been was, or rellec- luii came to teach us that youth has its shadow, th.it increases ,s the day declines, and that that shadow is death. These isihlc objects of nature, therefore, become dearer and dearer us as we advance in years. They are our early, our con- taiit and sole surviving friends, the same to-day and to-mor- (iw as thc'V were of old. They are typical of llini who know- Ih no change. "As far as Shelburiie, all was progressive or rapid iinju'ovo- cnt, but that unfortunate town was in ruins. It arose in the ildcrncss like a v'ork of magic, but had hardly been erected (tore it was in a state of decay. Twelve; or fourteen thousand inii^n-ant loyalists from !Xew York sought shelter in this re- )te place at the close; of the war of rebellion, in the }'ear 17S4, d built a large, commodious, and beautiful wooden town, at ;he head of the magniilcent harbour of Koseway. In their astc, or their necessity, they overlooked the fact, that a town 'e([uires a country to support it, luiless a trade which has Town with its growth supplies its wants U])on equal terms, emote from the other settlements of the province, surrounded v a trackless forest, that covers a poor and stony soil, situated ioo far from the entrance of the harbour to reap the advantages- f the fishing-grounds, and filled with a population nnaccus- lomed to the mode, and unequal to the fatigues, of settling in wilderness, it was impossible that a town so constituted could ng exist. Some returned penniless and destitute to their ative land, others removed to various parts of Nova Scotia, ,ud the graveyard, from year to year, received great numbers if those that were left behind, to mourn with broken hearts iver their ruined fortunes, their hopeless and helpless condition, nd their dreary exile. When I had last seen it, the houses Fere still standing, though im tenanted. It had all the still- ness and quiet of a moonlight scene. It was dillicult to aiagine it was deserted. The idea of repose more readily sug- ;estcd itself than decay. All was new and recent. Seclusion, nd not death or removal, appeared to be the catise of the ibsence of inhabitants. But now the houses wdiich had been igiually built of wood had severally disappeared. Some had leen taken to pieces, and removed to Halifax, or St. John's ; thers had been converted into fuel, and the rest bad fallen a ■ii^: . •! ill !!■ ii ii;, (U. Tin: OLD JUDGE ; OR, proy to ]ii'i,'l('rt and (kM'oinjjosition. The oliimncys stoocl ni crcrt, aiiil nuirktd the sput rouiul which tlie social circle hnii asbc'inhk'd ; and the bhiclvciu'd liri'phices, raivj^ed one above another, bespoke the size of the tenement and thi' means of 1:^ owner. Jn some places tliey had sunk with the edilice, leaviii;; a liiaj) of ruins; while not a lew were im-lining to their fan, and a.vaitiuL,' the first storm to repose a^^ain in the dust tint now covered those v.ho had constructed them. Hundreds of! cellars, with their stone walls and j^rauito partitions, Morel everywhere to be seen, like luicovered monuments of the deiid, Time and decay had done their work. All that was ])eris]iabb had pcrisiicd, and those numerous vaults spoke of a <^"eneratioi;| liiat had }):i scd away for ever, and, v.ithout the aid of an in. sorij)tion, told a talc of sorrow and of sadness that overpowcrtil the heart. " A few new bouses had recently been erected, and a vcrv few of the old had been snatclied from decay and repaired ; bur, of the thousands (jf inhabitants that this town once contaiuoiil four or live survivors alone remained, and the entire ])opubiiifn| did not exceed two thousand souls. Thev were all attached l the place, aiul spoke conhdcntly of its revival, fondly of itd noble harbour, and jn-oudly of its former ])roaperity. Ever'! spot had its little history. Here the pilgrims iirst landed, a!i; vl| this spacious street was the first that v.as cut out through ti/ woods. On that bridsxe the bands of the regiments assemb!^ ' on a summer's evening to play the tunes of their fatlierlaii;, In the bouse which once stood over this large cellar, i'ielii-| JMarshal Beresford was quartered when a young officer in t garrison, and in that sedgy piece of ground was woinidcd the face by an accidental discharge from tlio gun of a bruL;' sportsman. On that eminence, on the opposite side of i barbour, stood extensive barracks, capable of accommodati . three regiments; and on the point of land that termiiuun King's Street was a heavy battery, the guns of which, coi'roik ! by time, lie half-buried in the earth ; for, alas ! there is l • thing now to defend. At this corner stood the great hotel i: tShelburne, where the weekly ball.* were held, and the boniirj and fashion of the old colonv of New York (for the Loval:?i< were principally gentr}') assembled for the last tinie. Drived into exile by their rebel countrymen, and environed in tlid country of their adoption by ]^overty, and a dim and lowerin.'j future, they vainly sought to ily from regret, and lose the ])nin-[ ful memory of the ])ast in festivity and amusement. 'Iii;i1 spacious cburch, which is now so far from the village, was onceiiil the centre of this large town ; and the number of the graves iJ ■l!|it£ LTFi: IX A COLONY. 66 the foniciery bear a IViglitfiil disproportion to tlic present pupuliition. " While strolllnn^ one afternoon tlironu;li the deserted and :iss-i,'r()wn street that passes in trout of this buildiiif;, my pr- r. . ... attention was attractetl by a very liandsoino and apparently now inoinmient, whieh apjjeared to have been jnst erected, — pi'tibahlv to one of the last of this ill-fated einiL!;ration. It was built of the beautiful j^ranite that abounds in th(> neijjjhbour- liood. and its fresh-chis(.'Ht.'d surface f^listeneel in the sun, as its ravs fell on the briu;ht and polished |)ai'ticles of mica imbeddi'd ill' its iiulestruclibk! substance. It was a costly structure, not ill keeping with the means of tlu> ])resent inhabitants, and evidently could not have been executed by any workman then resilient at ISlielburne. It occurred to mo that, perhaps, the atroclion or the piety of a child had erected this tribute to the iiu'iuorv 01' misfoi'tunes of ji parent who had found rest at last in this sc'jluded spot. 'Sly curiosity was excited, and, opening a little gate, 1 entered the yard to ascertain, from the inscrip- tion, the name and history of this venerable patriarch. 1 was, however, astonished to iind that it was nearly as old as the town, and designed, not for one of the pilgrims, but for a vounir ollicer who had been drowned in the harbour. The in- Bcriptiou was as lollows : — Saorod to tlic Mi'iuory of rAiKRic MAXwin'.L, Esq., Ensign in Jlis ^iiijcsty's Gist or First ■yi Wurwicksliiru Jni'auti iiiid Son of Sir William Maxwell, Of Sprin},' Hill, IJart., N.B., ■\vlio was unfovtuiiatcly upset ill a Sail-hoat, lOth July, 17t)0, and drowned, vKtat. If). (Ic ( j)lv reirn ■tted 1) liis iiniii'ted parents, and all who knew him. " Such an initimcly and melanchcdy death is nnhappily one jof daily occurrence, ami his was only distiii'Miishable from jotliers of the same kind by a trait of generous manliness that |de^c'rves to be recorded. I have iust told you there was a |Jarge battery and guard-honse at the termination or commence-. iKiit of King's ^Street, and very extensive barracks on the )!)p()site side of the harbour — an arrangement Avhich had. ])ro- Jubly, been adopted for the greater seclusion and better m lilill 'IV': ':. I' I'l. THE OLD JUDGE ; uR 'J nianaf^omoiit of the troops. Botweon tliose t\vo stations boats v/ero constantly passiiit^ and repassing, either on business dp ])leasure. On tlio day mentioned on the tabh't, a vietualliiii,'. barge, containing a jjarty of sohliersand two ollicers, was stnuk about the centre of tlio harbour by a heavy stpiall, and npset and every soul on board ])erished, with the exception of the sergeint. Young ?.Laxweli was one of the unfortunate sutH r- ers.' The sergeant, who was an ex[HM*t swiunner, generou^lv took him on Ids bactk, and struck out boKlly for tlie shnic, Miscak'uhiting Ids powei\ liowever, lie swam too liastily, aiil hp.d not proceeded ^'ar befon^ Ins strengtii began to fail. .Max- veil, as soon as lie ])erceived hiin falter, expressed his dc!ir. mination to reli(ne him of the ])urdcn he had so kindly assuiiici!, lie exhorted hiiu to be cool and collected, to ])r()ceed slowlv, but, above all things, to ])erseverc on account of his wife aiil children ; and tluMi, bidiliug him adieu, relinquished his huM, and sunk to rise no more. " ]\ry first feeling on n^ading the inscri|)tion was one tli;u is common to us all when we hear of tlui untimely di>ath of th.> voung, but reflection soon took another turn. If now liviii:, he would have been seventy-five years ot age — a tottering, di- cie|)it old man like myself, lull of years and infirmities. Ha! he been then spared, 1. asked myself, would he have survivi i till this day? Or would dis(>ase havi^ put in its claim, or t!ie battle-field held him as a victim? AVas ignominy avoided i r lionour lost by that event ? AVould his career in life haw been immarked. or has a name perished that was destiut^d ii grace the j)ages of hi'^ ''ountry's history? All, alas! is liiihitn in impenetrable mystery. J]ut reason and religion alike tcaili lis this great consolatory truth, that a wise and merciful Pru- vidence orders all things for the b(>st. "As regards monuments, howiver, I agree with you, Barclay. I neither aj)prove of the imagery, emblems, or lau' gtiage we use. Less flattery and more truth, less reference tj| worldly vanith^s and more r(v-iiaiit Xicliolas I{all, of the smie rci^dmeut, who j)eribhcd 'ii this oceasioii. Both bodies were deposited iu one grave. LIFE IN A COLONY. 67 t(Miii)lalion of tlio fnto of others, to prepare for the iuevitable ajjpruuch of our own." Cir AFTER V. A BALL AT GOYERNMEXT HOUSK. On' our return to Illiiino. our reeent visit to TTnlifax and its iiiL'idciits naturally Lecar.u' the sulijei*t of conversatien, and, ainmii; other things, Government House and it« innuite.s were adverted to. '•The situation of a Governor," said ilie .TudL::e, Is by no means an enviable one. Jle is iusudlcieutly paid, siddoni ])ro- pt'rlv sujiijorted l)y the Colonial Olliee: and no sooner becoiuea actiuainted Avilli the people and the eountry than his term of service expirees. The })rovinee is tlieii again intrusted to a stranger, who goes through the samo process of aecpiiring ex- 1 lab pcrieiice, with great personal labour, aniio\ant'e. and nu'onveni ence to himself, and with some dangci', nnd no little alarm, to the inhabitants; -while his best exi'i'tions aiul intentions are often fruNti-ated. and his donu^stie eoud'ort destroyi'd, l)ytho petty insolence and insignilieant intrigues of the little leaders of little political factions about him. '* L> \ece nt tiemoc ratie ehans nave rendei'ed his nos 1 h V dlion still more dillieult, by limit- in- the ])rerogative, transferi-ing much of bis authority to bis council, and making p-ublie ollices not the rewai'd of nu'rit, but ot' agitation. AVith [)olities, however, I have nothing to do. I not only take no interest in them, but 1 even dislike to bear itlieni discussed. A (jlovernor, liowever, if he l)e a man of honour, and a gentleman, is really an object of pity. As far [13 Kvo h ia\e l)een eoncei'ned ourselves, we iiinc hei-n extremely [fortunate in the selection that has been niaiU" \'ov ns, and are enahleil to eninnerate a long list of verv clever as well as very lam lahle men; l)ut as my experience extends over a ''iig ser les |of 3('ars, and is by no means limited to our iVortb American possessions. J have been sometimes amused at them as a class, [and at the dillerent manner in which they severally attempt to leeomjjlisii the object they :dl have in view; namely, to eon- Iduet their administration satisfactorily to their employers, and ■I 'il l.llliiM"/! ill 08 THE OLD JUDGE ; OK, to ilio poo])l(' conitnittod totlifir cli.ir^o. To socurc tlie appro. l):ili<)ii < t' llic authorities at home, it is iiu'rely necessary lo keep thiiiL,'s (piiet, for tliey have themselves made every nui. cession lor this ]Mirj)ose, to ev(MT troublesome |)art\-, initil tliere is little left now but total iM(le[)en(lenco to concede. To preser\(' this ti'anquillity. therefore, necessarily invo!v(\s tlie same policy on the ])art of a (iovernor, and, conse(|uently, ttif necessity for a certain (leL;r(>o of ])ersonal ])oi)ularity. .It istlh ])ui'snit of this popularity that calls forth the ])eculiarities an; character of tlu^ man : some r(>stini; it. where itoui;ht to be. on ihe honest and iidlexible discharge of duty; otluM's on tact, a biiowlcdi^c of character, or some ])ei*sonal (pialilication, that nn- ders them a people habiti'd in garments, Avhich, if they d o 1: lit. are admirablv av( dl calculated to admit of an e.\t( m! growth of till* body and limb; who talks of systems, lu'a(l>;i; departments, and boards, and will neither see nor hear of dilli. culties, as, in bis ojiinion, there never are any that are iiisiir mountable, and wiio treats the Secretarv of JState to lii. reports, for tbc amusement of the clerks to rejiort nj)on. >.'( . com(>s your ' entertainiiifi; (jlovernor,' who keejis an hospital rs^ tabi st e, i;i\cs numerous parties, is in IS II.: ones W( M V II of anecdote, and te bers and tli^ ivs due attention to countrv members aiu fashionable an;l ai;reeable wives and daughters, takers car(> tL: liis stall' are attentive to tbose who stand in need of attentidi- and dance with those who cannot command partners, and \r ar!'ani;('s his dinners so as to brinr j;eo])le who kiiH' each other and are ai^rei^able. As for Inisiness, he obeys ordir- iVcm hoiiK'. interferes jxM'sonally as little as possible, and st thiii'^s to take their course Uui Tl leii, then' is vour ' h limb 112:2:1 112^ Governor,' wbo li(™;| and smiles to all, savs ci\il thiiiLTs to cNcrvbodv, and of cv< adi'i body, makes lonij; sj)eeclies. and writes lon,2; messai^e no side warmly, has no decided opinions, is with tlu> maj(ir;i;|;; but lives with the minority, so he can coiiperate with tlu; too, it' they become stronu: enoiii;h ; is attached to the C'liiuv:! for he was born and bred in it; is fond of the liomanists, ti they are numerous, and devoted to British connexion ; to tl LIFE IN A COLONY. GO c tlio appro. iUH'i'ss;\ry to ^ cvory eon- party, iiulil m 'Oiu'cdc. In iiiv()lv(>j< the cqvKMitly, tlio Iv. It istlu' liliaritics and nrht to 1)1'. on lors (in tact, a lion, tliat nil- lu'V naturallv ss Ciovornor.' t'c> of his owui exactness iu tluMv is your lo (l('li:-;lits ill' .'Hipiiv. iK'siriv it' they do r.'" f an cxU'ncki ^tenis, heads r.;j hear of ditli- at are iiisiir- State to Ion; upon. ^(''^■ an hospit;iV;f . and tells li; hers and the.: ak(>s eare tk: of attention', lUM's, and wb pie Avho ki'.K'^ ,e ol)c\vt^ ordir- blc, aiid sulk'i'i nor,' uho 1hw1 and ol' t'vt'iv-i lessa^es, ndopl \ the niajnriu.f rate Avith tlu';!.| to tlio CluiM Komanists, tr:| mexiou ; to tl Baptists, hooansc froodom of o])inion is the riasni'es coil/r rpii cotVc ; has a strong sinaidv of ]jii;lisli KadicaliMii. and Hatters the vanity of colonial Liberals; blows the little points of little men, and talUs of the vast ro- i.oiii'cc«; ot'tlie colony, the important o-eoujraphical, ridati\t', and political position of il ; the able vi(>ws and t;-reat scope of in- tclK'ct of its statesmen; advocr.ti's a united IcL^Mslatnre for all the colonies, the creation of a N'iceroy, and the coiK^triict ion of a raih'oad to the Pacilic, and other gigantic projects — tubs for the whale. "Tlici'c an^ also your ' juirely civil.' or ' jiiindy military Liovci'uors. The i ormcr has no conniia.nd. and. ot coni'se. is b 110 means so \\v\\ [laid as the other; is subject to some incon- y vcnu'iici' li'oni the want of this con trol, uul IS in occasioiia I ci)llisioii witli the Commandant, not in mattei's of importanco (for then it scddom or ne\er occurs), but in insignilicant. and, tlicrefon\ morv annoying atl'airs. Jh> procures the attcndanco of a rcLrimental band at his i)arties as a favour, and tolerates their airs as an nnaveidabh.* evil. Although familiar Avilli. and jji^BHlinspitablc to, the olllcers of the gari'ison, he never cnjo_\s their Bviiipathies like an old deneral. I nless he is a m:in of rank ihinisclf. the Admiral, it is observiMl. is more apt to stand on etiipu'ttc and rights with him than if Ik? were f. S( .lier, fof they nS'dii both pertain to the ])rofessi )n of arms, although not to [the t>anie bi-aiitdi of the service, 'i'lie latter, or pundy military nian, delights rather in the appellation of (Jener.d than that of jCiovernor; is t'onder of assembling his troojis than bis legishi- Itiire, jiiid is more at home with the oHicers of bis briizade than hvitii the olUcers of bis colony, lie would rather talk of the Pimjaub than the Madlawaska, and the lieads of columns than tl ic heads (»f depart ments. lie says but little, promises less but docs what he s:»ys. Jle I'cfc is everything to the (le|iart- inciit to which it belongs, and acts on the repnrt of the jirinci- [pal. j|(» takes no i (K'S 11 pon SlltllltV Jftl le assein f le ; liegs them to accept the assurance of his nio^t jiro blv 11; f 11 ires uj), so omul ind'tlereuce, and informs iliem that he was a (Jcneral I S;i ■ mr-' 'I 'M 70 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, boforo lio was a Clovornor. If thoy petition tlio Sovcroip;!!, Iip tliankji tliom for it ; tolls thoin lie is an old and t'aithtul servant of the Crown, and has l)een so loiiijf abroail ho is in dan<];er of hoini^ f()ri;ott(Mi ; that tlieir ineniorial will call attention to tlip fact that ho is still living, and serving his King with zeal and fidelity. " These pecnliarities arc either generated or diselosed hy the duties and necessities of the station, and are the various eHects on the human inind of a morbid desire for applause. Under any eireumstanees, this high funetionary can now ])ersoiiallv efleet but little good, in eonsecpionce of the restrietions and limitati(jns imposed npon his authority: l)ut he is by no means e(]ually ])owerless for evil, and, if lie should luifortunately Le surrounded l)y a needy or unjiriuciplod eouncil, and be deficient either in a knowledge of his duty, or in firmness of purpose, the countrv may sufler inealculable injurv. "One of luy pr(>deeessors on the beneh, a man of greats liuinour and eccentricity, nsed gravely to maintain, that the only ^ person fit for the situation was a wise man or a fool. 'If be really is a wise m:ni,' he used to say, 'he will govern by liiiii- self, und not by favourites; if he is a fool, he will not think o:' liolding the reins at all. hut intrust them wholly to the con. stituted authorities.' Your indiflerent (Governors, geiiorallv speaking, avc your clever men, or, aeeording to the cant j)lir;!si- of modern times, your 'talented men,' — people who are Intelli- gent enough to be eoneeited, and yet have not sullicient ability to dispense with advice. "These great guns, therefore, as my friend Barclay eal'; them, are, as a matter of course, of dillerent calibre an; weight, and their ell'ect is in iiroportion. Some enrry as trui. and are as nnerring, as a rifle; others, though they hit tli mark, hiive no power of condensation, and do mischief Iv scattering. This one overslux '.s the object, and that falls slinr of it. Some hang fire from indescision, and others go off un- expectedly fi't)m impetuosity. All these failures arise from wan: '>f jirevious prep;iraf ion, either by having served in one or ollnr cf the houses of Parliament, or filled some of the higher oITki- in r of Mition to tlip ith zeal and tliom oxoofsivcly (llsnijrooablo, and all arconijiaiiicd hv tlio most (illriisivc abuse and niisivprcsenlation ot'au unbridled ami licen- tious ])ress. •Olueb of till'., if not all, may be regarded with ])iiyor eon- t( iiipt by a Avell-r(>i;ulated mind; but, unfortunately, custom lias sanctioned, until time lias ccnverted into a duty, the prac- lice of indiscriminate hospitality, whereby the ])rivacy of his liiIISC, i m d the cond'ort of his faniilv, are elb'ctuallv destroyed. Men are to be seen at a jj^overnor's table who are to be met with iidwhcre else; and peojde are broui,dit toilet her whose previous intercourse hasextended no further than purchases made lhrou l)est, (Joverinuenb House allbrds the wt)rst s[)ecimeu of society in the ])rovince. Independently of the annoyance to which all are suhji'ct by such an association, the (jlovernor, his stall", ami st i-au^ers, naturally infer that this anomaly is the i^em^ral condition of colonial society. The i<;fnorance, awkwardness, and ])resump- tion thus dis[)layod, are taken as characteristics of the whole ; and many anecdotes are in eircidation to the disadvantau^e of Halifax and otlu>r provincial capitals, that are ('hari,M'ablt> alone on the extraordinary mixture that this ill-rt'gulati'd hospitality produces. " Vou have seen the Governor under nuire fav(.urab!e eir- cmustiuices ; for you havi' merely diiu'd \yith him ami .ome of liirf friends, and, fortunately, at a time when the town v as not tilled with the ' the lial)it of attondliiG; upon him, oomplaiiKHl, in the eours(^ nf Ins ])r(»lossion!il (hity, tluit his t'eeliii^s were jircatly liurt hy his exclKsioi Irom tlie t'eslivilies of (loNcrnineiit J!()iis(\ hv \]\ steward and 1)uller, as it liad a tciidciicy to h)wer liim in llic estimation of liis accjiiainlances ; and, if it liad not heen for tlic \ respect lie owed liis Excelleney, he would most assuredly have • liorsewhi|)j)ed them hoth. '• ' AVould you ? ' said Sir John, who was exressivoly ininiscd at the puijjnacioiiH little- m;;ii. ' Would you? By Jove! tlicn.l ^ive you my leave. iLorsewhip them as long as you ean .v/^an/ ODer tluMu.' i r riiis is the manner,' he ohserved, ' in which the v. (i(i(' ])eople here censure nu\ It a]i]iears that I occasionally omit ti ask some j)erson who thinks he is entitled to a card as ania1l(i of rii;iit. 1 I'cally thought, at first, the fellow was going to com- plain to me of myself, for, in fact, h(> has just as good aright t(. come as some others who are admitted.' '"So far, therefore, from a (lovernnu'iit House exercising' n salutary influence on the comnuniity. its eflects are in fact in- jurious. Feoj)Ie who go from the country and j)rocur(\ throi!L;li their rej)resentatives, admission to th(» ])alac(\when they ret urn to their homes, contrast the facility with \\liich this honour lias heen ohtained with the utter im])ossihility of heing introduced to the families of gentlemen in their own neighboiii-hood, attii- bute the dillerence to pride or injustice, and naturally attemiit to viiulicate their rights, by striving to reduce to their own level those who maintain this invidious reserve. ]t is natural for them to think, if the first officer in the colony — he who re- • • • • *' presents Ins sovereign, is willing to admit that there are no di- tinctions of stations, or to waive the C(>nsideration, that it i-; neither right nor ex])edient that suliordinati^ ])eoplt> shoiiM maintain a tlifferent course. ]t is. therefore the ])rotific pai'in: of that resj)ectal)!e, as wi'il as amiable and attractive, virtue known as ' Colonial Patriotism.' " it is some years since 1 was at a ball at GovernmtMit nous(>. j\ly age ami infirmiti»"s render them irksome to inc, and, of course, unfit me for enjoying them, "^rhe last time 1 was there, was during the adminstrat ion of Sir Hercules Samp- son. 1 need not descrilie him. or his ladv and daughter, or lii> two aides, Jiord l^dwanl l)ummko])f and the llonoiirabK^ 3h' Trot/, for, if 1 recollect ariglit, Harcl.-iy h.as done that alr(>aily, much bitter than I could, in his graj)hie sketch of' Askinij;:i Governor to Dine.' Jt was on tlu' first day of Januarv, tin iv was a levet> iu the morning, a diiHi(>r partv in tlie afternoon, ai.il a ball in the evening. A custom prevailed then, and still doi.-^, cllcve jciitlcinc ;|i() ai'cc iiid v\ iiie ^taiit sue ^11(1. at t She licalt .Aden the Ihc slipp Mi'iicrally !i«int I'ciicua lei'-lainhi l]i| ortmii :!ir i\y ,^(l' ration ..fjif usau;!'! •.Alan |iPCI(I('lltS .Jfriillc-t o rcalfi' p.'i ■JfAi I', and Sii^lit and loi-r Liave i'llai". and )iit'iis('(l a the hall niDiu', h quality in tlilC flif) I'l ic vai'ioih Utcii in til Ofth Jea. siirli l\'\" mav jian aiiotl Ifli I'cnce i leii the c pi speak III le (lil'erei (ptiMe to V' <'f colo strong. |rc. and t M failhfu: LIFE IX A COLONY. 73 nourso df rt bv his i \ hy the I im in llic Ml ior tin' L'dlv luno ■ Iv niiiiiscd i"! tluMi.1 C'Jlll ,s/(tiul IllO p,0()(' Uy oil! it t( IS Jl iiuittci ULT to (Mill- .lariglit U: corcisin'j; ;i in i":u'l in- ro, thrcnuli :h('V ri'tiini hononr lias inti'odiu'cil i(U)(K nttri- ly attrmiit tlu'ir o\Mi is natural ]\v Nvho re- arc 110 di- , that it i-; j)le ylioultl itii' pairnt ive, virtue lovcM'miirnt inio to UM'. last iiint' 1 fiilos Samp- lit IT. or Ills |)uraltU> Ml' lat alrcatly. Askiii'j; a liiarv, tluiv MMKuni. aiiil stili doc:*, ] Itlii'vo. nt Halifax, as well as clsowlu'ro in llioroiiTiiry, r(T the ,ill,.„i('n to call that day on all the ladies eftheir ac([uaiiitanc(% Cih* arcexpecti'fl to be at liome to receive visitors, to Avlioui cake mill wine are olVcred. Ot'coursc", tlu're is at every house a con- stant succession of people, iVoin mid-day t ill the hour of dinner ; %iul. at thetiuu' 1 am speakini; ot", these mornini; lihationsto 4]ic health of the fair sex increased not a littli> towai-ds after- iiioi'iilhc ditlicnlty, that always exists in winter, iiMvalkinij; over alic slinpiM'V ami dan<;erous streets tandiii!J: dui'ini^ the ])recedini; year, and allords a ^ood ipni'tunil V for reconciliation without the interNciit ion ol' friends ' the awkwardness of ex|>lanat ions. Jndeed. it is tl.is con- deration alone that lias caused this rural practice to surviNO !(• iisa'_:cs of th(> olden time. "• .Alauv absurd anecdotes are in cii'ciilalion relatiiif:; to the cidenls and incidents of the 'New Vear's Calls.' amon^ the li .-t of \\hich is the sudden irruption into a liou>e t i thv^ cater ])art of those persons who liad :;1 tended tl;e (lOvenM^; s \re. and their ((pially sudden dei)artuiv, amid shrieks of al- ight and roai's of laui;htei'. as the crackiiiLV of the beams of the (11 r uave notice .)f the impcmliu^ dan^cM' of a descent into the ?Har. niidthe sul)se(pi uit collective mass of lashioiiables in oiio )iit'iise(l and iiu'xtricable he.ap at the loot (d" the Ncry icy steps the hall door. Ah. me! thos" ^ve^e days of hilarity and <;()od iiiour, before ])olitical strife had infusi'd bitti'riu'ss and j)er- )iialitv into everythiui^. IJC ircrc Init hio Itai^inj hcf'orc ire ic- \inf too free. '\'\\(' diniuM'was an ollicial one ; tlu> eruests were ic various iieads of departmeuts in the [dace; and it passed olF iiicii iutlu* same manner as similar ours do elsewhere. 'Of the ball, it is diilicidt to con\('\- to von a ver\- distinct lea. sueli eutertaninu'u vl ts 1 einu^ so iiuu'li alike evervw lii're !ier,' inav ue more lasiiion and more eleiiaiice ni one assemltly another; but. if tiie company are well-bred ])eople, the [flirenee is one of appearaiic(\ and not of character ; and even iheii the com])aiiy is mixed and motleyed. as on the occasion I actors appear in caricature, and not in natural f|ld faithful portraiture. To give you the proprieties would bo # »lll;i 71 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, insipiil, as all propriotirs are, and to njivo you only the nbsiir, itics would be to nink(3 tluMU too ])r()niin(Mit, and lead yptionuble than really was. '• When I first know Government Ilonse, the society to'. met with tlu>re was always, as .1 have before t?aid, tlu^ In st the ])lace. \n time, each succeedini^ Governor enlari^'cd t • extent of his circle; and, at last, as a corrective, two w,- formed for evcnini:; ent«Ttainments : c ne that was selected' KMiall parties, and ior fre(jucnt intercourse uith the faiiii and a second, desij^ned for puCilic nights (Mdy and rare occasio:..] and so arrani^ed as to endjrace all within, as well as most pen beyond, the limits of the other. The eil'ect of this arran<;cni' Avas, to draw the two classes a[)art. to create; i)ividious divii: tions, and to ])roduce mutual di>-like. Subscipient ly, the ; have been mer^^'d into one, which has consetpiently become diluted as to be excessivcdy nnjialalable. The best part li. lost their ilavonr, without impartini;' it to others; and the ferior, beiuij^ coarser and stronger, iiave imbued the rest wiil. niiich of thi'ir ])eculiarities as to neuti'alize theii* ell'ci-t. w' they have retained enou<^h to be as disagreeable and rei)i!l>. as evei". " The evenini:i; to which I allude beinp^ a pnblic one, tluv yitations were very numerous, and end)raced the military, ii;i and stall", the members of the legislature, which was then session, and all the civilians whose names were to be fouiil the most extended list that had been formed at the ti Having dined at the palace that day, 1 happened to be pre- at the arrivals. The guests were shown into the drawinn-iv and courteously, though ceremoniously, received by the (jievi or, his lady, and slatf. Those who were wholly nid^nowii.: the least ac(]uainted with the nsagi^s of society (as is ah\ the case with awkward peojjle), arrived long before the n and were not a little surprist'd and awed at linding theiiisci alone in the presence of the 'royal ])arty,' The ladies «> nnable or afraid to be at ease, or to a|)pear at home, and sit the edges of their chairs, still', awkward, and confused. T\ iitt(>rance of the gcMitlemen, who were no less conscious being out of their element, was thick, rapid, and unintelliiiiiii while they a])peared to iind hands and feet an intolcni nuisance. The former fidt into every jxtcket of their owir for a secure retreat, but were so restless, they iiad limv secreted themselves before they made their escape into auulL.j i|iliiJi!liii„„rii tlio nLsur". lead vnii: • ; ('xi'(.'|)ti()b :hink the a. iblu tlum ,: iJFi: IN A COLONY. 75 |,j,lj,)fT.|)]aro. ulion tlicv ])i;t a l)cli\e monosyllable " i'l's,' or ' Xo,' and esea|)ed. ' *• ' How very ley the streets are ! ' he said ; ' they are really luite (l;m;^'erous.' •' ' \'ery, sir.' '• ' Does your harl)our free/o over ? ' "'.No, sir oh, yes, often, sir! — that is, very rarely — rlicii the bar rises, sir..,.' " ' Perhaps, madam, some of these prints Avould amuse k'du I Here are some of the latest earieaturi's ; tlu'y are tiijtital....' '• 'So, thank you. Sir TTereules — not any, sir.' " 'Are you fond of driving in u sleigh : ' '' ' Some, sir.' '• ' Do yon play ? ' " ' 1 never loueli cards, sir.' '• ' Xo, but njx.n tlie ])ianor ' '• 'Sn, but my Anna Maria docs ; and master says she has most i^M'und ear, sir.' •• • Ptrhaps you would like to hear some music ? If so, jady Sann)son will h;ive great pleasure in j)laying for you.' " ' I'or vie! Oh, dear, no — not for the world ! 1 couldn't [hiiik of it I'or iur, sir.' '• ' What a pity it is there is no theatre at Halifax ! ' "' Yes, sir — very, sir— for thein as sees no harm in 'em, ir yes, sir.' I '• The (jrovernor gave it up in despair, and olVered me a linch of smiir, with an air of resignation that wouhl have done loiioiu' to a martyr. They were afraid of him, aiul knew not low to address him ; and, besides, who could talk anud general |ileii('e, and subject their chit-chat to the critical ordeal of lra!u;ers F *• Aunouucemeuts now became more frequent, and relieved V 1 1 ,, t»! i n ,1!. ::V 76 THE OLD JUDGE ; OK ') tlio cm1)nrrassm('nt of both parties. INfnjor and ^frs Sciimn: j\irs and the Misses do Lajno; tlie Hon. ^\r Flint (a priw C'ouncilhtr) ; V.v Stool (the JSponkor), ^Irs and jMiss Stool, ai,; ]\Iiss 'J'indi'r ; Colonol Lord Iloatlior; A'ioo-Adiniral Sir Jam.. Ca])stan; J.aily Capstan; Captain Sjioot ; Lioiitonant Stav and so on. '^^riio room was soon lilK'd, and it was amnsin witness tlio olivet this rointbreonient had on the spirits of i' advanced ])arty, who had hitherto snstainod, nnaided and al :. the (lilliciilt conversation, and to watch tho eaij;erness wv which lliey rocoLijnised and elainiod an aecjiiaintanco with wIkcJ lIu'V could bo at ease and talk freely. An inoipient attack the i^ont coinpollinLC nio to take a chair, I sat down near t.. table on whicii were the prints and earicatun's, but soon bcca;:. inoi'i' nitciH' ry c descendiii'dv. one finiror, ' liow do vou do? And how friend, the major? ' IS Ti n> major is | ■)0 irlv, thank von.' she replied cauL,dii a bad cold in iroin-' those 'orrid Q'rand rounds L niuht All lid Ti'ot/., ' lie should have had a fourno^t li stead ])Mt upon runnei's. and driv(>n in that manner to visit jiosts ! The orderly could lia\'e accompanied him, tui'iied the j^iiai'ds for him, and, when all w:.s ready, opened curlains.' II ow verv ijoo ;1! sai( 1 Lord Edward. What a droll lellow Trolz is!' oliservod the ladv to neiuhboui hut t Moso ii;raiid rounds ri'alK' are a i;!'ent nuis;i and 1 n'et dreadfully tVii^-hteiieil when Si'ctioii is out. b, in'uht I wanteil to have Serjeant Butter to sleep in t!u> \)ii> but the major said, * 'I'iiirielta. don't IxHbolish ! ' So I ])iit ' maid llauii in the di'essiii'j;-room. j'l-esentlv T 'eard a nn: and called to llaiin, and wo examined (M'ory place and v'l; do you think it was? an howl tapping against tho heaws the 'ouse ! ' '• • I am afraid.' said the Admiral to his f1ag-ea])taln. 'i: Satnjison will liiid himself in a scrape this winter. I don't ^ how was toiiLMted tl he IS to get over the rupturi> ot tlu^ last session; wlic len. It has airam jxiven wav 1 nnderstaiul liothiiiLr holds it now but the elun'ks and liack (ish. I). ar me. Sir James.' said ." i rs Section, ' 'ow verv 'or:' U do nrav. recoiumend to him 'Ollowav's 'Ealiny: lIoiutiiK'i.:-^ i LIFE IN A COLONY. / / frs Slvuc I :ij^'^ luxcclUMit ! But -wluit did you say it was tliat 'utii; by tlic iiit (a |)v, I |(j,,\vnior"s clurks? ' is Sli'i'l. ;, ' f '-Their sfiisc of ilio IikIhtoiis overcame tluMP stMise of ])r'(>- al Sir Ja;.,. enant Sta ( aimisiiiu" spirits of ! •d and alw;. ^erness wi: with wii : 'ut attack iwn near i soon becir 1 those ev I at the sn, groups ill ; lor, v(My (• d how is ; replied : . rouiuls irictv, and they both Luighed heartily; when the Admiral Baul •• • Xotliiiig, iny dear madam — iiothiiii,' in the worhl but liid rhivkers!' >b>viiiu: a little further oil' tlieir plae(^ Avas anon su])plii>(l )v aiii'ther set, aiiu)nu; wliom was the pi'etly Mrs Smythe. All. Mrs SeetioM. how do you do to-uiL,dit ? Vou really look chaniiini^lv ! Let me introduce ilciw Mrs ( 'laverlmusc to »,)ii I llow i^lad I am to see you, Miss Schweineimer ! \\'h(M\ jid vou come to town ? lias yo\n' fatiur tak«Mi his seat in the Cduncil vet?- Slop, my di-ar, there is iu)body h)okiui,' Jiist now; nuirihcss is unhooked at tlie top; let me I'asten it. What a ovtlv coiiij)lexion ! 1 would !^ive the world for such a colour i 1? VdU have. 1 suppose yon ride a good deal a-horsi'back in ]k' (duntry ? ' •• ' No, I never ride ; father hasn't a beast lit lor the side- aii.llc' fourpo'^t 1 ■r to visit in, turnc ' e lady to 1. \\'-a\ ir.usaii'' s out. ]/;•■ in tlie \>u-- So I jint ';■ 'eai-d a no'y. ■e and w'n-' the heaves '• • Ciil it a V.orse, dear; we call nothini,' a b(>ast in ilalif.ix", cai'. luit (.'olciUcl liOi'tl Heather, who wont aUow his baiul lo )]a. il jirivate parties. J)o \()U know Lady Capstan? 1 will nti'i liiii-e you.' • ' Oh, dear,no. not f(U* tlse world, before so many folks! [ Jilidcldirt know whether i was standing on my lu'ad or my opened I. abctls. if you did.' '• ' Don't t;dk of standing on your head, dear ; women nev(>r **.o it here, except at a circus.' • ' It's allowable to have ouch's bead turiU'd a little souk^- iincs, though, ain't it ?' retoi'ti>d the young lady. ' ibil who that ohi f(dlow at the table r ' ■■ • Dou'l call him a iellow. dear -fellows are only found at iloLTes and workhous(>s : call him 'gentleman.' and lca\'e the ord 'old' out; nobodv is old here l)ut the de\il. It is dudge andt'drd. dear. Shall J introduce vou':' 1 think he knows our father.' ■■'Oh, no, pray don't; he looks so horrid cross and .ca])tam. "i: 1 don't : "iini!)v ! ' ■■ ' Who is to be the new Legislative Councillor?' inquired iiiciiihrr of the .\ssend)ly of anothi'r. " ■ Morgan, I believe.' '■'Moi'gan! why, he can't wi-ile bis namc^ ! You don't w verv ■»"'■ l^^^'i'i to say they intend to put iu ^Lorgan 'r Why, he ain't tit liointnivi.:- Mon ; wlicv iderstand, ;■ 1. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // f/. 1.0 !ri- IM I.I 1.25 1^ 1.4 25 1 2.2 20 1= 1.6 V] ' <^ ■=# ^"^ C7M y J Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 mrr '8 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, iti'i'' ! '■'I'l :, IllSi i to be a doorlvGopcr — and, besides, his character is none of t!,; best, they sny.' " ' Jt will conciliate all the cleriry of ....' " ' Conciliate tiie devil ! AVell, you do astonish mo! D;;| vou q^et voiir vote throu'jh for the Shininiicash .Brid«:e ? ' ""'' Yes.' \)(~l " '1 wish you'd help me, then— ]oo;-roll mine througli, f an over-ex|)enditiire I have of live huudi-ed pounds.' " ' I will, if you will suj)port the academy in my coumr.i I was ])iit in ou that interest.' " 'Done! ' and the piirtics shook hnnds, and se])nrate(l. "As they turned to depart, one of them struck his el ai^ainst a musical instrument, that gave out a loud and loii^.j continued sound. " 'What's that?' he asked. " 'They call it a harp, Avas tlie reply. " ' 'i'he devil it is ! I wonder if it is like the harp c'l Solomon ! ' " ' J never heard of Solomon's linrp.' " ' AVell, it's nnich of a nnichness, then, for I never saw ;;! so we are about even, I guess.' " ' 1 say, l^ill, that's a devilish jiretty craft with a rainlisfj on her catheads, ain't she ? tlu>re. that one with pink streaiicJ and lon^-lei'^ged gloves,' said one little middy to another. '[A blowed if 1 don't go and ask her to dance with me ! ' " ' Wliy, Black, what are }ou at, man! You haven't bu: introduced to her.' "'The uniform's introduction enough to her; there's! harm in trying it. at any rate. So I'm off in chase of t.:| btrange sail, aiid will sj)eak her, at all events.' " ' J low was dry cod at Be 'bice ? in(piired a little, cold, caloj lating man, of another (who, from his enormous bulk, appoiiii. to havv' led upon something nnich better than his favonriie !'• ])ort — 'how Avas cod, when the brig Polly left Berbice P -\ iund)er — was the market good? What a grand governiiM . contract Longhead got for the supply of the army and ii:i\ That fellow don't entertain the conunissary ])eople for notliii. that's a fact I There's no use to tender where he's conceriin " J low late the oillcers of the lUth are in conn'ng to-niii:lit whis])ered a very ])retty young lady to her companion. 'Tin is nothing but those horrid black coats here, and thev look I ill-omened birds I can't bear them ; they take up so im. pi room, rnd, 1 fancy, soil my gloves.' " ' 1 can't say I have any objection to them,' said the otlur LIFE IX A COLONY. 79 none of tl-P^Ji i^f y ^vlsli thov "Worc not so f(Mi(I of dnncin!];. J3ut jusi- look il Ann CooixT, what a witch she lias made of herst'lf; sho .w)ks like a fri^dit ! 1 wonder what Captain Deiiham di me! l);:f idgu ? ' throii'j;li, f: I my couiir: pparated. vk his ell.- lud and lui :• M T ; there's r,| chase of t..: e, cold, calo )ulk, appear'. j s favouriU't' Jerhice ? -V.B id a of liL;iirinc; with him. Look [it Maj'ir Mitciiell, how he is payimj; court to Latly Sampson! to INliss .Sampson. 'J'liey are nu)vin<^ on, slie always has so many ^lii'V sav h(> IS attentive lis wav ; let us ^n) over to !Mrs Secti lie aiiout lier that one knows.' )L'ii ; the harp ; Ivhirh it . never saw ;: ith a rainlii pink stream'; not her. Tl haven't bee: What a maantifnlly it ■xcciited I It is the most excpiisite ])icce of eiubroiih'ry I r saw. I am at a loss which most to admire, — tlie brilliancy l>f the cdlo'-nMng and dedicate sliadinuf, or the skilful way in is worked in ; for it has a richer aiul softer etlect than invthiuL^'of the kind I ever beheld. AVhere in the world did foil I,n't it ." 1 hardly like to tell yon, after such extravan^ant ]iraise ; but is the joint production of myself and daughter. One lias to )rt to some occupation to ])ass the time in this horrid conn- pv; and,' lookinj^ round cautiously, and lowering her voice, laiiionir s IK h h J-: lorrid earn boos ot ])eople, too f )le, t( xactly, said the major 1 know how to pitv v 'OU. '■' When 1 was in the AVest Indies, I used to amuse mys(df by mbroidering by way of killing time. The weather was so ex- fcniely hot. it was impossible to use any exercise.' '• ' Got this place made a free ])ort, you see, Sir Hercules,' said man. who appeari d to 1 lave had an interview on some occasion itlie Colonial and Home Olllce. ' I told the Secretary of State jfiisal was out of the question, we must have it ; and threattMied have a coiiimittee moved for on it in the House of Commons — jularly bullied him out of it. The Chancellor of the Kxche- icr, who is a particular friend of mine, told me before I went was the only way at Downing Street. ]^dly them, says he, id you'll get it. But Peel, he said, was a dill'erent man : self- featcd — a new man — important — feels himself — stands before le tire with his back to it, and his hands in his pockets. Jle lows wliu lie is, and so must you a|)pear to know. 1 tooktho Snt, pitchc'l into him about the conridence of the colonies in 8 great horrid little nuMshipmen, if you can find any other ]5artner>.' " ' AVhy, ma ? ' " ' Ivxactly,' said ]M rs Smythe, "who appeared to he endow with ubiquity, 'your mother is right. Do you know Caph: I3eech, or Lieutenant Jjirch. of the Jupiter ? I will introd them to you ; they are both well connected, and have cap;:J intei'est. Take my arm, but don't look at those country iiii:.[ hers, dear, and then you won't have to cut them, for Sir ]l.:l cules don't like that. Appear not to see them, that's the 1!k.:| civil way of avoiding them, liecollect, too, tliat walls havec-j ■ — especially when they are covered with' flowers, as they v.illii to-night. Now, I'll tell you a secret, dear; IMajor jNTacajsarj engaged in England, so don't waste your time in talking toLlj this evening. Keep close to me, now, and I'll take you aiiii:., the right set, and introduce you to good partners, fori seepM parations making for moving out.' "Jlere Sir Hercules gave his arm to Lady Capstan, L-J IL\ather following Avilh Lady Sam|)son, and led the way tot] ball-room. It "*v;is a lai-ge and handsome apartment, tastetV.H decorated and well-lighted ; and the ell'ect produced by tlierii and various unitbrms of the military and navy was gay, aiulev' brilliant — more so, indeed, than is generally seen in a proving town in Euidand; for tlu^ iiarrison consisted of three reirinii'!;:! and the greater part of the fleet u])on the station was in|'i at the time. At the u])perend of tiie room Avere the G()verrj| Lady Sampson, the Aduiiral and his lady, and the heads oftiJ civil and military de])artmcnts of the jdace and their I'aniilicl Those next in rank adorned the sides of the room ; and a^i'od of those who made no |)n'tensi{)n to that equivocal word 'pd tion ' occupied and illled the lower end. '' The indiscriminate hos])itality that had thus nssemhlodt' gether people of the same conununity, wholly miknown to oi: other except by uame, had the etlect of causing a restraint: LIFE IN A COLONY. 81 flio ninnnor of tlie upper olnsa, in a vain and wo.ik desire not to be tliouiJjHt on a footing of eipuilitv with those l)(>ne:itli them ; and, oil tlie otlier side, a feehng that this ditferenee was pur- iiost'lv rendered ])alj)ahle, and maintained, if not with incivility, at least, witli a total want of courtesy. AV^iiere such was the coinlition of things, the whok^ naturally suffered from the eon- (hu't of a few individuals ; and those who exhihited or assumed airs of superiority, on the one part, or resented them coarsely, on the other, naturally involved the right-thinking ])eoj)le of biith in the censure that belonged peculiarly to themselves. " ' Who is that beautifid girl ? ' asked a person near me, of a lady belonging to the place. " ' I don't know her.' "'And that extremely interesting young lady ? ' " ' I an\ not aware ; I never met her before ; she is not of i our set.' " And yet it was manifest she knew her name ; had se(Mi her [fre(]uently, though not, perha])s, in the same room ; and was Uvell accpiainted with the condition and respectable character df [her parents. If any allowance could be made for this absurd fastidiousness, some extenuation might be found for femalo iTanity in the fact, that what the lower end of the room hist in [Btation was more than compensated for in beauty. Trot/, who [had observed this littleness, did not fail to use it, to the annoy- [ance of those who had been weak enough to exhibit it. lie itlected great astonishment at their not knowing ])eople so dis- tinguished for beauty, ease of manner, and agreeal)le conversa- tion. The lower they were in the scale of society, the more 10 extolled them for these (puilities, and pronounced them de- jidedly the finest women in the country. '"In a short time, the (puidrilles were formed, and all (that Is, all the younger part of the company) were in motion ; and, rhatever the under-currents and unseen eddies of feeling might lave been, all appeared gay and happy. Indeed, some of the ^oung ladies from the country danced with a vigour and energy that showed their whole hearts were engaged in displaying wlu.t phey considered most valuable (pialities, exertion and endurance. The effect of the sudden cessation of music in a ball-room is al- ways ludicrous, as the noise compels people to talk louder th:m isual ; and, when it terminates, the conversation is continued for awhile in the same key. "' My heart is as free as the eagle, sir,' were the first words heard from a fair promenader. " ' Father is shocked at a waltz. I must wait till he goe3 to supper.' 6 1^' fl 00 iii: ()i,n .irixji: : on M.i s;i\ ) she's m slu'cp ill l;nnl)*M chtl liiii'i; ; nlir rrculli luM' I'orU \t';irs :i:'(i, (limcini'' with ;i lu\\ , ;\^ slir i lo-nclil I n:i\. ImII. Iiiolv :il llir old IikIh's ;i-sl ;n'l»(i;inl IIh r '". llMU i\\\'\ Iniil m t linr ('l;i\\ s, like lolislcrs. wluMi llu< |iriim»Mi;h| 111' » (Mumciitfs " ' 1 1 usii. 1 hrrc's ( ';i|iJ;iiM Sli(-i>l ! ' " I !it>i'(> lie's not III llie wind ' W'lio is llial lii* Iimm ^oI j;; jinv 'i She hu'ks hke ;i hem \ s;iih>r.' " ' Hush, he'll h(-;ir \e\i ! " "' lis :i ;;r(>;il shiiine. iit>\v. io \ve;ir spurs in :i l):ill-i'(uiiir iMiijer M;ir:iss;ir liiis loni iii\ drc-ss. ;iiid ser;i|>ed nn ;iuele A\v;\i\. l'ull\. I'm re;ill\ (iiiil(* l.'iiiu'. The '^old wire, Itut. Iims iii;ide iiiv luu'k sm.'irl MS li' it \\;is sliiiu' willi iiellh's.' w li" it's ;inv s;it i."d:ii't loii to rcM ;ili;it e. \(>ii li;i\ ■(' ccr i;iinl\ |Mimsh('d ihiit lii;;iil;md ollie(M' ineeU, I'or I he heel lew m Iriuiiuiii;; on xoiirdrt'ss hiis st'niteluMl his knees iiiosl iiiiiiinvi I'ullv ! Hut . <>li. S;ir;ih ! \oo\< ;il ('iiplMiu neuliMin ! il' his e| hMli^h.isn't dr.'iwn oil' ;i l';ilse eiirl. .'iiid there he e;irries I'tMided ri'(Mii his slnuild( r :is ;i trophy! Well. I ue\e i;iii- Il sir r! II nei'dii t 1 iuiik il w dit h ever iw elMiined wonder who in I Avorld it htMon;;s to r I low ^lau I :iii> it isn t t heeojeiir ol in\ h;ii "'Oh. sir. it' _\on liaMMi't seen I'arnhoo Isl.'ind, sir. iicirl Pii'loo. \iMi liMXiMi'l s(>en llii> prettit^st p.-irt o\' \o\;i Seolin I 1 iitWtM' bt'hidd ;m\ t hiiii"" so h)\t>lv .*is ('.Mrrihoo lsl;md. \\C li;i\( Ml It'll pl(\'is;uit ('l;uu-n;u'li(vs llirrc. sii cs H'ciMllv when the ti UM'-\ (^ssels Ml'lMN e " l.;>d_v !S;ini|)soii h:id luii ouo topic, which, Ihon^h il li;iii Inslt^l siiu'i* (li'lohcr. w;is likely to i>ii(liir(> throni^h the wiiilirl t^cMsou. Mu' hnd visiltMJ the I'';ills ot' .\i;»u:ir:i in tiie Mill in .Mild WMs tilled with wonder Miid MinM/cMuent . I^hi* was iiiml iK^Si'riiMU^ them to m circle ot' Mdiiiiriii!;' I'riiMids. " ' It WMS ;i iiiii;hty cMtMTMct ! " she sMid. "'It iiii-;ht he nMiio\i>d by coiU'hin^-.' ivMiKirluMl m de;irsl;i! doi'ior, wlu> thouiiht slu> wms tMlkiui; el' \\cv (\m>s, which l;i'c;i: ilistiMid(\l Mt the lime with tlu^ marvellous storv. riu^ l-'allsl ' she said. I'aisiu!^- Ium* voice (ieuhtt'ul t ' Water-fall ' All. i^xactlv ; ilie lachrymal aland is all'ecltMl. jM'iMunnu'ini; the word slowlv. " ' 1 lu^e- your pardon, madam,' he rej>litHl, ]>ul(ini; his li; to his caw anil advancin-.; his liead nuicli nearer ; ' i. be.^ y l^u'don, but 1 didn't hoar.' p;iper BlKiniloii lichee ^^ ICIV— ji Ml! the iMl'cct ot' a iall-- thai, will reniler the o])cr;i(io:^Hbci ween 11(1 <^M';ni c lidii V i^lily, I Ni-au-a-ra !' slu^ said, raisinu,- Ium- voice still higher, iiK^^i ice ! ( t' (lnnv.>- ' rtM'oiii'r: tlirn". 111' •(inu'iimin 1\MS JMit |t:ill-rn,M' nnt'lt' tli'i'.'.' \11S lUMilt' Ih )ii li;iv(> (■' • ' liccl Ic WP osl iinmiT' ll" 1ms rpi, i\rnrs ll ;- ■ I uc\vv\ 11 • who 111 l': 11- (il'niN \y.\'\' ml. sn-. Mcarl I ;l Sfot ill ! 1 1. \Vrli:n>| i*| Mil: IN A ('(ij.ONV. n^3 "''IVi'l/' (In. |)i-;i\ . IjiKr i lull linriMl iii;iii ;i \\ !i v, fi ml r \ iilji in ),, liiiii.' s.'iiil (lie l.'nlv. JIIhI HhIi mill hum i|. ' j h;i\v jlir |iimi| jiI. |lii. I'iKil (.I'llic imK wliirr llic I|m||;iii \\;iiriipr msc m 1 1 rr i-ni iij' ,,\, r llu' l";ill. and was whirlnl roiiinl mikI imimwI m tin- \(,ilr\ I (;,f ;i i;rf;il iiiaiiv (lavM. Ill ;ili ii|in"lil po il n m, jis if lip wrrr li f-lill ;ili\i' ' Tln'V '-ay ll w :is ;i |r;iil ii I i-lil ; ;i| l;i^|,tlic Jlr tji Mi|\(il, jiliil IIk' iV.'ii'ic |i;iilci| ;iiii| siiiiK ! '• Slic llii'ii Icil Ilic way l<> IIh' di .'i\\ iii'^-riMiin, |u slmw ;i, M hlr\r\\ (if ,\ i;i;;ai'a, lli.'it IIk' niilil;iry iccnl ;ir\ |i;mI |in|);iir(| jni- I, IT. Tl'nt /, (|rl;illii'(l llic (loi'lor a llillilllr lirliinil. ;iii(| I lir.'inj ^ 1,1111 say, — TItiiii-'li llic c'll.'ir.'irl. w.'is ii(il,lli;il sloi'v of ||ic hidi.'iii ivmIIv was, all in my cnc.' "'So I slmnldl liink,' \\;ih||h> rcjih'. " Till' ;ili(r-rii(i|iiM I lii'oiM'll wliirli uc |i;is i d wci'c (illrd with i iicfsdiis |ila\iii;; cards, or liikiii;^' nTrcsiiinciils. At ji siniill t.iMr s;il my IrK'nd. llic midslii|im;iii, willi llic little slfMCiM' (K.iil with pink slrcamci's. In wIkhii lie li:id jmvcm cliicc in the l\ ii.'ii'l cf I lie cNcnimr, and, ;is lie s.'iid, lu'dii'dil, (o. Tin , f iriy p |vi IT |iist (■(imiiiclicin^ a. Sdciahle j^;ime oj chess y ti Siippcsc,' said llic j'dh liir to Ins I'iiir' Irieiid ' i^np| MIHC! Kit we si n|) as wc Ln» ? I I's •ri'cnl. I iin. I III (lent iiiidcrNland noii, said Hie vciin;' lady, uiMi an .ri ollrliilcd loss ol" her pretty head. " What ! iiol Know wlial stri|» as wc^o is? lial (Inn I Know wiial \(ni mean, sir Why, (Ins is llic rule. /\n\tliiii"^ \(iii cfiii l;il Ihe onor;itk^B>'''\^"'H your llunnl) and linger — is ]\ia;^'ara, — yasi, mighty .11(1 ,L!;rand JS'ia 81 Tin: (ti,it .MiMii', ; im:, ~~ ;] l.in", I'.Mv. ;i l.Mp' c.'i'K " Mn\ ( liiii'; ImiI u lull. Mini lliiil I w oi\ I (li :iv\ li>r ini\ ('IIP ' " "' jl.iw vnv ;','"'il ' ' I't'l'lii'il I. "I'll l'M\\;iiil "' jlcti' i< im t>|»il >mr i>r il ;m ;iltnil;;ni('nl IIh» nlrMi. h '\{ wtMc it'^rir, lIliMif'Ji \\o\ (|(-\ clopi-d , ' Miltl hIio r\liilii|ri| . \(>r\ '',.'>>(! ;in(l :i«'(iii;ilt> sKrIrli liiKrn l>v liri' 1 t (M- (li>nr . Mini in. 'I'l' iiilclln'lMc. I liMii I In' ol hec. ' W li il >' \ o\\ tliiuK. M I'M Snn 1 In', ol' in\ ( rMiiMlcn-in", I In i I n (MuIm riih i -- w iM'K iin', il Icr M s.TCiMi. or m ('inilnnii V N"'. m «n In.'i V*(Mililn"t do. rilln'r; il"s iiiriMiv cniciil In ]\;\\r Id iimc r\ii, 1 inn' \ 'Ml w 1 -ill I (> sln>\\ il Hiil Inr m screen. el\ i' " " \ nnllier pMrl \ . mu evploriMji; one. ili;il wmm reeininoili i m wlint w M ^ ",o,n'', on in lite ilrMw ni", room, now ;irri\eil . Mini ll loin I jM'olon'.eil scMiinl ii|' N iM",MrM w Ms Mi'.Min lioMnl m I lie di I ;iii. .Minnlsl tin' eonl'ii; il linni ol' iumiiv voice:*, mm I I'ehirned |oi!. ivdl-rooin. The dMiicre', l'cnn> mI>oiiI (obe I'csnnied. I lenLi st'.Ml iit'Mr :i ^Ir; IUmh". m;\ old hdv wlio c.iiiie lor Hie |nii'|)n;i>.' oh;i]'('ronin'', In-r dMii".li1er (li;il e\(Miiiu';. I Innl Known lin r ln'r\>Milli. ImiI liMd not inel lier ot ImIc \ cmph. Mini wMi^slierk. to set' the cliMin'.c IIimI lime Innl eireeled holh m her M|i|ii';irj Miu'e Mild disposition. The phix till limiionr. lorwliitli shew:.! fciUMrlxMldi' when xoiiii:,. h;nl do'.t'in'rMled iiilo severe sMrcM.-iii the «'ll('('t s. proliMldv . ol ill IicmIi h. or oi' deercMsed lorl line. "' Who would liavi' lhoii;;Iil ol'srcine, \o\\ here, .1 ud;',i' . 8;\i»l she. " ' The Iriiili is. mv tlcMr iMrs Hljiir.' I replied. ' I Iimvcii b('(Mi Ml M hMll lor niMMv \('Mrs.;ind pndiMldv never sh;ill lM'M:',;in jind. MS 1 dined In re Io-iImv. Mini wmm in Ihc Innise winii ll »N>nip:in\ Mrrixt'd. I thon;dil I would siMV.Minl l.'ike one ImsI Iim- look Mt :i st'cnt' which vci'mIIs so iiiMiiv rec(>llecl ions of li\:v [■ i1m\ s ; ;iiul. bosidos, it mIwmvs dtu's inc i;ood lo see luippv Ian nbont iiuv' "* llMppint'ss ill ;i bMll-rooin ! she cJMenl.Mlcd. w il h sonic I'l ti'nu'ssi^i teclinj^ : ' 1 ihon^hl von wcro loo mncli ol" m philu^ plu'r to lu'luwe in snoli :i d('»'0|i(ion ! Look m1 IIimI old wall-cyoil ooUmu'I. iun\ (^oxiMisi^ the I't^'irsencss ol' the cxjin'ssion. bill 1 li;iu' Tii^ pMtioiu'i' with poopK' of bis m^' TorooH ino- Ihcir vcmi's)-! look at ih.Ml wmU-ovciI roloiud, with an obli(|nity of vision, air.j tho map i^t' Ijirop'* trat'od in roil stains or. bis laco ! Happy It. low. is ho not : 8oo. bo is actually ^'oins.; io daiu'o ! ll \^; | pu7.7.1o tlii'tso two sisttM's \o kiiow" wbicb lii* is addrossini;'.' * 8bo bad soaivoly uttcrod tbo words. vvliiMi both the yni ladios roso at onoo. oaoh thinking ho liad askod for Iho li(iiun;;| ol' hor hand. " How happy he iiuist fool,' she eoutiimed, ' in having sik':| fin Mc ;inil ;i ( ICll ( III elM hell. ; I In II' I llic n (llCMS, ImiMmi ■ IimI Im'I /'lilVi','^, linll, I, 1 1,! 11- I'l II I W isli ;» i;;iiii- vc'ir I'd V'li loH lllllC. Ji lii( i)\' id' ;i ni( Mily ;i ll \iiiiii"- i tiiijcrcd ^oriliciii Ills I lie I P.'iliiis c( llHiW d;iii pl'i;! id I, fur (lie jti'liinipli jdccs si Itlic (in lediicaliii Ik'II, ui Miirrfid )<"ir. sh, ]<'|>|)cr ( )''"l(y Ml itiiiw (d iivallah.s )iily club fl (' idea ( ^ i(l('!UI. Ill ■\liilHlr(| n 1'. niliiiilrlv "' WIkiI .lu rinlMfiil' r, :i ell ■■l\l"M '(MiixMlrrni imI . :\ihI 111 ll\(<(li -Inn., f iinii^il I" t! ' ,,'(1, I tO'llv I JUtW 11 lll'f I'l W W'A sl\i'rkril \\v\' :ii'lH';ir. 1m« 1> ^■ll'" \\ ' i'vr snrc;i-ii lorhiMtv |<-J rn\ .lutl:',(' ' 1 li;i\(' ii''l i;ill iM'Jti'jii". 1S(» \\\\c\\ \\"' (luo ImsI \o\\: lis of liv^ow] fit) • (III .I'lil.'ir |»»'i>i>r of (li(> w.'iiil Mriiiiily (ir (•x|)r('KMi(ir\ in lii-4f",«'M » liiiiK II I |li;il iiM liiil\. Willi M lliiliir ( nidiii ( i| 'iiiliii (|ir«M, ,iiii| ,111 ( iKiriiiMim li,'i;^ li!iii);ili|'; (III lirriilin, uilli I ii 1 1 1 i-i rm Ih'mmI- ,.,.,.,j (III i(. iiii'l .'I mI I ;iii.",'' I'i"iuii;; i;i|i. willi (i Im II r'ljic ;ilifi'li<'(| |,, ,,nr snli" III ll. r.llllllil!^ fl |t|i 'lili'JnllH |i(iin|l|r| nj' Ijiiwrl-'. Ill Im r |„ ll ;i-< 1 1' III JuTji 1 1 II 'II I ri'iiiti ill I II I i 11!^ Willi I III' lir;il , ,'1111 1 JM^iri;^ jilt II- ( nli'iir ' nil. nli^;rr\(' ( li;il iin iiijicc w (iin.'iii. I liiil I;mI\ Iroiii jlic iiii;il iliMlrif'iM. iiiilnlt (I III ji i'himK (■nliMiicd MlrijH'd hiII< ,|iv';-j. I Clin IIM 1 1 fill (i\ rr \\ 1 1 ll III I Ir 1 11 nil Impw ■!. Ii;i\ iti.ii; \ 'How jdiiHS |iiil|iill't III llii- iriiln'; ,'i ('.'i|i Wlllmill .H li.'iik, KhiUnl lull ol' I'imI liriM liKr ( 'null rrll i'h ;mm|iii(i| Iki' , jiimI iim i|Iii(iii-j| y I'Mi;^ rIdVCH, lull III" u link li'H. like ! lie hIuii nl mii t Ii|iIi;iiiI ' 'II icy nrn ill) |i;i|i|i\, hill ll IM llH> llll|ijillH'SM (ll Idii 11 llilillK'SM IM », |i;ill-riiiiiii ' \ ll, .1 ikIjm', yiiii jiiiij I ill!' Ion (i|(| lur y'licli I wiidill'' ! I will \nii |i;i(| lirrii III 'l( ' \\ llf 11 I ll< ' \ r I |i i\\ jr vcc \\!H fjiiM iiu ! In liiwii. Ilir yoiiii:' IimIh'.^ Ii.'im' IIic hc'M'IcI - !'\ cr iill llic^ ji i';iirisn!i yi'iir i'iiiiihI ; Inil I;imI yciirllir yclKtvv-rcvcr |in'<|iiiiiiii;il('(| ; r»(d<.s iiko a gniHH- l(t|)p('i' (III hair-piiy. ^'()U see the simie tiling everywln're. ()])Hervo thut xc.ry )ri'lly Mnd reiii;i;'k;ihly \vell-dr(^ssed lady f»[)p():-''te. Sh(! in a idow (if lartije lorluiM> and jjjood coiiiiexinnH. Her afieetif)riH ire all absorbed by that bjutoi'a l)oy she is talking,' to, who in her Illy eliiid. His bent Iviiees and stoopiiiL^ shoiihhrH (^dve you 1 '' iilcM (if a plouu'liboy, Avliil(! his liiHliioiiable dress vvfjiild lead having suc'.^Bf, n (,, suppose be liud clothed hiinst If, by i'raud or mistake, iroiri 1 i ill ii , ifllll' Hill M h 4 Ill ■ !i 8G THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, liis mnstcr's wnr(lr()l)o. Slic is ])('S(M'cliiiii; l)iin to stand propir. ]\\ iuid Ijc'Ikinc like a ^^ciitlt'iiiaii ; and, abt)V(' all, to dani-e ; tun!. which lie is bc'('()inin<; mure and more rehcllions ; and now j.e has jerked away his arm, and is diviiii; into that crowd of nun near the lire, to esca[)e from her importunities and theoljscna. tion of others. Jler wealth and station have ^Mven iier but little lia])|)iness, and hi'r maternal eai-es and devoted allcctidr, are the torment of her son. ')i(l you use that word hajipinc^, therefore, .Indite, as a eominon-plaee plu'ase, or did it exj)rt;> wliat you i-eally meant?' " 'I meant what 1 said,' I rej)lied. ' IIa])pines3 is ratlicra ne^ati\(' than [)()sitive term in this world, and ecjusists ninro ji. the ahsenee t)f some things than in the presence of otheis. I see no harm in assend)lit's where they are not the business, li;: the relaxation of lil'e, as tluy certainly are in this countrv People come together for tiie pur[)ose of pleasing and bi-in,' pleased, of seeing and being seen, to bo anuised themsclvK. and to contribute their share to the amusement of otlieiv They come with a disposition and a liope to be ha[)py. 31u.>!. and dancing exhilarate the spirits, hilarity is contagions, am!. generally speaking, people do enjoy themselves, and I deri\(r| great gratification in witnessing tiieir happiness. That uai what 1 meant, for 1 never supposed there could be an ajiseia- Llage of two or three hundi'ed people, without there beiii: some individuals unable or unwilling to partake of the gaiiti I about them. " Just then ]\Iiss Scluveineimer, the young lady that callt;| her horse a beast, and mvself an ugly old fellow, passed, luiiii; ing on the arm of a subaltern olllcer, into whose face she \va>| looking up with evident satisfaction, while listening to his Hat- tering accents. " ' Oh, charmii::g! ' she said. ' If I haven't enjoyed m\m\ to-night, it's a pity, that's all ! How do you feel ? 1 fcA kiiiii of all over. It's the handsomest party i ever saw in all iiij life ! How I like Halifax ! 1 wish lather lived here instead i:| the Bluebemy Plains! ' " ' There, madam,' I said, let us abide by the decision J that unsophisticated girl. 1 forgive her nasal twang ami kl ignorance, for the sim})licity and truthfulness of lu'r natuiv; and 1 eil'ected my escape from my cynical companion. " Conversation such as hei's is depressing to the spirits. an; lowers one's estimate of mankind. It puts you out of sort?;! for such is the mysterious eil'ect of sympathy, that a disii'ii- tented person soon infuses a portion of his own feeling iiK the mind of his auditors. 1 did not, however, derive muu LIFE IX A COLONY. 87 3 is ratlicr . ists iiuirc :' t' otlu'is. i >usiiiL'ss, 1) ,: his count r; o; and Ik:!.- i tht'iu!«i'l\'- it of ()lli>-i« H \)\)y. ^li.- ita^ious. :i!. and 1 diri.' ^. That \va:j be an asst:..-fej there bciii:j of the guidyl ^ly that calli! passed, luiii,'- lace she \va;| iiio- to his Hat- nj(\ved iiiysei:! IV i fcL'l kiii^l :a\v iu nil myl lere instead ul lie decision ] Iwang aiullk;| hei- nature;' liion. Ihe spirits, anil out of soi't>.l Ithat a disjaij i\ feeling ii.' derive uiuu litMicnt from chani^o of place, for the «j;ent1eman who next -ted ine was iiiilnicd with nnich ot'thc same ca|Uioiis spirit. vl iia\e been pityinij you foi* soiiu' time, flu(l;^a>.' he said, uld vou think of remaininir so lonur witli that bitter ace < II (i\v CO siicciiiicii of huinauity, Mrs lilair? She s|)eal;ii"tiiit lit. 1 si lal propose to Sir Jlei'cules to have shehcs put 111) on the wall for those old chaperons, with chandelin-s iu front nf them to show off their velvets to the best advantag( wl lieu ihev will be out ot ah danger themselves from heeh an( I th uii others s])urs. and be depi'ivt'd of the jiower of aiuioyi Cipital idea, isn't it? A very vulgar ])arty this, Judge? AVIit'ii itie guests that ai'e invited do come, it's not fair to send tl) the liiLihwavs antl bvwavs for others. In tliC olden time, we are teld. it was oidy when ;i man's friends declined, tliat :i. iiress-wai'i'ant issued to man the tables with the lirst poor devils that could be found ^'oing to be . supperless.' ''The party now began to iiove towards the supper-room, which geiu'rally presents more attractions to persons who stand less ill need of refreshments than those who have been fatigued or exliausted with dancing. The tables were tastefully and bcautii'ullv arrauired ; but the elTect was much iniured bv the profuse and substantial character of some of the viands, which the number and quality of the guests rendered necessary. "Whatever doubt there might have been as to the possibility of ball conferring la PP mess. tl lere cou Id b e none as to tl le en joyuient derived from the supper. In ap])roving or par- 1 taking, nearly all seemed to join ; few^ claimed exemption from age. and no one objected to a vis-a-v/s ; and, if some had danced with all their hearts, an inlinitely greater number at(i and drank with as much relish as if eatiuir and drinkinjr xvere as unusual atl unir as waltzin. ])(M'alely didl ; that it was the sevtM'est enttini^'-ont servic; L, was ever ein|)loyed in; and vowed that the steward on^dit t- havi> three do/,eu i'or his ea?'(dessness. He sneceeded, however. at last in etleetinij; the ineision, and hroni^ht away several l(ilii> of a three-eornered piece of napkin, exactly littinij; tlu^ sliiv wliicli had iini)e(led tlu' j)roL:;ress of his knife. As \\v depositcii this trophy of his skill and streni^th on the plate, he said, in an iiinler-tone, 'It only wanted a rin<^ to make it complete;' wliei-eat the ladv'a face was snll'nsed with blnshes and sniiks, and, holdin<; np her ^^lass, she said, 'A very little wine, if you please.' Complyins,' with this recpiest, anil lillinu; his own,ti)i'V ])l(>dij^e(l each other a^ain ; and something: was loolu^d, and Bomethini; was thonght, and sonu>lliin^ was felt, thon!j;h not expressed on that occasion, that, notwithstandinpf Mrs JJlain theory to the contrary, looked to nie uncommonly like hap- piness. " Miss Schweineimor was no less pleased, thoni2;h slie thouujht that the sandwiches were rather bitey ; and tlie little red thini^s in the pickles, to which Trotz had helped her, the hottest, not to be a lire, she had ever tasted, for they buniiJ her tongue so as to make tears trickle down her cheeks. " ' Do look ! ' said a younjj; lady near me to ]\lrs Smytlic-I * do look at that strani^e creatnre covered with })ink bows, aiiJ yellow glass buttons in them; she is actually eatin<^Hier supper backwards! !Slie began with fruits, and then ])roceeded to confectionery and jellies, and so on, andisuow winding up witli the breast and leg of a turkey ! AVho is she, and where dod she come from ? ' " ' Her name is AVhetstone ; I will introduce you to lier, by and by.' " ' No, thank you ; I'd rather not.' " ' The place is unpronounceable. It is Scissiboo-goomisli- j cogomah, an Indian word, signifying The AVitch's Eountaiu.' " ' Ah, indeed ! she is a tit representative.' "The inventor of shelves for the chaperons now accosteilj me again. '' 'I should have liked, Judge, to have had the pleasure ofl taking wine with you, but really Sampson's wine is not fit to drink ; he seems to have lowered his standard of taste to suit the majority of his guests. Did you ever see anything so i.iri: IX A CO I/) NY. 80 I suppose lif. 11(1 if[)('at(il ' wine, llr iIirllUT to ;i \[\; \v:is (Irs. t siTvici L rd ou^'lit t (•(1, liowrviT, sevi'i'al li)iii.v \iX ilu; slice. he d('|)Ositnl le said, in an , coinplflo;' < atul sinili'S, v.\\u\ if you his own, they hxiked, and , thoui^li not nr ]\lrs Blain illy like hap- though slie tiiul the httle Iped lier, the lliey burned lieekrt. s Stnytlie- nk hows, and | ^ lier supper )roc'ee(U'd to dinjf up A\itlii d uhere does I th ititi )rtli itli wliicli the tahlt }' :ou to her, iboo-f^oomisli- Touutaiu.' now accosted he pleasure e'' iiie is not tit •d of taste to e anything so :. 'ii«jtin" ns tlieqiiantitieH ol tlimpjs with wiiicii iiic laDlrs are ;J,.(1 (ir llie L^ross appetites with which they were (icxoiircd ? |]t is sdiiirthiui; (piito sIiockiiiL,'! He is niiiiiiii; the stale of jr'vW h'jre. '.riiese iieople rcali/e our ideas ofthe iiarpics : — Diripimiitiiue il;i[)('-<, nmlactii(|iic omnia tudaut 111 iiiiiiiili). }v the WMV, a httK' man, with a face like a sipieezed h'nionjias ("iiie me the liouour to not ice me once op twii-e to-nii^dit, with a Half faiiiiiiar and half ()1»se(|uioiis nod, wlioiu I liave heeii at a joss to iiiaki' out. 'I'lie supper-tahle has betrayed iiim at last ; for its resemblance to Ids own eonnter (for he kee|)s a eoiilre- |i(i!ii'rv-sli(>p in the eount ry) put him at ease in a moment. Jlo ' the "most useful person here.' '• A messa^^e from Sir I lereules to his aide, ^Ir Trot/,, brouf^ht liiii to his feet, muttering;, as he rose, his discontent in very iiidihle tones. The renewal of the music in the ball-room at Ihc same time intimated that the last dance \\as about to be ^Oimneiiced. • Voii ain't cjoin^, ^\v Trotz, are yon ? ' said IVTiss Seliwei- kimcr. who had unconsciously been the object of many imperti- k'lit remarks during; the last half-hour. ' Tray try one of those justards before you go ; they are so f^ood ! J)o, just to please U'. Vou know I at(^ those ti(>ry ])ickles, because you asked le;' and she handed him a liipiid one, contanied in asmallcir- ilar L;lass. "To the astonishment of everybody, bo complied with her jqiicst ; but, beinij^ iu a hurry to attend to tin (lovernor'a rishes, drank it olf without the aid of a spoon, and replaced the la.ss on the table. In a moment be became dreadfully pale, id, j)iittinj; his handkerchief to his lac(>, exclaimed — '•'(lood heavens, the niustard-j)ot !' and left tlie room in )nvulsive aj^ony from the ellects of this powerful emetic, and kip|)eared amid the malicious lau . \ iMi I'cilh <|i» il \ ri\ \\r ('iipil.il S('li()|;\r IT t'l;l-it il.nii'r I;i';( I'll Inr ;i loll" j line ; (or I lii' ( (Miiim i;ii oT ('\tM \ 1 liill"; ;i';r('r:lM(' is ;il\\ ;i \ r^i (Iclrirrij Inllii' iiIiiimsI lurnl i>r liiiKV \t Irii'Mli llii> iiiiinl |il:i\i'i| '(Iml suvc !\ 111;; * " W llH'Ii \\;iM I lie si!;ii;il rni' |i;i i! ni". iiml 1 lie riMii|>;iii\ | l(\t\t' ;ini| (liMMitpciiriMl iii ;i low niimid's. willi (li »' ('\r('|i| lull 1 lti> ;i\\ k\\ ;iril si|ii;i(l lli.il lirsl ;irri\ril. ()\\iii", In IIhmi' Ii,i\ m;iili> ;i iiiisI;iIm> hi |1u> liiMir. or riH'.'MiHiMi (o 'mno ordci ; ;h tlio liin(> tluMi' «';irri;('.M'^» wcro to coiiio lor IImmii. {\\r\ w i-iv ;i:;:i (looiiitMl to;\nno\ I lio ;Milt(M-ii;ilon;il |>;irl \ . ;iiiil I o lie iio li ssin: )ilt'\('i| ami borod I Iumii'^oKcs. " Siu'h w rro in\ l;isl nMnimsriMU'cs of ( |o\ (M'iiiihmiI IIihiv MUil. iVom wlia'i I hoar, il lias iiol al all iiiiprovod ni' lalo \i;ir- IKmi'I IoI nio l»o iiiisimilorsi ooil. Iio\\o\or. I do iio| immm^ lliis as a skclrli ol'sov-./U al ilalilav. hut oi' a |>i'oiiiisriiiiiisk at (i(iv(>rnmcnl ijousiv nor arc llu> |u'o|d(> whom I Immm;. si'nh(\| sam ph^s ol t ho \\ iol(> compaiiN JMll som(> ol till' aro sp(>cinnMis ol" (h;U pai'l ol" iL who ought novel* to iiuvol K\ tlu Si: C\\ WVVM VI TUF, (>M> AimiKAl, AM) rilK OI.U (il'NKKAl, Tnr ()oi(M inn in \vhi('h 1 hav(< hoon doiuicilcMl cwv >-\w iXYv'wcil al llliiioo was u^stordav 1 ho sctMio of (h(» i!:r(';»t('s' > iTilor and oonl'iisiiMi. SIummIv afhM' hroakfast . a parlv ol'i sliipnuMi. nionntod imi horsohack. dashoil into tho coiii'M. ilnnnii' a \ ioKMit thnndor-stonn, with \\\c spood and clalliTi' ohar^t' ol oaxalry. Tho inorrv crow al cmico disporscd ih solvos (nor o\oi'_\ part of iho lu)nst\ which raiiL;' with tlioiri niul lon::-i'ontinnod ju\ils o\' lanuhtor. Thoir nnmhiM* wa- < inoroasv'd h\ \]\c nd/iition ol" ihi'oo \iT|il iHii In I lirir '■ \: l\ i> ordi'i ■ :i ' , I Ii(-v \\(Mv a , |o lie ll<» Irssjiii. M'linHMll llnliv nl tii' l:il«" V' do not ",i\»' } nriilllisrlliilbl , Jimn 1 l>;i\i'' soiiir ol ill rr to lia\t" I'" H' id 1 ,,.,ii,,,,|,,iM. I'l' lUiii,'^ III nlini'iii ill llM If iiuh ii<"'S, fir fjUictly en|"\ 1"!^ " it h 1 lii'iii ji !',;iliir n| li ;i|)|i(pu m | |ir |i;i ;\<'f<. \\\ |;iiiiII;mI\. M I'M Siiiilli. U!M III (Irsp.'iif. All Ik r »• irioii- [■I I'll III r ; Wflr IIM I f ' 1 1 lll'l' U 1 1 ll I lie I ( '4| ,< ,| ,.;(■ | Imt slic \V!M ,'l Im illll V hvilhi'ii I imiiil. Jill .'iii!V il(>(l ov(M' sin \\\c <;n'alt's' a part} <»t'ii o tlu> «'(Miri\;t1 iinil clatliTol'l ilispiM'si'il r '1 ..• will) llii'ii' I iuil;; woait'H. >'' hl^ cluiaiug t... [nil iii\il;iii' jiwail I"! I, n, rlicnil). ;|||i| ;| (| I, \ i\ iiii' i'r«'al II ff. 'if so M ill III |iiiii III llicif K|i(iil, All (illiMc,-* wilc, uli'i llir aniviil of licr liiisliaii'l linin intlt rictMii, vvaM 11 1, piirlv |;iriliri| iiml aillixvrij at lll<' IIMlrriTit Im'Ii;i viiiiir f if I III' |ii M iiiIm |i;il slir KiiiiiiiKiiJcij ||ii' lioslf's^. iiimI miiii'hiiht(| Ihc lll- ,.|ilii,ii(it iiiiiiH'iiialcly Iraviii;^ llic Iimihc. '• I iiiii sInH Kid and Iriidil' ii'd lir\(iiid iiicami fc," sIm' said, < .|t \n\\v iiriinit I iiilM Iimsi" _v i ii II ik im ■ n I Ii 11 m II Id iiialvf r'.iicli ;i I I'.f ; lllil, iniiir ihiin all, am I iMU'iilit d at IIm' Ik lia\ mhii' oI' v'lur' maids, ulinai'i" Mir iiinsl I'diu nrd, r'iiii|)iiiL^ and sliatiu I' • -4 1)1 I II SI /(illlll' Unliirll I ever hrlirld. I iiist |iisi. now rail!' iriV i" v\ I ll ( ■ 1 1 IS a hsucimI I IV I III" •III*' who callM Imi s( ir ( li.'irlo! Ir, I lie j/r|il\ of that hold, im|)iidrnt. cr* 'at iii'c ? I com i Id scarcely hclicvo |in (:iM, 'Oh, niiv'am,' she said, 'llicy arc Hindi nice yonriL,' fciillcii'i'ii, ami so handsome, loo, ;i |»ody can't, n fuse theman^- lliiiii;; and, hcsides, I don'i, see any c;reat, harm in kissint.^. It hill were to I ry. . . .'--' I>eave my |)resence dir'ectjy.' I .-jaid ; llinw dare yon address me in that. maiinei'I Where is your -' I'l) aloft, ma am.' ' A loll aj^ain I \><>(>v lost crea- iiT, (lead to all sense id' shame, whatevrr; i pity yrdi, from the [otliiiii oj' my heart. Send your mistress to me.' .Noyy, .Mrs Imilli, I have never heeii so ve,\ed and insulted in my lite, ai.d li.'ne vseiit Tor y(,«ii to inronri you 1 shall remoyt; to anotiicr My |)oor iniofl'eiidin^' landlady e .cused licrself as well asslif; ^as ahle for an occiirrenc(! wliiidi she could neither fore>ce noi* itrol. She said she was liappv to sav. for the crcfjit ot Imp lou.H'liuld, that she bad no isucli iiuiid aa Charlotte, nor one I'e- ^tn > t'>> -n i' « 02 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, male in lior ostaMIsliinont lliat would tliinlv of aciinc^ ortiilklr; as h1u» liad dono. 1'liat that jxM'soinuust liavobcoutlie lloiiouralJ Mr Jlawsoii, who, witlilwo oIIkm-s. borrowed It'inalo attire, ^vll;;.| tluMi' own was dryinpf at tlic fire, aa tlicy liad no clotlics wi; lluMu but wliat tlioy liad on when tlioy arrivcMl ; and that ilij i'()iii])iuijf fjjirls who [)layod loaj)tVoij^ W(mv, in fact, no other tliaj iiiidMhipnion. She added, that nolliiiii^ of the idnd could oiv;-! a;j;ain, as they had just set out on their return to Halifax; iii,;| she hoped that nobody would bo ridden over or kilk'd, iur tlii started at lull gallop, wuvingtheir caps and cheering each otlitJ i)s th(>y went. 1'he Judge was a good deal amused at the story, andlaudk i Jieartny over it. "1 am a good sailor," he said, "and fond of the sea, mii(I> well ac(|uainted with the manly bearing and noble (puditicsij our seamen, that 1 make every allowance for the irre[)res.sil„t| delight and inexhaustible fun and frolic of these youii<,'stiis[ when just landed from a cruise. AVhatever croakers may <;;! about, the condition of the navy, it is in as ellicient a stati'iJ ever it was, and, when occasion requirc's, Avill give as goud iij account of itself. The Lieutenants are, in my opinion, ;i>J class, in reference to their numbers, the most active, intt'lliL;tir.[ and valuable body of men to be found in any branch of j)uli!: service in any country in the world. ]n former vears, 1 u- to see a great deal of the navy, but, alas ! all my old friciit,)! are now either superannuated or dead. " During the war, when the whole fleet of one hundred stj rendezvoused at Halifax, such scenes as you have dcscrikl wcM't* of constant occurrence, and the town was daily aimiMJ or disturbed by praidvs of the sailors. I remember one pitaj of absurdity that occasioned a good deal of laughter at til time. At the period I am speaking of, before the expciisiil mulerground reservoirs were cut out of the rock on wliiciitJ town stands, the streets Avere sometimes rendered almost ii[] })assable, from standing pools of water. A sailor, seeing a l;u contem])lating in despair one of these lagoojis, took her i;;| most gallantly in his arms, and, wading through it, sal'clytirl j)osited her on the other side. Alarmed at the suddemiess^ the transportation, she scolded her escort, in no mcasurrj terms, for the liberty he had taken, when he mounted her aiiail on his shoulders, and, carrying her back, replaced her \v1rJ he had found her, 'lumbly begging pardon, and hoping helJ recti lied his error. "The story of the man who laid a drunken shipmate at i feet of Captain CoJJln, saying, ' Here's a dead man for }u:i !• '1!^,, LIFE IN A COLONY. 03 -rn«» one that tliafc ecrontric ofTicor was always very fund of rf'laliiii,'. as illustrative of the luiiiiour of poor .lack. I " Nova Si'otia was then tiie principal naval station on lihis side of the Atlantic, hut now shares that honour with Bcnnmla ; the Admiral residing in the siuunier at the former, liul duriiiL,' tlie winter months at tlu; latter ])lace, Tlu; n()l)le Jiarlxtur ut Halifax is one of the hest, ])erhaps, in the world: Its coiitiLjuity to Canada and the United States, its aeeessihility It all seasons of the year, and its ])roximity to En<;]and (hciiii^ |he most Eastern part of this continent), u;ive it a decideil ad- bntni'C over its rival ; Avhile the; frii^htful destruction of stores It Hcnnuda, from the effects of the clitnate, its insaluhrity, Ind the daiii];ers with which it is beset, have never failed to ex- litc astonishment at the want of jud;j;ment shown in its selec- boii. and the utter disre^^ard of expense with which it has heeii Ittriulcd. The dockyard at Halifax is a beautiful esttihlish- liciit. in excellent order, and perfect of its kind, with the sin- lular exception of not having the acconunocLition of a dock loin which it derives its name. This deiieieney was severely Lit during the late war, and even in those ])ea('eablo times is a Dinre of great inconvenience, expense, and delay. The arri- ^1 of the Admiral, in the spring, is always looked forward to Hlh anxiety and pleasure, as it at once enlivens and benefits lie town. Those connnon demonstrations of respect, salutes, roclaiin the event, which is soon followed by the equally arndess and no less noisy revels of sailors, who give vent to ^icir liMiipiness in uproarious merriment. The Admiral is Iwavs popular with the townspeople, as he often nMiders them Bsculial services, and seldom or never comes into collision willi petn. lie is independent of them, and wholly discoiniected nth the civil government. 'Lucky fellow !' as Sir Hercules jinpson, the Governor, once said ; ' he has no turbulent House 'Assembly to plague him.' "■ On an eminence innnedlately above the dockyard is tho _c'ial residence, a heavy, scpuire, stcme building, surrounded pnassive walls, and resembling in its solidity and security a Jiblie asylum. The entrance is guarded by two sentinels, be- In^ino^ to that gallant and valuable corps, the marines, who Imbine the activity of the sailor with the steadiness and disci- ^ne of the soldier, forming a ha])py mixture of the best; aalitics of both, and bearing very little resemblance to either. these amphibious troops,' my old friend. Sir James Capstan, ed to say, 'are very much in the way on board of a shi]), Icept in an action, and then they are always in the right "ace.' I 1 t ^T. ' ,1' 04 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, "This was no inonn praiso for a man wlio ilioroiujlilv d. tostod tlicni, lor an insult liis dignity once suHrrod IVoiii tlu:: "wliic'li lie never ibr^ot or Ibi'i^iu e, Upon one occasion. I ;,-. lended divine service with liini on board ot* liis n.M^niiiccL; ilaii^-'sliij), llie (iraball. 'J'he discipline, in those davs, u,. di'cadl'ullv severe, and, I mav add. uninercii'id. I'he www ui'J punished so often and ^o cruelly, that they became despcratr and mutiny and desertion ^\^vvv tliinj descM'tion, and selected, ibr his text, the eleventh verse of t- sixth chapter of iS'ehemiah — 'i\ml 1 said, Should such a H;.: as J llec> ':' ' ]Ie eidai'<;ed npon the duty of sailors to be olu, (Mit to those who were set in authority over them, ami to ci:,! tiiuie true to their ene:| and looked at the Admiral, and the Admiral glared at t: men, as if he could annihilate them all. Innnediate iiii|ii;n was made, and the sti-ictest examination of e\ery iiuliviikl Dustituted, accompanied by a positive declaration that \A whole ship's company should be whipped, nnless the oiilfrj was given np. The secret, however, was never divu nor the threat of indiscriminate ])nnishment carried into elk "j\lore attention to the ^omfort of the men, greati'r y^'i\ ]arity, and less caj)rice in their management, and a scale ])unishment more proportioned to olfences, have rendered Ik. ging almost niniecessary, and executions of very rare occiimiil J\)or fellows! their lives are liard and perilous, bnt their tef t^hijis and perils are occasionally aggravated by the tyranny their superiors. Admirals, though they vary in size, teni)H:i ineut, aud talent, all, more or less, bear the same characterise 'llHl lillli. :{|iil: hull! IIi>Iiii);II{I||ih1|I LIFE IX A COLONY. 95 ipf.iMip. Tlio (lifTtTonro is ono of class. For iiisf.iTioo. ihoro i.s ivdiir .Afliniral thai is scut out to die. J^isiiiu^ aloiio ami iiiiaidod llic service, it is late in life befoi-e he attains to tiic hniiours [of Iii^ profession, and, when he docs. Ids palsied hand can iBcnn'elv L'l'asp his conindssion. Poor man ! his rcinii is short ; Ifur iiis'lifc expires bidoi'c his period of service has tcrndnatcd. '• Then there is your Admii'al that comes out to make monev. [Ir lias nohle connections, or ])arliamcntarv intcrost, and his gfi'vi-'cs thronred tlu^ navy many rjMrs after the a'jjcd man who preceded him in the command, ho 18 ill fact scarcely his jniuor in rank, so rapid has been his pro- iittion. He has come to make money — but, alas! money is no ioniser to be mad(\ The steamers carry all the ^.'oin and Ijullioii iCIi were formerly transported by men-of-war, and the idiiiiral, like others, is reduced to his pay, bis rations, and bis • Tlion comes an Admiral, because it cannot be belp(Ml. Ho |s nhl. and has been lonij^ since fori^otten, especially as he never jjert'orined any services worth reniembiM'ing : but his name is on ihc list, and lie cannot be j)assed over. Jle is accordinii^lv paced to his ap;ents. and from thence to Cludtenham, and aLi;aiii lo a cottage surrounded by eviM'v plant of every part of the woi'ld Ihat will endure the damp and sunless climate of England. 'J'ho rate of this museum of relics and curiosities is ojxmu d by a jrvaiit. dressed in n pair of loose duck trowsers, a check shirt, 111 white canvass sboes, wlio gives a twitidi with both bands to |is waist-band, a knowing nod with bis bead, and, looking at 10 postman with a mischievous air, as if be woukl dtdight in pippiiiiX np his heels and scattering his letters in the street, lys. ' W^ell, master, what cheer now r ' Closing the door on le impatient visitor, be reads on the letter the words, ' On His [iijcsty's Service;' and says, musingly, 'Some nuisty old re- irii. I suppose ; for, as for service, we are hardly seaworthy )\v.' Jle then proceeds into a little room bung round with larts. spy-glasses, swords, and pistols, and shelves on wliicdi exhibited South Sea war-clubs, idols, ostrich eggs, and curi- is feathers, the mantelpiece being garnished with an extensive plkH'tiou of the pipes of all nations : at one end of the a])art- |ent is a hammock, in which reposes the unconscious com- jandcr-iii-chief of the North American and AVest Indian laiidii. In a short time, the little occupant of the little cottage I transported to Portsmouth, where be hoists Ids ilag as Ad- iral on board of one of the noble seventy-four-gun ships in \l 11 f"' 'm 1 :.:^ji : ■ ri 00 Tin: OLD .n:p(;i: on 1h:i< hnrbiMii'. nml S(>ls sail lor IImIIImx oi* nrrmud.-i. II lnvMiisc i(, (MuMirt lie Iu'I|)(m1. •' com. ILMII lULT A.l )iir;ils MIT, h,'ipi)ilv ^\^A n>(]iiir('il ; nnd, w' 1hi» (l.'iv «>r n('(>(l coiui's. tlirv will no doiihl lir roiii'd, us n sHwMvs hM\(» hccii, MiuonLr II iMi iiimicroiis rJMss ol olhcrrs w f enjoy 1li(> I XMUdil ol" CXpiMMlMU't" WllllOUl \\\C i II 11 IMM it ICM ( if .Adnnr.'ds :ii';;iiii. <'V(M1 ol' llio s;iin(> cliissilic'it ion, iiolwit ini; lliis stroni;' r;ni\il\ -liKouoss lo (>;i('li otliof. ('(|ii;dlv d ])('('uli;irilios. which. how(>\(M', .'iH'ocI Ihcir suhofdiiialos n-l.i: ill'rr raii li:m t'iviliMus. Tl \c\ Jiro •••oii(M';ill\' iincomtoi'lniilc inniad Itoard ship. Then" is your Adniii-al who ncviM* I'cads ; ln> iii(oI(M'aI>l(> hove lo ilic llai;-(':i|)lain. whom ('li(|ii( He n'(|uii jiIltMid liiin on Acck and amuse him. lie ads Iho part; d iun'S(>. aiul louirs lo h(> r ladies w vit>]ali' a'l I'ules. 1)\- silliu;;' on lorhidden parls of iho slii|),;i; insisliiiiron his onl(>rini'' sail lo be sIioi'IimkmI iinncccssai'ilv !ippt>aso Ihoir loars. w bird \\\\c IhiMi* hoi'ses. cari'iaiics, citws. tlous. bu'ds. and lurinlnrt\ encumber llu> ship to lh(> anii(i\ai.> ol" (WtM'ybody. They arc vei'y un^allanlly slylcd li\(> iniiilicrr .lai'k. and voUnI a !Hiisanci\ a Ici'm td' i-epi'oaeh whicli is .stun. Avhat compensated lor by lIuMwidiMd adunt-alion witii ujii tW(Mi tho jilaincst. ol'thiMr sc\ ai't^ I'c^ai'dcd in a |)IacewlicnM\ lUiMi arc such a r.arily tiiat :1 pelticoat, is looked upon as tlic, trihu1(^ ol' nivinit v. *' TluMi. tluM'(^ is llu^ Aihnii'al wlio does (WcM'vlhiu'r, aiiil u ho d oi^s not hnnj; th The lii'st is ailoriMJ bv the whoU' lli>ct. d S(Mist» ol justici^ jiervadi's all his acts: sim'vu'i's are r(>\v;iri!(. gritnaui'i^s redn^ssivl. and ever\bodv and tW(M'yt hiiiii: '^*'|'t ^ lluMr phu'(\ \VluM'(^ till- secretary ruli\s all and doi^s all, t;i\, .: itism is iliscovtM'cd or siisj>i>cted ; and Wkc all favourites, ju' oxi'etvliuLiiy unpopular with (>V(M'ybody but his master. Si; Miv the nuMi who so rapiilly sut'cec.l each other in the eoinii;,i. on this station. "The old .Admiral and the old deneral (for tlu^ Gowr is almost: alwayi a military man) are the two hij^hest olliciiil: thecolon_\ ; each have tluMrstatrand their i^uards, and tarh t!; little empire to rule. Tlie one is a desp.otie and th/ otik'ri constitutional monareh, and siwiM'ally participate in tlic c venienee or disadvanta^'e ol'tluMr resjieetive systems. Tiioc jiromulijates his own laws, and issues his orders on his own sponsibility. which are implicitly obeycnl. The other sumiiULi a parliament, and assembles around him Ids little Lonls : Comiuous, and receives rather tlum uivcs law. .lie is uot LIFE IN A COLONV. 07 inncliinorv iii^t'lT, biii only n iiariof if a Horf of pciKliiliini, tliaf, l(v an ctiiial vibralioii ImlanccM mimI rc'^jiilalrs llic mkiI ioiisorixit li sides. TIh'V reside id (lillrrcnl. riids of tlic l(»\v?i, jiiid lovr to r(«i"ii a|)arl iVoin cacli oilier ; a uiiilcd service hein^j; ijie(»in])al ilde \\\\\\ the haltilsaiid dis('ij)!iMe of holli. Then! is u iniirlted diller- j.iHV ill tln-ir l)eariM,<;. "The Admiral in a ])lain, iniallecled niati, willi a, frank ;iiid (•(irilial luaniier, somewliaf |)osilive in liis I;iiimi;i^'e, ;ind having' ji voice lliaf carries aidliorify in ils ve»'y tones. Me is always luiiMilar, for lie converses so freely and allaldv willi every one, ("sncciallv willi llic clirononieler-niaker,\vlioiii lie \ isils d;iiiy, and iiisinicts in llu* nivsleries of l;d^ki|)i)cr Will sland oni of the way dnrini; Ihe operat ion, and hold his l()nij;ne ahoni; mailers of which if is impossibles ]\v. can Iviiou' aiivthiiig ; or in sendiuL^a hundred men lo w:ii-p a vess(d out of a |)lac(» of danLi;er ; or in (wliihil iniJ: Ihe .'ii^'ilily and bold- iDcsaof his sailor in e\l iniijnishinLi; a lire Ihal. delies Ihe elforls |aii(l .'inpals Ihe eonraii^e of landsmen. lie is liberal in his ex- |p('ii(lilin-e, and Hubsei'ibes nuiuilieenlly io ev(!ry obje(,*l of public Icliarily. "'rh(M)ld («en(M'a1 is enu't and formal, and is com|)elled lo ||)(M'crcnionious in defenc(! of his preroLi;al ive ;ind slut ion. lie is [also reserved and cant Ions, jilVaid to commit himself by pr'omises [or (>|iinions, and, whenever practicable, shelters himself behind E;iMU'ralilies. ^riiero is an apparent, objecl, in his condescension ; h(> is dcsiroiiiri of slandinjj: well with the <'()Mnniinit\% for mueh ■of his success de])(Mids u|)o!i his persoiiiil inMuence. ^rhe])ublic Dave a claim upon and an interest in him ; for, thou fj;h appf)inte(l bv the Crown, lu^ is their (lovernor, and they take tlus lib(M'ty of Criticizinj; him. I^he one,1 luM'efoi'e, nat urally atid unconsciously wins the ijjood-Avill of jx'ople, and the other Ial)ours to conciliate! It. ro])ularity follows one, and is wooed by the other. Their Sodi! of life and style of entertainment, too, are equally dis- similar. "The Admiral lias iiothinj^ to do with the l(^;j;Islatnro, a sort \>f iiiiprriinii in iinjx'n'o, which bo is not altojj^ether abhi to un- derstand, and whose remonstrances look very like mutiny to him, knd always sn<;<;est the idc^a of arrest and court-martial. The bountry iiicmbera, therefore, are not seen at hia tablo, nor do phcir wives and daughters ar as much interested as ever. " The sea is the sailor's home, and hia topics are drawn from evcrv part of the globe. When at the Admiral's tahle, tlierefore,'you forget you arc in Halifax. The following scraps of coin creation that reach your ear convince you that you are not among ])rovincials, but men of the world. '• ' You drive a wild horse into the stream, whom tho elec- tric eel immediately attacks ; after a few sliocks, he exhausts lii-; muscular powers, and you may & ize him with impunity. Xhcv are occasionally found six feet in length.' '"' ' The Canopus was one of Xapoleon's ships. She was built of Adriatic oak, and, old as she is, is one of the soundest and fastest vessels in the navy." ' I don't think any thing of htT au;e, and, as for the timber, it is not to be compared to I English oak: last year I saw in the harbour of St John a nicrrhantmr.n, that was employed by General "Wolf, as a trans- [port. at the siege of Quebec' " ' A doU'de-bedded room does not mean, in the States, a [room with two beds, but a bed with two persons in it. Diu'ing the groat embargo, I happened to be at Charlestown, South ICaroiina. when the landlord proposed to me to sleep with a dirtv-looking foreign officer. If I cannot have a separate bed, said. I prefer sitting before the fii ^ all night to sleeping rith that d d Kussian ! Is he a Kussian, sir? said a tall, thin, inquisitive Yankee, that stood listening to the conversa- ion — is he a Kussian ? I'll take him, then, if it convenes you, stranger. I should rather like it, for I never slept with a "lussian.' '• ' Cape Breton was once a separate government, and that little vilhige, Sidney, was the capital. AYheu I connnanded Ihe Linnet, I put in there for a supply of coal. The Governor, dio was the most extraordinary person I ever met, told me his /hief Justice had passed him in the street without touching lis hat to him, and asked me if I did not think such insolence oiild justify him in removing him from his office. Upon my iswering in the negative, he said, I'll tell you what I'll do. Jy Jove, I will declare martial law, try him at the drum-head, [ie him up, and give him three dozen ! ' "'The Chinese regard these matters very philosophically. Vhen Elliot was cannonading the forts above Canton, an [ifiicer came oif with a flag of truce to one of the ships, and )ld the Captain that he thought the eftusion of human blood jjoth useless and wicked. If you no fire iron plumbs, then I 100 Tin: OLD .IITDCJE; OR, no lire Iron ])lunil)s. You l):in^' away powder (or lialfan lio;;> and so will 1 ; tlie-ii I will run away, and }uu como and u,. tin- I'orl.' "'It, d(>|)(MidM upon wlial jiarl, of llie coasl you arc, T\h) (Jambia ia by n(» iiu-aiis unlioallliy, unless, })('riiaps, at li rainy season. li is ji niai^niliej'nt connlry ; I jUMietnc llirei' hundred miles into tlu? intt-rior, and ilu^ i'(»rest is lil., , vast nnd)rai;t'ons |)ark. I reeolleet ridinj; one nioonli/^lit ni- Ihroui!!' where I was strneU bv the sound of tl»e tinkliii'' (ifi . lunnerabh' little silver bells, which a|)pearod to be attaeluil ; all ihei trees. It was th(> AlViean nii^ht iii vi>ry gravely he saw a man brealvl?if; a Iks at- Kio, upon which lie had fastened a monstrous j)air .; mai;nit'yini; f;lass(»s, and, o\\ iiujuiring of the iellow what w... the object of putt ini; sp(>ctacles on Ji horse, lie replied that; was doiu? for the i)in'pose of givinu; him a .";ood action, for.' enlarLriuij: ever\ object on the road, it made him stei) liiijli 1 1 avoid it. JIi> told the story so often that he bey;an to belinr it himself at last.' "All this miijjht ns well have been said at Portsmoutlb; ]^ly mouth as at Halifax, but is more agreeable at the latu; place than elsewhere, because it is ii relief to the monotoouL; eonv(M'sation of a i)rovincial town. '' The eveninii; parties are much the same as tliose at Goveni- ment J louse, which 1 have already described to yon, but li:i« more naval and fewer military oIUccm's, which, in a ball-roon, is a decitled improvement. Your subaltern, when he has take: liis tirst lesson in 'soldiering' in England, of which, by thck lie is rather ashamed, I'or it is by no means the most fiirilib able amusement in that country, and lands in a coloiiv, :> rather a supercilious young gentleman, that ilnds nothing got. enough for him. lie talks to young ladies of Almacks, win.'; he has never been ; of the Opei'a, to which his mamma toii bim in the vacation ; and La JJlanche, Catalaui, or Grisi, wiiu:; if he has not seen, he has often heard of. lie thinks it beiiw;: liis dignity to dance — the lOtli never dance — why should lie I3ut the days of puppyism soon pass away, when their eyes;^ opened and they see as well and become as agreeable as otk j)iH>ple. The dear little middy is a dilfeiVut sort of person alt- getlier: he docs not try to play the man — lor he actually::^ one, a frank, jolly, ingenuous fellow. The cockpit is no plKj for atfeotation and nonsense, and if by any chance they k ■I f s;;;. UFE IN A COT/)NY 101 li.'ilf an hd- ni»* and ta, \()U arc (.;; ■rliaps, at t'; 1 ])cin'tr;i'. . rest is likr , i()iiliL:;lit ii'c iiil\lii\;^ dl','. c allacln'tl 1 itli whirli 1 t ; il was 1: 'al^iii.u; a 1i( - iroviH pair ; low what w., vplicd lliat : su-tii)n, for, l;j ;1 Htcp lli^ll t 'siaii ti) bclic\:i o ■ Porlsmoiitlu: f at tlio latk: 10 moiiotuuuiul loseat Goveni- you, but liawl in a ball-iwi n ho has tuk, lii'h, bv tk'k most lashiuL'i in a colony, :i| nothing goo, Vhnacks, wlut,] s nianiniii tov or Grisi, wlitd inks it bouca;:] ,-hy sbouUbe; ;i thoir eyesa^. •eeable as ottt: of pLM'son alt- bo actually i| kpit is no pi;. lauce they fe| I tlitMi' wnv ihcro, fhcy arc oxjx'llcd forlh villi l)y rntTimnn con- vpciit. 'I'licrc is no [liiy or sympatliy, even for (he real distrcsH lot'an 'cx for his pains!- ho oui^'ht to have kept mu at school. Did you cry when you hd't home ? ' ' Ves, iir,' said iho little fellow, Teleasini!; his hold, and ])utt ins; hot h ista to his (>yes, as if to stop the ;^nshinL( tears. 'And your lotlier, did she cry ? ' ' Ve-es, sir.' 'i'lic; old tar paused for fi loinciit as if toucdied by this instance of maternal tenderness, id at last said, in a voice of ^reat feelinjj^, ' J*oor old devil!' Lnd, t\vit(diini,' up his vvaistbaiuls, resumed his walk. Now that, lid Hook, was the only instance of real sym|)athy I ever saw. jPoor old devil ! ' how much those worda convey Avlieii they Ionic from tlu; heart ! '' Jiiit to ndurn to what I was talkinp^ of. A man-of-war a capital scdiool to train a younijfster in. Take a military lan out of liis jirofession, and to a certain extent he is a help- B83 beiii.!'lllll lilllilll .1 T.ll. ;:!' i]. 102 THE OLD JUDGE; OR. probably dorivcMl citlior from the sodatencss or awlvwardness r'i my inaiiiier. Wo liad lost Hi<'lit ot* oach other for iiiaiiv v(r> ■ \vh<>ri I Avas snr|)ris(.'d and dcli'^htc'd at hearing that lu.' 1i,,;l arrived at Halifax aa Coiinnander-in-Cliief ou thia stati.;. f * Good heavens ! hero is Old Sandford,' he said, as he tiuw i;. advaneing towards hi!n. Alas! what had begun in jest ti::- had turned into reality. I had, indeed, become an aged ma, 'My good friend,' he said, 'your country has had more tl,:,:. its share of your time and attention. I must nu;noj)olizc v . now while you are in Halifax, for we have our mutual histor; . to relate, and much to say to each other. To-morrow wc ,v to have a regatta. I su])[)ose it would be infra dig, for tliti . Judge and the old Admiral to dance a jig together before ti,;| youngsters, but I'll tell you what, old boy, I don't know av1i;i; you can do — but I could dance one yet, and, by Jove! w1k:| we are alone this eveninn: we will trv. It will remind us old times. AVhat has become of the Smiths ? monstrous f,i>| galls those — I have often thought of them since.' 'Dead' 'Dead! the devil thev are! how shocking;! and these t'.\ romping little Browns ? married, I suppose, and have roinpiL.i little daughters.' I shook my head. 'Gone, too,' I sai;^^ 'You forget that forty years have passed since they wir-«>' \ young, and that the greater part of that generation has pasj:< away.' ' AVell, thank God, you and I, old fellow, have l :| passed away ! I don't know Avhat you intend to do, but IIit'^ no idea of going yet, if I can help it. I am worth a dozou df2:^j| men, and so are you.' AVhile active employment had kej)t lii:] so busy that he appeared not to have been aware of the lap> of years, time also had passed him without notice : his spiriiil \vere as buoyant and joyous as ever. " The following day was as brilliant and propitious as coi;!;| be desired, and at an early hour the harbour was covered Avi!:| boats filled with light hearts and merry faces. The noble slii: I the Graball, was tastefully decorated with flags of every varierl and colour, and presented a gay and beautiful api)earariir, Every convenience that ingenuity could iinent, or delicti; suggest, was provided for the comfort and accommodation :: the guests ; L\Qvy arrangement Avas perfect with the single «• ception, as a young lady observed, Avith some degree of regre: that there was not a single pin on the toilet-table of the Ami- mg-room. " Soon after the company arrived, and while the Admirabviip surrounded by a numerous assemblage of ladies, a little iiot:.. of canoes Avas observed advancing from the opposite shore '| Dartmouth, led by a ^i^ al officer, the Commander-in-Chief ' Hve, ''!ii!||, LIFE IN A COLONY. 103 Ilia own navy, Admiral Paul, the Indian. Ho vas a tall, \\v]\- iult' activt.* man, in the primo ot'lilc. lli' was dressed in a, fnnk-i'oat witli red la'Mn<];s, sei-nrt'd round tlio waist by a sash ot' scarlet wampum ; his i'eet were ornamented witli a pair of vi'llow moccasius, with a white and hhie t'd^'iii^', euriously unnii^ht witli tlie quills of tlie porcupiiu'. A uiilitary eaj) (a |iiv>i'ut from some ollii'er of tlie |jarrison) eouiph'ted his ecjuip- uifiit. If 13 a[)proaelied the quarter-deck witii an ease and ele- ruiici' of motion that art can never supply, and, addressinjj; Sir Jaiiu's, said, ' Are you tho Admiral ? ' ' Yvn ! ' 'So am 1 : 1 aiu Admiral Paul — all sauio, you see, as one brudder,' '• Paul, notwithstanding that his manner was so natural and imalli'ited, was a great rogue witlial, and found it convenient to invest hiuiself with two conuuissions. AV'ith tiie otllcers of the iiiivv he was an Admiral, and with Sir Hercules Sampson he was* a Governor. He was, therefore, to use nis own language, 'all sinne as one brudder' witli both ; and, standiug on sucli a footiiii,' of intimacy, was enabled to receive fraternal assistance without any diminution of liis dignity. He also had the niis- ftirtuue to take ' very big drinks,' which, though tliey did not lower the respect of his tribe for him, had the eiiect of setting tiu'iu a very bad example. Upon one occasion, when he Avas Boliciting a loan from tlie Governor (for he never condescended to beg), he was unhappily intoxicated ; his wants were liberally supplied upon condition that he should never appear at 'the Palace' again, unless he was perfectly sober, an agree- nient into which he very readily entered. About a fortnight afterwards he required another loan, but the Governor refused it. ' Didn't you promise me never to let me see you tipsy again ? ' he said. 'Sartin!' he i'e])lied. ' AVhy didn't you keep your word, tlien ? ' ' Sartin, I keep my word.' ' Why, you are drimk now, man.' ' Sartin,' he replied, very coolly, ' sartin, but il's the same old drunk, though — Paul not been sober since —all same old drunk, Mr Gubbernor.' The drollery of the reply has caused it to pass into a by-word in this country, ruifonn occupations, or frequent repetitions of the same thing, are constantly denominated 'the same old drunk.' Having established his relationship to the Admiral, Paul thought the opportunity for obtaining a loan not to be onntted. ' All same as one Innidder, you see, Mr Admiral, so ])lease lend me one dol- lar.' The novelty of the application pleased my friend amazingly, and he gave him several, adding, very needlessly, that there was Eo uere^.sity for returning them. Paul received them with an easy buw, and deliberately counted them, one, two, thi'ee, four, £'.e, sii ; and then, taking a fur pouch from the back part of his If ^1 i f'lpi! i 1 ■I i! t 1 ! 11 u ill coinmon with \\\c vounu; l.-ulics, I s;i\v l)iil lilll(>. I li.a, always n\L:;ar(lo(l a l)oal-rart> nr; a \cv\ Nliij)i(l, and a liorsr. rai'i' a \cvy vvuv\ lIiiiiL;-. I iii'V(M' could lalvc any interest in Ih'-in. and lo di^scriht^ eitluM' wiudd ho to tell a t lu'icc^-lold tnli'.l Thi^ Admiral, howmer, cntrnMl inio it with all his heart, nml was ileli;;hled thai tlu' ilshennen of llerrinfj; Cove and i1k e.astiM'n p;issai;'e hiMt (as they always do) lh(> har^e ot'lh(> m;\\\- ol'-war. lie said it woidd lake the eonetMt out of the lnl)lin\ inakc^ them nnnd their (>y(> lor the I'ntun^ tor there was not a! man in theshij) coidd pnl! an oar propiM'ly. " 1 was more anuist'd myself at what was passiiigaronnd ii;' A dance on biKird shij) is always moi'i* pleasant than in a ba nmin, not that the latler is less commodious or conveni(Mit, bi::] because* tlu^ former is a iiov(dty. Tiie decorations are diUcniii, and (weii the natural olisiacles of the plan* arc* eillu*r concealnil Avith taste, or converted into objcH'ts of use or ornament. Tlif otVect is produced by <;reat ti'«Md)le and in^eiuiity, and who ;iiv there who do not perscuially api)roiiriat(* nuich of thisasaconijjli- ment to tlu*msidves? The part of host is })layed not by one, I but by twenty, tor every ofU''i*r is intiMTsted in the honour i:| the ship, and the reputation of her hospitality ; and wli't caiiiintB many hands, lieads, and hearts accomplisli ? The dance (tlr, f after all, though the rei^atta was the jirotessod oliject, thiswa? the real -/.ti'act ion, which was on the main deck), from the hour, the ]dace, ami the occasion, partook nu)re of tlie cliaracter of ;i I private party than a public entertainment, and was accordiiigiv| more aj^reeablo, iu proportion as it was less lormal. thn LIFE IX A COLONY. lo: CO, 1\(' fl" j . , MMM'cIv ii . y ciisv/ \ iian r ' pi'ii, i.«(l, ' 1 kii iu> «1 — ll 1 Mr Adiiiii',,,. !' \\v I'l'plii.; ijo nwav, li^; jirovr liicii:,. I niinalinu.a!:'. his Mi'in inar, . iMrA.liuir;,!, )), you HOSIV ^I'uhI IIkiI jii?- 1 iolicnr tliat, ,nl(>. I lia\>' and !i litirsi- ly iiiliM'csi ill' u'icr-toM tale, his lirnrt. audi C'ovc ;inil tk' i» of lh(> man- >r the hihluTs, re waa uot a | iiir around ivio, han in a na - jiivcMiirnt, 1' 1 ai'C ditlVrrh'.. h(M' eoiu'oaliii KVUUMll. Tiu' , and who are his as a coiiipi;- Id not by one. lie honoiu" el ,d wdi't cannot \\c dance (tor, DJcct, ihiswiij ll'I-oni the liour, character (>t':i las accordin:,'')' ll. I "'Ah, SMiidlonl,' said the Admiral, wlio was dclinjlijcd hc- koii'l nii'a?a. It made it fashionahle, and fashion plays the devil with a lip. We shonM always keep up the distinctions hetweeii the >r\i('cs. Lrf llic (triiiii he fdHliiniiclilr, and lliciHtri/ ))un'!i/, and tJicy stick to that, thi'y may keej) t-heir troops at, home for irad'cs and reviews, and we will do all the liL^dilin;^' for them : ' id. lowcrinL,^ his voice, saiil, ' I don't know what- you intend to but the sun is over t-he foi'e-yard, and I am jjjoiiiL^ to have w i-^s nf Lji'OL^'. I suppose it would horrify Sam|)son to ask him, |r!ic is too fashionahle for that, and, if lie wasn't,, his stoek is icklcd so tiL,dd, he couldn't hend his head hack sniruaent Iv tf) ralldW it. lie is not a had fellow, though, after all, hut he is ^eiif the (dd stdiool of ])ipeclay and pomatum sohliei's, and is ptiU'aiid standied as a shirt collar.' ■• III the iindst of fj;aiety thei'c is always sadness. The (diords Iplcasm'c ai'c so interwoven with thos" of melanidioly in tin; \w\\\\\ mind, that it is dilllcnlt t.o tou(di the one wit hont, (^■lnsin;^ ihratiou of the otiiei'. liiluM he si rini^s of an .I'lolian harp, 3y all awaken to lih? uiuler the inllnenci i 't,he saiiu; w hisper- hrccze, and l)len(l tlu'ir joyous notes and pensive wailiiiL^'s jcllicr. Tli(> Admiral seemed to he; sensibly aU'ected by this ^^l('l•il)us feidiuL?. But it was a, mere sudden emotion, as lleet- aiid as transitory as a (d<,;Hl passin New England, he happened to dine on shore, and, as usual u ' him Avlien not on board, got tipsy. The select men, who allVi: to be dreadfully shocked at such a bad example being set b\ i. pie in high places, apprehended him, and put him in the stocir a terror to all evil-doers. For once in his life (for he wasa . lent-tempered man), he uttered no threats, and made no ^ plaints, but quietly submitted himself to the inevitable iiis^ On the following day he called upon the committing magistratril applauded their zeal and impartiality in administering the b and invited them to come and dine on board with him, as apr that they no longer harboured any resentment against him Im- heinous offence he had perpetrated. This they readily ai'i to do, and were accordingly most kindly received and hospit;; entertained, and enjoyed themselves exceedingly. As the i. approached for their departure, a servant en: '"red the cabin, i whispered to the custos that there was a gentleman abovew desired to speak to him for a moment on urgent business. . soon as the Justice made his appearance on deck, the h swain seized him, stripped him, and tying him up, gave dozen lashes. Each of the others were severally suiiiaioiic. and punished in a similar manner, when they were set oils! — the anchor was hoisted, and the vessel put under weigh England.' " But to return to the party ; the company wasamixcdi every officer having invited his own friends, and some of tk: having made rather strange acquaintances. — I heard one of: young ladies object to a tune which she said was as old as' grandmothers ago,' and another observe that Lord lleatliir.. his ' high mighty boots on,' and was quite ' highcock spotty : day. The sentiment was old, though the phraseolo^n' " novel, and it must be admitted that if there were nothing': proprieties in this life, vre might, perhaps, lose in insipidin much as we gained in refinement. The maxim that cxtit:. meet was fully verified, for the smallest midshipmen seeuki; pride themselves on having tlie tallest partners. I heaul little fellow, who threw back his head and looked up ;,t chere amlc, as if he were addressing the man at the niast-li say, ' I hope you will keep a good look-out, or we shall nm; of the captain.' ' Starbord, ]\Lilne,' said one. — ' Larlw yivipsey,' said another, while a third advised his friend, \\1 peared to be steering wildly, to 'port his helm.' " The great object of attraction was an American lieii'i:; LIFE IN A COLONY. 107 limmonsc fortune, a young lady from Xew Orleans. She was the diiu'^liter of an imderttiker in that city, which was the best Btaiul iu the Union, as he boasted, for a man in his line of )u?iness. His coffins were made in ^Massachusetts by machi- lerv. and served the double purpose of conveying; ' New England lotioiif*' to the Mississippi, and the dead to the churchyards. Jut. alas, for human expectations ! the delicate girl of a sickly cliinate, who had been enriched by the toll-house of the grave, rainpire-like, was plethoric and heavy. She looked like an hos- pital nurse that faithfully delivered the medicines to the patients, inil ai)proi)riated the wine and porter of the convalescents to hersflf ZSever was there such a disappointment ; for, after fll, it is easy to invest with divinity the being that presides j)V('r funeral obsequies, and there is sublimity as well as poetry In the <,n-ave, but reptiles alone fatten on corruj)tion. ' Stay, lill.' said a little humourist to his companion, ' she may have a lillion of money, but I'm blowed if she is worth a d — n, after iwr " If, however, she had thriven by caring for the dead, there ras one of the company who was nearly worn out by caring for Ihe living. He was an active little old man, with a benevolent lougli remarkably ngly face, and, judging by his dress, belong- |d to some public department. His head was uncommonly bald, id very nearly round, which, with the yellow tint of the skin, lufrgested the idea of a ball of soap that had fallen en the iloor, id. rolling on the carpet, had gathered a few hairs. He attend- at the ladder, and assisted the ladies in their ascent to the |eck ; cautioned tliem against portholes and hatches, which, lough closed, might open of themselves, and ])recipitate them ^ther into the hold or the harbour ; pointed out the cannon, and itreatcd them not to stumble over them, as they might frac- ire their limbs ; and, above all, advised them not to stand in raughts, or take ice-creams when they were heated. He had jlong catalogue of accidents wherewitli to illustrate every cau- |on, and several ingenious inventions to counteract the effects damps or chills. "The Admiral, whose attention was directed to him while he |;ood bowing to the ladies, and rubbing his hands, asked who lat 'little wash-my-hand sort of a person was, and, on being ^formed that his name was Davis, recognised him asabarrack- [astcr whom he had known at Malta, and immediately uddi'essed Im, complimenting him upon liaving ' worn so well.' ' Ah, my fear Sir .Tames,' he said, 'my good looks have ruined me. It is )e worst thing in the world to have a jn\('nile face. The nie- Ical board rej'used to superannuate me last year, saying 1 wad i i vi vs ' ■;:iil! \m ■■>' "'Ir i:ii, 111! 103 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, •la. ||i||{||;Ili'l:M: lill! !. ' lil M/i-l! iUll an active man yot, and fit for service. INIost men like to V, young, or to be tliouglit young, but, alas! my good looks hi . been a great misfortune to me. They have broken my hean- yes, yes ! they will be the death of me yet. But don't let ::• detain you here, sir, in the draught of this awning ; it is v.- ^ dangerous, very liable -to give cold, or bring on rheuniati>!i!-.l thev are the cause of lialf tlie illuess in the country.' 'Y, ' should h;n'e stood in one of theui yourself, then, my old friiii,;, was the good-humoured reply, ' before you applied to the boanij for your superannuation.' " The lunch, which was a capital one, was a merry affair, ;;r:i everybody seemed to enjoy themselves uncommonly. But \\\. - was tliere ever a midshipman without a practical joke attest: . his ])resence ? The Governor's hat had exchanged its plume ; ■ a sprig of spruce, and a commissary-general, whose sword-b.: liad been shortened so that it would no longer buckle round h:'- was heard to exclaim, ' Good heavens ! is it possible the luriet.j eon could have made all this difference in my size ?' " Vv'hile roamiug about the ship, I was a good deal siirpr:? ed at the apathy of a sailor, who was sitting with his bn.;j turned to the gay scene, quietly stitching a pair of shoes, wiij the most philosophical iudilh'rence to all that was passii around him. In reply to some remark I made on the subj^:! of the party, he said, ' Ah, sir, I have seen enough of tliem ;: my day — our part of the entertainment will come to-niomixi when we have to clear up the ship, which will be in a devil oi;| mess wlien it's all over.' " The big-wigs, as the naval and military commander?-iijl chief were called by the youngsters, were now preparing to ;:j on shore, and the former pressed me to accompany them. Ail they Avere about to descend the side of the ship, our old lrier.:j Paul made his appearance again. 'Ah, Mr Gubbernor,' het^ai: 'sartain me lose very much yesterday — my camp all burned ii:j — Paul very poor now.' '1 am very sorry for you,' was tb reply. ' Yes, brudder. but how much are you sorry ? A> you sorry one pound ?' The ruse was successful, and the «:.• tribution, as a measure of grief, was paid to him. ' And vi: ]Mr Admiral, how nuich you sorry? ' Another pound rewiirj ed this appeal also. ' Thank you, brudders — sartain v<\u\ man's poclvct, like brook, keep run all the time, and never m empty. Indian man's pocket all same as glass of rum, driidc, and it's all gone.' " We noAV left the ship ; and at the dockyard gate, where tk'H respective carriages were in attendance, the o/fi^^it/wz/rfl'/ and 12T old General cordially shook hands with each other, and parted | LIFE 12? A COLONY. 109 ii ; CHAPTER YII. THE rmST SETTLERS. ^'oTiiiXG astonishes the inliabitants of these colonies more ihaii the poverty, ignorance, :iud degradation of tlie people who ire landed npon their shores, from the passenger ships that inually arrive from Europe. The destitution of these unft)r- iiiate emi'^rants so far exceeds anything ever seen among the Utive ])opulation, that they cannot understand how it is pos- tihle that human beings can voluntarily siu'render themselves willing victims to starvation, who have the bodily strengtiv work, and the opportunities of earning tlieir bread, as it is t'ell known they have in their own country. Although they too often the dupes of demagogues themselves, they are too [roiul to receive alms, live in a coinitry too poor to feed wilful Jlencjis, and no man has ever yet had the hardihood to incite leiii to rapine and murder. Though neither frugal nor diligent, they cannot conceive a jople being satisfied with less than a decent maintenance, or sing so debased as to beg, or so Avicked as to take by violence [hat tliey can earn by labour. They are a kind and alfection- le people, and hear with horror of the astrocious crimes with [hich, alas! so many of these strangers are familiar at home. A group of these unfortunate and misguided people, arriving Eliiisdale this morning, sought, or, I should rather say, de- [anJed, ])ecuniary aid, for their tone was more exacting than jipplicating. As they were all able-bodied men, they received oiler of employment, which, they were informed, was the kurse usually adopted at that place, as best suited to the 3ans of the proprietor, and the object they had in view, of rniug a subsistence. This tliey refused, not only with inci- lit}^, but with a distinct avowal that, if they were in their own luutry, they would take a very sumnuiry mode of enforcing Imphauce with their wishes. " Oh," said the Judge, " what a change has come over tin's tinent ! These men, who begin bv begging or stealing, end ^ govermng. Political power is possessed by the mass, and p str^\im of pauperism increases and pollutes it ; and wluit- iv our ueighbcurs may say to the contrary, civilization is re- )grading, and not advancing. In this province, all our eiui- ita of late years have been poor and illiterate. The tirat ! ! ■ ;l ■ =r- it ■ Mt v.: :i Y'i i! iiiiii ! lli;i|!li!irW:i!' I 'iil : 110 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, settlers were scholars and gentlemen. Tou may reccilled h-. lated to you, some time ago, the particulars of a singular ti-i was concerned in at Plymouth, in which one Barkins was r. client, and the reluctance I had to go there, in conseqiiciiiv an interesting examination I was making of the scene of ' first effective settlement made in this continent at Anna]!... The people who discovered and colonized this country wiiv > diiferent from those who come to us in the present day, that. may amuse you to hear the result of my investigations. " During one of my visits to Paris, I had accidentally ly. with the Journal of ]\Iark Lescarbot, a I'rench lawyer, Avho : accompanied the exploi-iiig party that first visited this par America. With this book in my hand (which was publi.sln /;. early as 1609) I traced their movements from place to plarv. their attempt at colonization. On the 8th of November, Ir Henry IV. of France granted to the Sieur de Monts, a 2;(iit man of his bed-chamber, a patent, constituting him Lii"; iiant-General of L'Acadi (now Nova Scotia), with powir conquer and Christianize the inhabitants. On the 7th of Mar having equipped two vessels, he set sail from Havre dc Gr:; accompanied by the celebrated Cham[)]ain and Monsieur P trincourt, and arrived on the 7th of May at a harbour (Li pool) on the south-east shore of the province. Prom t!i': they continued coasting the country, until they arrived at • Bay of Puuday. On the eastern side of this bay they discn- ed a narrow strait, into which they entered, and soon fi :^ themselves in a spacious basin, environed with hills, from vli:d descended streams of fresh water. Between these high laiii ran a large navigable river, to which they gave the name L'Equille. It was bordered by fertile meadows, and filled c delicate fish. Poutrincourt, charmed with the beauty of place, gave it the name of Port Royal (now Annapolis). Afc exploi'ing the neighbourhood, and refreshing themselves, tki ascended the river Saint John, as far as Predericton, and tk visiting the coast of Maine, spent the winter of 1601-5 at t island of Saint Croix, the identity of which has lately beeut subject of so much discussion between the governiiieiits Great Britain and the United States. The weather proved v^: severe, and the people suffered so much from scurvy, that tlirp six of them died. The remaining forty, who were all invali;/^ lingered on till the spring, when they recovered, by meaujf 1 the fresh vegetation. " After an ineftectual attempt to reach a more southern mate, they recrossed the bay to Port lioyal, w^here they fo- a reinforcement from France of forty men, under the comffi- savage lich th leir el LIFE IN A COLONY. Ill ^f Piipont. ,occui);itum jore soutlieni rhere they i- Ider the comir.. They then proceeded to erect buihh'ngs on tlio t where Annapolis now stands, with a view to a j)ernianent of tlie conntry. De JMonts and Poutrincoiirt, aviiii; put their affairs in as good order as possible, embarked n the autumn for France, leaving Pontgrage Commandant, ,lh Chaniplain and Champdore as Lieuteiumts, to perfect the ttlfiiicut ami explore the country. During the a\ inter they ■re plentifully supplied by the savages with venison, and a .vat trade was carried on for furs. Nothing is said of the iurvv ; but they had a short allowance of bread, not by reason ,f iinV scarcity* of corn, but because they had no means of lulin? it, excej)t a hand-mill, Avhich required hard and con- niied hihour. The savages were so averse to this exercise, at thev preferred hnnger to the task of grinding, though they ere olfered half of the ilour in ])ayment. De ]\lontsand Pou- incourt were at that time in France, preparing, under every isfduragenient, for another voyage. " On the i:3th of 31 ay, l(iOG, they sailed from Eochelle, conipanied by Lescarbot, who has left ns a record of their rot'ccdings; and, on the 27th of July, arrived at Port lloyal. fo their astonishment, they found but two persons renuiining. le rest, conjecturing froin the long absence of succour, that le settlement had been abandoned by De Monts, compelled le otlieer in charge to sail for Canseau, in order that kv niic;ht obtain a passage to France in some of the fishing fessels that frequented that port. Two men, however, having lore courage and more faith than the others (La Taille and Teqnelet), volunteered to remain and guard the stores and the jildings. These faithful retainers were at their dinner, when |8avage rushed in and informed them that a sail was in sight, lic'h they soon discovered to be the long-expected vessel of leir chief. Poutrincourt now began his plantation; and king cleared a spot of ground, sowed European corn and Ivcral kinds of garden vegetables. '• But notwithstanding all the beauty and fertility of Port )val, De Monts had still a desire to make discoveries further nards the south. He therefore prevailed upon J^outrincourt to Idertake a voyage to Cape Malabarre (Cape Cod), and, on the Jth of August, the ship and the barque both put to sea. In le former, De Monts and Dupont returned to France, while V'trincourt, Champlain, Champdore, and others, crossed the |y to Saint Croix, and then continued their sur\ey of the ipt. Li the mean time, Lescarbot, who remained behind at |>rt Eoyal, was busily employed in the cultivation of the gar- harvesting the crop, completing the buildings, and visiting eucampiueuts of th.- natives in the interior. I' ^1 > if rj !:lil m ilfii 9Bi »"^ m\ 112 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, On the 1 Itli of Xovcmber, Poiitrincourt returned I'rotn \\ explorini:^ voyage, whicli luid proved disastrous, and was rt'ct.! -^ witli every demonstration of joy by the party at the fort. lJ carbot had erected a temporary stage, which he called the 'Tb| tre of Xi'ptune,' from which he recited a poetical address to;., friend, congratuhiting him on his safe arrival, probably the tL- verses ever written in Nortli America. Over the gate w.-. ])l.u'ed the royal arms of Trance, encircled with evergreens, v the motto, — 'dyo peotegit vxvs.' " Above the door of the house of De ]\ fonts were placed'; arms, embellished in a similar manner, with the inscriptioa- ' DABIT DEUS HIS QUOQUE TINEM.' " Poutrincoiirt's apartments were graced with the sanies::] pie decoration, having the classical superscription, — 'INYIA VIRTUTI IS'VLLA EST VIA.' "The manner in which they spent the third winter (IGOiji was social and festive. Poutrnicourt established the ordir '<; ' Le Bon Temps,' of which the principal olficersand geutlei: | fifteen in number, were members. Every one was mai're J'' ! in his turn for one da}^, beginning witli Champlain, who w;is::f installed into the oflice. The president (whom the Indian< 4 ed Atoctegi)having auperhitended the preparations, manhc j the table, baton in hand, with the collar of the order roiniil neck, and napkin on his shoulder, and was followed by the tv, successively, each carrying a plate. The same form wasol- ed at every meal ; and, at the conclusion of supper, as ?i : grace was said, he delivered, wdth much gravity, his iusigii office to his successor, and pledged him in a cup of wine. ^ advantage of this institution was, that each one was enuiliv. be prepared for his day, b' previously hunting or fisbin. purchasing fish or game of the natives, who constantly re?;.: among them, and were extremely pleased with their iiiaucJ The chiefs of the savages were alone allowed the honour ofa ting at their table ; the others partook of the hospitality of:j kitchen. The abundance and variety of the fare this winterJ a subject of no little boasting to Lescarbot, on his retu:: Europe, where he taunted the frequenters of la Hue aux Oll^j Paris (where was one of the first eating-houses of the dayj.iij they knew nothing of the pleasures of the table who hadnoti taken of the beavers' tails and the moufiles of the moose of P| Eoyal. The weather, meanwhile, was particularly uiiidi agreeable. Ti[E |is aiitu leiv Ih [til ;^-re; l)0(]('d • fUptOL LIFE IX A COLONY. 113 "On the lllh of Janunrv, on a Suiulav, tho" pmcoedtMl hy \\:\\vv two Icai^ut'S, to a corn-f'u'ld, Avliero tlu'V dined clu'crtnlly ill tlio simshiiu', and enjoyed the music ot'their tatljerland. You \\\\\ iibsone, therefore, my dear sir, tliat, from the earliest ac- oniint we linve of this climate, it has always had the same charac- ter of variableness and uncertainty. The winter but one preced- iiimtliis (when they were at St Croix) was extremely severe : and, Uc nrc inrorined, that that which succeeded it was remarkable for the most intense cold tlie Indians ever recollected. Their Itiine, however, was not devoted to amusement alone. They jerectod more buildings, for the accommodation of other adven- [turcrs, whom they expected to join them the following year, in Iniakini:: pitch for the repairs of their vessels, and, above all, in nitlitii,' up a water-mill to <;rind their corn. In this hitter at- t('iii[)t they completely succeeded, to their own infinite relief id the preat anuisement of the savaoes. Some of the iron rork of this first North American mill is yet in existence, and Miothor of the same kind (Easson's IMill) still occupies the K'ieiit site. "You will, perhaps, smile at the idea of antiquities in a boimtrv which is universallv called a new world; but America las ;i ^Tcat advantage over Europe in this respect, that it has record of its birth, while the origin of the other is to be [ouu'lit for in the region of fable. I am a native of this country, 1(1 this little settlement lias always had great attractions lor le, who am an old Tory, from its ]n'imogeniture being two [ears older than James Town, in Virginia, and three years jiiior to Quebec, which was settled twelve years before the uUiig of the Pilgrim i'athers in Massachusetts. ^1/^ CIIAPTEE YIII. MEnKIMAKiyOS. The shooting season having commenced most favourably lis autumn. Earclay and mvself si)ent a few davs at I'oxville, iprt' the snipe are very abundant, and on our return tried, jth [i-reat success, the copse that skirts (he meadow between |rnsi!;;le ;.nd lllinoo for woodcoclc. AYbile crossini': a little XmIi (1 ])romontory that intersected the alluvial land, and in- Pruptod our sport, 1 heard the shrill voice of a female at some m\im m THE OLD JUDGE; OK, little (listnnoo, in gn^at n])i)nnMit distross ; and, i^toppinn; a iii incut to Jiscertain the diri'i-tion tVoin whence the sound caiiir, distinctly iicard tlie l'olh)\\iiiat is worse, I am neitlier invited nor expeeti'il, ] rcMt't this llie more," 1 added, "as 1 should liice very much tu sre a piekiniek stir." "Ah, vou are I'unnint? now, ain't you? "Would you, though, ill rael. riiht down earnest ? " " C'ertainlv," 1 said, " I should be delii!;hted." '•AVrll, tliat's very easy iixed, any how. John," she said, '•"oand bring your basket, and look into sister Hannah Dow- Icr's wau'gon^ and feteh the wooden pail, with the birch bark cover, and no handle to it ; and if we can't ilnd enough for the Ktraiiu'cr, it's a pity, that's all." John hesitated for a moment, standino; before her with a very pnrrowful ex])ressioii of countenance, as if to catch an assurance from her eve that he was not to be deserted for another. Whv^what ails the critter?" she said, ''that you stand tfitariii' and a gaj)in' there, as vacant as a sj)are room, looking as lif vou couldn't hear, and had never seed a body afore;" and Itheu. altering lier manner as if the truth suddenly Hashed uj)ou her, she added, in a milder and more conciliatory tone, '• Go, John, that's a good soul, and don't be all day about it : " words that iusjiircd new life and most rapid motion into the jealous swaiu. kShe then seated herself on the grass near the declivity jot the sloping knoll, and, leaning back, supported her head with [her hand, by resting on her elbow. " Sit down," she said ; " sitting is as cheap as standing, when lyou don't pay for it, and twice as easy." Obeying her command, |I assumed the same attitude, and there we were, who, a lew lomciits before had never seen each other, in this singularly jasv position, conversing face to face as unceremcjniously and freely as if we had known each other lor years. " Dear me," she said, as her eye fell on my disengaged hand, for the other ras concealed by my hair, " what a small hand you have, and low white it is ! — what do you do to make it so white ? — washin' them in buttermilk, they say, is grand ; — what do you do ? " '' Nothing," I replied ! ''wearing gloves produces the eflect." "Ah ! " she said, " I see you belong to the quality, I sup- pose, or keep a store, or sell doctors' means — and haven't to use ^our hands. Mine " (and she held up one of hers, and examined It minutely) " are horrid hard, ain't they ?— all crinkum crankum Tike, and criss-crossed every which way — sort of crisped and phapped ; but it can't be helped, I do suppose, for they are in md out of hot and cold water for everlasting." " It is lucky it doesn't affect the lips," I remarked. " Well, 80 it is," she replied, and added, in the most artless I HKji,^W' * 1 pi' i: '' IIG iiiannc 1' vou n « 1 i ' « 1 (( -^ K ,. . 'ilil'i ;i;iii:i |i:'f:M J '• " !■'!'! ■ •'■'111 m THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, T possible, " I vow, T never tliouglit of that before, g; 'ver see a pickinick stir, sir." T\o, not here." What, are you an entire stranger in these parts ? " Yes." Lawful heart, you don't say so! So be I. I live tot';. mill-ponds to Yaniiouth, Avhere I am to home; but now 1 ;r on a visit to sister Hannah, who is married to the cross roac;. Then, ^x-rhaps, you never sec a Bee stir ? " (( (( (( (( ti ti ti a O. or a raising 5> O, A' N X IS' N Nor a husking ? X or a quiltin irr r^ •j u O )) O. N IS or a XNO 5J berry ma >> " Scissors and pins ! — why, you hain't seen nothing of r ways yet ! AVell, I've been to 'em all, and I'll tell you wlia* like a rolling frolic better than all on them. There is alwavs ' at the end of the roll — if you'll — but here's John ; he's w ally allowed to be the greatest hand at a roll in those clcari — the critter's so strong ! No, it ain't John, neither. (.': tion ! hoAv vexed he would be if he knew he was taken for i: scarecrow, Norton Hog, who looks, . all the world, like a ^ of clothes hung on a bean-pole saick out to air ; he is horrid thin ! AV^ell, there's no accounting for taste — what you tl.ink now? — he was married last week to Eetsy Spridii,: as likely a gall as you will see anywhere, I know— Hut. 1 assure you, she is twenty and he forty — exactly twice her n^e and so, as sister Hannah says, when she is fifty, he will be aim:' dred. Isn't it a horrible, scandal ons match ? " " Pray, who is John ? " I inquired, as I saw him approacli, " Old Mr Thad Eafuse's son." "]s he to be the happy man ? " ■ " AV^ell, the critter is happy enough, for all I know to t. . contrary." " If I am in the country, may I come to the wedding, ai; oiler a bridal ])resent in return for yonr kindness to-day ? "' " AVedding ! — oh, my ! — well, I never ! — now I luuk^rstari vou. Marry John Kafnse ! Lord love vou, no ! nnles'^ loan do no better. I can tell you. He's well enough, niul woii:| want, seeing his father is well to do ; but he ain't got no for' • — he wants a head-piece — he's sort of under-baK'ed. I ain't -j <^ i>V LIli: IX A COLOXY. 117 before. S; ts?" ir I live tot! ut now 1 ;i' D cross ruac nothing of cr;| cU you what, I re is always fu: ni ; lie's geiierl those cloarii!:' neither. Qm tiihen for tkl orld, like asv.;:| air ; lie is taste— what g Betsy HpooKM know— fart. 11 twice her aje I lewillheak,'! him approaeli. | I know to I . lie Aveddinc;- :- Iss to-day ? ' ^v 1 nndersta:. 1 nnlesslcM' nigh, ^ii(^ ^'''™! |in"t got no f'- iked. I ^'li- no hurrv to s]»lIeo neitlier, at any riite, though I won't just say J wdiritaki' .lolui Jiafurie at no time, nfillu-r; {\n\ as llaiuiali bavs a iHHir liusliand is brtter than none; and it's handy to li;i\i' a mail about the house, i'ov they ran do little chores to li,,iiic and run of errands. Are you married ? " "No." '•\V:iy don't you!" •• Who would have me? " '•Ah ! \ou are lishing for complimeiits now, but l^';ii.>( to tlic rarO an>l T won't humour yon, for men are so awful consaited ! T guiss thf will ami not the way, is wanted. Why, .loliii," sjie exclaiiaed. on looking n[), and observing him without his basket ami nail, "what on airth have you done with all those chicken- viiigs, hani-trinuuings, and doe-doings, besides the ])ies, notions, laiul satres; has anything happened to them ? " '■Siiuire Jiarclav told me to thank vou, and say lie liad ado ])rovisiou for his friend and himself, ami here he is." llaviuir arranged matters so as to h;ive the young ladv, iss Sally Horn, as our neighbour at the table, Barclay and 1 left the voting cou])le together, ami strolled through the crowd, (I mingled with the various groups that were scattered on the een or dispersed in the woods. '•This," said Barclay, ''is a pic-nie, given by th.e owner and iuiltlcr of the large timber-ship, of one thousand tons, wc^ saw unelied at lUinoo yesterday, to the fannlies and friends of ihose who have in various ^yays been engaged either in gather- g or preparing the materials, or putting them together ; for nstruetion of a vessel of such magnitude gives em[)loyment a vast number of people, who cut, hew, or haul the timber. The owner is also desirous of inm-atiatiii'; himself with the ieeple, over whom he has some design of acquiring political Bitlueuee, being a violent democrat. If you took an interest in of wine in their ])resence. How often does it happm : this world that the most stremions aiivocates for lil)crt\ i tlu'oi'v ai'c the most twclnsive and tyi-annii-al in practice!" Ili're a man wearinij; a badi^'e to distinujnish him as a ma:. aL::er ])roclaime(l, in a lond voice, "All ye invited ^niests, lii.. inio th(> i)rocession, and como to the platform ! " 'I'his \v;i> ; sort of circnlar scallold (>recti>d in the centre of the Ljlad formed aronnd and snpported by the trnnk of a lari^'c c!;: ^ Three or i\)nv speakers soon made their appearance, and, a-| cendini;; the idevated stai^e, addressed the company much irt: [ same style and npoii nearly the same topics. The shi[) wiKivf launch tluw had come to cidebrate was enloi^Mzed as one dt'i 1 lar<2;est, tastiest;, best built, ami beautifully modelled vcsm ever seen in this or any other counti'v. ^Fhe ])uilder was sa i') have done honour to the province in <;eneral, and his ikh;, town in particular, and was adduced as one of many iustamv- to ])ro\o that iS\)va Scotlans only wanted oj)portunitics lolv allbi'ded tluMu to excel all mankind, the Innnblest of them Ihi:,.' illted for the highest oillces of state at liome, or abroaii;!.: that, nnliap])ily, durini; the lonij Tory rule in En^^huul, ; aristocracy eiii;rossed every situation of honour or eiiiolunu:' in ev(M'y part of the empire. The com[)any were assured tli;i; the Legislative Council of this province containeil as ma learned, and the House of Assetnblv as many able, statc.'iiikifc' as the Lords or Conunons' J louses of Great liritain, and i their intCijjrity and honour were Cipial, if not superior. The coh)nies, it was said, were tilled with mineral \vt\; i so near the suiface as to be exhumed with very little oiii and all that was reipiired was tor Kni;land to open their ii a: j Ireasnres at her own expense, and give all the returns to ; i j)eople — an act of jnstice which, ere long, ishe would be i j)idled to perform, and which would long since have U-i spontaueously done, had it not been for certain inlUicntiul [I ']).;ic! frnkh MFE IX A COLONY. 11!) pnll'^ 111 llii>< ('f)nntrv, \\'li<) w.'iiilcd Ili(> |)t'()('('(Ml.^ lo he ^nvcii rx- (•ln«;ivi'lv t" tliciii. K' Nvas coiirKlciit ly |)i'c(lictc(l licit m r:iil- 1 \V(')iiM Ih' imin('(li;i(('ly const nidcd hy tlic iiiotlicr cnuiitiy ]i.'iuri'ii I lalilMX and I llin. and nnotlirr lictuccn the rDrniir i)l;u<' ami (^)n('lM'(' ; nsllic l(if:d l('L;islal ni'c liad most liberally (|.iiii' its pari liv L^ivini; ix'ianission to any ('oin|)any lo lie loi-ni- (d jiif that |)in'|)os<', to j)ass t hi'onj^h 1 lio land ol' I lie crown, and take as iinicli oi" il as was ncccssai'y, which 1 hey had a iicrlcct jirlit tn do, tlic (^iiccn hcini; a mci-c trustee lor the pnhlic, ml. (it" course, liaviiiLC no intt-resL whaieMi- of her (>wn. And iiiiicli to the same purpose. 3I(il!ici's were then implored lo loolc iij)on ilu'Ir eliildren I villi I }issiirc( l.v I' 1' )i'i(le as havinu; the hont)ur lo I)e l>hie Noses, and wci"i 1 that Latin and (;irt'el<, wdiich had hitherto lieeii nphcdd iiics, to ci-cale a disiiiietion lietween the la'ch and the i)(i(ii-. wci'e exploded, or, as it, was cpiaint ly expi'essed/' relonned out''; and that now, all speakinu; one lanL;uaL,M\ (and it xvas well fJ;mi\Mi that thev pronounced l']nL,dish better than the liritish, ifurwlio could inidei-stand ;i ^'orkshire oi* Coraiish man, or IIk; YMiikct's, who were too lazy to use thiir moutliH and spokt; I llii'oiiLih their noses ': ) — now t hat L;rea.t object, had been obtained, [there was an oj)en Held aiul lair ])lay lor all, and their children li:iil a lii^h destiny before llu'in, and honour and wealth W(r»? tl I'lr nortioii, Here the herald aii;aiii ])ro"laime(l, " Tlu^ l)aid\it is new [ready, and all ye invited guests will ))leasu to full lo in your laces. I'cw people aro nvi ^Hisciously flattered, however d(dicately [tlic iiu'cuse may be oH'ered ; and this agreeable! and prophetic []aii:,nia<;(> 1 have ivlated, although artfully veilinL,' anything liko jbniad compliment, was, notwithstandiiiuj its skilful disLjuises, ItlHiroiinlily umlci'stood by some of tlu; male part of the andien fdi' 1 lieai'd one old man ])ronounoe it all moonshine, and an- other, addri'ssiiiii; jiia little l)oy, say, '" Well, /acky, von have a- aiiest a trrand inheritance — that' a i'act. Don't vou hope vou nay live to i,f(>t it? Tell you v hat — your lot and your luck is, yciu' lot will be hard work, and your luck to /.ave what you <(\ I hate all foi'tin-ttdlers — when they ])ut their hands on r riiis to tickle you, they are sure to slip their fin men alwa\s i;ive the oiiieii the best, and the women always help the children before ihey lat themselves : so yon mav ffuess w ho tret s the tid bits ^'Cll I'dUl la iv y. I have done my part now, by helping you to advice. :i. ■W^ i » J m\ 1 ' M^^B; < 1 -' -"^-^96'' V iiuB^H' 1 iilttH f rJ»^^H \ 1 1 '£' ^B^ *»fffWiW^ n )iiiiiiii!i::i'' j!!!lf''l: i lilrl^i ■ 1 'mil III? 120 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, Jist you go aii'l ask your motlicr to lielp you to sometb in?t eat. JTaving found my fair friend, ]\ri?s Sally Horn, v:e pro C'CC, to tliG table at the upper end of tlio (jireeii, and took our >,•, plaeiuLi; luM* between us, •when a servant of Ju(li2;e Sandtn;'.. is|)read before us the contents of a basket he had brought Ir Ehnsdale, and ^ve enjoyed a capital luncheon. Poor !Mr J Eafuse, not at all approvint^ of the youn*^ lady's behaviour.;, determined to make her feel sensible of the danj^er of h)»]]v_^ admirer by such levity of manner, refused to make one ot • party, ancK olierinii; his arm to another of his fiir acquaintau, led her oif to the other end of the lield. ]\liss Horn ob.sor, that '• ])ickinick stirs " Avere stupid things, for a lady had niii;!: to do butAvalk up and down aiul stare, which w;iru't wh.olesi for weak eyes; and as for preaching, as she called the spcec' slie couhl liear eiu)Ugh of that of a Sunday, but pronounced- repast the best part of the entertainment, an'd evinced llic ^ cerity of what she professed by the justice she did to everyti;' placed before her. '• Well, T declare," she exclaime(', " if I haven't dined v. it's a ])ity, for I have b(>en helped to everything twice, and ; times to blueberry pudding." '■ S(piire," said a man seated on t!ie opposite side oftheta-. and ad(b'essing Idmsidf to Barclay, " S(piire, may I trouble for a piece of that 'are a])ple-pie to your left there ? " ])m]:'. . to a large tart, the to[) ot which had l^-^en accidentally cms!; '■ With great pleasure," he replied ; and applying a knlU';;:. fork to it, remarked, '" I believe you are under a nustake, t-ir- this is, I rather think, a ])igeon-pie, and this one must I: been the father of the Hock, f )r my knife makes no impress on him. I will uave you the whole bi'-d. and you must di^- it for yourself — here it is ; and he raised on his fork, anudroar? of laughter, during which the table was nearly overtunieil.:i child's shoe that had been accidentally thrust into it, and k in the deep and capacious dish. "Well, I declare," said iNliss Sally, " if that ain't little Lizzv Fiidv's shoe! She has been hopping about all day with only ofe on, like a land gosling. ]f she hain't put her foot in it, il'si ])ity ! — don't it beat all nalur that ? 1 wonder what busiiu- children have to pickinick stii's ; they are for everlastinirl; poking their noses, or lingers, or leet, into something or auul. they hadn't ouglit to." " Well," continued the old yeoman, with philosophical dilTerenco, "that puudcin-pie to your right will do as well.: arter all, I guess pumkiu is about the king of pies ; but, lSi|u.. T i:. Jrii's ful '1 As a n: LIFE IN A COLONY. 121 low is tliP Jiuluo'sii potatoes ? have they escaped the rot ? mine [avc •'•itt sonii'ttiiiiLi; worse." ' -WhafstlKitr " '•Tl'.cv are actually destroyed h-y curiosity. Every critter lat iinssi'S inv field says, 1 ^V()nder it' iiei:;hi)uur Millet's jxita- :»; luive <'0t"the disease ; and he pnlls and pulls ever so many l\]< [n see, and then says, ^vcll that's strange too; lie is tlie icV'.vA man in these parts, he hain't lost one, and the n-twt one liat ('(tines hv just does the same thing, and so on till I ivt' lost just halt' my crop. I vow T will shoot the iirst fellow catch there, and hang him up to scare av.'ay the curious. laiik fortin, it hain't eU'ected the Indian corn ! " (mai/e). This exclamation Avas occasioned by the introduction of a inilu'r of dishes of this delicious vegetable. In a moment, ^erv e'.ic took an ear, and, raising it to his moulh with a hand car.i ( utl of it. hegan to eat. The colour of the corn, and |e niamicr of holding, gave the whole com})any tlio a])pi>aranco a h;i!ul plaving on the llute. It was the most ludicrous flit 1 cv(H' beheld. It was a sort of practice in thimb show. .After 3Iiss [Sally had finished two ears of it. she drew jaili. ;iiid rested a moment. '" Why don't you cat 'r" she said ; iroii had better begin soon, or it will all be gone;" and then, )ldnn' at the long white cob from which she liad so expedili- jlv removed the grain with her teeth, and holding it admiringly the end before she deposited it on the plate, she continued, ^l.eiu culo are grand for smoking hams or herrings — noth.iu' [Daiurc gives tlie same llavonr; and as for corking bt)ttles, Bv inv better than boughten ones. AVill you hand me the ifi?" " With <];reat pleasure ; but had vou not better take a little le first?" '•AVill, I d(m't care if I do," she replied ; and holding a turn- er i.istead of a glass, observed, " I like wine better than cider ci iisart ; it has more body, and is a more checnd'uller drink, ^ess the cider be (irst frozen down, and then bottled tight wit h cohs. ]lere's to you, sir, and wishing you luck. AVhen bottle cider, it nuist be always upendeil on its neck, for teins an^ thicker than heads, and ain't so apt to go off oniw- [tcd; and cider is a wicked thing to burst. Have you been Tai'inoiith latelvr" she asked, abruptly. " Ves, last week." Oh, JSolomon," sh.e said, " you don't say so ! How glad I il fell in with vou ! Did vou see anvthing of old Mr kiani rn s folks down to the mill ponds ? " |As a mutter of course, 1 neither knew nor had heard of old *:i \m. m ill i: illil;^^' 100 J. AM *d TnE OLD JUDGE ; OR, 'Mr Sain TTorn or liis family, but, wis^liing to hoar lior out.]-. ]ili(.'(l evasively — •'•• Xot reet'iitly." " Well, when yon return," slio continncrl, " I \\\A] • ^voiild tell tlieni I feel kind of lioniesiek and lonesome, ar • cross-roads — will you ? 1 think 1 shall make tracks lioiiK\\,i.j soon. iS! aid. Whv, vonr I'olks think vou arc a-goinpr to be marricii " Oh," she r{>|)lied. with a piteous face, "there is no aj ^ood news, I can tell yon. A lady has no chance of seeinirf there, nnless, maybe, such a chap as John Kaftise, and tlic! of him is no u^reat catch for any likely ujall that's j^ot alin; lier own. It's kinder dull there, and there ain't no vessc'v raisings, nor revivals, nor camp meetings, nor nothing. 1 ther <;o back." '• Well, that's what old IMr Sam Horn said ; ho reina; that he knew von would sooner be among; the buU-fm - the mill-ponds at Yarmouth, than among the owls of thee; roads." '' Did ho, though ? well, there's a groat deal of fun ahotr old gentleman, too — ain't there? ]5ut, as 1 am a living si:,: if here ain't a iiddle — ain't it grand ?" and, extricating lkr>| from the table, she was on her feet in a moment. Shortly afterwards, the whole company rose, and a Ik"; lent matron [iresent proposed that what was left of the v::. should be given to the negroes who wore in attendance. "1 gness," said uMiss Sally, "yon might as well tlu'iikrj the table-cloth then, for, excepting the shoe-pie, Avliicli iiiii';: for no Christian to oat, ludess it's a darkey, 1 don't see tlurr anvthiiiij: else left." '• It would be just as wdl," retorted the other, with an fended toss of her head, and not at all relishing the general!;! J raised at her expense, "it would be just as well ])erha|)sitV yonng folks knew what was due to their elders and betters,: didn't talk (piite so fast and so pert." The black musician, to whose superior knowledge auJ thoritv in such matters all deferred, now summoned the ve people to take their places on the green. " Will you dance ? " said my iair friend. I replied, " 1 am sorry I am obliged to bid you good and leave you, for J have an engagement elsewhere, thisKJ altogether an une\])ected ])loasure to nie. ]^ut pray danaMri your friend .Mr Kafuse, who 1 see has returned : he seems i:] at vour noiilcH't." " Who cares r" she said ; " if he don't like it, he may LIFE IN A COLONY. 123 be married. ' I I of fun aljout , Ion t see tlurr Tell von what — if Jolm Eafiise was down to the mill-ponds [) Tannoutli among the ponders, they woidd call In'm Jirfuse, ul that's the poorest sort of boards they have in all their 1 urn- Well, I am sorry yon are a-going, too. There is grand lootinir to the cross-roads, I have hearn Hannah's Imsband say, [ilv people are too lazy to shoot. ]f yon will come there, I will Bt'liim to give yon a rolling frolic, for he has got one on hand, id promised me a treat before I go home. I'll hold hack for 3U. Oh. it's fun alive, yon may depend! — bnt ])ickiniek stirs as heavy ns dough — more trouble to come and to go and to rrv things than they are worth, and dancing on the ground is ml work, and, besides, it don't seem kinder natural in the day- le, and so many folks looking on, and making their remarks, [ho have nothing to do with it kinder, puts a wet blanket on it. |h, a rolling frolic is just what you would like, for it's sociable id onformal; or, if you can't come, next time you go to Yar- (outh, just give us a call to old Mr 8am Horn's to the mill- bnds. It's a most beautiful place. It's generally allowed to [ko the shine off this province, I tell you. You won't forget give us a call, will you ? The old gentleman will be very l-oud to see you, and I'll " Tiie order of the musician was imperative ; and INTr Eafuse rcral times reminded the talkative lady that she was keeping |e company waiting. Don't be in such a plaguy pecky hurry," she answered larply. " If you can't wait, get another partner. Hon't you 3, 1 am bidding good bye to the stranger ? manners before ^asures." ' Prav don't detain him," I said. " Mr Earclav and I will at the cross-roads next week, if the weather is favourable, W spend a day or two there shooting." '• And the rolling frolic ? " she inquired doubtfully. '' Oh, certainly, I shall be delighted to accept your kind in- fcatioii. Good bye, till we meet again." '• Then, I may depend ?" *' Certainly, I shall only be too happy." " Come, now, I like that," she said, " you are the rael grit, lerv inch of vou. Seeing you're a touch above common, 1 was raid you would be too proud, maybe, to come among the like ( us poor folks. Thank you, sir. Goodbye! mind next week, id now, John, how sorry I am I kept you waiting so long ! hat's heeome of jS'abby Frisk I seed you with just now ? She [)ks as yaller as a kite's foot. AVhat's that tune, Pompey, you i-playing? Is it ' Off she goes to Miriniisliee ? ' " [. '■ Xo, miss, it's ' Come tickle my nose with a barley straw.' ' ■fpwrffln-^wr 1 ' ' i - 1 j ill i:^^:. 'i! ir::C, i'i 1 : m \W'A' III t ' Ulil'llii ■ II ii;|i?i4, 121 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, "Oil, iiiv ! " slie r(^i)li('(l, ])n^ssiiiL!; both hcv li;iiu]s on) hiidt's, ;iii(l l:uiL;liiii!J^ most iminodcniU'ly — ' Tickle my iiost> ^v. a liai'Icy straw!' well, it" tluit iKune don't bang the bush;- caps a!" "" Tlio yoiin!]f people Avere now all in motion; bi (lanec ! It was a sei'ioiis uusiness a Hair li \cr )i)(lV taiiunl a |)roroim(l silence, and the only voice to be hear, that of the black liddler, as ho i;ave ont the Hi^nn's in a le screaiiuii:' ii( 1on(>. Ihat was distinctly andible o\cv tl the violin, while the dancei's i^een>ed most anxions lo •h st( th k sncn Slops as iney knew Willi tiie f^reatest exactness afj;ility. .in tlcsciMbiiiL^ this scene, 1 hav(> prelerriMl ^ivir,:; _i;i'eater parts ol'the dialoL;ne with .Miss Horn to ri'coi'dii! !.!;enend eonv(>rsation of the tahles, because, as this sk^; faithfully di\nvn iVoiii naturi'. it will convey f-,) the rca,! accurate idea of the class lo which she belon;^ed. 'JakiiiLi; Barclay's arm, 1 now strolled to tlu^ other e:. the glade previous to returiung to I'iimsdale. 'i'his pdit: the ev)mpany had also left the tahles, and W(>re scatlcn detaclu'd L^roups ; some packinu; np ])reparatory to leaviiij place, and others listening attentively to a man who \\;,- nouncing those who had ])rofane(l the ])lace with wiin' dancing. lie was a tall, thin, cadaverous-looking man. v' long black hair, falling wildly over his shoulders, gave \il> : a ghastly app(>arance, while his wild and wandering eye inij;,. to it a tearful expression. He appeared to be hibouriii:;- : under great excitement and a considerable impediiiiL':i: sixHH'h which ell'ected his respiration, so as to contract iin'i jiand his cheeks and sides, and make the indranght and r.\:; Ids bivath distressingly audibh*. Xothing could be muiv ] fill than to witness his convulsive nttei'ance, nnless it w;. hear his dreadful langnage. lie consigned all those wliu not members of Temperance Societies to everlasting pen! without the slightest compunction, and invoked an early ! nuMit of his impri^cations upon them. Occasionally, he w ternnnate a ])eriod with a long nnmeaning alliteration, c:,. dancing a ])rofanatiou of an ordination that led to dar/.;;.. or point his harangue against wine-drinkers, by observiiii:, they think it line to drink wine like swine ; but they'll iv; they'll repine. Turning in disgust from this profane and nncharitnblo i course, we crossed the lawn in the direction of the post n: On oiii' Avav, we met two vouuit: women looking about thon; great trouble and perplexity. As soon as they perceived v one of them approached, uud, addressing berself to mo, s- wM "liciiics LIFE IN A COLONY. 125 my nost' w; the bush'.- ■rs, ,an the erection (>f the frames of woniir- houses, are evcrvwliere ])ertormed by mechanics, excejjt in i,. t Kettk'inents. ' Lo;jj rollini;,' which is the process of hc;i],;;, I toujether the trunks of trees that have been felled preparat r to heiiiijj burned, so as to clear the land for cultivation, ;:: 'the JJce,' which is the fratherinp; of people for the purpii>f ; choi)])in<^ dowii the forest, or for harvestiuijf, or some otl:': friemily act for a neighbourhood, are all, in like manner, per.. liar to remote places. " AVlien any of these occasions occur, they are followed ' festivities of a totally dillerent character from those in tlioi ■ settlements. ]n ])roportion as the country becomes mi>| densely peopled, these acts of mutual assistance, rcndir! necessary in the first instance by the individual weakness a: mutual wants of all, become more and more rare, and tiiia - cease altogether, and with them merrimakings cease a'.- I'estive assemblies occur now only in towns, or the mldn ■ the woods: so true in all things is the old maxim — ' extivi: ■ meet.' In that portion of the country where these good . ' Jiaisings,' ' j]ees,' ' Log-rollings,' and other cordial and friti,; meetings have died out, nothing has arisen in their place to :• duce or rec[uire a celebration. The formal manners of theti'A. sit awkwardly on the farmer; its customs and fashions neitird suit his means nor his condition. Unwilling to be tlum:: rustic and vulgar, he has abandoned the warm-hearted juulu:- 1 ing of old ; and, unable to acconnnodate himself to c usages, which he sees so seldom as not thoroughly to uu; -I stand, lie has little or no recreation to give his family ; ;i i .. lios])itality that ac(|uires ostentation, in })roportiou as it kw cordiality, gradually supervenes. The character and appt;;:| ance of the man undergo a sad change ; the jolly, noisy w • man becomes a melancholy-looking man ; his temper :\ gradually soured by the solitude and isolation in wliiili : lives, and, resorting to politics and religion for excitement.; rushes to the wildest extremes in both, howling for nights !• gether in the protracted meetings of revivals, or raving w;;-| equal zeal and ignorance about theories of government. "The injurious etlects upon the health, occasioned bvt: absence of all amusement, and the substitution of fanaticij:! or politics in its place, is not confined to the male part of i::| »ii^Ml:^iilil.;:.,:,ii;i LIFE IN A COLONY. 112: lopulation. It fulls still lieiivicr on llu' ft'inalcs. Tlic fonnci iM- their lii'ld labours to detain tlu'iu all dav in \\\v tVt'sli ai Il'iM' tlU'U' Ill'ld Jiiooiirr* lu uciiiui iiuni an nii\ 111 iiii- iifMi air; the hitter are conliiied to the house and its close and unwliolc- {ioiiu' atmosphere, and suller in proportion. 2s o iiicrry lauLih piii"s on the ear of tiie anxious mother, no sonu; uladdons jicr liiiu't. no elieerful danee of joyous youth relleets the inuiro(lu('1 ivc. and that loil audi \ation ai'i^ tlu^ iun't>ssai'y incidtMils o\' such :i coiulitinii ; V(M»luri> to assiM'l that. all!u)UL,di the prt>viiu"o aboiiiuls v, luiiUM-al \V(\dtli. skill, cajutal. and ]Mi]uilat i«Mi art> ncct-ssiirv its siu'cossful do\olopnii'n1 ; or. llial. alllioui^li tlu' iniumuT;i! sli'oan)s that intersect tlu> country in cvci-y dircMtion arc ndn ahlv adaiit(>d t'oi- nianHlactiM-ics. tlu> i^ricc of labour isu;; hi^li to I'cndcr such speculations sate or prolitahh" : and. ;,' all. to tell them that tlu>y ari> i(He. conciMted. and imicr:i;, and. si) \oUiX :is they maintain this charactiM", they merit; tluMi' pcnerty and all their wi'eti'hedness ; these dema;L,'oi,Mii'v \\hom you listened yesterdav, would call him a rahid t.r', |M-oud aristocrat, an enemy traitor to his countrv. totl 10 jH'ople, a vil(> slanderer. ;ii It is a melancholv conditic^i of tln'nirs; and, so 1 education is so iirievouslv lu uliM't cd as It \> at Y oil: res( lit. li appeal's ti) be no hopi> oi' a change tor the bt>ttiM'. The I (iinernnuMit. with that iori'sii;iit and lihei'ality w hit'h 1 distiimuislied it in its treatment o\' \\\o colonies. 1\)und )r: las ;u vears aL;(>. a C(Mleu(^ at Windsor, an interior town. C(l. lli;:; "iiiia; .about liu'ty-li\i> miU's t'rom Halifax, which has Ihhmi of ir,i, culable ailvantage. not merely to >»ova Scotia, but to Hrii. North America. The system of common schoid instriictinn. thi> I'ontrary. which iK^pends u]nm inirsidves, is founded Avd: on \\\o vohintary principli\ which has provt^l as deferti\o (\iucatioii as it always has in relip;ion. AVheii a man f;iii> liis trade, or is too la/.y to work, he resorts to teacliiiiij; ;i< livelihood, and tb.e si'|u)ol-hous(\ like the .'isylum tortliepi* receives all those who are, from mist'ortuiu' or iiica]nu;: unable to itrovide i'ov tli 111 h iMusehes. no home; he makes the tour ot the st'ttlement. and resuu- The wretched ti'aclior d stipu ilateil number of davs. in everv house — too short a i: for his own comfort, and too lorn:; for that of tlu^ family, w can but ill atl'onl either the tax or the accommodation. JK anionic: them, but not oi' them. His morninLC is past inpu iuLT the idleness o iii< )f otl IC b rs, Ills eveninii' in DtMii^ ]ninis!u'd own ; tor all are too bnsv to associate with bin eiiLraLrement is o-imiM'ally for a short jieriod. ]le loolcs i'ovw::. to its termination with min!::;led fcelinus of luipe and fear- alternate anticij^atituis of a chaiu;-e for the better, ordestili;*. from want of emiiloyment. His heart is not in his bnsi'uv dl ma ins worK prospers nuullerently n e IS t leii succecai'. another, Avho chamxes tb.e entire system, and spends his wi time in wliat he calls nclifying the errors of his preJ.cce; ■ ♦ i(l li'V'.. , ilaiuloni'. III. . ml, so loi!:' prcst i\1. 11' •. 'riu>r.i-- hii'h lins al '. loinuli'd. 11 ; town, ^iiii;;'. Ihhmi of ir.; l>ut \o \W:. instnu'tii":. oumlt'd fi 1 as (U'tVfti\r :i uKin t'aii? tc'iu-hinu' :i^ n lor tlu' \" or incapaci aiu h t; 1 rosiJ hort a t: at 1011. 11 h^ast inpu nun 1 itli liim. o rdestuir. his b ,'n (Is li < procioco; LIl i: IN' A COLONY, V2\) Till' sfluiol Is llioTi iiii1iap|)ily loo oflon closed I'lr \\;iii( ,,[' iMivjfV fr iiiiion aiiioii^Mlio |»n)|)lo ; tho 1i,mi>o is (ioM-rlcl ami ;i,'i,'K'cti'ii, till' L;i'iss is brolvoii l»y llio cliiMroii, who ro^ai'd it as ;i prison. Tlio lioor. after a Ioiij: I)||| misiicoossrul sI ni^'^lo w it li fii' \\iiii alls at last iii lli o coll !licl I lie sw me then enter I'.ir pn'tt'ctidii tiMin the violuice {)\' lie;it dl'tlie weat her. and !•. Mill |>tissessioii iiilt il e\| '•1 I'v I he l.illiii',' roid, or the rod :reatest. \v;, that 'th ;(>ss kno\vleil'4'(^ i:i!iiiiivel\. or elst> the rest ot i he human t'aiuilv, w hom ih ai'i' >'» I' 'len told thev far excel, must indeed I pclcss and wretched iijjMoi'ance ev )i' III a slate ol The rnJJowiiiLr dav, a s w o W(>re strollim; throM-h l)rid,- 'O Ml.a small st rai,'<,-lino- viiiauv. sit iiated about a mile and ;i I'aJMve Mlinsdah'. till' subject wasai^ain acci(h'ntallv renewed oMi- hearing- tiie jiiereim: cries of a poor bttle urchin, who •~ iiii, which, though it ilm'^ not indica!(> lhe"(br(M't Ilie w loil md. beiiiD: stationary, eit luy tVoni accident or lor IJu^ \y'>d by the appelhition of AcadiMiiv. It was! I iliissrat (A' learuiuLi: that the yoiinu: student [leil toai'luM'i.,.>^B I'oiiiplaininL!: of the thoruv paths lA' literatun \oice was roiii heard pohkn .\h, iiiv i;-o()d friend. Air J-aioch I' lUe sa id t^'e Jud (r(> piizuig 111 ridenMice to the It-achiM*. " if voii had ever I )eeii lie i'amily. w Mm in the army, you would liav(> Ikvoiuo more in'dulu-eiit bv learn- ing' that the tables are sometimes turned, and tl [unislied himself. 1 recollect." he said, add le masti'i* w 11 Ikmi the J^uke of Kent wa ressiim himsi 1ft () ilitax. o-oino; to the barrai-ks t s coMimaiiiler-in-cliief at looks fonv,..™ ami. as 1 passi'd tho reuinieutal scliool- o see an oillcer of the lMisile(>r: room on my way upstair,s ami iVar- Ml iiiuMpiarters of mv friend, I found all tlu> ch'ild olllll flU.l ■j: at iiie top of their voices- almost wihl with excit dc'h-ht. 'Ah! mv lil yen ^•oclIer- emeiit I le Il siioceeJiM .■■|iio!i(hiy to-dav, have voii ? ' ' ()| ows,' I sai.l, 'so vou ha\i> ;i niisweivd at on 1, \ es. sir," several of them li L' lias ee, ' oh, yes, sir, masier has been iIo^-e hundreil lasl na"^ il-e who ucedd 1 U'S. ui-gi\eness liimseU" uiiL;ht to bu merciful to W7. I i i:)0 Tin: OLD judge; ok, i'k others. T liav(^ several times s[)()lven to I'ike about his sovernv, and reeoiniiieiided to him more t'orbearanee, but lie ahvavH liiis one answer, 'rhinkint; to pacify nu; by avowinf^j hinisclt' a conservative, he invariably commences: 'Ah. Judi^e, uhcii 1 llrst took chai"i;e of this Academy, 1 was a ]vadical, a thoroin.'],. jijoin^ IJadical ; but 1 soon found a school iHujuired a ^,'00(1 stiir; Tory govenunent. Prtc-dom and e(|uality sound pretlih m theory, but they don't work well in ])ractice. Yon, who 1 presided in courts of justice, and J, who have presitled in i 1 a St lavi u air aiK of learnini;, know tliat nothin<^ but a ster arm will preserve order.' — ' ()h, yes,' 1 rejdy, 'that is ail vi Avell — but strictness is one thinji^, and sevei-itv another. \ I'm I.' mus t b moderate. Patience is a cardinal virtue in an structor.' — ' Oh, sir,' he says, 'I am the most patient iiuni iii the world, but there is a point — there is a line, you know, m, Leyond Avhich, ahem ! there is a limit -a bound ~ a tcnnii: ^ you may call it — a jdace ^vhere you must stop. They v,u about the patience of ,lob, Judge. I have ri'ad evervtlii;;; about that illustrious man with great care, sir; and. in i . humble opinion, his patience was never fairly tried. Job m'\r was a schoolmaster, Judge — oh, no ! oh, no! he can't be Nii. to have been fairly tried. Job never kept a school. Corpoiva! punishment. Judge, either in schools or the army, cannot 1- dispei'sed with. We say, and say truly, the rod of the emiiiiv! 1 have often aslt in a perpendicular direction, and su<;'sti'd the iih-a of its bcin,' t-he handle of th(^ ])r()trudin ; arms, or the root to which tlicv were indebted ior their extraordinary length. " Jlis manner was shy and reserved ; he held but little in- tercoui'se with any one, appeariuL!; to have but two topics (f conversation in which lie took -Miy intiM'est, nauicly, piracy. an 1 the histoiT of the early settlement of the ])rovince by I'n.' J''rench, t heir subseipient expulsion, and cruel dispersion intai' other colonies, to every detail of which he listened with tlie greatest eauerness. Jle was accustomc>d to take lonuj ;uid sc'i- tary walks, u[)on which occasions it was observed he was arnu i with a hu'j^c v\\\\>, which was accidentally discoveri'd to \v hollow, aiid to contain somethini^ of a smalh'r si/e within ir, j^en''rally su|)posed to be a rapier, or dan'^er. Jle also carruJ about with iiini, wherever he went, a thin, but broad tin caso. eontainini.,^ a pocket-book, which he would ofieu talvo out dur'ii,' school hoiu's, and attentively study, occasionally alteriii:,' ui' making atlditions to what appeared to be written iu it. fuiiwiiiiitb, LIFE IX A COLONY. 133 h h missal, ami Ideu di>;i[,. e, for Avaui t fUlululaU'. ich was hie llRMl 1 (Mr lis Uiri^'c and ,he constant 0(>n\iu()n in -t of til row. t' tlu'V Nvnv ^ aiul liiaMi' hollow, anil hut indirati il ,'io;iit and in- kept contin- us altir. 1 in readbarr, and i^cnipidousiy |nun- ■'sp.erially lus e ^-avc an in- bis brad and lid not rcaidi )d 11}) abnibt u ot'ils biMn: wbicli t!u; out little in- .wo toj'ii's ii ', piracy, and inco by tlk' Version in t;ii' [uhI with i1k> |oi)<^ and ^"'i- lie \vas arniid lovorod \o W' |/.e within \i I also (-.wrA tad tin e':i"^' o out dui'MU r altering ^'f lu it. The ?torv of tbo liollow enno, or sword-slick, filled Ibo uler and fear, which the nivstcrious case and c;,.|in()l with WOl bhu'k book raised to the biuhest ])itcli. His scholars, however ncrci'ived the daiii^er of approai'hinii; inni when lliuseii 1; for. thouirh at otb.'T times the jjjeiitlest and r-.ost patient FdOn rrill^Ci of beings. he became furious, and niniost frantic, il db^turbed 111 the a|)parently abstrus( f^eiznii arm. nn dcidations of this magical book, tiie thoughtless oifender l)y the collar, with his tj;iaiit d swiimiu;^ him round ar.d round in the air with fearful iiiditv. . and accompany inpily of short dura- Tl lev cease dd IS suduenlv as lliev arose, w th hen 1 le won Id iilace the culprit on bis feet, and, pattin;!]; him tenderly and atibi'tionately on his head, say, 'IJon't interrupt nie, my son, when I am at my studies? — it ai;itates me.' J I is si/.e, liin li^th. his generallv calm and impertni'bable t(>mper. ami nal Jits of fury, insured implicit obediiMice, and tlio , ordiM', and diliucnce, observed in his school, excited tho strci (vi'asii) astonishment of evervbodv. '• One day, just as he had finished a diacram, and entered it in his ])ocket-book, he was suddenly sent for by a pa^^en^•er ill the mail-coach that passed through l^ridi^e Port, who desired Id s(m' him for a lew minutes at the inn. In li.- haste to join friend, he ibr<^ot his mysterious manuscrij)t and its case, liotli men 1 which lay on liis tabh in full view of the bovs. ]n a i no- t. all ey(-s were turned on those objects of wonder. 'Tho book — the book ! ' was wbisjxM'ed round the school ; but. such was the awe inspired by the man, and e\erylbinL!; that belon<^(Ml to hill., that for a time no one viMitured to leave his seat. At last a -ientinel was placed at the door, to ^ive notice trf his re- turn ; a consultation held: and one more bold than the rest, with palpitating heart, and trembling hands, ojiened the i'earful volume. ' Ah ! ' he exclaimed, ' it's all ma- tape, a lon littli' IxmsU'r, ' how you sraird mo! 1 aclilly lli it was the l)o\il liimsclt' j2;oiii;j^ to lak^ mo at my woi'd ! hastily n^placiiii; the things where ho had I'onnd them, luMviih. drew to his seat. " When Slianlx))osod on the tahU>. ho tui-nod suddenly j);ilt', lie clinched his list, and stroile n]) and down the room with ;r(\'it raj>idity. ularing on tlu' hoys like a tigcM', with a soarchiiiir look as it siMoctmL!^ a victnn lor ])ouncinL!; nj)on. Jn a tew iim. nuMits. the paroxysm, as nsnal, ]Kissed oil'. Jle sat eahnly down, and taking- up the book, examined it earotidly page by ] liiiL' when ho suddcMdy ])ansed, and, loidiing attentively at somell that attracted his attention, held up the writing to the lii,'ht. tirst in one direction and then in another, and linally apjilird a mannitying-glass to it, when he ])ointed to the boy who had called him a magician, and said, ' John Parker, come forward. ]low dare you meddle with my property in my absence r ' — I didn't,' replieil the boy, with the greatest assurance. '1 haven't been oil' my S(\it.' — ' You ditl, sir!' njoined the master, in a voice of tlunulor. ' I aj)poal to e\cry scholar present ; and it'tliev all wore to lie as you have done, and say that you did not \o\\v\\ this book, 1 wouldn't believe them. The name of Two Tliiiuib Parker is Avritten hero invourhand. You are your own accusor. and have borne testimonv against vonrsi If. L eave me, sir cave h)l' me, instantly, while I am ealm, and don't return again ! ( and, raising his voice, and stamping ])assionatoly on the tloor. ho shouted out, ' (u) ! go ! ' when the terrified boy, recovering from the stupefaction into which ho had hcen thrown by the mar- vellous discovery of his name and guilt, suddenly bolted out uf the room, without waitiuii for hi;s hat oreoat, and hurried home- ward, with all possible si)ood. The truth is, the unfortunate P urchin had a very remarkable tlunnb on his right hand. ]t was only half the nsual length, and was divided from the last joint outwards into two ]iarts, eaeh being perfoot, and having a nail ii]ion it, from whence he was called ' Two Thumb Parker/ AVhile holding the open book in his hand, he unconsciously left the impr(>ssion of his deformed and soiled thumb on the leaf. which the master not inaptlv denonnuated ' his name written ills own hand. The secret was known onlv to Shanks : but the storv Vi the magical book, of the Devil entering the boy's name in it. 1 of the tin case, with its contents, circulated far and witie am over the whole I'ountrv. Ot ler necu liarit: les m his contliiet in- creased and cunllrmed the general suspicion with which he w LIFE IX A COLONY. 135 t!i;i ndml. TTo Imd a n^mMrkaMc-lookinGf old silver dollnr, t li(^ fulKnl his ' llrckr llialc)\^ two innLiiical words, ot'wliich !u' never eould be indiu'ed to ex|)l:iiii llu* im';uiinX. about eisjjht o\'h)ck, in time to open his school, greatly t'atii^iied and exhausted. '•J have already observed that, when ho presented himselt' ns a candidate for the situation of master of the academy at Hridi^e Port, he Avas a strani;(>r. No one knew who or what he was. or whence he came, althon!j;h, from his accent, manner, ami habits, it was thouii;ht ])robable that he was either a Nova Si'otian, or a native of the New Enijjlaiul States. A residence ot' several months amon«^ the ])eople did not enlighten the curi- ous upon these points, and public opinion was much divided as to the real nature of his cliaracter. Some thouijfht him to be a ?|)v in the employment of France, a suspicion enconraL!:ed by the fact that he had several I'rench books descriptive of British \orth .\merica, and one in particular, written by a Jesuit priest (t'harleroix), containinujiunnerous maps of the harbours, coasts, and rivers of the countrv, aiul also by the minute iiKuiiries he inade about the removal of the Acadians. OtluM's believed he was enoaij^ed in devisiuLif or executing some extensive j)lan of ribbery ; for his landlady, unable to endure the oj)pr(>ssion of her curiosity, had opened, by the aid of a neighbour's key, a il I ■J i- 11 ■ \i , 'i l^:^ 13G Tin: OLD Jl'DGE ; OK, tVi Avooiloii chest (if liis ^v]lilo lie wns absent at scliool. and covci'cd in it a dai k lanttMMi, a crouliai", a cold chisel, a m ;i liatclu^t, as wcU as othci' tools snitahlc ior brcakinj^ into Ikhisi- , 33ut the l)ottcr ()[)inion apjiearcii lo l)c that lie was a luauician. and ^\ as in Icai^uo with llio jjowcrs ot" dai'knc 11 is 1 book, the contents ofthv.' tin casi\tlie lltcL-r 'J7/(fh-r.i\\\d. 1 xickrt \>\\\- a crucibh' antl some charcoal, tbund in his ehest, toiiether w ilh some iwtraordinarv-lookiiii^ fossils, Avhicli were no (inuht ' I'hilsopher's Stones,' seemed to put the matter beyond all (ii>. ])nte. If further corroboration were neec'ed, his face furnisliti] it, by the expression it wore of care and anxiety ; for, as it was sln-ewdly ob.served, althoui^h the Devil imparts knowledge inul \vealth to his votaries, lie is a stranger to happiness himself, and cannot confer it upon others. '• Xo man was ever so unconscious of tlie feelinijs and shj;. j)ici()ns lie had j^dven rise to as ])()or AV^elcome Shanks : l()\iirr so litnd( e, and avoidniLT socu>tv. he was not aware that lie Was avoided h.imself. The awe with which he was regarded ratlur ihittered his vanity than awakened his apprtdiensions. I'lr Ite mistook it for res})ect for his «j;reat erudition and uiiiiii- peachahle character. Poor man ! he tli(Uii;ht if he had a secitr, it was liis own, and he had a right to k(>ep it. Had he iiiixcd more with tlu; world, he would have found that it is an oli'eiue nuainst society at larue. for a man to presume lo liave a secret ill all, unless the fact of his luiv'ng it be carefully concealed also. Xo avowed secret ever was oermitted to be retained iiiv Id- late ; even the free-masons have had theirs disclostul. A lady oiieo told me she had discovered it, after years of anxious persever- ance ; and, as it was one of the most singular mysteries in the Avorld, she would communicate it to me. She said she had givm her husband no peace by day or night, until he revealed it, )()!'• Ill in ^he had coaxed him with endearments, teased him with iiii) tunities, tormen ted 1 dm with annovanc(>s. am 1 ent ra lined MM when unguarded ; and, iinally, extvirted from him the disclosuiv, •which was, that in reality there was no secivt, after all, there being, in fact, nothing to tell. ]Many consvdtations were held by the people as to the best mode of making him give some ae- count of himself; and at last it was decided to have him a;)])iv- bended, and examined behire a maL!;istrate, but the diHirulty was to find a charge that would justiiV his arrest. AVhile tlis embarrassing subject was under consideration, he savcnl tlieiii the trouble of ])roceeding any further in the matter, by relin- quishing the school aiuhiuitting die jilace. '' A few evenings previous to his departure, he called at i;o' .(«,.'.; LIFE IN A COLONY. i;;7 I l;nn?e, nnJ, soiulinp: in his iianio. 1ioo;o;(h1 Hie favour of a privnto I ,;,ttrvi('\v. After caiv fully (.-losiiiij: ihc fitudy-door, and lookinij^ I i-iuiml tho room, to asciM'taiii that \ve wvro alone, and out of I the lieariuL? of others, he said, ' Jud^e. I have (hseovenMl that tluiv is a treasure buried in this estate.' — '1 know it,' 1 said. —'All.' he replied, liis eountenanee beaming with joy. 'ah. I ;ini ri^lit, then ! I knew I eould not l)e nn'staken. AVheu, ,r,ml |)v whom, was it liidden, sir? — I will not ask you Avhere, ., fur that 1 lu^ve diseovered already.' — ' Hy my father and myself: I we have surdv more money, in elearing, eultivating, aiul im- I rriivinu; Elnisdale, than would purehaso it twiee over; but that iiioucv neither you nor I will ever find, my friend.' ••Jlis face suddenly beeame overeast with an expression of (listippointment and mortification. I liad unintentionally, it siviiicih woe.nded his feelings, by subjecting him and his tlu'ory to \vh:it he considered ridicule. '"Will you permit me to dig ftrthe treasure where I know it to be?' — ' Ct^rtainly,' 1 re- jillril; 'you mav dig wherever you please, provided you do mo ]io d;iiiiai;e, and do not disfigure my grounds.' — 'AVhat propoi-- tiou Avill you recpiire a& owner of the soil ? ' — 'You are wel- come to all you can find. 1 only ask the privilege of a IVit'nd, lo advise you to save yourself the trouble. It is imj)ossible there c;iii be any hidden treasure on this property. ]t never was in- habited, previous to our occupation, but by Indians, who, wi; all know, had neither gold nor silver, and by the French Acadians. who Avere almost equally poor. They were mere leasants. who lived on the production of their farms, while the itlle trade they had, either with each other or the savages, A\as conducted by barter. They had nothing to bury. — * Pardcn lilt',' ho said ; ' many had not. but some had money — so my in- foi'iiation goes — and 1 can rely npon it.' — ' Yes, large sums of iiioiiev for conducting the fur trade with France ; although I must admit that this district is not rich in treasure.' — ' But Chester ]3ay, Judge — Chester Bay, Judge ! ' and he straighten- ed himself for the lirst time, I believe, since became to Bridge Port ; and exhibited his great height and manly frame to such advantage, that he seemed as if he had been suddenly trans- I formed into another being. 'Chester Bay, Judge, is the ])laco [for treasure. jMillions were buried there by the pirates ; whole jcari^ocs of Spanish galleons, coin and bullion, jewels, precious jetones. and wealth untold. I am on the track of it at last — a few peeks more, audit is mine: where the rod first pointed, it now |l)t'!uls down as if to touchit. But thepropitious time is now come, iaiid. by your leave, kind sir. I will go and dig for this rrench- |iiiaii"s iiiuuey,' and, seizing his hat, disappeared from the room. ay m I 1 ■ M !*;!: 1! .M t 1 13S THE OLD JUDGE; OR, "Sliorllv afiiM'wnnls, wo woro distiirliod bv a violent 1, rusly ohl till kettle, roniovotl tho cover, and exposed to vim,; (juantity of silver shillini^s, sixpiMieos, Spanish pistan'ciis, ;!; ; cpiarttn* and half dollars, amounting in all to about sovciuv-;'. ])ouni!s. — ' This is not tiie projiorty of the French,' 1 said, a:'; : oxaminiuij; a numhor v)f tho ditl'oront coins : ' tho Acadiaus utv transported from this couidrv in tho year 1755 ; but n(>aH\ a this mon(W bears a subsecpiont date; 1 think that I kiuiw: whon) this package bi'longed.' — ' Ah,' he observed, with a s:^/ but decided tone, and an air of grievous disappointnuMit, ;: there is an owner, I will restore it : treasure-trove — I think t':,;: is tho word, Judge — treasure-trove in this country, where ti' King makes no claim, is the ])roperty of tho Under, but treasur. lost belongs to the owner — it must be restored.' " ' About thirty years ago,' 1 said, ' there was a knife-cjri'vv" wandorinix about the countrv, who was always in the habit ; gott ing drunk on Saturday night, on \yhich occasion his wit'o wrv prudently hid his money, lest he should squander more of it t!i:i: lie could atford. Once shehidit so etfectually,that she couUliunvr iiud it again, aiul loud and long were the lamentations of tiie ]ioor people over their lost property. She always believed tii;i: it had boon stolon by some person who had observed her coiu'ei- iuiT it. The foUowins]: year they Avore both drowned, bv tiie upsetting of a ferry-boat, where the bridge now stands at ti.' vdlaiTo. They were stranirors unconnected with and uuktiowij to anybody in the province, and have long since been ioruoitt: Can you show me tho spot whore this money Avas fouiur:'-| ' Certaiidy,' he replied ; and, taking out the mysterious porlui- book, he showed me a sketch of the stump. — 'I always ii!;iri| places,' he observed, ' where the hazxd wand points to nietaL;,- substances, and take their bearings by measurements to ot';i:| objects, so that 1 can tind them again. My observations iiivi. enti'rod in a cipher of my own invention, for fear of losiiii]; i., book and disclosinof my secret.' — 'Will youshow me your waiiJ: — ' Certainly ; here it is ;' and, unscrewing the top ot his ni;. he drew oe.t the prophetic hazel — ' Ah, sir,' he exclaimed, \v;:| TJri: IN A COLONY. 139 rviilont satisfiicilon and pri(lt\ * this is a boaiitiful wand — a real (hTM'.ihi h:i/.td tVoni rppcr Saxony — it is as triu' as a load-stoiio. .-llow Iriilv it iiulicatod this treasure; and it jjoints as do- icJiv 10 that of the j)iratos, whicli, by ijrod's blessinuf and the .,,1 of this Httlo windfall of money, 1 hope to n>aeh soon. That/ I ^^.,,nl. Judii^e. and this inestimable Jli'ckc 'Pha]('}\ showinij^ mo P,> ivnewiuHl old silver dollar, 'cost me ti ij;reat di'al of money —all tliat 1 was Avorth in the world at the time, a very lari;esinn l',ira poor man, bnt a mere trille for such invaluable things — 1 ,-;ivt> a thousand dollars for them.' ••' I'rav, what is a llvcl-c Tlialcr f I inquired, ' I never heard t!u> term hetbre.' — 'A Ileeke Thaler, Ju(li;e, is a sympathetic iio'iliu'. Everylhini2: in nature, animate and inanimate, is endowinl \\\\\\ svmpalhy. In the aniuial world, it iwists in sex; in the iiiiiu'ial world, in kindred, allluity, or identity. This dollar is kn.iwu to he symj)athetic. It has been proved to be so in (Jer- iiianv. if a kindred or identical dollar can be found of (Mjual jMiiitv and texture, size, and density, and bronii;ht into contact \\\\\\ the svmpathy of this one, they can ])roduce a thii-d dollar, aiulsoon^/(/ hiJlnitHm^'iwww. which wondi-rful power it derives its VMW oi Jlrr/ir Tl/aler, or Hatching Dollar. It is one of the invstcries of nature that scienc(> cannot explain or imitate — one (t'lho innumerable wonders Avith which an ins^crutable Provi- dence surrounds ns on all sides, though, in reality, no more siran^i' or miraculous than we are ourselves. Like begets like —unlike begets nnlike: steel and ilint produce iire — they are ii'it like, but wheat brings wlieat of its own kind, and in its own likeness — so silver produces silver. It is the restorative ])ower (iluature that thus counteracts the tendency to decay in all things ti'Vivstrial. 1 bought the llecke Thaler and the ha/el wand fiMUi an aged German in Lunenburg, Avbose father ' ' You have been grossly deceived and shamefully treated, my punl friend.' I said. ' Is it possible that a man of your good sense can believe iu such a palpable absurdity as the lieckb Tlmlerr' '' lie rose hastily, in great agitation, and held up his hand, as if to waive the discussion, and said, 'I know all you would say. Judge — I know all you think. You imagine that my head is atl'eeted, and regard me either as a madman or a fool. It is natural, very natural you should. I have not your knowledge, Jiiili;e — I am not so learned nor so wise as you are ; b\it I crave your pardon, good sir — think me not presumptuous if 1 say there are some things I know which you have not studied. The blind li' ar more accurately, and have !i keener sense of i'eeling, than tl.ose who have eyesight; they have less to distract their tf ' 110 TiiK c.i.i) jri)(u: ; ou, allciillnn, and observe* more ncriirali'lv. T liav(> tliou^lit d, on this siilijcct. and must not lose my taitli hccnnsi' I oaiiiiot ])lain llic niystci'ics of nalnrc. else am 1 an nnticli('\ in^ lu-ati 1 iol ()\v ni\ (Irst iiiv. \\ hat vwv is. is, and \vliato\( r is to 1 H'. V, conic to pa.-..^ — noithor yon nor 1 can alter the deci'ees ,if |' •, Kcxt week my term expires at Bridnc Port. W ill yoii Imv good as to alhtw this niojiey to riMuain in yonr sate till that ti:, wluMi I will call and tako it on my way lo C'lu'ster IJay. wj, it is my intiMition to prosecute my searcli until 1 obtain tiic ect oi" my wislu's.' " In a lew days ho rotnrn«Hl, aoconipaniiHl by llarchiy. r, converted iiis money lor him into th'* moi'o portable an(lc(iii\, iiient ibi'm of gold, and, thankiui;" me ior what he called my giv;, coudesi'( nsiou and kindness, ba.de me farewell. "A month or two after this. 1 obsiM'ved a not ice in oneofti; papers (d'the death of ]Mr Welcome ""'hanks, Avho lost hislJ!'. the collapse of a shaft in which he was workinii^ on Tanconk ], land, in Chester \i\y. Tlie o])ject of the excavation, it went- to say. aj)j)eari'd to bi> so perfectly nnintellij^ible, that ir w gen(>rally supposed the unfortunate man must have been ufi.: sou nd nunc i! m t CITAPTEE X. THE LONE HOUSE. TiiT3 niorning I aeeom-panicd the Judi^e and ]Miss Sainllir: in their sleigh on an excursion into the country. The si .-, though rather painful to the eyes, was inc'^'scrihably li-Whdi: and beautiful. Tiiere had been, during last idght ■.nd p;irtw' I yesterday, a slight thaw, aecomi^anied bv a cold line rain tli;,t froze, the moment it fell, into ice of the ])urest crystal. Evorv decitiuous tree was covered with this glittering eoatin ■. aud lou'!;- ed in the distan^^e like an enormous tiiough graceful buiirii : featiiers ; while, on a nearer ap])voach, it n sembled wiiii it; linbs now bending under the beavv weight of the transpiiMtl incrustation, a da/./ling chandelier. The open fields, covfiw with a rough but ha.rdened surface of snow, glistened in tiie.(l \vitli >i\V, rfjoiceil in a '^wvn o 111 ai;" JI wiu'j; Its massy shape ri' irvi'( I bv stroiii,' ami luimerous lights, it "gained in t^race what it ^t 111 streiiL,'tli, and stood eri'et amoiiu; its (Inioj)inij; nciuhboiu'ri iicralile luit vii^oroiis, the lioary loret'ather ot* the wood. 'I'iu' tall and slender poplar and white bii'ch, which Ihto and A' old tlierr li:id sprnnij; np in the new clearmi^s from the iviots ( li'irs. and oiiti^rown tlieir strength and propoi'tions. bciit their I'idiv to the ui-oiiml nndcr their nniisnal biinlcn. and ■;nls •j:r,u-^ us l'.r;iii'(l taiii'it'ul arches, which the tVost encircletl with nnmero wrc.itlis ot" pearls. Kverythinu; in the distance was eovci'cd with t .1' niii't'st white, while the colours of nearer objects were as divcrsi lied as their forms. Till' hark of the dillerent trees and their limhs appeared tlmui'^h the transparent ice; and the rays of tlu; sun, as they j;.':l ii])i)ii them, invested them with all the hues of the pi'ism. ]i was a scene as impossible to describe as to fori^et. To the natives, it is not an unusual sii;ht, for it <;enerally occurs onco avi'ar. at It'ast, and its eifects are as well appreciated as its liaiitv. The farmer foresees and lanuMits serious injury to his or''liai'(l the Avoodman a pitiU'ss ])eltim]; of ice as he plies his a\c in the forest, the hnntsman a barrier to his si)ort, and Iho t:':iv('llci' an onu'n o f hard anil severe weather; and vet \\a^ Shell ic tlM'l tli(> i;lory of the landsca[)e, that every heart felt its mau ackiiowledLred the miii'ht and the heautv of this sudden >l()i'iiiai ion. It was the worlv of a m'uht. The sun set \\itli ci;iiliiiH' sli(;wers. It rose in an. its si)lciul()nr to witness ami to li.i^iitcii. by its presence, the nuiii'iiilicence and brilliancy of the S(r!ie. We cimstantly recurred to this topic after our return, ami ;i2;:iiii and again went; to the window, as the day deidined, t) ratcli the last j)arting glimpse of the " silver frost " heiore it ili i.-soiveii from view unt ler tl le ga/e o f tl le snn, aiui vaiiis bed fur ever. In the evening, winter and its scenery, its festivities and privations, and its eifects on the habits, feelings, and ta-^tes (if the people, formed the subject of a long eonversation, in wliiili tiie Judue told me the following' sad ard interesting lorv : — Oil one of the shore-roads, as the highways n(\ir the Atlan- tic are called, in a distant part of the pro' ince, there is a lono I lioiLse, situated in the midst of one of the Avildest and most ibanvii tracts of country in these colonies ; on either side of it iniv eiioriiious bogs, stretching away in the distance for miles. iBi'iiiiul it is an undulating country of granite formation, I covered with enormous masses of detached rock. In front is lake, in a dee| and sunken hoiloWj s(> still, so cliLcrless, and "11 \'il 112 Tin: oi-i) .iri)(;i:; oi; yj i rcpulsivr. Iliiil it looks liko llio pool of dc'illi. ncvoiul \\{i^ iiiouiil;iiii \\;i\c of ;,MMnili' rises Mild sliiils uiil ill'" sen, win, I, iiol l";ir (listMiil . Tilt' jilacc ulicrc lli(> lioiiso sImikIs is ;i ;<,|., ridm' ol' l:iiid in I lie lurm \('iii|tl iVoiii t li<" ciifiiliilirMlH'c o I" loose si Olio. l*>e\ eii \('i| i', i*idi;('. liowovor, m11 is liMncii. Tlic sm-rMot' is eilliiM" ikiI Ol" pMrti.dlv coMTcd willi iiKtss, till' wild si i'mw Ik-itn , ;iii(l i; hardy w liilc chtNor. lleroMiid lliei-c m sliiiiled liireli or d^; iMrcli linds m scmiiIv siihsisleiiee in llic cres ices ol' llie ;'(i(k>.,; ill coMi'sc er;ix,.| r,n-iiied l>y llio di>iiil(>i;rMt ion llial 1 iiiie and I'l, mIu riinl ions of lieal and Irosl lia\o prodiieod in llie i^'nii,,;,. Ill llie hollows, wliicli in'seiiiMe hasios or sloiic resei'\(i;is I'oe^y suhslaiico has Mt'ciiiiiuiMled. 1 IimI iiiirlun's .small liivm. (>r ill-condil ioiied and liair-lod llrs. w liicli sooiii lo have^riu jircnialiiroly old. Miid urcy helore their liiiic. heiiiLij covered u,; A\ hil I' moss, whieli. i liml Mil; iVom llu'ii" liiiihs. like lioar\ np llieir stems, hani's pei lICi; locks. Tl ic larircr I )(><;> rii;h( and left Mrc in part i-o\ ered with a lone-, coarse. ;u|ii; ijrass (whli'h the moose and CMrrMhoo Iced n|)oii in winter. w! Ilic frost ciiahli's them lo Iravt'l oM'r these Ircachcreiis ; (la _;'ci\tiis |)laccs). ami in part hy the yellow uatcr-lil ics, uild ins. and clusters oi ci'Miiherrv -luislics. It is impossi d)le 1: ) conci'iM' aiiNlhinir men* loiiclv (lc>olali' than this j)lace. I'-vcii in sniimier. uhen llie «,'!•;;>> Yo:\A is wi'U dclincd. and M'^ctation has done its hesl lock! llu' lui^-e j>roju>rt ions o[' the landscape ami conceal ils |)(i\,r, and di'loi . ;itv. when the uliltcr 1 1 1 <•' 11 isct'ts lliitter bv I II ^\: draw MMir atli'iition fr()in their dank, slaunanl. and iiuwi; ii^ome cradles, to their own heanty. and the wild l-ec. :i> iouriie\s on. whisiu'i-s oi' his A\inttM'"s store of iionev, aiul i; bird In- tl lilt s sihl:: 'nerrih that contentmen 1 is h >s ; even IIumi.cni le no\ell\ oi' the scene, aiul iiittM-i'>ied. as von are. in i e. lo lie household oi' the desert, ils total sci'liisiou i'\ elll ^^orld. and tlu' whoK' human family, overpowers and wy^. vou. A I'rowd ol' idi'as rnslu's into xtnirmiiul .faster lliaii w can arraiii;e and dispose ol' them. Snri'ly, you say, Iumv. : li^asl. is innoci'uce : and. w hei\' llu're is innociMice, there m;; be liappincss. AVhere llu'iv is wo tiMiipter, there can W i victim. It is tlu* •" still water"" oi' lil'e. lli'iv. all is calm a; quiet, wliile. on either sidi'. is tlu' rapid or the cataract. 1: jiassious can have no scojie ; the atleclious uuist occii]iy i. Avhole iirouiul. J low can envy, hatred, malice, ov uuchantaij ness tind an eutraiu'e ? There cau be uothiui: to envv wit' th e couJiiiou ul' all is alike, and where all that is iiarncrcd Mi llMC Mill. |,i,- P.. Ml i: IN A COLON V. J v.] i|i |1IU>I1 irv •' dock 'I'l KM'c ca M !)(' IK) lial I'cd, wluMH^ then' is n (> i;.r Uk" I !• Ill) siij)cri(>ril y ; l)iit lliry can love one aiiollici", lor ill ill all 1o t'Mch otiicr; and they can trim their lire )oor waviarni'' man, Iced liiin, and send Inni on his (1 li Mil nirv reji>icMi<4 Th icy can liear IVoiu liini o r t le lionseles.s vtriiii^t'i'. •'"" lliria a Ix'iKt I Mess (lod willi llianklnl hearts thai lie has ;;iven to dwell in. Me inav tell them tales of war, hut. tllfV led thcN are heyoiid its reach; and, what, is far hetter, 1 i!:at, it |)<>\»'i'ty lias its |)rivations, it, has also its own l„riiliar |)rivile,i;»'S a nd nnmnnities. 'rhon'dits like these iiuralU lorce tlu'inselves npon yon ni such a scene 11 fir lilies \ our are iuhdned and sol'tened. \o\i behold the laiuilv Willi tti'cst and allcction, hut- still you shrink at a lull \ ie \v IJu'ir situation, and inyolnntarily reu;ar( I it w itli |)ity as ;i liiipclcss ex ile. Vou are ji ereaturi; of hahit : you cannoty II luJiTstaiiit it ; vou reel you haye social duties to pei'lorm li\i' almic iMllUIKll t'aiiiilii's thai irricl is lessened when the burden is divided, and happi- inci'cased when \l is imj)arte(l ; thai, man was lutt made to uid that, natural wants, individual weakness, and I pi'olection r(>(piire that, though we live in t'amilies, our must, dwell in communities. If such he the leelini;s that, a traveller entertains, even iti MiniiiuM', how nnisl he shudder wluMi lu^ rei^ards this lone house ill winter ? 1 have seen many solitary habitations as well as tliis. and some of them much tartluM- removiMl from any iieiL,di- liinirlioiul. but inner t)n{^ so dreary and so desolate. l'\)llow any iii'w road into the wilderni'ss, aiul you will liiid a family settled tluTc. miles and miles tVom any lious(\ IJut imaniiiat ion soon lil is llj) the intervening space with a dense population, and you ifci'tlu'iii in the midst of a well-cultivated country, and enjoying all llio blessings of a civilized eommunity. They are merely pioiu'cfs. They liave taken up their station: the tide of t'liiuralioii will sjHH'diiy reach them, and pass on. lio into that house, and you are at oneci struck with the diH'ereiKn; of The Ibrmer is still life and eontiMdment; t:u' two fan UlU'S, tlu'laller is all hoi)e, bustle, and noisy hai)j)iness. The axe is III wui'k on the forest, that is ringing with its regular blows. 'Mvvvy \oii'es are heard there, and the loud laugh echoes tliroiiiih tlu> woods, for t'ri(Mids have come from the settlements, aid li'u acres of wood are to be cut down iii one dav «1 I'l'MlS arc arriving with their niMghbours and relations, from whom tlu'v have lately parted ; and at night there will bo a festive fisseinbly at a ])laee which, until the year before, w hen the road ^vas made and the house built, was in the heart of a howling v.ilJeruess. There is iiothin§ Il lii ii Hi Tin: o\A) .ii:ik;i:; oi \o\\ llunl\ il (Icsdlnlc. !illl)<>ni;1i loiicliiu'ss is ils cliiinict (('iiNdM' Willi tilt' l»ti'«'shT, a liiir. iiiaiilv. ii.'it i\(' hcti • Tls 'I'. \i'U lind lie lias xisioiis of a mill iUi iiis lirook ; iit> l.H, lx» t I ii;: lil'lv licati o[' lioriicil rattle in a lew \cai's. As scnn.iH liis II ill is liiiisln'(l. lliis li'^-liiit is to In- sii|nrs('(lc(l \i\ a I: iViiiiitd house; and tliat iiiiseraMe shed, as he calls his st; is |o i{\\c |)laee to a snaeioiis haiai. sexeiilv t'eet Ion-' ;ii \S IP' ill II' I'eel \\ ide II. lull ol' inei'riiiienl. eonhdenee. and Iiojm'. |; the termer plaee, a pious resi;;nat itin. a juaeid eonleiiini(.| 111 ai ts e haste lied and siihdued into a pat lent eiidnraiue uf ti and a meelx hiit linn reliance on lh(> superiiileiidciice ni I) i\iiie I ro\ ideiice. tonii a st roil!"' cont last to tli(> more auiiiia!i iUid selt'-rel_\ iiil;' loresl lamilv. 'i'he \\inlr\ hlast howls I'oniid their the eontinned and mercit'iil iir.. leitiiMi of Ilim who is always a lather to \\\c latherlcss. .\; this st'ason llu> road is covered, in eoinmoii with the tliviirv desert, with deep snow. In A\c cleai' li^iit of an uiicloinlr:! sun. ils direction mav he ast'crtained hy an expcrifiiici! 1 i'a\eller. and by him alone; hut, at ni^lit . or in sloi-ni_\ wculur, it is a \ast and trackless iiehl, wliei'e the falii;'ued and hmvildrivt! !StraiiL;iM' is doomed to inevitable lieath. To atl'ord shelter and assistance to tlu^ traveller, to fiirnis':; Inm w ilh a Li,niiU\ and spei'd him (ui his way. was t lu* ohj't>ct wiiir! •lehn Lint had m vic^w in sc'ttlini;- on the " l\idm\" Hew;' aided h\ llu> siihscrint ions and i neonraut'd In' tlu> personal ;i> isiance o\' lhosi> on eitluM' sidi> id'the dissert Avho -wen* iiilrrcsli in llu- road, or in tlie 1 >ene\()lence i if t le undiM tak \\\ii Al louse niid barn were oivX'tod with mncli labenr and dillicnlty (lor Ihe materials wo'.-e bmuiiht from a i^reat distanci'). t he Cr oi' ISessio of th ns ur;inteil him a t"re(> tavorii liceiist\ and the leuislati u* ]iro\ince a small snm oi ten or tweh(> ]u)unds a-yt>ar. (Hmsiilcratiini c^'llu^ impiirt.im'e i^f this house to the maiU'o: iiuinicaiien t(^ thai ]iart of the ])rovimH\ outained abmit thirfv acres of Jaiul. Tlu 'IT e i\uliie e wei'e s(Hin eli'ared and bronuht into eultivatieii, and iinnliuv liis w inter's stoiv of hav. and vearlv sniinlv oi' wheat and \v:y tables, liis sheej'» and cows wandered over the ])laiiis. ;ii, ■fonml in summer, in an extended ranue. sullicient foml on lii' kalu red and short, but sweet, herbaiie of white elover, iMlcll eh' llli r 1U)\V It} tlliT |tr;»ycr to I'r lucrcit'iil y\:. illuM'lrss. .\; ih IIh' (ln;r'v -,\\\ llllrloiu;' i \ (^XjHM'U'lllVli iMMiiy wcaiiitr, ml bcwildtivil T.Il'i: IN A (OI.ONV. 1 I. l' i> lt';\vi»s ofllie dw.'!!'!' hiislicM. 'I'lif I)i»'^ sM|>|)lic(l liim witli I'licl ■iiiil iiKiti'fi.ils l*'»r cull i\;it iiu;; IiIm liclds. wliilc llic prncccds ol'liis litllc inn ciimIiIimI liini lo olil.'iin scnr.c ol" llmsc nrl it-Ics (if^ro- ,.,.fit's tli.'it li.il>il \\'\^ I't'iKlcrcd iiidispciisal)!*' to the pdori'.sl. [)vo- plc I II \\\\^ »'i» nut rv Sufh u.'is till' coiidit iiiii ol'l Ins I'lmily. TIk^v (In-ivcd Msc'iidy 'rt:iiii |)nt\isi(iii iVoni 1 he soiirrrs I liavc d('scfil)i'd. ^ Ciii* iMil ;i <•< Inilitwt'd vc.'ir Willi lilllc VMfinl loll. I lii'ir orciipnl nnis (MiiirMiid i.|.;i>(>(| witli llw st'MS(MM. 'rmic piisscd silnilly :i\\;i y. iiiid. :is tlicrc were lew iiicidciils of import iiiiri- IIimI iiilcrrstcd tlicin, its lli^^rlii \\;i^ nii|)i'rc('i\('d Mild iinniMrkcd. Tlu' llircc cldrsl d.iii'di- Iiad scM'r.'illv N'I'l lioiiio lor service in tlic iicnI town, wliii-li Id's as :i sriipoi'l ; Imd in.'iri'icd :iiid (piiltcil I !i(> coinili'v ; niid tin* 'niiilv. Ill the lime I ;im speakiiiL; of, coiisisled of .loliii Lent, fe. ;iiid three lit lie :;irls, the yoiili-jjeslor w holii \v:is seven When I nrri\ed at the house last summer. M r.s Ins wil \(\ai's ut aue '111 ihil iioi at lirsi reeo'^iiise me Ol (I a''e had so com (MVCITil my visan'c Willi Ins wnnUleil ;iii(l r(>|)iil."ive masU ph'tely that; ihi" rcalures of manhood \ver(> ell'eel ually eoiieeah'd IVom view. It had removed my hair, deprived me of my teel h. ohseiired inv eves, and dislii,'nred my cheeks with iniseeinly furrows. Tlicsc ravage's of lime, howmci", are wisely |)('i'iiiilled or or- (binnl. to prepare us to lea\(' a \vorld which we can no |iM!:;"r cillii'r sorve or adorn. In proporl ion as we lose our |)ersoiial litlraclions, manliind recede from ns; and, at last, we miilnallv akc i( A\c of «>ach other without u siirh or a ieai* of re-rrel What years had i^raduaily ellected for me, misfortune jiad siiihlt'iily and di'cply e!iii;raven upon her. The yoiiiii^ and clieer- t'lil wouKUi \vh(Mi) .1 had known was now a staid and ca?"e-w()i'ii matron ; the' li:i;hf and elastic step of Nonth had been succeeded liy the slow and lu>avy tread of limbs stilleiied wit h toil, and her liair had hlamdied iindtM" <;rief and anxiefy. JMv voice lir.-d; at- tracted her attention. She said she knew it-, and Avas cerlain it was that of an old and kind friend, and ent rea[(>(l me not to t liink lior iiiiLi;rateful if slu' could not recall my name, tor her poor head had been confuscMl of bite. On discoverini^f who 1 was, she com- iniiiii('at(>d to me a brief outline of her jiudaiudioly story, tlio ddails of whi(di J subsc(piently heard from others at Sludburiie. DuriiijT tlie previous winter, licr husband had set out on foot; for the nearest tow.;, to procure some little necessaries Jbr the liousc, ami intended to return tlie next day. The subscMpient innniinir was line, but the weather, as is often tlie case in this variable climate, suddtMdy chano-ed. At noon it beojan to snow ; owards evenino; the wind bad risen to a iijale, and clouds ol' sleet hvere sweeping over the desert with resistless fury. Once or 10 i- i« "■ liti lAVV: IN A C'f)I/)\V 117 lulrcw ii!,. iiiL^ stcn: Thr \M. tiiui. 'W'.v lie ciirllicii hImi^cs (if ;i IIMI. '■ All. iUkmumI. I'( i. U' Utile I'll- lie Wdii't \c saw till {\vr Imw lie IV lliaw. or .1 liiii":, llnUl> (l;>y. " ■ IkuI lu'CdIlli' r lit licrs wliii low. Ilwa^ S(>C(iii(l (l;iv. lis i'('cr|itiin \\{\ had siH'M Slink lli'«!l uir ill iHir.- st:u'k-\;ii';. VtMunl liiiili-. ViLilitnl ;iiii !inil('l:in;i'i'- ULi; \\ ilMici'i. n signal i" si'lrss aiiii :i vd tVciii tlu r n rouiul 111' tli< Mil Thcv Avill 1h> nil abroad lo-d.-iy," slio said ; " sec iflluMr arc any IV ('^r liif< diMiiiT." Ill a slmri liiiu' llio cliild rofiiniod, willi .'wd of tlicsc liHlo iiiK'.l.i in licr liaiid. and Ili(> lablc was ai^sain spread ; hiil lu; lie nol. lit' would rcliini, |)crlia|)s, she 1 lioiiL^lit , in llir cvcn- •,llll(' net ,;i;^r ; foi', \v I lo I ' licdid nol an'i\(' at noon, lie s( Idoiii reached li,,iii(' until sunset. IJiit iiiL^lil, came with its aeeiisluinerl meal, liiil his |ila('(> was si ill vacant. To-iiKM-row would he post -day; ji,. had \ery properly waited, sli(> said, to coiih^ Avith Ainslow. Sli(> was ij;lad ol it, lor he was lame, the walkiiiLC was lieav v, and li, hail a pack to carry. \'es, they w<»iil(l hot h he here early ill tlic day. Donhl, I'ear, or inisL,dvinn; never entered lier mind. Slif had L!;reai conlidence in his jiidninent ; wliat( ver he di-cid- 1,1 nil was rii^hl, and it was prndeni and niiich more aLM'ceahlo t'orhiiiito Iravcd in company with the |H)slman, who had all ill,' news, and was a pleasant, and ohlii^inL,' man. The next day l,r(»iii,dit a:j;ain and ai^ain mei*ry laces to the door, to look over llic (licary hoii^. and catch the lirst <;limpse of I lie sleigh. At last, a shout, j>roclaimed its ap|)roaeh, and the wlude ;:ri)ii|) were assend>led to see the little dark speck that was iii(i\iii;j; forward in the distance, and <,M'adiiallv eiilariiini/ into ;i ■^liiict form. It was anxioiislv watcherted I'rom strangers into IVIends. They vvei'o link' events, to hi' sure; hut these little incidents const it iit(; '■ the short and simple annals of the poor," Tliey are all that (urur to (liv(>rsify ihc monotony of their secluded life. Tlu; )Kistmaii came, but h(^ had no companion. Hi! drove; his sleii^li 1 ,,.,niiil',> ^B t" the onposite side of tlu; road, w hero the hai'ii stood, and t L^lau seasi't'., side (if ill' V over, and it> very heaw us a soiii: I'l ." And >l.i' wild rubbitJ. li'aviiii,' it theri% ho proceeded to ihe house, lie was met by Mrs bent, who shook him cordially by ihe hand, and said that ad exi)ected her husband with him, but supposed he was lie h iiul ready to come. The dinner, however, was now waitinjjj, and she pressed hira togi) in and partake with the fanuly cd'tlieir lunnble meal. " Have you seen John ? " The truth had now to be told, which Ainslow did in tho H 5 ]1S Tin: OLD .irnCK ; OR V!-;J. lvin(1('si- mid most rousIdiM'nic' innmicr. Al'lcr l)n'p.'i?MniT ]„;, iiiiiid for llu.' r('Oi'j)li()n ol" vci-y l);id news, lie jJiMcctMlnl i(( j,,. lonii lu>r. IIkiI jis hv crossed I lie wooden luid^-e, ;it tli(> 1 brook ill llie boLj^. he obs(M-\('d .I(ilni lieiit silliiiL;,- on llie 11 Avith his haelv resting iiL;;iinst ilie rail, a s1ill"eiied and IV corpse, lie had e\ideiitly l)een over|)o\vered Ity ihe si ulncli. t'ondnij; iVoin the eastward, blew t'nll in his lace, dci \\\arii'd liiuhs, lie had into that fatal sleep in which the sonl. without a slrii I 'IT. >riv- ii:i\iii ttcM' world. lie .idded, tliai liad taken him ^\\^ in his arms, and lifted him into the sKi-!. uheri> luMiow was; and that h(> had covered him wilh an,:, and (h'iven to the harn. that slu> miu,ht not h(> too sudden:,- sluudvcd by the awful siii,ht of the dead body; and coiiclini.'j Avith those consolatory remarks uliicii, tiion^h nidieard m- i;!i. hcHuled, are nsiiallv atldressi'd to tiioyo who are smitten 111 IV, 11HK by sudden alllict ion. JJidore he had linislied liis narrati\(\a loud, hHiLT-ciMii and pieivdni;- cry oi' distrc^ss arost* from the slei;;h llial llirillni the w iude i;roni). and bronnht tluMU instantly to the dur. 'rht> ])oor niaiTs faithful and atiectionate doi;- had discovcna In's niastiM*. and the stivMii:: instinct of tlu* animal rcveali'tl ii him at oiiC(> that he would iumim' more hear that voice of kiii/,- Jiess and tellowship that had (dieennl him from day to dnv, r i'(H'ei\e his food from that hand which had al\\a\s b^-en i-\ui:t;- cd to i'ccd or to loiulK* hi m. Tl e ])osiman tln'ii dr(i\(' rll sleii;h to the door, lifted out tho lileless body, wliicdi had h fro/en in its sittini;; attitndc\ and. i>lacin!;- it in the same pdsiii.in on a lari;e (diest, in a corner of tlu^ strangers' room, vt'slcil \u back against the wall. It lo(d horse, who ate them as lie stood in his hanu^ss, he occiipinl the few remainiiii; minnti^s of his time in cMuK'avoiirin^i;. ;i.>* lie be t could, to condole with and comiort the poor widow :inl her ludpless family, lie was astonished at her fortitude, llir jiL>ony, it was evident, Avas almost insupjxn'table, but slu> i^aviM.o viMit to viol(Mit and unavailing lamentat ions. He was not tl; first, as luMvillbeby no means the last, to admire this (|iia!ityi the female mind wIumi roused by i;reat events to dcn^p tlioiii:!: and cool and dcdiberato action. Weak, timid, and iiowcrle- as woman is, in the minor troubles and trials of life, when n; dan!4(M' and <;reat alllict ions are to be encountered, she ri? superior to i'ear, calls in the aid of a judguieut always goo. LIFE IN A COLONY. ]!() when liUll i\l' 0()iinil(Mitly relied on, nud a moral coiirnii^o surpassiiuj; t'liKii). bccaiisi' its rouiidMlioiiH aro not built on tlu' delu- la\vs otliononr, l)i;t dci-ply laid in conscious iinioccncc, in :i stroll;,' s( irliaiH't' us(> of llic ol)lii!;ations of duty, suul a pious and lii 'HI n the iiiii^lil, and L!;oodncss of (loci. 'J'lnis supported ;iiul yd'ciiLjtheiUMl. she snst;iiiis hiirdeiis dis|)roporti()ne(l to her ■\.;ini I successfullv resists alllirtions tliat o\erj)o\ver the vigour iiul :ii)[);il till' eour;iL;-e()t man. The ]nn)V \vi(h)\v heard him calmly and ])ati(>nlly, 1honp;li wortls seen led io fail her when Ihankinur him tor his kindness. his 1 )0V teutons silence, however, deceived him ^I'l lere arc i:il hv unities too lieavy to he borne, and misfortunes may()verj)()\ver qir|)ris(\ that could lie successfully resisted if llieir advent wciv known. Althouu;h the blow did not |)r()strate this miser- ;;!iK' woman, it stunned her into ins(>nsibility. ThoiiLdit and ;;n":iorv seemed suspiMuU'd. Incaj)abU' of action herself, she was passive in the hands other children. She had but- one con- t'usi'd ami indistinct idea that remained. She thouuht her hns- 1)1111(1 was at home, and aslet^p in the adjoiniii!; room, but Ids liinu't^hiiiiher and unbroken silence did not alarm her. When her iiuais were ])repared by her dauifhter, she would look round ;iiul say, " Call your lather — tell him we wait for him ;" or, at ii!"-ht. !>he would look into his room and admonish him it was jtriiilent to wake uj) and ^o to bed, or lu; would take cold. llio ])oor children |L;a/,(Ml at her, wonderiii*:^, and shed tears. JlrlnlesH, un[)rotecteiL and alone in the world, their little hearts I'aili'd them; and the incjuiry ()ft(Mi and often occurred to their luiiuls. What is to become of ns ? Death, that sat embodied 111 one human form in that bouse, and had laid bis cold, Ivimiiiiiiiiij: hand on anotber, whom he appeared to have marked I'.ir his victim, seemed readv to devour tlu'iu all. Silence tlrst diM' losod to them their solitude, and solitude their damper. ()ii thi? third eveninL,% they clustered as nsnal round their i:;i)iher's chair and prayed, but she Avas unable to join them. Siio looked at them, but diil not seem to comprehend them. They tlieu tried, with faltiMMiiuj lij)s and ti'arful eyes, a verse of a hviun, one that she had alwavs been fond of; but two voiceH vi'i'o now wantinix, and they were alarnu'd at the feeble and jilaintive sound of their own. The chords of the widow's heart vihratod at the sound of the music, and she looked about her as one awaking from slumber, ^riioiijjjht, feeling, and sensibility ri'lurned ; the fountains other atl'ections o]HMie(l, and a tlood of Itearsmiiiiijled with those of Ium* children. She iiujuired of them the day of the week, and whether any ])erson had lieen at tlui iLouso biuce the postmuu left it, wrun. band as a windins^-sIuM^t. Tlic slru, anil ready to undertake tbein. Slu* stood between tbe living and tlii' dead. A fearful debt was to be discliari^ed to tbe one, subsist. ence .and comfort were due to tbe oilier. Slie commenced tlir morning witb prayer from a cburcb formulary tbat bad becMi <,'iv( n lier by a travelling missionary, and tben W(Mit about ber usual duties. As sbe sat by ber lireside in tbe evening, sbe revohol iu ber mind tbe new spbere in wliicb sbe was ])laced. As am doubt or dilUculty suggested itsell, lu r loss became more and more apparent. How was ber busbaiid to be buried! Tl;.' ground was frozen t(> tbe deptli of tliree feet, and sbe was ini- able to dig a grave. tSlie dare not go to tbe next neighhoui s, a distance of seven miles, for sbe could not leave ber cliiKlivn SSbe could not send ber eldest daugliter, for sbe did not kiimv tbe way; and sbe, too, miglit be lost. Sbe must wait for the jvjstman ; be would arrive in tbree days, and would assist lit!' 1^ not, (xod would send relief wben least expected. Evervtiiiii.'. iiowever, about ber, everytbing sbe bad to do, and evervlliiii.' she required, mixed itself in some way witb recollections of him sbe mourned, and reminded ber of some babit, word, or act o\'\\\\ Even tbe weatber now made ber sbudder. Tbe storm, likfa giant refresbed witb sleep, arose again in all its niiglit, aiids\\v|it across tbe desert witb sucb luibroken force tbat tbe sihav appeared ratber like a moving mass of drift tban distinct aiki separate flakes. It was just sucb an evening as wben ber hu?- baud jierisbed. Sbe sbuddered, and drew ber cbildren nearer to ber on tlie beartb. Tbev bad alwavs loved eacb oilier, but tbeir ailW'tii'! * was greatly increased now, for tliey kiRnv tbat deatb w:is a n- ality. Tbey bad seen it, and *elt its ellects. It bad kvssi'iul tbeir number once — it could do so again. Tbey bad been tiJ tbey were mortal, now tbey know it. — it was an awfid discij- LIFE IN A COLONY. 151 p,iro to tliom, nnd yet ^vllat was death ? It; was not nnniliilalioii, for tlu' l»()dv rt'inaiiu'd. That whicli liad inhal)it('d ami aiii- iiiiiti'il it was iiicorponNil, and liad (h'ptirtcd unsrcn. It was th:it unknown, invisihh\ and niystcrious spirit, they had nncon- H'ioiislv U)ved, tor i\n\ corpsi' slioclunl and tcrrilicd thcMn. Tlicy had Inrn instrnctcd tliat tlit'rc was a soul that survivi'd tlio l),,(iv. hut tlu'V could not (•oni|)r('luMul it. They now saw and sluiJiilcnHl at the dilVcrcnce between the livini; and the d(\id. Il was ]):dpahle, but still it was not nit(>lliL!;ihlo. Poor little iniioiTuts ! it was their first ])raetieal lesson in mortality, and it was euL^raved on their aehinu; hearts too deeply ever to Ix* t'or- (TottiMi. Their atlection now became more intense and far more tender, for solicitude had blended with it ami softened it. Yea, tlieir little circle was stront^er for havin.:it hitherto quiet and noiseless houseludd ! There were these men stamping on the floor, shaking off the snow from their (dothes, beating tlieir hands together, throwing down their ])a(dr lamp, rebuilt her fire, and trembled as she reflected that she was aloue and unprotected. AVho are these men ? she asked her- ■ L V ,i m nm m lo2 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, self. Houseless in the storm, her heart replied, " "Would to Ileiiveii there had been such a shelter for my poor Jolni Lent I AV^e need not fear, for God andour])overty are our ])rote('ii((ii.' She told them they ^vet'e in the house of death — that her lius. hand lay dead, and, for want of assistanee, unburied in tliciKxt room ; but that all that C()ulel be done for them she Avoidd di.. though at sucli a, time, and -in such a ])lai'e, that all, of course, would be but very little. She advised them to keep at a dis- tane(3 from the tire ; and, havini^ ascertained that they wciv iiot i'rost-bittcn, set about ^ettiu';' tliem some refreshment. Wliile at work, she heard all that tiiey had to say to cadi other ; and, with the quickness of observation peculiar to the natives of this country, soon perceived they were not ecpials— that one of them spoke with a voice of authority ; that anutlur called him, Sir; and the third only answered when he vas s])()l;hfc perhaps turn away liis eountenanee in anujer, ;;ikI al'.indoii her in lier old aj^e to poverty and want. Ami, bt'siili ■'lie said, tln^re is my oid man ; his visits now are dcanr t,, me t an ever ; he u.is once my comivanion — lie is now niy fuardl" I ani^el. T cannot and 1 will ■•:wt forsake him while I live; 1 ''d wl> n it is^(}od's will thnt I (lej)art hence, 1 hope to be lai'l beside him, who, alive or dead, has never suHered this 1)001 dwelliufT to h'. tc me a " Lone House." CHAPTER XI. TEE KEEPINQ-EOOM OE AN INN; OR, JUDGE BELEU's GIIO'T. NO. I. The more I see of Nova Scotia, the more I appreciate the soundness of the counsel given me by my friend JJarclay, who roeomniended me, instead of commencing a continuous tour of the provinces, to select some one colony, live in it for the space of a year at least, and study the people, their habits and in- stitutions, and then resume my travels. '' The store of know- ledi^e thus acquired," he said, ''would enable me to comprehend Diany things afterwards which would otherwise avpear luiin- telligible." I am now daily reaping the advantage of this judicious advice. Neither the Americans nor the provincials, who dill'er from each other nearly as r,uich as from the English, are so easily understood as the vanity of a traveller would lead him to suppose. To be known, they must be studied ; and to study them properly requires time and the aid of resident friends. AVe have lately been spending a fortnight at Halifax, amid the festivities and gaieties of that hospitable town. The last three days previous to our departure were marked by intense cold. The harbour smoked like a basin of boiling water (the steam of which is not inaptly called the Barber), and then froze into a mass of ice of great de])th and solidity. The streets were a^nost deserted, and the few persons who were to be seen upon them hurried to and fro, as if unable to withstand the severity of the cold. The snow sounded hard and crisp- under their feet, and the nails of the wooden houses, yielding to the sudden contraction occasioned by the frost, •■■f 'T ' "i m m j ■ i- f ' :',"■■ ^9^1 ! :^-:! fll^H N .■^ ^1 15G THE OLD JUDGE; OP., S('|'.nrafc(l wKli a noise not unlike tlie report of ])isi()ls. Snir.ll and ;ilinost iinpaljjabie cryistalline ])arliclc's of snow llontcd i;i the air like down. Tlu; ^vestern ssky assinned a linlit, redd;,! colour, resemblinpf that of a sunuuer's sunset; and the l);irr. moulli hills, on the o|)[)osite side of the harbour, and all di.staia (^ijects, aj)|)eared, not only more distinctly visible, but vrr, much nearer than usual. Mouiuls underwent a similar cliaiiKt' and becauK! more audible and more distin!j;uishal)l(>. 'J'ho heated air of our room, Avhen it came in contact Avith the 'j}n<^ of the window, froze into beautiful, transparent, silvery coaliiii,^, exhibitihfi^, in the delicate texture of their' brilliant tnudv. v\cry imaginable form of landscape, fii^ures, trees, and vaij'. ;;ated patterns, like ex(pn'site embroidery. The beauty of tii;^ partial incrustation of the ^lass no lanrgoing the process of cooking. Tix strong, clear, blazing tire appeared to give out no heat, and (nir visible breaths painfidly reminded us that the frost had ptnu. trated everywhere but into our lungs. The following day, the weather suddenly relaxed (for it is said that extreme heat or cold seldom continues in this couiitrv beyoiul seventy hours). Its last effort and whole str('iii:tli were ex])ended, during the night, in a white frost, which, imikr the rays of a clear and iniclouded sun, illumined- and beautiliti every object covered with its white and brilliant mantle. JJv ten o'clock, the magical transparencies had disap]ieared from the windows. Large, clear drops of water trickled from tlie roof, and, as if unwilling to (piit a bed on which they had su long reposed, clung with tenacity to the eaves, and coni:;caleJ again in the form of long and ])endent icicles. About noun a shower of tears preceded their inevitable tail, and gave wariiiiij of an approaching thaw. The wind, which had blown steadily. but very moderately, from the north-west for several days, i gradually dinunished until it ceased altogether. A few Iohl:- j drawn sighs and audible breathings indicated the waking up and subseijuent approach of a southerly gale. INIeanwhile, tlie soft and balmy air, and the delicious weather that generally intervenes between the departure and arrival of these two con- tending winds, had tem])ted the whole population of the city to be abroad. The Tandem Club and the four-in-hands of the garrison were out ; and the double and single sleighs of tlie townsmen, enveloped, as well as their inmates, with furs, and their horses, decorated with bells fancifully arranged, ai.J UVK IX A COLONY. I- )/ inanv-colourod rosctto.s, onlivciicd tlio stroots ; Avliilo «j;:iilv- (iiv^si'tl |K'()[)lo on foot aiul minirrous ('(|U('stri;uis addcil to the aniniati'd nud variotjated scene whicli tliey themselves had ooiue til admin'- liairhiv, wlio liad been onlv Avaitiiiu: for a chancro of tern- iiorature, now drove up to the door in his tandem, to take me hack to llliiioo. Jlis sU'iijjh was a liujlit bnt eom[)a('t vi'hiele, (•(iiitaiiiiiii; accommodation in front for two persons, and a seat |i(hiii(l for a servant. It was the best-ap[)ointed and most rom- liirtalile one I had seen in the colony, and his iiorses were noted tor their beanty, speed, and docility. In a few minutes, wc were on onr way to the country. '•1 am in j^reat doubt," he said, "bow to drive. I should like to proceed slowly, in order to enjoy the charm ini:^ wi-ather ; but 1 fear we shall have a heavy fall of snow, and that at no i^reat distance. Observe the sinn;ular aspect of the si»y. it I'Hiks clear, but it is not transparent. Althoui^li thert^ is a strong liu'ht and a total absence of clouds, the sun is, nevcM'tluv Icss, obscured. Those Ion t]j, dark, heavy masses assend)lini; in tiie east, and abiding their time for misehief, are charged Avith >ii(i\v; aud the heavens have a yellow, and, what we call in this country, a cn^amy apjxvarance : all which signs, when they I'lHow intenrso cold, such as wo have experienced these last tliive (\[\\fi; and a heavy, white frost, like that of the ])ast night, aiv certain indications of a storm. It is bad philosophy, how- ever, to allow anticipations of the future to mar the enjoyment of the ])resent. AVe must govern ourselves according to cir- tumstauces. Let ns proceed leisurely at llrst ; aud, if a gale overtake us, my liorses have both bottom and speed to keep pace with it." There is some'tbing very novel and amusing in the scene ])re;HMitcd by a main road in winter, in tbe [)rovinees, when tra- versed by the extraordinary looking vehicles of the country. Here you eticounter a load of hay, of such huge proportions as to occupy, not only the whole track, but nearly the whole high- way, drawn by a long, extended line of live or six horses. Xuthing can exceed the diilieulty and incorivenience of passing one of these moving stacks of hay (for such they appear), an operation always performed at the risk of upsetting, and often (K'casioning serious injury to tbe horses and sleighs of the less i'avoured travellers. In any other ])art of the world, this is an evil that would soon be remedied, but those who own or drive these teams are the multitude, and the gentlemen whose lives and property are perilled are but few in number ; and, according to every rule of responsible government, it is held to be reasou- \m I: l.-.M riir, oi,i» .M iM;r . «»i} :iMi' (li.il llii' l't>\\ hI\imiIiI |;n<' \mi\ |i> IIh" iiimih 'riini \iMMniii Mill 'I lit I' :nii| Mt ill nini i< pow • i I iil lr:ini. tli ;i\\ iti", I lir w omli ii ||;|||,, • >l ;l IliMI •('. (M- Ml) t lli'l Illt)||f4 S|»Mr. itj illllirllHIlMIH Hlllllllllf In) |||, niMsl I'T :i s(-\Mil I'l Wiutil. r\lt liilini' I'P'lil HI' tril I* i I in li ipIJ :i M. t.Mli Ml ll M >t S|\ (ir l-CMIl Iri'l 111 In l",lll . I'lMI 11(1 ( <'",l t 111 I |l\ IcMll Slll;||| sImKi's. 1 lie rilii -i «>r w liirli Mli'smnrd ill \\\r llllilirli. :iiii|||, lops insiillii irni Iv mii.I tMirlrssU IikiiihI Im m r 1 1 1>0'-. Mnd lio^l nil d lor I h(> IisIkmmos. 1 'oh mil I host > mic iiiin hoi loss slods. hMvin". hodios IiKo hif-.o pMt K ni;',dt(>\oM lijlcij wnii unit Ion. ponll r\ . hiiKor. ohooso. Miid ollui iiiimI prodinlhiib Niu Ii Mio tho oh|or(s \.>ii im>o( ni \onr pro'-ross |o iho rniiiiii\ liiosiMliMl > on o\( i'ImKo Mild pMss Mfo loMdc^l Willi o\ii\ ( oiiccn. mM«' \;niol\ of sni\plios lor ihoiiisohos Mini rolMi! liMdt is. I'o' sonu' nisi Milt (' Irom ImIiI' i\ \ on (ih on III or hnl low |i lir;i\\ ilo pM.sson«i«M's. Mnd ihov mvo so pooiU ohid. Mini t Mrr\ siu h bnrd(Mis, ihMl \ on Mro slmoU with oompMssion ; w liioh _\ on li;i\ s«Mroi^l\ inno lo onhMlMin i^r oxpross jtoloro ynw omp is iis>;i with ih<^ KmuI ImiuJi or ohoorlnl s(>n;; ol .h,' inorr\ . Ihoiivjiili^s No;;io, Uo h;is ^(HMirod his lo***! lor iho dM\ . Miid doiihls iiol t rroN'iKnuo will in'o\ uh' tor hiui on iho inorr(>w. Miid. llnrcl i;il pro\ i(l(' lor Inui on iiio inorr(>w. Miin. i in rcii'iv, lilxo M 1 vno plnlosophiM". noxor snilors doiihl in'Miiviol v lo limiMi' lus nnnd. W lu!o nolioini: Mild roiUMrKino- o'a llioso (dijoojs. wo i^liiloi on wilii inv'vnu-iM\MM(M\Mso. Tho snow luid slii^hl 1\ nioltcil.nihl sottlod inli^ M inoro ooinj\Mol i'onii ; iIum'o wms lu-ilhor tVulu'ii lun* ri>islMnoi\ miuI tho rnniUM's pMssod omm' il ms liuhtl\ :is ;i;i oilod MihstMiui\ MoMnwhil<\ iho oolonr oT Iho foMd Iuh';uiu';i1- UmwI. Y\w \n\vo Mnd nnsnlliod w hilo iMvorin^ looKod ni'IIo^v ;ind <]\v\y tho usiimI l\n'ornniUM' ol' m olnuim' of woMlhor. A sontli wuid. whioh luid liith(M'ti> Mown Ml inlorvMis in lillV.: onsis. nnd n,v\uiod lioMvily lIuvMioli tlu^ slrtH'ls. now n n>so ini' ;i >lo;io.\ cmIo. and llu' loatloss bfanclios ot' tho t'orost iMvakiM :x\\d labouivd mulor us mtluouco. A low lonso, dolaohoil. aiiu 'II \ "Ml lllli 'Kilt II li :iii l|)|r Ik) M Sll|<|inl|,,| !I|>| It till , I l'\ ;l |1n I. li"lli.;ii,,l \ li 'III • liijil -I'M. ;il|(| ll r tr t 'I' I IriM i>. Ii\ I lir ;i,i| mil :iii\ ll III l!\j.; Ill \imi (I III' MIIIIMil loriiinir-i |ii;:, I Till r:i--iN 1 1' inl In :i lii:iii IM I lit' tl'I'-irl rsr MTc nun- 'M lillril wilii in'i'ilui limiv t lir nMmtr\ \ cfv { iini'ii\- 1 r:iili 1 i. I 'I' I Irw I'.. Sllrll \w.\\\ H'li \ I'll li;i\i' :ir IS nsMuli'il 11hi11!\1i11i'-< lilts n<>l tli;!l 111. ihrnli'Vr, t V li» tnuiMc tluM- triilii'ii ;nl l\iH';niu':il- \\c'M\\c\\ A Ills in liltui l\V !\V(iSt> illt' III i; IN A roi.oNv. i:.:) ,{,iiin IIillti'M n\' m|c( I. Ill' iitMiiiiiiiHiti wi/c. ln'iMiri In ('ill (iFMiinrl II , \\liilr IIm' IiihI V n 1 1! I II III' !ill I III' -ll i"lii I Kill li;ii| |.M I I ill (I mm li'l llii ^M |„,^|i(i|>i' till' Jl|l|ll' III lI'Miill 111' llllll lIlIM 11 \\ t' llllllliill.'llflv IIHTt'lHcil Mlir s|ii I i|. lull Mil' !';iIImi" (pC IliM lliiW 1 1 nil ■■■HI'' I I 'I si IT. II 11)1 Mitiill ;|. .4|MIHl|, III ill I .11 HI I )l III I ( ( Ml 1 1 t.'M'l, j,^i.,.|il, |lii< !i|i|H'!ii;iii< •' III !i ill ii-'i' rlninl. Till- ill ;ir' iiimI Jl,.,.|'|||| Mllllinl III llll' lll'll-l lll'I'MMll' llllll !IImI III in V. llll'l liiLilly II il'^ril nil"!'!'' '"'''> '""' '""' '=l*'"li •'"I'l "ill-il\i '. Ui|i fiKpii »■((- ,1 II ll Willi ;i lirilVN. !lillii"!|M' ulilli' iip.'ilili" \ •! \', I |ii til I I ;itri| lillljirr llllll III"' •itlllil |\ . \\l' IiiIIImI IIi.iI llir I'pflll, )li inrillll!^ I'l ill,, iirnlnt mil nl I'miiIjiv. |>ri-ililiil .'i li i li;iri|i in i| liL lir si'!i, I' irlifht III v\lii(|i. lillril hy IIh' wiiiil. iicirlv Hiid'nriilrij lis iiiiij our Imrsr.-i. As siiiiii MS \v(> rrsiiiiirii ;i wi'slmi ruiii'sr, our roiilr lay lor Hcvrial mill's lliriiiij;li !i wood, and, }iviiiliii,%' oiirHclvcs of its prolirl ion, ui' [irrssi'il rorw.'ini as CaHl as possihjc. "(iml hi'lp tlmsi'," lio siiil, "uliii arc ( rMVcliin;'' (Im' odirr way, ;iiid li,i\r lo \',\ci' lliis Miu'iii. with poor or jadrd callic! .'ih lor oiir.sri vcs, we firr- i^'lil, anil sliall soon n li Moiiid. Ilopr. ()iir oiilv diiriciilf y liii ^1 will III' in llir lasl' inilr oi I lie road, uliii-li we shall tind, i I'c.'ir, oiMTi'dlo (lit* lop ol' (lie ll iM'CM. Anylliiiit^' Ihal. liorscH c.'iri do, iiiiiir caiM'll'ccI, ; jiiil, I am id'raid (lial, in (heir st rn^'^ics, Ihcy "ill ili'.'iw oil" 1 lie slial'ls or (he wliipplr-l rcc 'I'liis is drcidcdiy llic worsl. IciMjicsJ. I li.'ivc iuiown I'or Iwciily ycar-s." \\ licii \\v jirrivcd al, lliis ('ri(i<";il pHi'l- of our jonrtif v, he rc- tjiirsd'il IIH' to lake my nral, in lln' hack pafldl'IlK; slcl^^h, in the; l:i|)(»r(lic scrvanl, so ns lo li^diicn l.lic front oft lie vcliiilc ulicu it |»il('l)0(l into llicdril'ls, and I lien, Hliindin^' !i|) hinis<'lt' licslack- t'licil liis p;K'(> and drove caiil iously. 7\i times, our nol)le anitrials iijipeiired perlcctly buried in Hiiovv, iind could only proceed by i .:^?1 I C{ !>l . Hi! n w (jllltl' an inn n The on the for tlie a t'rctiuonlf fcnm'iiir one at tl a;'proj)ri; tiicre we ^vith whi< room, an ^viiert' ■)]( 'l^'ivd aa kitc'hon, Jiarcl ^Iio nnii; Matured LIFE IN A COLONY. 101 ;\n(l exhausted, that they dcscentled into a fiehl immediately in fruiit of the house, Avhere the wlioleofthem were instantly takea prisoners, without being able even to make an attempt to eseape. [Some were eaten fresh ])y the fan\ily, otl\ers were preserved in pickle, and tlie rest sent to Halifax market, where, he said, thev put their feet to the lire before they wtMit to bed, and fjavo them a glass of h(»t whisk — whisk — whiskey and water. Tlie odd termination of the sentenee indueed me to look up at the tace of my friend, and. lo! he was fast asleep. The drowsy rtiects of the largo wood fire had mingled his thoughts or his \nnts with his story of the birds. F()r some time after we reached the house, there were sovcral arrivals froni the country, among which was the stat(>- sii'i"h from Illinoo, which had been upset nuire than onc(\ aiul the top broken to pieces. All the passengers sj*oke of the latter part of their journey as one of greater dilliculty and Moiv danger than any tlu>y had ev(>r (^xperit'uced. On tlie fol- lowing morning we found, to our dismay, that it was not (iilv snowing and drifting as fast as ever, but that there was not the sh'ghtest appearaiu*e of a change. " We nuist make up our minds," said l*arclay, "to remain here for a day or two. It is impossil)Ie for us to leave this place in the present state of the rc^ads, and e(pially imp.issiblo t'rany others to arrive. 1 will go and see who is in ' the ki'Cji- ill:,' room,' and what amusement it can afford us ; for it would 1h' quite absurd for a traveller like you to bi' shut up all day at an inn with such an old cynic as nu', while there nuiy be nuuiy perso'is lure well worth studying and knowing."' The house at ^fount Hope was inconveniently situated, being on the top of rather a high hill, but was very well arranged f'li' the acconnnodaticm of the different classes of persons that t'rKHiented ii;. It was a long, narrow, two-storey building, I'uniiing two sides of a S(piare, and having a double entrance, one at the side and one at the front. l)Csi(U>s tlu» apa?'tme!its appropriated to the use of those who [)referred to be ahnie, there were two large rooms, one of which was devoted to team- sters, pedestrians, and people of that descrij)tion, connected with which was the bar. The other was callcvl the kee[)ing- rooni, and generally reserved for the use of the i'amily, but where old ])atrons, friends, and acipiaintances were not consi- 'leivd as intruders. In the rear, and attaciu'd to this, was the kitchen, larder, pantr}-, &e. Barclay soon returned, accompanied by ^liss Lucy Xeal, the nmnager of the household, a fine, hearty, bloonning, gooil- natured country girl of about thirtv vears of age, to whom lie U ' ' ll I ^. ir 1G2 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, ff m II introdncofl mo. " After chattin*; awhile about the storm, anil otlier inditVcront matters, she said she feared I must liud it dull to be confined so long to the house; and added, tliat if I felt inclined, she would be glad to see me after dinner in the keeping-room — an invitation which I mostrerdily and cheerful, ly accepted. As soon as she retired, Barclay said — " I have arranged it all for you. I have ordered dinnor r.t two o'clock, so as to enabh? us to spend the whole after- noon below, where you will see one of the oddest fellows in tli:^ country, Steplien Kichnrdson, of Clements, in the Coniitv if AniKipolis, There is some drollery about him, inexhaustiltle good humour, and, amid all the nonsense he talks, hkhv quickness of perception aiul shrewdness than vou would at iirst give him credit for. Take him altogether, he is what iiiav be called a regular character. If I can manage it, I will set hi;n and others t(>lling stories; for nothing illustrates th(^ habits, mnn. ners,an(l tastes of a ])()pulat ion more than their favourite tojjics." About four o'clock we joined the party of travellers assfm- bled in the privileged room of the family. This apartmoit wri-; about twenty-five fe(>t in length, but disproportionably namiw. The door was painted, and not carpeted, and the walls covrriij with a y(>llow wash. The fir(>[)la('e, which was of huge (liimn- sions, was furnished Avith a back-log that reijuired the v\\'o]'*< of two mi'u to roll it into its bed; and surmounted by a iiiniin!- piece thrt was graced with one of ]Mr Samuel Slick's clocks, the upper half being covered by a dial-plate, and the lower portimi e\hil)i1inga portrait of (jlenei'al Vrashington mounted on awliite charger, witli long tail and flowing maui'. The sides of the ronni were ornamentt'd with a sam[)ler worked on canvass, and ?mv coarse gaudy-coloured j)rints, among which the most consjiiciiniK were two represcMiting (xeorge 111., and (^ueen Charlotte, we.ir- ing their crowns, and severally holding in one hand a globe aini in the ofher a sceptre, as if playing a game of coronella. In o'l.' corner was an open cujiboard. fitting into the angle, and exiiiln*- ingthebesl ch ina and u'hiss of the house. In front of each window, was a stand sunnorting sonu' geraniums, monthlv roses, ami iw i'he company corsisted of about six or eight p(Tsons, hcsuli^ j\riss Lucy and \wr sister. IMr. Stephen ]^ichardson, to wbiiii my ailention had been previously directed, was a tall. museul;i! awkward-looking man, with a slight stoop in the shoulder. Hi'' mannei's weri' fr(H» and easy, the expression of his face knowiii: and comical, and his dress the light blue homespun common tJ the coiuitry. Wiien we entered, a small, thin man, with a sour, bilious LIFE IN A COLONY. 1G3 face, and dressed in a suit of black cloth, was entertaining tlie ]);irtv with a grievance, for wh'cli he expressed his determina- tionto be avenged npon the government at the iicxt election. Ko had been at Halifax, it seemed, from whence he was just re- turninij:, to solicit some little petty local office at Aylsford,wherc he resided, to which he thought himself eminently entitled by his valuable political partisan services, but which, to his dismay, ho found had been disposed of to an earlier and more fortunate applicant. Loud and long were his denunciations and com- phiiiits. "I don't pity you a morsel," said Stephen." The best oflico f,>r a fariiKM' is being his own overseer, ;ind the best fees those iKiid bv his orchards and lields. There is nothing so mean in lolks like you and me as office seeking, unless it is in wearing liroadclotli instead of homespun, as if a man wa,s above his busi- ness. Xow, look at me," and he rose up and stood erect; "I ; !ii six feet four in my stockings, when unravelled and bolt up- ri^'lit, and six feet live when stretched out on a bench ; and. from the s()lt> of mv foot to the crown of niv head, 1 am dressed in the produce of my own farm. I raised the flax and hackled it, ai il bred the sheep and sheared the wool tlint mndo the linen :!i. I the cloth I wear. I am sort of ])roud of it, loo; for ;i '.M'lner. according to n'lV ideas of things, oui^ht to be known hy his dress, like an officer or a parson ; and then, when folks se him, they'll know he ain't run uj) a bill at a shop, and ain't ciittin!]^ a dash in things he han't paid for. " I've known some verv mean men in my time. There was Di'aeon Overreach, now, he was so mean, lu^ always cari'ied a licii in his gii^-box when he trav(»lled, to pick up the oats his horse wasted in the manger, and lay an v^^'j; for his breakfast in the moniiug. And then there was Hugo irnninelmau, who made his wife dig potatoes to pay for th(> ma 'iage license. L;nvver," he continued, addressiiiLi: himself to Barclav, "I must tell you that story of Hugo, for it's not a bad one ; and pxnl stories. lil\e potatoes, ain't as plentv as th"y used to be 'AJieii I was a boy. ]lugo is a neighbour of mine, though con- siderably older than I be, and a mean neighbour he is, too. M'ell, when he was going to get married to (iretchen Ivolp, he goes down to Parson liogers, at l)igl)y, to get a license. Parson,' says he, ' what's the price of a license ? ' Six dollars,' says he. >Six dollars!' says TTugo ; 'that's a dreadful sight of money ! Couldn't you'take no less r ' " 'No,' says he. ' That's ^vhat tliey cost me to the Secre- tary's ofli-e at Halifax.' ii I il i l:H IGt THE OLD judot:: oij J U .!•■ ti t tlllM) ? "\W11, lu)w imu'li do you ax for publislung in cluirc]!, Noil unir, sMva ])araon '* ' Wi'll,' says llu«;o, ' lliai/s so clioap T can't (Wju^ct you {, {\\c no cl>an;;o back. 1 tliinU I'll bo published. How 1 OllL' Iocs J t tal 'PI \c : ircc r M'CC Sund. Sund; lys. ivs ?aya ]Tup:o. * AVcll, tliat's a loiin; ti too. ]Jiit tlircc (Sundays oidv make a forlnii^hl, after all ; tw inp. for tl »c covers and one for tl IC u»su le lil ce uui SIX (idiiai's 1.- ;i j::r(*at sum of money for a poor man to throw away. J niujit watt. about So olf he went a-jo<;, when a at on ce a hr thouLrht canie into his liead, aiul back he went, as liard as 1 lis U)rse could cari'v lum. " ' Parson,' says he, "I've chani^(Ml my mind. Here's llic six dollars. J'll tie the knot to~ni^ht with my tongue, that I can't undo with mv t(>eth.' Whv, what in iiatur is the mcaninherinij; it out ia mv bead, and it's cheaper tli:ni i)ublishinj; bans, alter all. Voii st>e, sir, it's a ])otato-di!j:nini;' time; it' I wait to be called in church, her failu'r will have her work for nothiuy:; ami. as n ' SIR' bands are scarce and waives hlnts that can diij ami carry as many bushels in a day as (iretchen '-an. And, besides, fresh wives, like fresh servants, woi'k like smoke at lirst, but they get sarcy and la/y altera while.' "Oh, my ! " snid ]\Iiss Tii -y, "did you ever bear the beat of that? AVell, J never!" " Xow, that's what I call nu^an," said Stepben. "]Mean!" said 31iss Lucy, who was ^^rcatly shocked; "I .'::jiH\ss it is mean ! 1 never heanl anything half so mean in all my ' '" ovn ii.i -s \rell, 1 bave, tluM," continued Stephen. " It ain't near ii'O nv.'an .is r, f'nrine'' rui'iing about the country, dressed up i^i Hti^-ertine brond cloth, ;i-looking out for a little ollice. I'll tt:: you wliat, '.vheu si\'t\/f'onf{ in the country fall vacant, folks tt JliMf'av ki'.ow it as well as can be, for the town is just like;! ep!<-lii!i i\t ill.' full t)f the n\oon. it's tilled with st'rav cattle. ft AVli' J iliiaer aud 1 lived ou JJear lviv(M', and turned the yo\i\y; so mean lu a.l LIFE IX A COLONY. IGo stock out to browso in tlio woods, wo novor took tlio trouble^ to Imiit tlu'iii up, for they wen* always sure to coiut' to tlic banks III liiu;h-\val('r at the full to an in black, thouLrh evidently accustomed to these rou^di, rustic remarks, appeared to wince ujider their ;i|)])]ication befcnv strani^ers, atid mad" an attemj)t to turn tin; coiivcrsat iou, by takiui; a hotter out of his |)ocket-book, and iiichardson " if he would do hiui the fav'MU' to allow him asking,' t(( iiKike him the niediuui of transmitt inu; it to Halifax, havin unfortunately, foj-<;ott'Mi to deliver it himself." '• Which means, in ])lain l*inL,dish," said Stephen, '^ you trtclicd it back bv mistake. AV'hv the devil can't vou talk plain ? Thei'c is nothiuij; like homi'spun talk and hoinespini (•loth for a fu'iuer. I'll take ii hundred of them, if vou like. Let's see it ! " He then took the letter, ami examined the ad made a vow never to carry a ])n])er \'or any man, uidess I know that's in it. I |) out of a S('raj)e myself, when I know m loine I am well otf. One fdl, just as 1 was a-startini:: \vo for Halifax in a vessel loaded with aj)|)les aiul cider T raised on my own larm, and the matter of live hinidred boxes of smoked herrinu;s (which \ caught and cured myself), w^ho should come along but Pete Balcom, with a letter in his hand, "'Steve,' says he, 'just leave this at Goverinnent House, vou. that^ s a good lellow, as soon as you arrive in towu. in* 1 I will do as nuich for you some other time ? ' "'Certaiidy,' says 1; 'but, as my haiuls are sort of di ty, do you take my ])ocket-book out of my jacket, and stow it away snu2^,' and he did so. Well, one day, after I got to Halifax, le vcMsel, as I was a-going along the street with uui unloac mv led th working clothes o!i. who should 1 see a-galloping ah>ng from parade but the (Governor and a couple of other olllcers, with their spurs a-jangling, and their swords a-dangliug, and their plumes a-noddin-!j;arden-lool\in;j; place, aiul ;i front door lher(», loo. 'I'hinks 1, (Joodness me, where's thr l)a<'k ])oreh that eoinmon iolks like mm* ^o into? 'I'hese pl.-ucs an* onlv meant lor ^reat men and olliee-seekers, like on:' tVit ii,| Hroadelolh here. So, I t(>ok a i'ircnit all round the hons(>, dH 1 eamo back to wlu're I stai'ted iVom, like u I'ellow lost in the \VOO( is. when I saw a !)aker drive in. Cojut", savs I to i ll\ sc I'll a\ no t|U(>stions, I'oi- that looks as if yon did not Kiinu. Imt I'll just follow old Dout^h, for, where the bi'ead <;oes, he tli.ii raises the lloui' has a rii;ht to i;o also. Well, out he jiiiims from his eart.and tak»'s a ha- ket of loaves on lu's aiMii. !iihl dives down hehiutl an iron railini; alongside of the st i-eet-dndr, and 1 aftiM' him. Thojii^h he kiu'W the way, and I didn'i, j kept elosi> uj) to him foi- all that ; for a man that can o\( ilmul a moose, ain't easy left behind by a baker chap, I tell vmi. AVt'll, \\t> no sooner ^ot into the lower i'«'i;ions than Sixpcnnv Loaf lays down his basket, u|) with his whip, knocks ?il tit (h>or, and oil' like a shot, lca\ ini; nie and the baskei there. *' ' llullo,' said 1, ' Mister, deliver your own fi-eii;lil ydiii- 8tdf, will you, if yoi' ple.ase ? it's tMiou^h foi' me to li;inil in IVte Kaleom's letter; and, besides, I am a stran<;(>r here.' " Hut crack went thi' whi|>, and away went thi» wheels, miii! ihc only answer I ^'ot was, 'Come in.' So I o|)ened the (Kmr, .mil there was a littK>, Ihiti old lady, with spectacles on. :!iiit Iter two daughters hamlsouKdy dr(>ssed. ]\Iother was writiii.; it\ a bi>; book that looked to me like a m(>rchant\s ledL;'cr, an 1 the two yoiiiii; women wcrt' niakiui^^ a bit ol' carpel, wiili 0'.. loured yarns, in a small-si/.ed cpiilt inL!;-frame. Thinks i tn luyselt', 1 won't say not hitti;- about that trick the feller plavn! me with the bread. If he don't choose to slop for his jiay, niav u'o without it. So savs 1 .Mann, I've si letter for llu^ Ciovernor thai :» n(Mi;lilMiui m aihl ) Olh Kl- ine, oiu^ Vctc llalcotn, asked me to Uvive hi're for him 1 out p»u'ket-book and ,uavi> it to Ikm', and slu^ haiuknl it b of the Lialls, v\bo went out lo b.aiid it \o sotiu* one else. '' * Take a chair and sit down,' said old ntotluM*, (piit(^ soi ble-like. ' Wc st) ^•oo(l as lo wail a uuiiueut, p.erhaps his I'mt!- lencv the Goveruiir uiav liavi* anatiswer Tor vou;' and then slu went on writing- as belVpre. "That must have been the bottseki^eper yoit saw," saiiHl:- TiUcy. w ith lh(> patronisiuu' air of a person that thinks th(>y kiU'^v the world; "and what you call bits of carpet iu iVames, \v;b ruy:-wurk." UVK IN A COLONY. 107 11 'T don't l she was," H.'iid Stcplicti, " nor t r.irc. I iu'vcr huvv Iut bdurc, uiid I never wuiit to wee lier :i''aiM. " Well, i\H T wjiH }i-H!iyIii^, tli.'it ^.'ivc! !iie time io cMst jiiy ey(^ Vdiiiid and iliink a Idt upon tliin<^s in [general ; and wlien I net d tlicsc nife-di'essed women, and well-lurnislied i'(Mim,and ll(i\vri-n, ;iii(l wIimI not, 111 inks I, if this is yon r lulclien-rooin, what nnu't \,iui' parlonr he ? Andth<'n I looked at my eloj lies all covered with dust, a. lit t le more nor half-u rii, and lookiii;^ noin; the het- Icfforthe tar ol' t he vesHr le^s altoiit, as hi^' as as hi;; as what shall I sa) ? wliv, ahoiit as hi;; as yoiir dnuiist ieks, iiroaihdot h. 'I'lie fellow Idiikcil MS miK'h like a. ;;ent leaiaii, and was as well dressed as an ('ililv-,i;oii;;, or chaplain, or whatever t hey call t hem, and a^ iinpii- (It'iiltoo; lor, says he, ' I''ollow me!' (piite shoi'l, lil ;i * hap that lias received so man\- orders that he he;;insto think ;. last lie has a i'ii;ht, to ;jjive them himself. 'I'hinks I, natiir is naliir, wlirtlicr it's on a. fai'in or in a (iov<'nior\s kitcheii-rooiii, [''*r (vcnlliiii;; ;;ets sarcy tliat/s well-fed and has nothin;; to do. Well, lie lakes me thr(»iii;h a hui;; stone passa;;e, as c(»ld as tin; iiatcral ice-house <»n (iranville iMoiintain, and as dai'k too, llu'ii ii|) a pair of stairs, and ihen turn to the ri;;ht, and then lotlic left, and then to the rii;ht, a;;ain, as folks tell yon when you don't know the road. It soi't- of <'ros>ied my mind as I fnl- Idwcd the critter, wdio seemed most, too la/y to cai'ry his shoes, 1 suppose the (Jovernor is ;;oin;; 1o oiler me Ji ;;lass of ;;ro;; flip tetchin;; that letter, i\ud that I'll take, for that's sociahh? and civil-like, thou;;h I wouldn't take all the money in lii.s liousc, for that's mean, and don't hecomc lIouKspun. "At last, Hreeclu's showed uw. into a lar;;e unfui'nished numi, without a carpet or a cui'tain, as hare as my thrashin;;- iliMir, with not hen in it. but two unstuU'ed wooden sofas, and a lahk' with a lar;;e writin;;-l)()()k and an inkstand on it. On uiK' side sat ii ser;;eant with his sword on, and on the (ttlier a thirtceii-penny soldier with his l)ai;i;onut on, and there he left iiii'staiidin;; in the middle (d'the room, without sayiiiix -'i^ much as ' \]y your leav(>,' or anything; else. In less tiian half a miniit(! (lut come the (lovernor, a great, tall, thin, hony man, like my- i nose as In;; as a lirass knocwer, an( d a s^'lC with a bald head pair of eyes as sharj), bri^^ht, and wicked aa Lucill-r'a {luti/j «a I 1G8 Till' OLD JUDGL; OR, c('rvier)y with liis gival l)Ig sword by \\U sidr, and his spurs o?i, jist us I saw liiiii in the stri'i't, only he had his luit Avilh \u white t'catlurs in his hand. As noon as he canie in, up jump-; tlio sergeant and the soldier, and stuod as straight as twu rnin- rods. "'Uow dare you hand nie such a letter as that, jNIr Bal- com ? ' said he. " ' Governor ! ' says I. " * Silence ! ' says he. ' It admits of no excuse.' " I never heard no more after that, J was so taken a-ba( ]< . and nie svith my old working-clothes '>n, h)oking like OM Scratch hiuiHeU"; but on he wtut, foami ig and roaring like a i'reshet, and klomping, klomping round on the board iloop. and waving his arms like a windmill. Thinks I to myself, This is what 1 call an indictment, and they are a-going to send \w t( the guard- house as sure as the world ; and then I looked first at the sergeant, and then at Thirteenpence, and I seed I n.uld pitchfork them fi'Uows out of the window as easy as a sheaf uf Avheat : but then thiTC was the Governor. If I was to lav i :uuls on him, even in self-defence, I knew it would be rcbil- lion, besides going agin the grain, for I atn a loyal man, and t^n Avas my father before me ; and besides that, 1 warn't sure I could handle him either if I Avas to try. Then I thought I'd make a ru, i i'or it, ami if I had known the Avav I think I should; liut what in *,he Avorld can you do in a house that has as many dwors in it, almost, as there are days in the year? So I muui. up my mind to face it like a num. " 'Governor,' says I, ' Avill you just ansAver me one question?' " ' Silence, Mr Jialcom ! ' says he ; ' I have nothing to::ay tt- you.' " ']Man alive,' says I, ' do you call all this saying nothing? Besides, my name ain't Balcom,and never Avas, I tell you. Xuii have got in a Avrong pew, you may depend.' " ' AVhat the devil is your name, then ? ' says he. " ' AVhy, folks call me Stephen Eichardson, Avhen I am at honu^,' says I ; ' and I know no more about that letter thaiillii man in the moon. I only brought it just to oblige you and IVu: Balcom.' " ' AVhy didn't you tell me that before ?' says he. " 'Because you Avouldn't let me,' says I. " AVith that he half turned and waived his hand, and tlie sergeant and the soldier sprung forAvard, and, as I thought tluy were a-going for to sei/t' me, and I knowed I hadn't done nothing' Avrong, except not dressing myself decent, I stepped back as quick as wink tAvo puces, and stjuared oti'. LIFE IN A COLONY. 1G9 " ' Stop ! ' snys T. • Tlio fir^t nmn that InvR n hand on mo, ];i Icvtl him as flat as a jiancakc : so stand cloar.' ''The Govrnior h\\iu;luHl ritjjht out at that, and tho two sol- iivrs fiix'iKHl tlu' tVcint (h)or to let mo out. instead ol'loadin^j; mo p ! round by tlio kitchen, the way 1 can>o in ; and up ste|.a j^ir IhTcules, and says he — •• Vou are a tine, manly felhnv, and I admire your s[)irit. I\^i^]l 1 had a hatialion of sueh men as you arc. 1 am very ., r;v lor the mistake. I be:^ your pardon,' and so on, '"AV'ell, wlien a great man like a Governor eondeseenda that wav to humble himself to a poor man, to say he bi'Ljs hia ]:iv(!on. it kind of overcomes you, and eoola you down as i[uiclv a.- n cup of water does a kettle of boiling mapl(> sa[). "• I don't blame von a morsel,' savs I, '(xovcrnor: but 1 liame Pete l^alcom, though : he hadn't ought to have made a fciil (if me after that fasldon. This is tho first oilico ever I tilled in my life, and that was none of my seeking, being a ii tier-carrier ; and when I get home I'll give Pete J5alcom the lirst (|uarter's salary in the shape of as good a licking as ever lie t since he ^vas born, and then I'll resign the commission.' "•]S'o, no. my good friend,' said the (Governor, {)atling mo cood-naturedly on tho shoulder, 'pray don't break tho peace; 1 >liould bo Aciy sorry to be the cause of any further aunoy- aiU'C to you.' '•But I didn't pronnse him, for when I promise I keep my word: and, beside, he sort of looked at me as if he wouldn't rare much if I did give him a quilting. Well, the first time I r, ft blister Pete Balcom after 1 returned home, I just up and savf; — " ' Pete,' says I, * "vvhat was in that letter of yours that you pive IDC to take to the Governor?' " ' AVhat is that to ycm ? ' says he. '"It is a good deal to mo,' I. said; 'for I want to know what sort of business 1 was partner in r ' " ' Well, ask about and find out,' said he, quite sarcy. " ' Pll get it out of you as I get my wlieat out of the car, by thrashing it out,' says I. 'So hero's at you;' and I turned t(i. aiul 1 gave such a tanteeniug as ho never had since ho was rai-^ed, I know. Tho postage of that letter came to a round sum, you may depend. I got sued for an assault, was drag- ged through two courts, and got cast in ten pounds' damage, and twenty pounds' cost ; and what's more, after all, never .found out to this day what was in that letter. Siiu-e then I've ji adea vow never to carry a paper fi)r any man, unless he first bLowsme what's in it. If you don't think proper, tliovclyre, ■f™ 170 THE OLD judge; OR, to break tlie seal of tliat one, and read it to me, you may sctnl it by some one else, and iliere in an end of it." After some p;eneral and desultory conversation, my frict,,! 33arelay related the; ])articulars of an apjjarition tliat liad l)(,:i niueli talked of at Halifax lately ; and, for tiie purpose of dmu. in<; out a story from Jiichai'dson, Avliieli lie knew he was vir, fond of telling, asked him if he believed iu the existeuce if ghosts ? " Well, I don't know," said Stephen ; " I didn't used ! oncet uj)on a time, but I've larned i)eiter now. I am u(>\ ^ man that's easily darnted. A feller that's had a fair staiid-i.') iight with a slu'-bear weighing six huiidrodwi'ight, antl iidtliji.- but a jack-knife in his list to defend himself witli, as f lia,, and killed her too — ay, and skinned her arterwanls, doift ,\,.. serve to be called a coward, 1 know. J warn't brou;;lit up ..i the woods to be scared by an owl, I tell you ; and, tlicrfl'nr,. what 1 say I'll stand to, 1 jjave seed a ghost, ay, and fit witii a gh(»st, too: and look here" (and, undoing his cravat, li- i\. liiliited the back [)art of his neck), "look here, there's tlu' marks of its teeth ; that I shall carry to the grave with inc. Jt was old Judge Heler's ghost. Vou have heern ttdl ofu!] Judge lieler, and how oneasy ho was, seeiu' that he never w^ buried, haven't you ? " None of the coiu[)any had come from that part oftliecoun- try where Ste[)heii liveil, tlu'refore, no one knew of a ciivu!;!- stance which hatl occurred in the "nrly settlement uf ti. province', and all answered in the negati\ ». "Not hear of Judge JJeler ! " lie said. " AVell, tluii'. strange, too! I thought evervl)ody had heard of him and lu-^ ghost. AV'ell," says Steve, '-'I'll tell you. There is J)ii;lnMi. you see, as nught be there," pointing with the handle of h whip to the floor; "well, away up there," pointing to anothtr spot, "is Annapolis, as you might say; and there tluy staii:, one at eacdi end of the basin, looking at each otlier, hut juj: twenty miles oil' by water, like two folks at each end of a U.; election table. \V'ell, all up this side of the basin is Cleincii^ T()wnshi[), strtdching right away from one town to the otlitr. W(dl, when the country was first settled after the Amerieaii rt.- bellion, this Clements was laid out for the Dutch and Ijeriiuiij that served in the war. There was three locations : one on tii.' sliore, and that the Long Island Dutch lived on; behind tha: was another range given to the Waldeck soldiers ; ar t of the coun- ■ of a eircu'.ii- LMUL'Ut uf tl' " AVldl, tluil'^ him and h is Di^diy. ili handle of Ls \ir to anotluT i> they Stan:. tluM-, hut juN end of a hi: u is Clouu'ii'.' to the uthir. 3 AnR'i'ieaurt.- and (Jei'in^ii^^ ns : one oil tli'' ; behind tlia: ^ .^ ar'l beliiii'l 3 llco^uuis li;>i cause thoy always rode on horsehack when tlicy didn't walk ; luit they warn't turnpiked np tor wlunds as they are now into lii'hwavs. AWll, anu)nLj the L()ny It am't to he wondered at, that's all. Alaybe he did, and may- I'f lie didn't ; but most likcdy he went like other folks (Jii his ridle-ruuds. !"•■ *'^\u business, whatever it was, whenever he liked, and when- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 |50 "" 2.0 i.8 U 111.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation c^-^ \\ % s 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 «» ^ 6^ I m^ I ! ■ 172 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, over he pleased, and gave no account and axed no leavp, AVell, oncet he went, and, faith, he never returned nii;ain. ][ was in the fore part of winter 1780, as I have lieard tell Folks down to the shore thought the Judge was paying; a hu-, visit, and wondered lie didn't come back ; and people on \]l ][essian line road thought it was a long time since he li;i,] gone home, and wondered lie didn't come to see them ;ii:;i!n. At last, it was as clear an mud he was missing. Some tliou^l.r lie had got lost in the woods, others thought he had got scalpel and killed hy the Indians, and some reckoned he had got a cd! 1 shoulder from ^Miinia Yroom, and that he had taken it so imii-li t heart he had left the country ; and nobody knew anytliiii"' fur sartain. " A\^ell, days and weeks passed on and passed on, and hm tidings was ever heard of him, and at last folks gavo over \:\]\. ing of him, and he was sort of forgot and out of mind. T" time, like the big roller of the Agricultural Society, as it iv , on, fetches all things to a level, or presses them into tlic ci't; out of sight, so that they don't attract attention no more. An'i queer sort of farmers books make too : first they j^lou^li in land to make it loose and light, and then they roll it as hard as ever, and undo all they have done, and that they call sciciiir: and it may be sciiMU'(\ but it ain't common sense, and di u't stand to reason. But that's neither here nor there, and, as I was a-saying, one day the next spring, just as the lakes had ojKMied, Fre(h>ric Crowse was ranging about the woods fur a 'r-^iivk to make ox-bows of, when who should he see in the middle of the great lake near the Hessian road but Judi^'e Hel^'i', seated as (]uiet and as nateral on his horse as life! There was a little wind at tiie time, and a ripple on the water, and \\k Judge was riding with his head towards home, and his hoiv making a slow motion like a canter, but not advancing fonvarl a bit. At fu'st, he thought he was swimming the lake, for that would make a V(My short cut for him. and he stood a while anl stared at him ; but se(Mn' that he didn't go ahead, he callci out to him as loud as he couhl call. " ' Judge ! ' said he ; but the Judge didn't look round. " ' Scpiire ! ' said he ; but the squire didn't speak. "']Mr Bcder!' said he; but Mr Beler did u't answer, hiit just went on rising and bending to every wave like a bow ^ t the body, but still remaining in one spot. "'(}()od gracious!' says Tred to himself; 'the water is*' shocking cold at this season of the year, it has almost cliillii him to death. AVliat onder the sun shall 1 do ?' " A\'^ell, away he went as hard as he could run for his lile, LIFE IN A COLONY. 173 and alarmed all the nein^hbours, and down tlioy canio, with axc^s, ami ropes, and tools, and what not, and made a raft, and ])iit oil* into the lake to help him. The sun was just then settinj]: as tliev shoved out from the shore, and when they ^ot about halt' \\av to him th(\v saw that his eyes were jj^one, antl his i'aee was allswi'lled, and his (lesli was bleached, and bloated, and slimy, and that lie looked awful bad ; and they were drt'adfidly frinhtened." " Oil. my ! " said ]\[is3 Luey, " how horrid ! But it's a b(\iu- tif.il story: go on!" And she drew her chair nearer to Kiclianlson. '" Well, they were skeered to go up to him," continued Stophen; "and they stopped, awed like, and gazed and gazed, without saying a word ; and when they give over rowing, the jiiil:j;e and his horse gradually settled down, slowly — slowly — slowly, until nothin' but his head was above water, and then he romaiiied for a minute or two longer, as if he didn't like to !,';.\e his old friends for ever and ever, and down he went alto- gL'tlior, and sunk to the bottom. " It woidd have been no more than decent and neighbourly, perhaps," he added, "to have fished him up, and given him Christian burial. But I won't say fished him uj), neither ; for, poor man, he was passed that, I guess, unless they had baited their hook with Minna Yroom, and that would have made him. jump out of the water like a salmon, I do suppose. ]Many a mail liaa been caught. ..." '• Whv, Mr llichardson, how you talk I " said ]Miss Lucy : •it's actually ondecent that — it's shocking! You ought to bo ajhaiiicd of yourself, so you ought." ''Well, grappled him up, then," he said: "for folks that are neu;lected tliat way by all the world, except by frogs and jiollywogs, are uneasy, and walk, and he has terrified the whole country ever since. The old stock of them that knew him never mentioned him without fear ; and some said that they had actually seen him afterwards in that lake (which now goes h\- the name, and I suppose always will, of Beler's Lake). ^\t'll, the next generation, though tluw began to frighten • hildren, by telfing them they would send for the Judge if they heliaved bad, soon gave over that sort of idle talk, and said there was no doubt he was up and stirring sometimes. jNTany people declared tliat they had heard him, in the winter time, muttering under the ice, in some unknown tongue ; for the t'erinau laniruaiie has lonu: since jionc out in those parts. I Know my father said he oncest seeil him gallop like mad on his "id black mare across that lake in a sno\v squall, and sink through the ice with a report like a cannon. And old I)r VM m m .1 ' ' ■li2l 171 THE OLD JUDGE I OR ) Eoc'limc said lie had known strange noises there, quite noav; and wlien lie'd stop to listen, he would hear the same at th,- otiier end of the lake, as if he was trying to get through : nn 1 then he would hear him strike tlie bottom of the ice with lijs fist such a blow, that it seemed as if it would crack it cliar across, though it was three feet thick. " AVell, I never met tliat man yet that I was afraid of: nnd as for ghosts, I never see one in all my born days, and difhi't believe there was any, and therefore couldn't tell whetlior 1 \va< skeered or not. Still, somehow or another, it was a mehmchdlv dismal place, for no one would settle near it, and I can't snv [ much liked going by there alone, for it ain't pleasant to \}]\i\^{ of spirits and such things in the dark, if you have no oner talk to. I won't say, nether, I haven't lieard those noises iiiv. self, especially when the lake is a-going to break up in \h spring ; and I have heard some of those awful reports. 1;^,. thunder in the ice, too, hut I am not certain I haven't hear! the same under other lakes ; at all events, though tliov iiiaiif me feel kind of serious like, they never skeered me. "Well, or,' night — it was on the 17th of March, I recollect the day, fur I Avas at Pat Doyle's that afternoon at Digby, and he said it w,i< St Patrick's day, and I drank a considerable some, though ii- to say I warn't sobi^r, nether — when 1 came to the lake, itv,;;< a little after daylight down, just twilight enough to see ti' road, and much as a bargain, too, when I heard this ruinlili::: under the ice, a rolling, moaning, hoarse, onnateral kiml -:' sound, and then came one of those cracks that go off like a twelve-])ounder. " 'Hullo!' says I to myself, 'the old Judge is ononsyt- night ; howsumever, I never hurt a hair of his head, and he Iiis no call to me, go-. 1 or bad ; so, dead or alive, I don't fear liiii; ' " Just then, I sartainly did hear a most poAverful yell. 1: went through me like lightning, and seemed to curdle my vrrv blood. Oh! it was an awful scream, you may depend, a! seemed onearthly like, or as if the devil was in the uuhi;!': ! human that gave it. I stopped a moment, and all was still agaii;. but the hollow, rumblin', echo-like voice under the ice. " ' AVhat in the world is all this ?' says I to myself; '.assure as fate, J3eler's ghost is no joke, but downright reality. Theiv'j no mistake. I'll take my oath I heard that scream of his. an! I think, Steve, you had better be a-jogging on towards lioiii', or you may hear what ain't good for your hearing, and see ^vl!"t ain't good for sore eyes.' "So I just gave the beast a tap of the whip, and moved on, Well, as soon as you leave the lake, you come to a sharp piiuli LIFE IN A COLONY. /o m m of a liill, and then yon go down into a stoop, hoavy-wooded hoUoNV, Jind then mount {mother smart hill, and pass on. Tliia lij^ppencd twenty- five years a^o next ^lareli, and at that time it xis 8till little iiiore than a bridle-path, and the trees lapped aeross it ill pliices. Now, in that hollow, two lari^e hemlocks had got c;i;ited well over on one side, windHdls like, and were catched \)\- two large sprnees on the other ; so there was just room to itiiopkiwdownonthe saddle, and scpiee/e under,and much as v\cr, t,io— almost a scrape. Having rid that way in the morning, I knew the track, kept to the left, bent forward on the n(?ck of the horse, and went through. Just as I cleverly cleared it, old Bi'ler sprung right on the crupper, seized me round the Avaist, ami veiled just as he did when he got out of the lake, first in one ear and then in the other. Oh, how the woods rung! Ilia Ijivath was so hot, it most scalded uie, and the scream cut me tliroui^h the head like a knife ; and then he clasped me so tight iM'.iiul the body, he near about scpieezed the -wind out of me. If I didn't sing out, it's a pity, and the more I hollered, the \mhv lie shrieked. I won't pretend for to go for to say that Iwarii't frightened, because that wouldn't be true ; I was pi-o- peuly skcered, that's a fact. I expected every minute to be ilawed off, and plunged into tlie lake. I didn't know what to do. llunian strength, I knew, was of no avail agin supeniuteral leioi^s, so I took to praver. "'Our Father....' says I. " The moment I said that, he let go yellin', and seized mo lir the nape of the neck with his teetli, and bit right through the grizzle. Oh, it was a powerful nip, that! tlie pain was euoiigh to drive one mad, and I fairly roared like a bull, it hurt me so. " In the mean time, the horse began to rear and plunge most furiously; for the poor dumb animal knew, as well as could be, it had a ghost-rider, besides its lawful master, to carry. At last, it kicked so like old Scratch, it sent us both flying heels over head, the Judge on one side, and me on the other side td' it. I fortunately held on to the rein, and j umped up like winkin', and the horse stood head to him, snorting and blowing like a porpoise. I shall never forget that scene, the longest day I ever live. The Judge had no hat on ; his face was all hairy and slimy ; his eyes looked some wild aniuial's, they had such a fiery, restless, wicked glance, which I expect was the ghost look- iiiiZniit of the dead sockets of the unburied skeleton — at least, that's my idea of it; and his teeth was the only white-looking tiiiiiG: about him : but then, teeth last a long time, particularly wheu kept from the air, under water, in the long matted grass j-fii M ill 17( tKt •nil: <)i,i> .in>(;i:; ou toIUmI l\iins(>ir lip n\<() ;i l»:ill. liKc :i iiort'iipmc. miuI h micK, J liow |i(> slin(>K(>tl ! I lirintl linn Ml'lrrw MidM. ("or f| 111) «'o Ii'mI, anil || 1 in\( .1 I II" I'lllv (> I <'\(M' m'o a "Miosl ; ;nul I never n ; " ImiI SUli _\on\t> axed llie (jiie^lion, lliis I wdl sa\ lor Mnsell' |!„,, n(-\(M' was a man m ll\(>>\liole eonnlv ol' A nnapoli;-!. tlmt „ nineh a'; e\tM\ Iniiled llial lie didn'l l>elie\e il,e\ee|i| nld j'.ns, IxopM's. ol" Pij^lix ; and pla'Mie lalo> nie if I limiK lliein inn. lers l>(>lie\(^ li.'H' llie_\ preneh I luMiisidves. 1 liev are so lontlii, l>elie\(> ne d;iv jist nj) and .Mxctln, all al'oul it. Nlt>> e." sa\ s li(\ ' i\\c\ icW \\\o \o\\ liave seiMi Ww old .1 ml IS th;i< t fiK^ r (^^ I. |K'irsi>n : saxs I. now yon art* only m 'mmii lor ii ;iiii u iv banter lue ; \c\ u\c aloiK*. now. thal"^ a i;ood sonl. Tor lliat M snbjeet to banter on; and I lui^hl, say Hoinetlnn;; I wuiil sori'x lor. ]i(M'liaps." "' 1 am n(M a ^oin^' to teas(* yon, StepluMi.' li(> said:'! r(\illy want to heai* it as it liapptMied. if it «wer did li;ip|U'ii, 'V\\c\ sav \on had a hard strnuule with him: is that tni(>?' " ' Tine as <;-osp(d.' savs 1. " ' W ere \ on tpiitt* st'her that niuhl. Ste\(\' said lie. 'Yimi Ivuow. folks sonu'tinu^s set* donhh* on St l*atriek's |)ay.' " ' SiH* ! ' says I. ' parson ; I not only si^e him. Imt I'ell liiiii, ioo. l,ook luM"t\ where \\o left tlu< marks of his ivciU eii nu!' and 1 stri|ipi\l and show ihI him tlu* fears. ' Do yon btdicnc now;' 1 1 luw iM- heard tliat uhosts had teolh bel\>ro, Slov(\' said most ]M'o>okin' I'ool — ' iu\ neviM Did vou ever see one r i^avs so eomo, now, niiswii mc that, " ' No." says lie ; ' 1 luwer saw ono. and ntW(M' (^xjiecl to,' "*lhnv tho pl;;i;ne ean yon toll, tluMu' says 1, 'wliotlior thev ha\e tcvth ov not r Ibit 1 havo seon ono, do vonn'nd: :\va 1 ean swi^ar lliey havo tooth — l>lMi;ny sharj) ones, too— niv;;::i as hot as a lea-koltlo, aiul claws :ia long and as strong a boar.' im ■■Hv :\ ;MMn ' for \a . lor ll);i1 ;iin'! UiX I would li' .\ now, iiiiswiT Mir, IN A COI-ONV / / ■iisilv Slcjilicn.' H!ii(l lie, 'my hum, I (lidn'l lliiiil( yoii \vr?(; K(> iVij-jiloiinl.' "■ |'Vl|',ltl\ iiiic w viiiiwiiiL^ I lie dillrrtMirc Im-Iwccii ii liilf ,'iiid n kisH, Mini you I luMNcr iiiMii lliMii I l;il\i> you lo lie, HimI'h nil.' "' I'll /;o uilli you Ili(> nr\|. ITlli dny \('UHr(i.' \\ didn'l i\ill you. ^'on liud ii ^I'e.'ii cHenpe. I'lul, n^ (or ;i ^dionl, Sieve. . . .' I'Mi'son,' H.'iyH 1, ' do you beliovo llio IJil^lo?' \ es, Hnys he I d o. '" Well, llien,' HMyH I, ' l)eliev(> in .'iid^(^ lieler'H ^liosf,. T l);iv(>s(>en lum, :nid Jieiird liim, :ind Telt liiin. .'iiid liuve ilu; murkH tt)i)niv(> it. Voii nre L'arHon Ko^cph, uin't yui ? ' '•' Ves.' '" Well, HO yon nr(> ; l)ni, liow do I knowii? HecaiiHe I've stvii yon, heard yon, and fell, yon. Well, llial/'s ilie way I know ilu' <;liosl/. i tell you, L have liourd, Heoii, luul i'ell Judgu Jicler^^ -luKst.'" m] nil 'ti ii(i()n to IvicliJirdsoii's sti ry ol" Judge JJflor'fS (Jln).->t, niu. iiounecd il " bcaiil ifiil ! " '* ()li, .Mr StrpluM)." slie siiid, '"lliiil is a cliarniiuL; (a',. TluMV is iiolhing in luitiir I ;i:n so luiid ot" ns a goixl ,Ljli(.>t story; il is so cxcitii";, idt hoiigli I don't just nllogciiuM- like Im hear lluMu too late at night, neithiM' before goiiig to bed, fpf they are apt to kei'p ont> awake, or set one a dreainiiig. That part of it wher(> the judge rises iVoni ilie lake, a-eaulei'iii'; on his mare, and m^ver going a-h(^ad, bke a roeking-liorsf, is grand ; ami so is that [)art \vhere the ])eople on the rail \m see that it is not a living being, but a ghost or a dead human, and suddenly stop rowing, and stare and stare* at him with a:l thi'ir eyes, nntil he slowlv sinks out of sight i'or ever! W har • • • a picturthat would make, if theiv -was any one that eonld take it otl'naterally ! 1 think 1 can s(>e it, and the loiu; dismal lake, iust as you have deseribed it. And then airin, Avlieu \\.r ghost eomea through the iee Avith a noise like thunder, ji .'ni>s np behind you cm the horse, and sereams and veils liki' mad. and seizes you by the najie of the iieek with his teeth, aiidvuu so seared all the time ! Oh, it's fun aliye ! It beats all It's " " You Avonldn't have found it sueh fun, then," said 31r Stephen, '' 1 ean tell you, if you had a-been there, for he woulii have Just turned-to, and eat you np at oneest, lik(» a lipe peaeh ! lie found me ratlu>r tongh, I rcekon ; but if it lanl been your beautiful tempting neek, INliss Lney, he'd a-iu'vtr a-left oil", after ho had once a-got a taste of it, nntil he iiaJ liuished it, I kncny. ]f I Avas a young man, I . . . ." '" AVhieh you ain";," said ]Miss Lucy; "and so there is no exenso for your talking sueh nonsense, so be done, now. But the part I don't like, is the talk you had Avitli the parson at Digby, for that seems to throw a doubt on it, or to explaiuit. Kow, I don't "want to hi^ir a good gliost story cleared up. I do believe in them, and like to believe in them. Spirits ain't permitted, according to my idea, to wander about the eartli LIFE IN A COr.ONY. 170 i; ui:vii.. •I'si s'.nd ;it- iriuin'j; tulr. r to binl, I'ol- iniu'j;. Tliai liio;. horse, is tlic raft 11 M deiul human, him uitli :^'il pvcr! \Vli;it t c'onhllakt'it clisiiuil luko, n, Avhrn ll.«' linuU'V, jr.;iii>s -Us like nv.ui. H>lli, and you It boats all h^' said 3h' for ho ^vould liko a ripe but if it b:ul hoM ;i-iH'vrr [until he \vM 30 there is H'^ lie, now, ]]iit the parson :i' j to ex[ikiiii^^' Beared up- ,^ Spirits ain't )ut tlic earth iiirrcU' lo scare (h'oent; tnlks out of tlieir seiis(>s, hut for soiui; K,,M(1 purpose or auolher; and althou^'h wv can't alwavH see ill, 111, who oaii loll that lliey dou't siu'round us, uotw il hslaiid- iiiir, watching over us when asleop, f^uarchui^ oui* slops, sliicld- iiiu' lis IVoui evil, and pulliuL^ L^ood tli(»ij;^ht8 into our uiiiids? That's uiy l)olief', ;it any rate." "Ami a wvy Hiihliiue, l)oautiful, and |)oeti('al ])olier it is, till), Miss Lucy," said ilu^ little man in b'aok, whom liiohardsoii (Iciioiiiinatod Broadcloth, but whoso real Tiamo 1 found was havtou ; " I syuij)athi/,e with you in that rat ional, sonsible, and ;i"i'ccablo! tlioory. 'I'he Ncry idea of boldiuLT communion with ethereal sjiirits, has somothiui^ elosatin!^ and onuoblin, auj^a'ls visited tho rartli. ami conversed freely with mortals," '•Celestial beings? Colost iai nonsense ! " said ]\rr Stephen ; '•vou'ro a pretty follow to eiu'ouutor j^hosts, ain't yon ? Why, mail ali\'o, \')u'd u'o mad, or die of fri'dit in a "»vook, if your wishes woi'o lullillod; you wouhl, ujjon my soul! V'ou are the last man in the woi-hl to want to see aj)paritionH, I can toll Mill. A'ow, just h)ok luM'o, Aliss JiUoy, l^roadcloth mai-riod ills thii'd wife last fall, aiul a nice, tidy, smart, maiuitMUL!^ l)ody she is, too, as you will see between this and Aiuiapolis county line, Th(» only sensibh; thinii; he ever did Avas to marry lii^r, ami tlie only onsensiblo thing she ever did was to take up with tlu^ like of him! " " Thank you, sir," said Layton ; " I am muoh obliged to you lor tlio compliment," ''Oh, not at all!" coolly rejoined INFr Stephen, " T. moan what I sa v. ] never flatter, and when I say'eivil tilings liko that, people are welcome to them, for they deserve them. Now, Mis.s Lucy, just fancy this beautiful bridegroom ondressing liiinself, blowing out his candle, and hopping into bed . . . ." " AV^hy, Mr iStephen," slie said, " ain't you ashamed to talk so ? " "And hopping into bed like a frog on all fours, when, lo and behold ! if he'd his way about s])irits, he woidd see two ghosts standing at the foot of his bedstead, grinning horribly, and stretching out their long, thin, bony arms, and shaking their rattling, skinny fists, and making all sorts of ugly faces at him and his bride, or beckoning him this way with their hands" (and he got np, and, stooping forward, suited the action to the word), " looking enticing like, and waving him to come, and follow them to the cold, damp grave, and sing ditties there through hia nose with them in chorus, with earwigs and if ISO Tin: (>i,i> .irnci: ; okv toMtls. 0]\, \ cs. l)v nil nu'MUS. il's well worlli while lor ;i i >\ln> liMs innrrit'd llirt'c wives lo InlK ol'liNiii!; willi !;lu>sl,s, inn ii;iii il ? (> I', psl suppose Mtiw " ll.'ive the ;Mt()(hiess. Mr l\ieh:ir»ls(tii." snid Ihe lillh' i " i(» in.'iKe vein' supposilieus h"ss perseniil jiimI h'ss elleusni \ eu ph'Mst'. sir— -\ (Mir eeiuersiil len is verv »hs!ivi'ee;ihle ii;iii. \\\\{ i\\{' imMn'ri^iihh' liilker weiil eii wilhiuil. nllenihii:' i, him ()r. jisi suppose him ,!;;eiiij; nerens Ihe Devil's ( Joose I' 1^1 lire :\{ ni;'lil " rht> Pe\ il's ( iO(>se l*:isl ut'e ! " s.-iitl Miss Lnev; "uli.itiii UMlur IS ll>:il r \\ h:il iiinler lh(> sun (ii> vou me:ui r " " rh(* ;;i-(>m1 ANlesl'ord s;iU(l-pl;iin." s:iitl S(e|»heii ; " lolkscail it. in ;! I'lniral \\:\\, 'th(> hevil's (ioost* l';ist ni'(>.' Il is Ihiilccn miles hni!';, :inil sextMi nnles n iil(< ; it JiiiTl jisi «h"il'( iin", siiikIJiiii it's :iU but th;it. it's so h;nT(Mi. It's «)iie:i\en. or \\;i\v, hlv( ilir swell ol'the s«';j in m eMliii. nul is eovered with siiort. drv. thin, e*»:n'S(» !>;r;iss. nnd dotted luM'e ;ind ilierewith n h:ill"-st;ir\ed ImivIi Mud ;i st unteti misshnpiMi spruee. Tw o or t lii-ee hollow places Im!,! v\Mt(M' nil throu;;h the summer, Mud the w hol(> pl;iin is eris-ci-iissdl with e;irt orhors(>-t r.-ieUs in mII direct ions 1 1 is iist nhout ;is slliiit, MUil liMU'siMue. :ind desolnte m pl:u'(> .'is veil would w i.'h to mv, i'lU'h sidi>ot'this d(>sert :ire some most rov.-il t'lirms. soiiu> ofilu' lu^st. pcM'h.'ips. in tlu» proviiu'(\ eontMiniuL:; tiie rich low Inmls iiii- t\cv \\\c numntniii ; hut the pl.-iin is i',i\(Mi np to the i';eesc. wlin two ^o wrctclu^l jutor th;it tlu' l'(»\»'s w(Mh st< h.'ul. All that t'oiint rv tluM'c^Mhtmts, ns I ha\c liciii'il ti^U when I was a boy. was encest owiumI b\- tlu^ Ijord, the kiii::, :nui t he i\c\ il. VUc ^li'be Lands beIoni';(Ml to t he lirst , t he unL;i;iiii- ed witdiM'uess lands te iUc st^eend, and the sand |)laiii I'elltdtlu' i\\'.\rc oi" \hc last (and peej>le de say the old i;tMitlemMn UTcl, 'Ollll- \\;is rntluM' dtMie m \\\o liivisien. but that is niMther hen* nor tl :ind so it is ealltnl to this day the Devil's (u>ost> l*astiir(\ Hi cloth lives on ono side* ot'this drv paradis(\ Now, just s\i| liim erossiui: it to visit a lUMi^hhoiir of a dusky nii^ht, when ilu' moon liH>ks like a ih>se t^t'e.astor oil in a i;l;iss ot' eider. . . ." *' What an idea." said jNliss Kuey ; "well, 1 wcxcv in all my horw days! diil yon over, now?" "AVhon all of a siuldiMi down t'omos two ghosts on ]\)oo\\- boanis (not sidr-saildle t'ashion. tlio way ualls ride, hut tluMvay b,\vs const di>wii-hill on shnls, belly-tlound(M--lashion), and rii;ht hoUl ot' him with tluMr lonj^, damp, clammy, cold ;ii ono imllinL:: him this way. and tlu» other pulliiiL!: li''>^ <'>:'' \\:i ono sayiuij: * A'ou shall," and t'othor sayiiiii:, ' Von sh.an't'— savini:, ' Come io nio,' and t'othor savinir, ' Stay with mo;' IV Mil", IN A COIONY ISI lor M lunii liosis, inu'i lilllt' iniiii, >lirMsiV", if Mr." Itt-mrni;'; I" »o;u' I'nsliuv ; " wliiil ill r ; " lolls all li is t liirltTi! nv; siiuiI.ImiI ;n V, liKf llii' rt , (li'v. ttim, -tlai-M'tl Iniih a |»l:u'('s hdli' r< ci'lS-i'l'ossci MUll MS silriil, \\\\]\ lo M'r. , stMur <•! till' lowhinds 1111- (< ^('t'S(\ will* 11, llu'v luiM 1 li;i\i'lu"iril >nl. llu> Kill-:, tli(> unm':iiil- niu Irlllollu" MiiliMiiMU \v;is w iiiir tluM't'l lire, l^i'i'iiil- just SHIUH'SO l^'iil. wluMi llie ultM-. . . • ' >MM- in all my isls on nicon- but 1 ho way lion). Mini lay ly, i'oU\ :ii"iv.s, in that \\;iy - shan'l"— *'i'>^ vith nic;' aiui In' n-s.'n in'% ' I w i;.li old \i(k li.iil liojji iA' \(iii'' Ami ilnn |';|l|i'\. wlli'll lio lr||||-|ll lldllio, llIM Wll'o m;I\III'; ' r>lii;|i|r!c .1 h^ W IHI \\< IT I liii ;o I w <» (iiiriiK , i»nm;iiiii(rl\ ^'.ill.t, I li;il W ;i:l l'< I'llllllli'- II ninici't-iil III (iiiii:io r;i-liirr'[ \ii|i uii-jil to ln> ;r: I iiolliiii", lo Ici'd lliciii, ,'iiid llii'\ jiiivn will '/< iiislcati o| llll^^i^M. :ilid doii'l \\;iiil (Uils. TlirN' iWi- rlic'ip •IK 'SI Ih Mild \or\ niicrinmin^^, ('S|H'ci;ill V lo a nii'K\ do'^ \\ur \t>\\, llill liMM li;id llirro \\i\(>M, ulir |-('cl iliiii'; !i loii;;-iMd<' ol' \oii,;illd .ildii'.iii", n]) atlmiriii"; and lo\iii;; iiilo \ our r\rs, ii.i hum li ;im to i\ , ' \\ ('II. I Ik'v don I look :i liil like oiifijio iiiiicM, I lion;' h 1 1 icy U' ;i III I If \allo\v or so;' nnd (wo oilier hidicH Hl'iiidiii!^ iir;ir' know III" eve r\ I lioii'dil . jir;iniii'c\ rrs w ord, u ;il r|iiii|r |ik(< \(MI, \\(';is( Is, ;ind as jcmIoiis as .'ill niiliir. < )|i, || wdiildn'k make yon iii'r\tiiis a Inl. \<>n would like (o see lliciii alioiik yoiii- coikIi, I kiitiw von would " Mr SIcplicii," said L;i\loii, risiin^ in "rcjil, .-UMM'r, " I Ins '\a I ^M tiKi |i:id. \ On lirsl l:iko I lio Idle 'I y lo drink more I li.'in ;iiiy I w o iiii'ii (' ,'in sl.-ind, and Ilnn lalk n u si n Ic lli.'ii no iiiaii in ilii^ \ tHi or I inn avc I lic room, I li:,l s ;i wdi'ld can hear ta.'l." '• ilnrv. tS(|nire Wallace was a. (-aplain inlln; militia, and oik; (lay, all er lrainin(l — no nonsonso, iiiiiu.' And ]u- si'iit liim oll'lo ^:iol, scrcHUiiiig iinil bcratrliiug like miul, he wa.^ so IViL;iit('iii'(l. "The iie\l (l:iy Vi\t wns ])ut iij) :ii vnndeu, inid knock. il down to his wife, who Itid liiiii in lor I'oi'ly shilling's. \\\ «;(Miei'allv eonsith'i'ed the greatest I'isc* ever taken ont ot" u iniui in this count rv. Now, 1 am in no dani^'er of l)ein several times to-day." Tiie truth is, .Mr liicliardsnn, notwithstanding^ liis ina\iiii> of worldly ^\is(l()m, to which lie was so fond of ti'eatiiiL,' lii-< f'ri(Mi(ls when away from lioni(% drank IVeely. His head, I wiis told, wemed al)le to resist the utmost ellects of li(]uor; and a!- t!iou nuich rum in a day as would intoxicate three or four ordiiiarv men. "If you are fond of spirits, Broadcloth," he continued. '• I advise you to leave j^hosts alone, and make aequaintanci^ wii!i }j:oo(1 old .lamaiea spirits. Instead of iViu^hteninL!^ you out oi your wits, they will put wit into you, and that won't hurt vou at no time. If you continno to drink cold water much ioniser, my hoy, yoiu* timbers will ])erish of the dry-rot, as sure as vnu are born. Ton look as yaller as a pond-lily now; and it is !ill owini; to liviiiL!; like them, on bad water. ]\[an was never madi to drink Avater, or Natur would liave put him on all-fours, witli his mouth near the running streams, like all animals intended to use it. But man was calculated to stand strait^ht up u[)on his pegs, with his mug as far away from the C(dd springs and iish-spawny brooks as possible, and had apple-trees, and suii;ar- canes, and barley, and wdiat not, given him, and sense put into his pate to distil good liquor from them, and hands to lift it np to his lips wdien made, and a joint in his neek to bend his head backward, that it might slip down his throat easily and pleasantly ; and, by the same token, here is your good lioalth. old fellow, and wishing you may have better beverage in future than horses and asses have. Now, Jamaica spirits 1 would re- commend to you ; but as for ghosts and onairthly spirits, wliy.a fellow like you that has had three wives . . . ." Here Lay ton protested so strongly against the repetition of these indecent allusions, that Miss Lucy interfered in his behalf. and forbade Eichardson to continue his annoyance ; and, by way of changing the conversation, asked if any other persou in the company knew a good ghost-story. " Certainly," said Stephen ; " here is my old friend Thomp- LIFi: IN A COLOXV. 1S3 fsiin : ^vln'H lio \v;is a 1)(>y, lie niid his lallitT and motluT ^^a\v llic Jlcvil diu' iiii^lil. I'^act, I assure voii, and no nnstalvci ('(inu', Ani)l('-S;ir(*c," lio said, ta|)iMnL,' a stout, L^'ood-lookini; conntry- iiKiii on the slioiddci", '' tell .Miss liUcy Ili:it story of scciuL,' the Di'vil. It's a cajjital one, if you could oidy tidl it all through voiir month, instead of Icttini; half (jf it escape throui^di your iiosc. as von do." "See'ini": the Devil !" said IMiss Lncv; "liow von tall< ! " •• Vrs, tlu! real old gentlenian," said Stephen ; " horns, hoof, laiK and all ! " '' Well, I never," said ^liss Lncv, "in all mv born davs! ()li. that nnist be nd(Hl by the most inllui^ntial people at Halifax, who were well ac(piainted witb my father's long and valuable servi- ces, and my own strong personal claims ; and was nominated by the head of tbe department, and appointed by the Governor iu a manner tbat was particularly gratifying to my feelings. I accordingly relinquished my ordinary business, and devoted myself to the duties of my new ollice. I held the situation for >everal months, wben, one Sunday nigbt, as we were just rising from family prayers, and about to retire, 1 beard a loud knock- ing at the door. A stranger entered, and itdbrmed me tliat be bad been appointed by the l^oard in England (who claimed the patronage) to tbe office I beld, and requested me to deli\er up to him the books and papers of the department early on the fcillowiug morning. Ill-judged and improper as the time chosen for this communication was, I was pleased that it was so, for tbe occupation iu wbicli we bad all just been engaged bad not been without its eiiect on my feelings, and I was enabled to control the impatience and irritation to wbicb I migbt other- m THE OLD .TUi/Gi:; OR, 10 conu'v I LIFi: IN A COLONY. 185 HiUiHO rs(Mii in tliis colony ^vJla siipj)oH(Ml Ly finvs of otllcc, which were then coinmulcd hy the province loi* :iii anmiiil iKiviiiciit ol' belweeii CTOOO and CSOOO, upon tlie iiii(h'i-stan(l- ]]]'' \\\:\i llie j)al roiiai^e should \h' translerred to llie local ('(ivcnunent, by whom the olllcers w(T(> to i)e {)aid. lie added tii;il the nsual course is, for tlie head of tho (h'partiuent: at Halifax to nominate ;i suitable pei-son for a vacancy, and tho (iovt'i'uor to appoint.; but that the provincial coiininssious 1,1 cdloiiists have Ix'cii so ot'len superseded of late, in the most rcniouiouH manner, that th(> recent, liieutenaid-Ciovei'uor lillCt V, rv pi'operly i\>I'us(m1 to hav(^ anything; to do with a palrona^jje t'lat was only calculated to (leu;i'ad(! his ollice, and diminish his \viii;ht and iidlueui'o in the ])rovince. 1 inidcrstand that this iiii|ii'()per interfercMU'o of the IJoard of Customs is severely felt am I loudly complained of by colonists, who, iwifort un:d.ely, an; sitiiati'd as to bo unable to obtain any employmiMd, or j)ro- tii)ii out of their own count ly; and, therutore, very natui-ally I'M that they aro jit least out itled to those ollices, tiu! salaries f which they furnish themselves. Jbit this is foreiLrn to iiiii lilV SUD) tiu- I ihiect. 1 ixivi! tlu; conversation as it occiwivd : and, if it 10 unusement, it may furinsh information to Ihoso who have wcr to set tliO matter riiiht. vol WluMi our yonni; bosti'ss returned, Kicbardson said — "Ah, ]\liss Jincy, yon havi; lost a capital story Aviiih? I was gone! This ^-entleman here, Sipiiro Jiayley, saw tlu; Jli'vil also. Jfe came j)op into bis bouse oncest of a Sunday iii^ht, in tho shape of Ji Custom House ollicer, seesed all books, pa])ers, and income, aiid left bim scratching his bead I a-Wdndei'ing whero bo was to find em|)loyment or bread, iiiiJ advised him to go to bod, and say bis prayers, and bo|)od ll'.ey might do bim nnicli good. J5ut Thompson, hero, seed him ill his naked truth. Como, A])pl(!-Sarce, wo aro all ready now. 1\11 us your story, nnlesa you will wet your whistle tlrst witb :i little brandy-and-water. You won't, won't you ? Then I will — so here's to your good bealtb ! Now, go on, old AValk- liis am em-slow, wo are all eyes and ears 5> '' When I was a boy," said Mr Thompson, "I used tx) live at a place called Ilorton Corner. 1 dare say yo\i have all lieanl of it." "Heard of it!" said Kicbardson, "to bo sure I have. I knew it afore you was born. It was then called the Devil's Half-Acre. Siicb an awful place for law, gand)lin', drinkin', tl^'htin', and borse-racin', never was seen. Father used to call t ii' iH'o])le llorton-tots. It reminds mo of a drunken old rascal called Kuox, that used to live at Annapolis, lie took a day 4 n ■■k fl': ISG THE OLD JUDGE; OR, '!iii;' onrppt, .111(1 linAvl(»cl up all of a sudden, a tpototallor. nii,] thvn lectured ; for tlie nionieut a feller rei'orms liei'e, he tiirii^ prenelier, on the principle tluit, the greater the sinner, the greater the saint. " ' Well,' says he, 'my brethren, Avhen I used to be drunk about the streets, the folks called me that old blackgunrd Knox; Avhen 1 left off drinking, it was old Knox ; Avhen 1 fr,,t new clothes, it was Knox ; and now, my brethren, I am al\va\s called ]Mr Knox — this is the ladder of virtue.' " jS^oav, that's the case with your llorton Corner. AVlionit was the sink of iniquity, it went by the name of the Devil's Half-Acre ; when it grew a little better, it was Jlortin Corner; and now they^ are so genteel, nothing will do but K(Mitville. They ought to have made old Knox cii^tus rogororum. oil " If you know the story, Mr Stephen," said Thompson,'- v had better tell it yourself" " Thank yon," said Stephen. " I know the sum total, but I can't put down the figures. Do you cipher it out your own Avay." " AVell, as I was a savin', wdien I was a boy I lived at llor- ton Corner, now called Kentville, and my father and niotlur kept a public-house. Father was well broughten up, and was a verv strict and pious man." "Yes," said Stephen; "and, like most pious men, usol to charge like the Devil." " Mr Eichardson," said Thompson, very^ angrily, " you hal better let my father Jilone." " Why. confound you, man," replied Stephen, " I have pit the marks to this day ; if I was to home, I could show you the bill. ]^\)urpence a quart for oats, wine measure, and the o;tts half chaff. You had better say nothin' about piety, old Sugarstick." " iNlr Eichardson, perhaps you would like a candle to go ti bed," said IMiss Lucy. " It's very rude of you to t;ilk tliar way, so it is ; and, besides, it spoils a story to have it iutd- rupted all the tinu^ after that fiishion." '• I beg your ])ardon, miss," said Stephen, " I didn't niean no offence ; and 'fhonipson knows me of old: it's jist a way I have, bantering-like ; nobody minds me — they know it's allfti' their own good. Ilowsomever, go it. Thin skin," he sniil. sln])]nng Thomj^ison on the back, "I won't stop you if yuii break your bridle and run awny." " On Sunday," continued Thompson, " h-is house was ahvav? shut up. jN'one of the folks iu the neighbourhood was eur lompson, vdii LIFE IN A COLONY. 1S7 (ilmitted; and no liquor was sold on no aecoimt to nobody. Ill those days there warn't much travelling; at any time, and on Sunday nobody hardly travelled; for old Squire ^SL'Mon.tiijIo picktHl them up at Windsor on one side, and lined them, and ,1,1 Colonel Wilmot picked 'em up at Aylest'ord on t'other side, ;.;i(l not only lined them, but made them attend church besides. Ollicers and lawyers were the only ones a'most that broke rule. Kvery oiUcer drew his sword, and swore he was travellini^ (xpre^ss on king's business, and magistrates were aleered of their commissions if they stopped a government messenger. And every lawyer swore, if they dared to stop him, lie'd sue Itoth magistrate and constable, and ruin them in costs. tSo iliese folks were the only exceptions." '' I'll tell you what 1 have observed," said Stephen. " Law- vers think law was made for every one else to mind but them- klves; and officers have no law but honour; wliich means, if voii promise to pay a debt, you needn't keep it, unless it's for money lost at cards ; but, if you promise to shoot a man, you iiuist keep your word and kill him. Now, don't say a word, miss— I aiu done ; I'll shut up my clam-shell, mum." ''"Well, father did not like to refuse officers, for they were ilauirerous men, and mi^ht be on kiuir's business." "Antl bleci freely, says yoii," addressed Mr Eichardson, ^ritli a wink. '•13ut lawyers, he knew, needn't travel of a Sunday unless they liked ; and, when they did, he generally gave them a cold slionlder. AV^ell, one fine summer Sunday, about one o'clock, when all the folks were going down to Alud Creek, to see old IViteli Wilson dipt (that Elder Strong had converted from her wicked ways), who shoidd arrive at our house but Lawyer Seott! I was but a boy at the time, but I can recollect him, and what happened then, as well as if it was yesterday, lie was a tall, stout, bony man, about the size of Stephen." '' And why don't you say about as handsome, too ? " added Piielmrdson. " With light-coloured hair, and a face somewhat kinder, paled by study ; a good-natiu^ed body, in a general way, when he ^vas pleased, but an awful man when he was angry. They ?av he was the greatest s])eaker of his time, and carried all atorehim; and that, when he was talking to a jnry, lie could take the opposite lawyer and turn him inside out like, and then back again, as easy as an old stocking ; and, as for chwracU'v, lio could skin a man's off, and tear it all into little pieces as '^iiiall us bits of paper, that no living man could ]nit together ^'gaiu; and all the time make judges, jury, witnesses, and 188 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, r!'- lionrors, ronr \vitli laiifjjhtcr, so you could liear tlitMii a mile o)]' Tlio whole county used to attend courts iu those days to ln.^p the s|)ort. Thin,!j:a are j;rcatly altered now. Jiawyer.s have lui fim ill 'em no more. They are dry sticks; and, it' any oin' makes a joke, the Judge looks as sour as if he had swallowed a pint of vincf^nir." "They are like your old 'Devil's Ifalf-Acre,' of irorntfm Corner," said ISte[)hen. "Tliev have got so infernal g'-ntu!, they have altered their name and very natur. Once upon a time, they used to be called attorneys ; now, forsooth, thev aiv solicitors : form(U-ly they were styled lawyers, but now noihi!: - but bannisters Avill do, and nice bannisters they are fur a felkr to lean oji that's going down-stairs to the devil,' "• 'I'rue," continued Thompson, "times are sadly alterci', It will be many a long day before you see the like of oM Lawyer JScott. Well, he drove up to the door in a u.\'^~ waggons hadn't come into fashion then, and people eitiicr travelled on horseback with saddle-bags, or iu gigs; but, in a genei-al way, j)igskin carried the day on account of the r()U;'!i. ness of the roads — I think 1 can see him now, with his 'n-cat big, bony, high-step])ing bay horse (we haven't got such liorsis no more now-a-days), and his little gig with the wooden pi:- yoke spring (to my mind the easiest, and lightest, and })v<[ s'^iring ever made for a rough country), and his gun and his fishing-rod fastcMied crossways to the dash-board. He eaiiu' along like a whirlwind. You know how sanely the Hat is at Kentville, and there was a stilf breeze a-blowing at the time; and he always travelled at a smashing, swinging trot; and. as he streaked along the road, the dust rose like a cloud, and ail vou could see was a llviui^ column of drifting sand. Tather was standing at the front gate when he reined up and alighted. " ' How are you, Thompson ? ' said he ; ' how is the old laijy, and all to home to-day ? ' " ' None the better for seeing you of a Sunday,' said fatl;i:, (piite short." " There is your pious man ! " said Stejdien. " AV^ell, it was enough to make him grumpy, for he had i];et his go-to-meeting clothes on, and all the world was a-goinij:to see the old witch dipt ; and mother was all dressed, and was to spend arternoon with old jNlrs Fuller, that married her sister's husband's brother — Crane Fuller that was; and they knoweil in course, that they'd have to go and take off their toggery aui tend on the lawyer. " ' AVliere is the liired man ? ' says Scott. " ' Gone to meetir.g,' says father. LIFE IN A COLONY. ISO " ' Whore's the boys, tlion ? ' said ho. " ' (Jono there, too,' said tlio old pjtMitloman. " ' NVell, I'm sorry for that,' says lawyer. ' Just ontackle this horse and put him up yourself, will you? — that's a irood f:?"^ .■How.' " ' Thoii shalt do no work,' says father, ' thou, nor thy servant.' and so on, all throuL,di it. " ' I'll tell you what,' says Scott ; ' by Jove ! if you don't .'0 this minute, and onharuis that horse, and tako! eare of ),i,i^ ' — and he went to the cjifj; and took out his horsewhip, and ill :,';in to llourish it over father's head, with the lash looped in, flub-like — ' if you don't pjo and take that horse, I'll ' " ' AVhat will you do ? ' says father (for he was elear-p^rit, n>!:ular New En^^land frinnror). So, turn i no; ri^ht round short, and doublin' up his fists, ' What will you do, sir? ' " Tliere was your pious man," said Stephen. " lie wouldn't put up a horse of a Sunday, but he'd fi<;ht like a f]fame-coek fir halt' nothin'. AVell done, old boy! swear your father was a pious man, until you believe it yourself, will you? " " ' What will you do ? ' says father. '• ' Why, by the Lord,' says Scott, ' if you don't, and you know I am able....' "'You are not,' says father. ' Tou never was the man, and I defy you ! ' "'If you don't go and do it this minute, I'll— I'll— I'll iujit sjo and do it mvself. Ah, mv old cock ! ' said he, :i-l ; >fc*i 191 Tin-: OLD JUDC.E; OR, " * Xiinry 1)0 d — d ! ' said li(\ "III tlio midst of all this lud)l)iib I f^ot fiwnilly friujIifiMiod myself, you may dcpuud, auJ began to cry lustily, and inutlitr called out — '"Neddy, X(Mldy, cover yourself up in the elotlioa this minute, dear! Keep elose ; the Devil aud Nancy Noley's hciv, ll(M'e they come ! — here they como I — slowly come ! Oh, it's a lryiu<; thiuuj to look on the Devil!' Aud she gave an awful scream, aud it retr(>ated. *' ' In tliis dreadful moment,' says mother, 'Aviion evil sj)irit.s nro abroad, and the sound of rushiui; winds is heard, and ilu; Dcnil is roamin' about seelduij^ whom to devour, aud Iiu'iian li(>arts are (piakiuij;, I conjure you, John Thompson, to tell me. is that story of Naucy Noley true ? ' " ' It's a d— d lie ! ' says lather. "lie had hardly <;ot the words out of bis montb before all the china and glass ranged in the little three-cornered show- clos 't '-ame down on the floor with a most tremendous ^;llla^ll. the broki'ii pieces rc^boundiug on onr beds, and neai'ly bliiidiiii; us. All now was silence for a minute or two, when iiiulhir said — "'.Tolm, wbat an answer you got to your assertion ! Tlii:^ is a judgment; and, oh, may it be executed m(M'cifiilly ii|i(H you — a sinful, fallen, deceitful man ! Get np and light a eaiullf ; tlie Devil loves darkness and eschews the light.' '" Well, to tell you the truth, Polly,' says be, 'I'm a'in<.>t afeered ; and, besides, the floor is all covered witb broken iil;iss: and it's as mncb as one's life's wortli to go stumbliii' iihrnit among sbarp-cornered bits of crockery, bottles, and whatnot.'" " You had better tell ns agin be was clear-grit, real, Xew England ginger, hadn't yon ? " added Stephen. " ' Your conscience fails yon, John, that's it. Confess, tlion. and I'll forgive you,' sbe said, ' and tell me bow it was that you fell into the snares of that wicked woman ? ' " ' I tell you I bope the Devil may fly away witb me in earn- est, if it's true ! ' said fatber. " At that instant there was a bollow sound, like that of flapping of enormous wings ; and fatber and mother, who wore sitting np, saw^ the balls of lire again for an instant, when they were both knocked down, and the window at the bead of the bed was dashed out with great violence. IMotber's cap was torn to threads on one side, and some of her bair pulled out, while the temple was cut open, and one eyelid much lacerated. Father bad his cheek dreadfully scratched, and the skin nearly torn from his nose. ^] LIFE IN A COLONY, in."5 til me in earn- " ' T ran slniid tliis no Iniiii^or,' siiid inoflior; Mliopmollo' briinstom' is ho stroiiL^ 1 iim c't-n a'niost suflocMtcd. I must t^ct up and ;ar Xeddy ! ' said slie, ' are you alivo ?' " ' Yes, motiier,' said f. " ' Are you liurt ? ' said slio. ' Arc you all safe and sound ? ' " ' Y(>s, motluM',' said I. *"'rii(^ Lord be praised for tliat ! ' said she. 'And now let 1110 se(5 wliat's here.' And she set the eandh* on the Hoor, and, standinu^ ever so far off, she took the ])rooin, and witli th.e ti|> 011(1 of the handU) held up the vahMiee, tirst of my lied, and tlu'U of iiern. and peej)ed under ; and then slie madi^ mo stand up, and slie beat the bed. as folks do a carpet to drive the dust out; and then she told father to rise and dress himself and while he was a-L!;ettinL;- u[). she b(\ii;au l)ani;int? away at the bed, and manaujed, either by chance or by accident done a-purposo (for iiothin' furies a woman like jealousy), to give him some awful whacks with the broom-handle. " ' AVhat are you at ? ' say father. ' ITow dare you ? ' '" The evil one may be concealed in the bed, dear! Oh. I ?liall never foru^et,' she said., ' her awful iiery eyes, and the blow slic c:ave me over the bead with her tail when sho broke the window ! "' "'AVho?' said father. "'Satan,' said mother. ' Oh, tlio wiclcod creature, bow sbo has clawed your face and broke my china ! ' "The thougbts of that loss seemed to craze ber a'most and made her as savaii^e as a bear; and she bit him a crack or two agin, that made him sintj; out pen-and-ink in real earnest. At last he caught bo.ld of the broom-stick in bis band and said — " ' What in the world do you mean by striking me that way ? What ails you, woman ? ' " 'Did she strike her own lawful busband, then ? ' said sbo, in a coaxing tone. ' Did she lift h(>r hand agin Uov own .John ? Poor, dear, lost man ! Well, 1 sboiddn't wonder if I did. for I'm e'en a'most out of my senses. Here's your shoes, get up and dress.' "And wben be let go tbe broom-bandle, she stretched it across the bed, and lifted the blind, and exposed to view the broken sash and glass of tbe window. 'I'vi 19G THE OLD JUDGE; OR, u ' p}:il " ' Sec here — see here, Joliu ! ' slic said ; * here's where she cseaped.' " ' AVlu) ? ' said fatlier. "'Why, vSatan,' says mother. 'Did you think it was Nuru-y ? ' '' ' Oil, don't botlier me !' said he. " \j()U<^ and lond were inotlicr's iamentationa over licr china. Her beaut it'id ohl, real eliina bowl, that bcioiii^ed to (jruvcnKi- Winlli(>r|), of Massaehusetts, one of the oklest t^'overnors of tlie State, from whom she was deseended ; her beautiful painted jar, wl)ieli, thous, are all alike to me. Out-doors, or in-doors, a hudv needn't be idle ; but, away from home, with your head like horned cattle, fastened in the stanchels, a-ehewing of the cud, or sitting before the lire, a- working as hard as you can, turniiiL'' one thumb over the other, is dull music. It makes a slow dav of it, and this has been about the longest I ever passed ; though, after all, it ain't to be named with an endless night I once spcut. It was longer than you, Broadcloth, who are only five feet nothin', and something beyond me, who am six feet and a considerable piece to spare ; and, before we part, I will tell you how and when it was. "In the fall of 1820, I think it was, when I lived to the head of Bear Iliver, I took a notion into my head one day to go out a moose-calling ; so I strapped on my powder-horn and shot-bai^ and put some balls into my pocket, and took a triile to eat with me, and sot olf alone into the woods. Well, first I visited one moose-ground, and then another, and I never see them so scarce in all my life ; and, at last, by the end of the third day, I got olf ever so far from home away to the southward, and my provisions got out, and I couldn't see bird nor beast, nor anything to feed on, and I was a'j.-ost starved, that's a fact. Says I to myselt' says I, ' Shall I go back while I'm able, or shall I hold on and trust luck ? ' and, seein' that I never failed yet, I thought 1 wouldn't give in, but persevere ; so I drew my belt tighter round my stomach, which was pretty empty, I do assure you, and push- LIFE IN A COLONY. 109 od on to a place whore I thoiifrlit I couldn't fail to find ninosc ; ami all I had to feed upon after the second morning was the in- side barii and juice and scrapings of wild jiojjlars. In the spring, a body might live on it for a week, I do suppose ; but in the fall, it's kind of dry and stringy, and hard fare, you may depend. At last, night came, and I began to call the moose again. '• Tbis is the way, stranger," he said, addressing r^o. : "you fold up a piece of bireh-bark like a short speaking-trumpet, as I fold this paper, and then go like the voice of the cow-moose — this fashion:" and ho uttered some extraordinary lowings, v.hich Miss Lucy pronounced very horrid and disagreeable, but which Ijarelay and others eulogized as capital imitations ; " and then," he said, " if there is a lierd in the neighbourhood, one or more of the leaders are sure to answer it, and come to the spot where the sound rises. AWdl, I had betMi at this sport so long, and been out of food such a length of time, I was quite weak and hardly able to call; but, howsomever, call I did; and, bynu'by, I heard a great whapping fellor come thrashing and crashing, and rearing and tearing, along through the trees, as easy as if he was moving through tall grass, and I was getting ready to have a shot at him, as soon as he stood still to blow, and snort, and listen again, or as he past on, when the first thing 1 knew was he went right slap over me, and trod me under foot, knocking the wind out of me, and nearly breaking every rib in my body. Thinks I to myself, what under tl;. sun shall I do now ? I am e'en a'most starved to death : every created thing seems to keep out of my way except one, and that one wants to teach me to keep out of his ; and if 1 ain't starved, 1 ain't quite sure I ain't bruised to d^ath. '• Just then, I heard an owl hoot, and although they ain't very good to eat at no time, they are better than nothin' to a starving man. So I lay down on my Lack, and began to invei- gle him, for I have been so much in the woods, 1 can imitate every sound in them — when, looking up, what should I sec but a ])air of bright eyes in the tree above me, and I let slip, and down came a porcupine. AVhat a godsend that was ! didn't he get out of his jacket and trousers in double quick time ! There never uas a gentleman got a good warm fire made up for himself at such short notice, i know ; and didn't raw fat meat taste, for the first time, better tlian that that's well done ! Arter that, I lay down and took a nap, and gin up the moose hunt, and minded next day to start for ii cross road, that 1 expected to reach by niglit, where I knew a settler, one Increase Card, lived, and where 1 could ])ut iq) ar^d refresh a bit. AV\dl, when nuirning came. 1 isut oir, and, as is always the case in this world, when you don't Ii' |: T & U ' m THE OLD JUDGE; OR, care a morsel about things, you can liave lots of tlicm ; and. when you do, you can't <^ot tliem for lovo or money. 80, llic next day, I sliot partridj^^cs for my breakfast, and ])artridi;('s tor my dinner, and let other fellows run, as sodi^er oflleers do dcs- arters, -without lookini,^ arter tluMU ; and, Avhen I least exporlcil it, came all of a sudden on a moose, and shot him, just as 1 reach- ed the road. " About seven o'clock, not very loncj after sundown, I eaiiiG to the house of Increase Card, leg-wx'ary, foot-sore, and near about beat out. " ' Crease,' said I, ' my boy, how are you ? I never was so glad to see any one afore in all my life, for I'm all but used up. Have you got a drop of rum in the house ?' " ' Ves,' says he, ' I have ; ' and, pulling out a large stone bottle from his closet — " 'Here's a little,' said he ; " wait till I get you some water.' "'I guess I won't spoil two good things,' said I, nid I poured out half a tumbler of the naked truth, and drank it off like wink. ' Now,' says I, ' one good turn deserves another. I'll take a glass of water, if you choose, for I always like to see the quality go first.' " Well, we sot by the fire, and talked over farming and crops, and politics and old times, and what not, and coolaul some moose steaks, and eat and cooked, and cooked and eat, ;is fast as contract-work, and then went to bed. But afore I left the room. Increase said — " ' Steve,' says he, ' Miss Card, my wife, and the little ones, are gone to Capersues, to see her father, old Captain Salmon. I am going after them afore day to-morrow, to fetch them back in the waggon. Do you just help yourself in the morniiii; to whatever you want, and rake up the fire carefully, and put the house-key under the step of the door.' " ' Why, Crease, said I, ' was your wife a Salmon ? I never knowed that afore.' " Yes,' says he, ' one of the Salmons of Tusket, old Captain Noah's daughter.' " ' You showed your sense,' says I ; 'they are the best fish going : and I see you know how to manage her too. You have given her the line, let her run off the whole length of it, and now are a-reeling of her up, and a-going to slip a landinc;- net under her, bag her, and fetch her home. It's the only way with women and fish. If you snub 'em too short, they spring and flounce like the Devil — tangle the line, or break it, and race right oft'. You warn't born yesterday, I see. How many young salmon-trout have you ? ' LIFE IX A COLONY. 201 "'Two,' savs he. " ' All ! ' said I, ' your name is capital bait to a courting- hook.' " ' How ? ' said lie. " ' AVhy, lucrease,' says I ; ' it's a grand name, that.' '"AVhat a droll fellow you be!' said he, laii^hini^; 'you ain't a bit altered, for you always was a funny man ever since 1 knowcd you ; ' and then, taking up a quart bottle with a candle stuck in it — '"Follow me,' he said, 'and I'll show you where to sleep.' " ' Stop,' says I, ' Crease, don't be in such a pucker of a nurry ; just have out that stone jug again, that's a good fellow, ',vill you ? that I may drink Miss Kitty, your wife's health, afore I go.' '■ ' Sartainly,' said he, ' and I axe your pardon for not offer- inn; it again to you ; but, the fact is, I railly forgot ; for to tell the truth, I never take any myself.' " ' Neither do I,' says I, * in a general way, when I am to home, fir it's a bad habit and a bad example to the boys, unless 1 am shocking dry, as I am just now ; but, somehow or another, I consait my wife uses too much salt, both in curing her hams and corning her beef; and I often tell her so, though she vvon't hear to it, for I am. always awfid dry after dinner.' Well, I poured lilt a rail good nip, and then, holding it up, ' Crease Card,' says 1, 'here's Miss Kitty, your wife's health, and the same to you, and wishing you may have a strong hand of cards, all trumps and all honours. Now, make haste, and I'll follow in your trail; for I feel as strong as ?> bull-moose a'most.' " Well, he took me into a room that had a carpenter's work- bench iu it, and tools, and shavings, and boards, and what not ; and then passed into a place that had been a porch, and then into a nice, snug, tidy bed-room ; and, putting down his ready made candlestick on a table, he bid me good night, and then went oif to his own roost. AVell, I takes "".vvo chairs and puts tlieni to the bottom of the stretcher, and haids out the bed two foot or more — for no bedstead in a general way is long enough for me, and it ain't pleasant to have your legs a-dangling out of bf'd— and then I turned in, and took a good stretch out, and was asleep in no time. " Well, being in no hurry, and not intending to get up early, I took a good long sleep ; and, when I woke up, 1 shoved out, first one leg, and then the other, to prove all was right in tliose distant parts; and then I drew a long breath to try if the ribswasin the right place tohome, after the tram[)ling and kicking of that are confounded moose ; and then I rubbed my eyes, and ■!:l 202 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, &«:*! found it was still dark, so I turned round af;ain, and took ano- ther famous nap. ' Now/ says I to myself, ' it's time to be a-stirriuf^ ; ' and I sot uj) u\ bed, and looked and looked, and all was as dark as ink. ' JSteve,' says I, ' you are getting cM, you may depend. Oneest on a time, you used to do U[) vuur sleep into one lonj^ parcel, but now you are so tired, you dout rest sound, and liave to content yourself with a piece at a time ; — it ain't day yet, try it again.' " AV^ell, 1 tossed and turned, and rolled about ever so lon[;. and, at last, I snoozed away again, and, when that was over, I up and out of bed, and felt for the window, and looked out, and it was as dark as Egypt ; and then I put a hand to each cheek agin the glass, and nearly flattened my nose agin the pane, and stared and stared, but there warn't a star or the least streak of light to be seen ; so back I went to bed aj^in, but I couldn't sleep, no how I could work it : I had had enough, or was too tired ; but I don't like to give in till I can't help myself; so I began to count one, two, three, four, up to a hundred, and then back agin, one, two, three, four, and so on — but it was no go. Then I fancied I was driving a ilock of sheep over a notch in the fence, one by one ; and when two got over the fence at oncost, I'd drive one of them back, and begin agin ; but it didn't confuse me to sleep ; and then 1 tried a rhyme : * I wish I had a load of poles To I'eucc iny garden roimd, The pigs they do break in and root, And all my sarec confound.' And then I cliased a little black boar round and roimd the <];ar- den walks, till I grew dizzy, and slipt off into a good solid nap. AV^ell, when this was over, I looked up, and still all was as dark as ever, and I got more tired of the bed than of the three day;;' moose-hunt : so, thinks I, I'll get up and go to the kecpini;- room, and light my pipe, and wait for daybreak ; — but this is a most mortal long night, that's certain ; or, perhaps, I've <,'ot cold, and can't see out of my eyes. AV'ell, that idea did startle me, you may depend; so I went to the window agin, and looked through as hard as I could, till I strained my peepers out a'most, but no daybreak was there. 'Perhaps it's a heavy land-fog,' says I ; so I lifted the sash, and just as 1 was a-popping my head out, I got a crack over the i)ate that actilly made the fire fly from my eyes. ' Hallo ! ' says I, ' what in natur is all this? — let me think about it. Where am I? — Am I in In- crease Card's House ?—AV^hat ails me, that I can't sleep ?- or am I buried alive by au earthc^uake : — or has the suu forget tlie i blinc spirits Ileal', roads the op( i'he we with rt young as you 1 heart as she LIFE IN A COLONY. 203 a piece at a to ^c^ T^ip tills morning ? — or what in the world is to pay now ? -I'U try the door.' Well, 1 o])ened the door, and felt along out to tlie porcu ; and along the wall to the house door, when the lii;ht fell on me all of a sudden so daz/ling bright, it nearly bliiidi'il me, and made me wink like an owl. '•It was two o'clock in the day, at the least, and the sun shining away as clear and as hot as iron melted to a white lieat. The fact is, Increase had built an addition to the house, and had lathed and plastered outside of the windows, and hadn't vet cut out fresh places in the end of the room for them, and it was agin this new wall that I knocked my head. '• Well, I didn't know wliether to be mad or to laugh ; but I did'nt see I had any one to be mad with but myself, and as I iii'ver laugli except at other folks, 1 didn't do neitlier one nor the (ither, bnt struck a light, went into the dark room, dressed invself, returned, and made a most royal dinner and breald'ast all in one, shouldered a haunch of venison, and started fur the sottlements. That was a most — a particular long night, and \v:is more than a match, after all, for this tremendous long Jay." On the second morning, although the wind had subsided, it i-till snowed fast and heavily at intervals, but Barclay ibretold \L' entire cessation of the storm in the course of the afternoon. Ihiving taken an early dinner, as on the preceding day, we aL'ain adjourned to the keeping-room, about three o'clock, ibr the ])urpose of listening to the various stories and anecdotes tnld by the company, which are so illustrative of the habits and tastes of the people. The conversation, for some time after we juiiicd the party, was desultory, and not worth recording; all, however, agreed that the opening in the clouds which disclosed a patch of blue sky in the west was the forerunner of a line evening, which had a visible effect on the countenances and (spirits of everybody. One of the passengers of the stage sleigh, who, it afterwards appeared, belonged to tlie Connnissariat de- jiaitment at Halifax, called Miss Lucy on one side, and earn- osily pressed some request upon her, that I did not distinctly hear, to which she objected that it was rather late, and the I'oads impassable. I heard soinething, however, about taking the open fields and a violin, which seemed to convince her, for ^\\Q went to the kitchen and gave orders that ajjjieared to meet with remonstrance, but which was effectually silenced by the young lady raising her voice, and saying, " Just you go and do IIS you are told, now, and no nonsense ; " and shortly afterwards I heard a sleigh, with its merry bells, leave the house. As soon lis she had resumed her seat, she asked a stranger who sat next •'V 1 204 THE OLD judge; OR, ir*'; to hcv, either to sinrj a sonjr, or to tell a story ; nm], wm^ his choosing the latter, inquired whether he knew a gij^j ghost-story. " No," lie replied, " I have never seen a ghost ; hut I'll tel! you what I have seen — sor.ietln"ng much Avorye, lately." " Worse than a ghost ? " she replied ; " what in the worl(l can that be ? Come, do tell us : 1 like such stories horridlv What was it?" "I was attacked by a pack of wolves last week." AYolvcs ! " exclaimed the young lady; "how shocking! what a dreadful thing it is that they have found their way hcn'i Wliere, under the sun, do you suppose they came from ! for father says, none were ever seen in this province till last vcar- and lie don't more than half believe there are any here now." " Nor I, either," said Stephen ; " nor never will, till I see the marks of some of them." " The first I ever heard of the wolves, Miss Lucy," roplitnl the stranger, " was at Fredericton, in the next province. About three years ago, the inhabitants were very much astonished at finding large herds of deer in the woods, of a species never scin in the country before, and only met with in the very nortlierii part of Canada ; but the cause Avas soon apparent, in tlie great numbers of wolves that be^ah to infest the forest at the same time, and who had evidently driven these animals before tliem. and hunted them across the vast wilderness. Several packs of wolves last year were known to have crossed the narrow isthmus that connects New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; and, having once established themselves here, 1 fear we never shall get rid of them, imless the Legislature offers a large bounty to the Indians for their destruction. It is the Canada wolf;, and, from being better fed, is, in my opinion, a larger animal thau the Spanish." " Did one of them ever give you a nip ? " said Mr Eichard- son, "as Judge Beler did me ? Heavens and earth ! talk of a wolf's teeth — it's nothing to the jaw of an old judge. Lid any of them bite you ? " " No," he said, " I am happy to say they did not." " Well, that's a pity, too," remarked Stephen ; "because, if one of them liad taken you by the nape of the neck, ahd just let his teeth meet through it, you'd have had the marks, do you see; and it's a great satisfaction, that, when fellors doift believe you. I wish one of them had a-given you the mark of mouth : 1 should like to see how they write their name." " Thank you," said the other: "I was not so fortunate, it appears, as you were." LIFE IN A COLONY. 205 "Tbey tell mc," said Stephen, " if you stoop doon, put your heail between your knees, and look backwards to a wolf, or n bear, or a tii^jer, or whatnot, nothini]j in tlic world dare face it. It will scare the devil, will a man's face turned uj^sido down : p:irtic'ularly if you can go like a horn; for music is what they rant stand, any how ! See; this is the way : " and he suited ;he action to the word, put himself in the extraordinary attitude, and made a capital imitation of the sound of a conch- sifll, as blown at all the farm-houses in the country, to call the iK'iiple who are in the fields home to their dinner. The third ivluai'sal was followed by just such a yell as he describes him- H'lt'to have uttered when the <>host seized him by the neck ; so Imil, so clear, and so appallini;, that it was evident it was not Jsii,'iied as an. imitation, but as a manifestation of fear, or {)i pain. In a moment, we M'ere all upon our feet ; and really the y^U was a most alarm in^if one. A little bull-terrier of old Xiafs, that lay under the table, seeini^ this extraordinary being iiitriulini^ upon his domain, and defying him to combat, ac- n'[)ted the challenge, and seized him by the nose ; and it was iiut without great didlculty he was choked oil', and expelled iiMin the room. Stephen was badly cut, but not dauijerously, :i!id ho bore it like a man. After order was a little restored, 3iis.s Lucy said — ■ '• Xow, Mr Eichardson, you have obtained your wish. You have got the mark of truth stamped upon you a second time. Yoiu' veracity is engraved on both sides. Suppose the gentle- man tolls us the otory of the wolves." ''Oh, them cursed bull-dogs!" said Stephen, whose voice was nearly stilled by a wet cloth held to his nose ; those bull- (ii;'S are an exception to all rules. They ain't afraid of man or iLvil ; but I'll bet my life on that trick, if it was tried on a wolf. But come, stranger, let's hear the story of the wolves. I hope it is a good one, and that you will tell it well, and then I won't think so much of this nip on the nose." "Last Monday week," said the stranger, " I left Halifax in a sleigh, with a young friend of mine, for the wilderness beyond Xusquedoboit, for the purpose of hunting the moose and car- nlioo uoer. A\re took our provisions, blankets, guns, and am- iauiiition with us; and having met an Indian (Joe Cope), by iippointment, at the Thirty Mile Inn, we left our horse and A'v^h there, and divided our equipments into three parcels ; my Irieiid and myself carrying the lighter packs strapped in the shape of knapsacks on our shoulders, and the Indian the guns aud heavy luggage. Aa the days are short at this season of the m m .H' 20G THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, mp t if yonr. wo only prooocded ton iiiilos further, and haltofl at tlm lofij-lioiifjo of a sottlor, wliose clearings are the last to be tuuiiil in that direction." " Yon don't moan to say you walked ton whole miles in one day, do you ?" said Stephen. " AVliy, tliat was an awl'id strtieh for a hujiter! Didn't you feel tired, old seven leaf^'uer?" " Here we spent the ni<.^lit," continued the strau'j^cr, '-nnil were most hospitably received, and abundantly provided with a substantial and excellent snpper. . . ." " (lad, you needed it ! " interposed Stephen, "after sudi an everlastiiu; lon*^ tramp." "^\nd in the even inn; we gat round the fire and narrated stories, as we are now doin^." "I hope they were better ones," said Stephen, "than this yarn." '• Peo])le who live in the woods keep ^ood hours ; and, as we intended to start a little hetbre the dawn of day, we had cvcrv disposition to foHow their example, and retired early to rest. In our hamper of ])rovision was a bottle of brandy ; and bcf'niv I went to bed I oliered some to the family ; but they dccliDcd, savins:, they never drank any kind of ardent s])irits. The Indian had no such scruples, and took off his <;lass with [rnat apparent relish, observing:, that the stroni:: water was verv i^Odd. The settler remarked, that thouu^h none of his family used anv- thiniT ot' the sort, tluM'e was an old sempstress, or school-inann. in the house, who did, when she could get it, Avhich was verv seldom. . . ." "Poor old critt(T!" said Stephen. "And bear- Ivompty, and blamed myself for haviiiu^ left it withiji reach of ;;;i Indian, whose thirst is generally insatiable. After the cold ixposure and fatigue of a day's hunting, a little brand}* is .'* rivat restorative. . ." ' Lord bless you," said Stephen, "" it wouldn't hurt you at :i ) tune I ''And such a sensible diminution of the stock I felt to bo ?.n irreparable loss ; but it was done, and it was no nse to com- iiieiice our exeursion with scolding; so I swallowed the disap- pointment instead of the brandy, and proceeded." "About as bad a swap as you over made in all your life ! " adilod Steplien. "After travelling some two or three miles, !Mr Joe Cope, who had never spoken a word since Ave left the house (for In- dians seldom talk when travelling), asked me abruptly if I had missed any brandy. I rei)lied, I had observed that the bottlo • as not so full as I expected." '"All,' said he, 'sartcn white woman very fond of big Jriuk!' " ' "What do yon mean by that ? ' I inquired. "'AVhy,' said Joe, ' Indgens, you know, always sleep with one ear open, and when that goes to sleep, t'other one opens. Well, last night, maybe twelve o'clock, I hear door move softly ; oiien ear wakes t'other ear, and I listened. Well, old Auntv come out and look all round the room, then stop, then come where Joe was, look all over him, and see Joe fast asleep, then she go to table, and pour out one very big drink, holdin' breath good spell while going down throat easy, then give one long soft blow, all same as puff of smoke, Avhich mean, very good (lat brandy — feel all over — good. Then she go softly back, 2:ettmn ir bed, but no fasten door. Aunty no afraid of Indgins sealp her that night, so she leave her door just so,' putting his two hands together, but not allowing them to touch each other. 'Well, about four, maybe, this morning, Aunty comes agin, walkiu' on toe, take another very big suck at bottle, walkin' back on heel, though, that time, very heavy — clump, clump, clump — and shut up door bang, and go in bed agin very heavy, all same as one lump. Sarten white woman very fond of big drink!' said Joe." "I say, stranger," said Mr Stephen Eichardson, with a Ml m f '0 bI >1 'I <««l £08 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, f r '■ ! very snuflling inton.ition of voice, "I thovipflit you was a-fro,,^ to tell us of tlio wolves. What's that old woiiuiu lakiii" yuur brandy ^ot to do with it ?" " Tiiat was a very fatiyjuing day. "We walked with our loads twenty-two miles into the close forest, and then we eaiiie to a barren, which, thou (leer, ■Hiccvcitciiiciit occnsioiUHl 1)v tli f' iiiiiiior. oUH ti'accH of wild licjists ill (tiir iiiiiiuMlijitc iici^lilxnirlKiod. ;,ii(| llic last storv (•!' llic moH", avIhisi! howl 1 could lu.w di.stiiKtlv hear in llic direction of tlic cai'cass, caused such a(|iii(k sucim >. siou of ideas, lliat it was uearly au hour hefore I dropped im,, a sound plee|). How louj; 1 was in llial slal(» of ohiix ion | ,.;,],. U(tt tell, hill, jud^iiijj: hy the slate of the lire, which \\a< tlicn reduced to :i liea|) of glowing coals, it must have hitii al nddni'dit " n,u\ As to thai," said Stejdien, *' it de]>ends on the nature (f the fuel. Jf it was soft wood, it would hum out in an hour il'hard Avood, it would keep alive all niu;ht." '"AVhen J was distiirhed hy sonielhing like a growl. TIk ])lace whei-e 1 had laid down was just opposite to tlu' d and ] had J'allen asleep wilh mv face to the lire UMMw,.. ,.-... ;,,.f l...,l .•,>.,.. Iw^.wl ,.-lw>,..^ ..,>.. .^. OdI'. J'tien you just had your head where yuu ought to have had vour feet. said Sl(>piu>n. AVhen 1 opened my eyes, judge of my consternali((n wl icn they encountered those of thre(» or four wolves, who, altrMctcd hy the snudl of the venison, had traced it to our cam]), from on,' of the ])oles of which it now hung sus^unuhnl most tempt iiij:^lv. They had torn away the hianket which had heen hung over tlif door, ajid there tliiy stood, their hacks hiMstled, their cvcs glaring, and their w!;ite teeth glistening in the light, and uttCr- ing a sort of sui)])ressed growl, and just ready to spring on their helpless and drowsy ])rey. INly iirst thouglit was < ' he gnus; hut, alas! they were close to the enemy, tied to the stakes df the wigwam, for fear of falling and doing mischief, and. llicrc- fore, wholly out of reach. The axe was outside, and tlicrc was so com alt uas not even a brand of fire that could he gras[)ed ])letely burnt to coals. ] then bethought me of mv 1 oil'' knife: if I could only get at that and open it, 1 felt that, it' 1 could not defend mvsi'lf successfull v. I should at least die linnl.'' " AVhat a beautiful story ! " said :\Iiss J.ucy. '•' That is very exciting ! It's very aw Inl ! Tell us quick, did you get at tlio knife?" " The knife was in the left pocket of my coat, and I Ava> lying on my left side. 1 carefully put my arm behind me, and cautiously raised mv body a little, so as to enable me to imt mv luind into the ])0cket, but 1 could not extract it w ithout turn- iug over. In the mean time, they kept slowly advancing:, an inch or so at a time ; and one of them, seeing the meat w iiliin liis reach, became quite enraged, wlien, encouutei-ing my c; rs. he sprang across the lire, and seized me by the throat in a minute." if tlio lunnrr. iiu'IkmhL iiiid \v (listiiictlv [Uiclv Sllcco. ilnipprd iiii,, lividii I ciiii. ell \\:i> llicii lie ii.'iliin' It' ill an hour ; ^rowl. Tlif to till' duor. it to Imve had viintion \vlicn ^lio, nllniclcd 111]), iVolll Ollf it t(Mii|)tiiiL,'ly, liuii^ ()\ci' the ', their eyes t, and iitltT- )riii^ onltit'ir ' .'ic <;iiiis: ilio stakes ef f. and. llieiT- c, and llierc >|)ed, all uas le of niv luiii: felt tliat, if I ast die hard." ' That is very ou get at tlio it, and T Ava> diind mo. and me to ]nit my Avitliont turn- advanciiiii'. ini meat \\iilr.n infT my I'yos. e throat in :i I.IFK IN A COLONY. 211 " Show me the marks," said Sf(>|)li(>n ; " sliow me tlie marks, mid 1 'II litdieve it ! ilang it, man, if you liiul only a-put your liiiul hetween your legs " "Do l)e se two days! A body would think, when they meet a head-wind they would have t() n'turn back agin to where they came from, for that seems iirrrt'cable to the course of things in a general way. I wondc^r vdu'ther a wester begins lower than them, gets under them, and f^hoves them right up out of sight, and clears them oif that way, or kinder splits them in two liitit ion of a liarboiir-inaster called Frink, and the lawvcn^ talked nbout even thing, as they always do, but tl'iO ])etitionj and ;;n ohl meiulier, who got tired out, and a'niost wearied to death with their long yarns, used to stop tlu lu every niinuit, and say, 'Come to Frink ;' and when they waiuhM-etl oil" he'd fetch tlu'iu li;ick aujin willi a voiee of thuiuler, ' W^hy don't you eo;ii(> to Frink?" His manner and accent was so -J-'oll, for he talkeroadeloth," he said, turin'ng ':o Layton, "you understand the gentleman. JSo, 'come to Frink.'" ^Iv Lfiyton, as I have before observed, was a gentleman that was evidently on very good terms with himself and the world. He was quite satisfied with his own appearance and importance, and being fully impressed with the belief that everybody coincided in opinion with him. his face (now that he had no i:rievance to relate) beamed with self^'omplacency. He was a short, thin man, very erect, as most short men are (for they fivl that they cannot atlbrcl to stoop), and dressed with con- siderable attention to what lie considered the most becoming maimer, and cultivated a very imposing pair of whiskers, cut and trimmed in a way to show that he had visited foreign climes ; for he had be(?n as far as Xewfoundlaud on one side, and Bermuda on the other. He was, as my friend Barclay told me, one of a very numerous class of persons in Nova Scotia, who, inheriting an excellent farrv, soon found that even farms must be worked to lie productive, and that, if a [;core (as a retail shop is universal- ly called here) be added to their other employments, the profits of their trade will enable them to dispense with personal labour, and fiu'uish an easy and comfortable road on which to travel to an independent fortune. This road, however, is, at very short (h'stances, so intersected by other broader and easier ones, that kail, some to the sea-side, where there are frecpient opportunities to Texas, some to the court-house, others to tavi'rns, and most iiftliem to a mansion vulgarly called the jail, that it unfortunate- ly happens many people miss their way, and, what is worse, f^i'ldoin discover their error until the day is too far spent to re- turn in safety. ^Ir Layton, besides being a farmer and trader, was a justice of the peace, a coramissiouer of sewers for the drainage of the ■:■:»{ is ill 'i Air mi ■•,*?: 210 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, !; J I : f M:- vnst alluvial moadows of his county, a major in tlio m!liti:i. a siijicrvisor of schools, and a triistoo of an academical inistitutiun ill his own township. Jle had road a good deal, for ho took all the newspapers ])iiblished at Halifax, and had studied tlic dictionary in a manner that had enabled him often to detect iiUKM'uracies in the pronunciation and orthof^'raphy of those aIm liad had the benefit of a better education. He was \vont, I w;is told, to I'elate with fjfreat pride, a ])hilological discussion ho had liad Avith an usher of Tad[)ole Academy, about the proper mode of s|)elliiig College, ■which he maintained, by analogy to Know- l(Hlg(% ought to be written with a d. The usher, who know as little of etymology as himself, admitted that he was ol' the same opinion, but said, antiquity was on the other side. Collofjio?', he ()bser\ed, were established before our language was settled, and the d having been omitted originally, the word had come down to ns with its prescMit number of letters, and it was ten late now to alter it. If this explanation was too far-fetched, it was, at all events, too ])lai!sible to be refuted by Mr Jiavton. who always cont(Mited himself bv remarking, with a siioer — "Tliat it was rather hard college-men couldn't s])ell the name of their own institution." Those numerous offices hold hv j\rr Layton, however honourable tliey might be in the estimation of his poor neiglibours, were all, alas! rather sources of expiMise than income to him — the farm and the "store" being his niaii' reliance. Either of tiiose would have insured the possoss^or a comfortable and independent support; but their nnfortunate nnion.likean ill-assorted match, soon produced mutual nogk'et, and. it was evident, would terminate in the ruin of both. Such was the gentleman who now" i\dated to us his adventure with the wolf. "I live," be said, "on the Iventville river, in Avles- ford. ..." " Not on the river," said Stephen, " for that is not die — or gram — eitlu'r, my old amphibious boy ; nor yet in the river, for your father pullcMl you out of that many a long day ago, and hung you 11]) to dry. You look, for all the world, more like a salmon caught at the wrong season of the year, badly cured and worse smoked — so cussed thin no one can tell where the bone ends, or the lish begins: tough as wdialebone. Say, 1 live oil a lish-flake on the banks of the river, my old dun-iish." "Eeally, Mv liichardson," said IMr Layton, rising in groai; \Yratb, " I *! . . ." " Jimmy," said jNTiss Lucy to her little brother, " call in the dog. He has already made acquaintance with Mr Stephens nose ; perhaps he'll lead him up to bed." LIFE IN A COLONY 217 " For pjfirious goodness' sake, don't bring in that are dog !" i;e said. "Jt" you do, Til leave my marks on him, iliat lie"ll j.;in'V to his dying day. AVhy, I toKl you, miss, nobody minds ,, ^.J-il's my way. 1 poke fun at everybody, and everybody pol;es funatnie ; and, if they get tlie b(^st of it, they are welcome to II ; for, in a gineral way, what folks get from me they pay for. llowsomover, my pipe's out. 1 know it ain't manners, and I w.iu't interrupt him agin. Come," ho said, turning to Layton, •eonie olf to New Foundland with you, my old academy boy, and jiiiiot wolves. ' Come to J'rink' now." •• I live on the banks of tiie Kentville river, in .Aylesford," continued the little man. . . . " Well, you told us that afore," said Stephen. " AVhy don't vou 'come to Frink r ' " '"On the farm my father owned, and carr}' on business •.::ere. ... '• And a pretty moss yon make of it ! " added Steplien. '"Year before last, having a great deal of ])r()duce in hand,! 'lartei'ed a vessel for Xew ]'\)nndland, and loaded iier with liicesc, apples, butter, hams, eider, and other kinds of j)roduce, rnil sailed late in the fall for tlie town of ISt John, hoping to :v;icli there in time for the Christmas market. Unfortunately ,ve deferred our departure too long. . . ." ■• That was because you wouldn't ' come to Frink,' " inter- ruptcil Stephen. " We encountered dreadful weather all the ])assage. It was, :.it;u't, one constant succession of snow-storms and Aiolentgalea uf wind. The Captain was frost-bitten and cripj)led, the ukmi wre scarcely able to keep the deck, and the vessel could with (::l!lculty be steered at all. Indeed, we were far from certain of ir exact position, never having had an observation since we left Nuva Scotia. . . ." ''It's a pity you hadn't made more observations before ; u quitted it," said Stephen; "for. if you had, you never \vnu](l have left liome at that season of the year. Do you take?" '■ Am], while we were discussing the point, all doubt was ivmoved by oiu' being wrecked, about ten o'cdock at night, on n, I'liak and desolate pai't of the coast. I shall never forget the iurrors of that night. Fvery sea swept the deck, l^idwarks, boats, cabonse, and everything, was carried away. The Captain and I were the only persons in the after-part of the vessel, i 1 o\v it fared with those who were forward, I could not tell, for we 'oiild hold no connnunication whatever with them, on account of the violence of the sea. That night seemed without end, us 218 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, it wns without liopc. At last (Imv hroko, fho storm Puljsidcd !ni(] with it the sea ; and I could clistinL;iiish the shore, luid, t! my ^reat joy, a h)iif;j, low liovel, on the heaeh under the diir. [ iiiiniediately went heh)W i'or juy <;un, and returniiin; (hscharffhl it. and soon saw three men, lialf'-dressed, einerj^e from the li>it. who wav(>d a Mnuf to us, in token ot'reeoj^nition and assisiaiicf, b'oon afterwards, tliey liauk'd a hoat down to tlie ed^e of thr Avater. and made ])reparations for boardin<^ us ; but it was iicarlv dark before the sea was suffieiently abated to enable them tn come oif with safi'ty. The people forward were all drow mil jn the forecastle : the Captain and myself were the sole survivms At last they succeeded in takiuf^ us ashore, with our guns, am- munition, and trunks, and saved as much provisions as wcmld last us during the winter. In the morning the vessel had dis- appeared. The storm had come on again during the night, and she had gone to pieces. A few loose articles of inconsidcraMe value -were washed ashore, but the entire cargo was lost. . . ." " Yes," said Stephen; "and it's my opinion the farm ^mmrr a leak that night, too. One or two more sucli voyages to New I'oundland, and the old homestead is a wreck, as sure as vou are born." "As soon as the Captain recovered, wlio was a strong, atli- letic nuui, of Herculean frame, formed by Kature, as it were, fur endurance. . . ." " Hallo ! " said Stephen ; " it's a pity the schooner's bottom wasn't as bard as them words : all the stones in New ruiiud- land wouldn't have knocked a hole in it." " He set out for St John's with one of the inmates of tlie hovel, and made liis way, in the best manner he could, ncross the interior. I was unetpial to the task, and remained, diiriii,' the whole of that tedious and dreary winter, with the utlur two " " If you had followed the example of Felix Piper," said Stephen, who always preferred talking himself to listeniiiij; to others, " it would neither have been a long nor a tedious time. Felix, when he was a youngster, went into the woods one season. with a lumbering ]iarty, up the Kestegouch river; and, not knowing v.hat to do with himself during the long niglits, ho got some birch-bark and some dead coals, and stretching himself (uit at full length (flounder fashion) on the floor, taught hinu df by the firelight to make letters, and learned to write, and then to cipher ; set up in life on his own hook, and is now^ one of tlie richest merchants and greatest shipowners in these colonies, He learned the multiplication table, do you see ; and found out that two and two makes four, and twice four makes eight, and so I: m '' i LIFE IN A COLONY. 219 orm sulisidcd, siiuro, nnd. to ler tlif cliir. I ii'j; (lisrliarfT,.,! iVom tlic li'it. iml iissistnnce. ic (Hl!j;e of the it it Avas iiearlv nabli' tlu'in tn nil drowiird ill solo siirvivurs our guns. inn. sioiis as WduM vossol had di>- ' the iiiglit. and inconsiderable kvas lost. . . ." he farm sprmi:^ royagos to New as sure as voii ,s a strong, atli- e, as itAVLTctor loonor'shott 0111 n Now Pound- inmates of tlie le could, across ■mained, during; with the utliiT X Piper," said to listonin;f to a tedious time. ods one sciison. river; and, not gnigiits.lie got ling himself out ghthinudfby ite, and then to now one of the these colonios. and found out es eight, and so .V.U V..Q. n, Xow, with all your knowledge, you never got beyond the 'jies of subtraction yet ; and only know, if you take one from • j-ee two remains. It would take a smart man to add u]i tln^ .rn of his property now ; but you will soon lind, with your siib- -;iction ciphering, that you have only a nought left for a ';.;naiuder ; and then, my old academy boy, I'll trouble you to ;im algebra, and see if you can tell how to subtract something ■',m nothing. But come, Broadcloth, on with your story ; but ;t it short, for it ain't no great things the way you tell it. Coine to Frink,' now." ••Time hung heavily on my hands, you may well suppose," Miitinued the little man, " during those long and weary months. lib. how often I sighed," and he looked sentimentally at Miss L'li'V, " for the summer sky, the fragrant gales, and orange jroves of the ■charming Isles of Bermuda ! . . . ." '' There would have been much more sense in sighing after the apple-sarce you forgot to insure," said Stephen ; " but, never mind, ' come to Frink.' " " ^ly two companions were Irishmen, who emplo^-ed them- H'hes in making barrels and boxes for packing fish, and in pre- ;i,iring for killing seals on the ice in the spring. The hovel liiev lived in was a long, low, shanty, built close under the clitf, for the purpose of shelter. It consisted of one extended room, ne part of which was their cooper's workshop, and the other ;':ieir dormitory and refectory. . . ." '• Plague take your Latin, man ! do speak English ! " said Srephen. " Ever since you have been a trustee of Tadpole Aca- iiLiuy. there is no understanding you." " The house was not constructed, like our log huts, of sub- j'mtial timber (for that is not to be had there), but of poles inrt'i'laced with bark ; and the roof was made of the same light materials. It was more like a large Indian wigwam than any- tiiing else. Well, as I was saying, Ave slept in one end of it, wliich was spacious enough for personal convenience. The other part held staves, a work-bench, some barrels, and boxes, and tools. One morning, just a little before daylight, our iiouse appeared to be coming about our ears. A. portion of the roof was suddenly crushed to the floor, with a tremendous noise, apparently by a part of the projecting clift". I sat up in :ny bed, and each one asked sinuiltaneously the question, What in the world is that ? ' At that moment, something came down, through another part of the roof, directly upon my bed, which evidently had life and motion in it. It fell with consider- iile force, and rolled over upon me twice, when I uttered a ioiid shout " « m. hm 220 THE OLD JUDGC ; OR, " T don't doubt you did," said Stoplion ; "there's notliin'f like lVii(lit to uiake a t'cllow ' come to rriuk.'" " And 1 lieard it jnnij) down on tlie iloor. I immndiatclv cnt up and stirred the lire, wiiieh had been carefully covered \\^;i, ashes tor fear of accident, and threw on it a handful of sluivin-s aiul in a luonient the cabin was illuminated as bright as dav Judi^e of iny surprise, when the iirst olijeets 1 saw were u car- riboo and a wolf; the former standinj^, snortinj:^ ih'st at the lir-. and tiien at the wolf, and the latter cowerini; in the cunicr, riiiil glaring horribly. We immediately took down our guns, ;.).[ stood ready to receive or give battle. ' Now, Pat,' 1 ^aul, addressing myself to the man who appeared to be the leader of the household, '1 will lire at the wolf; do you and JNTike stand ready, if! do not kill him, to bring him down : for, if he is onlv wounded, he will gra])ple with one of us and die hard.' 1 ac. eordingly llred, and he sprang up about three feet, rolled dwr. bounded forward, and lell again near the carriboo, whoinstamlv attacked him with his fore-feet, and broke every bone in his IxmIv. My first impulse was to have s{)ared the stag, and secure him alive. but he became so furious we were obliged to despatch him. h was a most exciting scene, and the more so as it was so novel and so wholly unexpected. It appeared that the wolf was in hi t; pursuit of the buck, who, in his des])eration, leaped, without iv- ftM'cnce to the locality, inunediately over the clitf on to our shanty, which, from being covered with snow, no doubt resemlilcd a small iceberg, and was followed with equal recklessness by liis famished pursuer. I have ])reserved the skin as a trophy " "Of a man," said Stej)hen, " who lired a gun to save Lis life. It's few people have courage enough to do that. But, tell me now, didn't that cure you of going a-coasting in the wiutiT? Ain't you afeerd of the water since that shipwreck ? " " No, " replied the little man, with an indignant and injured air — " no, sir ; I des])ise a coward ! " " Well, well," said Stephen, with most provoking coolness. " we won't dispute about words. It wouldn't take much, as you say, to kill or to save such a little fellow as you be. " " I said no such thing, sir. Don't put your insolent words in | my mouth, if you please, sir." '■ Well," rejoined the other, " you might have said it, tlien, and not been far from the truth neither. Now as you arc de- termined to try your luck agin at sea, I'll give you a receiprj that will save your life, if every soul on board besides perishes. ' '' I don't require your receipt, sir ; when I want it I \vul ask you for it." " Yes, but you may want it some fine day, and it is no barm LIFE IN A COLONY. 221 y^n\ ud it is no barm • ihave it in case of accidents. It is one of the simplest and v/Nost rules I ever heard. I learned it from old Telly- l-voii at Aini:v|)ulis. >Vlien I was a boy, there was an old German bar- r.uk-niaster at that place, called De<;rebbin, that the JJ)uke of }^eut placed there. The cittur had served six months in the old Amorii'an war, doint:; garrison duty, which means, plastering his ;,e;id with soap and ilour, and cleaning his breeches with pipe- tl;iv; and, as a reward for being a (lerman, got the post ofbar- nek-master. lie was as tall, and thin, and stately, and solemn, a; a church steeple; walked like a pair of compasses ; carried liis arms straight, like those of a wooden doll kinder stilf at tiie shoulder-joints, and wore a qnene long enough for a horse's alter. He had been so long from home in this country that he iiaJ forgot all his German, and, having an enormous big mouth and wlKij)ping large tongue, he never could learn to sj)eak Eng- iijji: so he talked gibberish. Instead of saying, ' 1 tell you,' he •:st'd to say, 'Telly 1 you ; ' so I nicknamed him ' Old Telly-I-you.' I recollect him C3 well as if it was yesterday, for I used to stalk peliind him in the streets, and throw back my head, and cock up ?.iv chin, just as he did, and make Garman faces at him to make :';i-' boys laugh, and got caught oncost and thrashed fur it like jaVlhing. •' Well, old Telly-I-you used to go to Digby sometimes on ',::tv, and when he did, he used to take the military four-oared :,ii'ire with him, and send it back with orders to come in two davs ijr him. When the boat would come, he'd keep it and the par- ty there sometimes for a whole week on a stretch, waiting for a ilead c;dm ; for he never would get into a boat if there was tlie leastest morsel of wind in the world. At last the com- ;:iaiulant hauled him up for it. '• ' ]\Ir Degrebbin,' said he, 'you keep my men too long from liseir duty. I request you wall always return immediately, sir, ■viieu the boat goes for you.' ■' ' ^[y fery goot, high-priced, too-dear friend,' said Degreb- I'in, 'telly I you it to pass how came to happen dat I keep de boat.' '• And he explained that he was once the sole survivor of a j 'Mating party, consisting of thirteen men, which circumstance nad made him kind of nervous and timid on the water ever since. '" ' Dear me,' said the commandant, who was a kind-hearted [man, thougli strict on duty matters — 'dear me, how did that happen, and how did you escape ? ' " ' Telly I you,' said Degrebbin, ' that to pass how came to !-ippeii.' ■'And he paused, and looked wi^'■e, that the other might ad- ro bis gumption. At last, he said — .-.,-., l'' " M ooo THE OLD JUDGE; OR, hi I *' m I ' " 'Dis was do vay. I r(>fiisod to f^o : so I was do on1v on,. aaved out of dii-tccti bsoiils and bodies ! ' "Now, lake my advice, J^roadcloth, and follow old Tcllv-I. you's receipt. ' You'll never be drowned if you stay at IiImih' on dry laud.' It ain't every fool knows that trick, I can tt '1 you." '•'Come to Friidi,' jNTr Stephen," said the coinmissarv '"Here they are! I hear the bells. ]Make room for the vouii" ladies ! iS'ow for a dance ! " And he played a short llounsh on his violin, and said — '" Here, INIr Stephen, hold a candle while I help the youni; ladic^s out. Talk of young ladies were in great force. They wereoverjovcil to see their friends, the Misses Xeai. They remarked that it was an age since they liad met : and they ap})eared to have su much to say to each other, that there was no time given for in- troductions. AVhen they saw several strangers, however, in the room, they were quite sh(icked — so shocked, indeed, thattluy all talked at once, and all a|)ologized together. They didn't expect to see company, they said; they came for a sociable evenin;,'— they were (luite ashamed — they were nof dressed — thev \\vk sure they looked like frights; they couldn't think ofdancni^— they hadn't come prepared. They had nothing but walking- shoes on : for the snow was so deep they were afraid ot'takin,' cold. But they would try ; the}" dared to say the gentle meu would be kind enough to excuse them. Miss Lucinda Linn was wdiat Mr Stephen called a " screamer" — that is, a girl in full health and spirits ; tall, well- formed, and exceedingly handsome ; of an easy carriage, selt- possessed, and, as he graphically described her, "as supple us an eel, and as full of fun as a kitten."' Her sister was shorter. slender, delicate, and really graceful; but more shy, and lesi confident. '"^■. LIFE IN A COLONY. IS (Ic only oiii; >w old Ti'lly-I. I st:»v iit lioiiif ick, I ciiii i(,ll le coinmissarv. tor the vouii" I short th)urisli I .icandlc wlnii' id hoh^olihns! tuid he put his ?r to the d()(ir, rh (thoiii;li slif i-luimouri'd box 'd, good-i'ur-iK). ipsts and assist , but vehicles on 3 tloor, eovei'tMl Ml by vol 111 '4 Mr ic otlierhy -M;b- Mit drive on tiic 'utos the spirits, "were overjoy III niarlii;' ago. Her mouth was e.\(iuisite, and you could not uith- liniw your eyes from it, for her utterance Avas so rapiil tliat it waMiecessary to watch its motions to uiHk'rstand her. 'I'here MS soniethino^ ine.\j)ressibly droll in the manner in which iier wui'ds were blended, or rather fused, togi'ther. Miss liUey !,ikl me she was a little atl'eeted, but s1h> was evidentlv mistaki'ii -for her conversation came so naturally from lier lips, nobody luukl suj)pose tor a minute Art had anything to do with it ; ami besides, lier liair was dressed Avith an easy negligence of appearance that showed she did not think she recpiired any ;:ii\i'iititious aid to set off her apjiearanee to advantage. On iifclieek and shoulder long ringlets foil in rich i)rofiision, on the iiiurlhe hair was dressed j)lain ; a gi'avo festoon coviM'ed the ;,p[H'r part of the cheek, and the returned end was simply fast- tni'il with a comb. ]ler sister Jane was as light as a fairy, and as easy in all !:er motions. She was a dark beauty — a dee|) brunctle. She •ivore a most provoking short frock and pettieoat — imh'ed. she iilil not help it, the snow was so deej) — but it dis[)layed the svui'test little foot and ankle in the world. She was very iin- d'lrted, and prided herself on \\vv candour. She said what Mil' tliought, and sometimes gave people what she called a piece '!' her mind. There was nothing remarkable in the dress of these young ladies, unless in its similarity ; each having broad, i'!ark riband sandals to their shoes ; a little g^auzo half-handker- ':;ief ])inncd on the shoulders, and falling gracefully back from :':.e front ; skirts that hung wonderfully close to the figiir - — so ::.ueh so, indeed, as to create great admiration in ]\lr Stephen, "iio vowed they were as straight as bulrushes; and black li.itts on their hands, embroidered on the back iu gaudy o'loiirs. Miss Lucy's sisters having joined the party, the commissary risumed his violin, and ])ut us all in motion, and we were soon ;!i the mazes of a country-dance, our fair hostess and myselt '■■ading oil", and Mr Stephen keeping time t > the music with liisfoot, and occasionally making us all laug ^ with his original and eccentric" remarks. The ice was now broken, and we all lecanie as well acquainted as if we had known each other for years. QVa and cotfee were introduced, and the dancing re- ' "wed ; after which we had a supper, and a most substantial Lue it was. Iu addition to a tui-key, ducks, chickens, atid !Jt ^:i;i Jf ill* 22 i THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, tonijjiioa, was a Liru^o ham, the upper surface of wliich was ftarn. ishcd u ilh flovt's of ilillni'i'iit si/,iM inserted |)er[)eiuliculailv,aii I preseiitiiiL,' a strikiii!^ resemhlanee to a newly eleared field dot. ted with its black charred stumps of trees. Lar<;e tarts (or nics as they are universally calli'd in this country), baked in plates and composed of a[)pli>s, cranberry, j)umpkins, and wild f'oose^ berry, were distributed with a view rather to abundiuiec than order; and reflected f^reat credit on the skill of Miss Liicv. for their flavour and quality were really excellent. Honn'.inailo preserves, consistinj^ of the ordinary fruits and berrii's of th,; country, occupied and ornamented the centre of the table ; ainl cakes of every variety and form, anionic which tin; favourite and very palatable dou.s Lucinda. Come, beujin ! " " Ay, '■ come to Frink ! ' " said Stephen, and the order of tlic evening was again restored. As soon as the dance was concluded, IMr Stephen, who liad been extremely excited by the sight and sound of the forfeits, and the " distress" under which they were " levied," spruii;,' forward from his seat with great animation, and, taking up the tongs and shoy(d, placed them transversely on the floor. " I will show you m^w, my beauties," he said, " the prettiest and spryes^^ and diflicultest dance you -^ver see — ' the kitchoii- dance ! ' Kew men can go through that vvith the cross-hop aiul double back-shuHlo, quick as wink, without as much as touch- ing or brusliing with heel or toe; and women can't do it— no how they can't work it, on account of their frock-tails. It re- quires a quick eye, a clear head, and an active foot, I can tell 3'ou ; and with boots like mine I defy any one here or elsewhere to do it as supple as I can. General," he said, addressing Iiim- self to the young commissary, to the infinite amusement of everybody present, " can you plav " Zacky in the ineal- tub?'" Zacky in the meal-tub !' " replied the other, repeating his words in unfeigned astonishment ; " no : I never lieard of it before ! " "AVcll, ' Jinny Kitoory?'" "No, my good fellow," he said, laughing; "nor ' Jennv Ivitoory,' neither." Well, • High Betty Martin,' that will do. Can you play that, my young coals-aud-candles ? " LIFE IN A COLONY. 2'"' 7 '•- Xo." '• No ? AVliy, what the plague can you play, then ? Give us ' Possum up a gum tree,' or ' Oh, my Ivittt'U, my kitten I' " " How does the latter go ?" said tlie good-natured violinist. "Perhaps I may know it under another name." " Wiiy, this way, my sealed-tender man " replied Stephen, humming the air for him. " Ah, that's it ! " Jie eontinu'^d, exult- inu^lv, as the musieian reeognised the tun ^ ; ''tliat's it. General li:itions ! Xow, Miss Luey, see, this is the way ! " and ho exhibited feats of agility that, for ;. man of his age, were truly ^surprising. But the young ladies were slicked. They said the dance was low, noisy, and vulgar ; protested that they had never seen or heard it before, and never d'^sired to see it again ; and, moreover, wondered what sort of society Mr Stephen nuist have kept to have acquired such coarse manners and savage "abits. It might do for negroes, they said, but it certainly was not fit, and never was intended, to be exhibited before corn- pan v. If it failed, however, to secure tlic approbation of the ladies, it was duly appreciated by the yoinig men, who weni unconunouly delighted with it, and testified their gratification so loudly and so warmly that Stephen exclaimed, with evident pr'de — "That's nothing, my hearties, to what I oncest coul I do, and guess I can still do ; but these confounded boots are as thick and as hard in the sole as a ploughshare. AV'^ho can do this ?" and, taking up a tumbler fi.lled with water, he held his head erect, and, placing the glass on his crown, he put his arms a-kinibo, and commenced anew the difllcnlt evolutions of the " Tongs and shovel," or " Kitchen-dance." The miceasing clatter of his boots, the absurd and comical expression of his i'ace, and the singularly grotesque contortions of his body, convulsed the commissary with laughter, who, pla}'ing irregularly and with- out regard either to time or tune, so disturbed and enraged poor Stephen, that he lost his balance, and, entangling his feet between the legs of the tongs, ho was precipitated with his tumbler and its contents upon the iloor with a crash that ^licate, carvoHS, liysteriky cretturs, tliat arn't lit for nothiiiuj onder the jiu but drinldni^ tea, aud layimjf about on sofas, readini; novels, iikethe onderboned.hollow-clieeked, skinny,spindly breed, tiiat's i.',iin'4 in this countrynow; but a rael solid. corn-fed t^all,as plump ;,>a ]);irtrid2;e, as hard as a winter apple, and as full of. . . ." •' Pooh ! " said ]Miss Lucv, " what do vou know about vouni' "luiies ? Go on with your story, and then tell us of poor Luke Loon." *' Well, ho always attended Betsy to sinj;in !i the ship-tindKn* hauled out and left tliere for exportation, by ::x' wavside, up jNIoose-liiver ILill) ever so many times a-goini^ lip the ascent, because it was so steep, he said ; but it was only f.ran excuse to lengthen time out ; and would make eyes with L-r, and inveigle her to mak'o eyes with him, and leer like a rail" 'A' doves ; or he would drive her out in his fly, with his .ivat.big. smashing, trotting horse, ' liuckety-witch ; ' dance with iiioiie else but her at all the parties, and see her home arter- ■::A\\h. and then stand at her gate, he on one side of it, and she on the other side of it, whispering by +he hour, till their lips .vir half-budded on to each other's cheeks, like two colts in !i:niner, ])utting ueclvS together over a fence to rub olf Hies. Will, the young ladies grew jealous, and wondered what he rmld see in Betsy llisser to be so taken with her ; and then timed to pitying poor Haas for being so hooked in and fooled in" thu;; artful, knowing woman, old mother Kisser, aud her : rrard, inipedent darter ; but they supposed he was only a-going tHiiany her for her money. ■■ Well, when he'd get things to this pass, and show the ^""^.d he could have Betsy just for whistling for her, if he wanted her, he'd take up with Ann Potter, unci just go through tlie identical same manoeuvres with her ; and when thev'd drive ; '>t poor l^etsy llisser, Ann would look round so pleased, and [(■111 out, 'How do you do, Betsy, dear? How are all lO home to-iliv? ' and put on an air of sweet 'keenness, that cut:" into t'u' heart like a razor dipt in oil, and a sort of boasting, crowing jiiMid of look, as much as to say, ' I have got hun, and got yoip I'lace, too! and he'll not dip through my lingers, as he diJ itiiroufrh vours. Don't yo" wish you may get him again?' ilea the womenkiud would take to pitying poor Betsy (for no *i^ if'' l'|:| jlil I'lll"! ' «« 23G THE OLD JUDGE; OK, !'■' matches ever please mothers, if they ain't in tiieir own familv) and say how ill she Avas used, and what a scandalous slianu' it was for Ann to try to inveigle an engaged man ; and it ^vo^ll serve her right if Hans dropt her some day, just in the .;tpht'n. '" 1 know no part of the body, wliether it's the ])ust le, ijvoiieall it, or the ehi'st, or tlie hand, or tlie foot, ought to be it of proportion. To my notion, proportion is beauty in every y^'i under heaven. Your bustle, now ..." "Do for graeious sake go on with your story!" replied :t' young lady impatiently, " and finish it as quick as you can, hd then tell me of ])oor Luke ! " '•Oh! how old ]\Lirm ]Mader opened her eyes and stared hiieii she seed this crittur come homo for her to wait iij)()n, ;Mt couldn't spin, or knit, or hackle, or weave, or milk cows, rdiurn butter, or make cheese, or do any airthly single thing Inafarm. The poor, romantic, milliner's-doll sort of thing, -as j^o awful disappointed, so unused to country ways, and so |;?nily and wretched, she was to be pitied too. IShe act illy Lniost starved to death in the midst of plenty, for she couldn't bat any thing they had. She hated smoked herrings; the iivour of dry cod-Ilsh made her faint; pickled pork was too hat and rancid ; salt beef too hard and indigestible ; and broAvu sread only fit for the penitentiary, while fried ham and eggs lactilly poisoned her. '•Though the country looked so green and beautiful, sho Ijoiildu't get out, and Avas a prisoner to home. The grass was lalwaya wet, and she couldn't walk out without spoiling her dvthes or catching cold. The goat once gave her a bump so :.ard, nothing but the big pillow saved her life. To get out of liisway, she climbed over a great high wooden fence, and tore iiergown all to pieces; and, when she got into the field, there kas ail enormous nasty brute of a bull, with his tail curled up in the air, and his nose bent down to the ground, a-roaring, I and a-pawing dirt with his feet, as savage as possible, and ho nearly frightened her to death; and, to escape from him she jiiad to run to the next fence, and half clambered and half humbled head over heels over that. AVell, it was like going out of the frying-pan into the lire, for the clover there was \lm^ and tangled like a net, and tripped her up every step, and the thistles hurt her ancles, and the grasshoppers got up Kt legs, and the black Hies down her back, and the musquitoes nearly bunged up her eyes. '' When she got to the road she felt safe ; and there was a pond there, and an old wild goosy gander, with his beautiful, !oQg, Graceful, taper neck, and black riband-like stripe rouiul it, aud his small head, and bright eye, and his old white wife l;n ;«(' !:!-ir 238 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, of a tamo p^ooso, and tliclr nionii;ri>l c^nslingf*. Slic n.'vrr ?a\v| anythirif^ half 8o haiidsoiHo in all li(>i' life; and she stupi anil' wanted to pet the yoinii:^ ones, when old norwester mad,. ;ij grab at her waist, and held on like a fox-traj), and h(>at; lurj hips 80 with his winojs, she was blaek and bine, and hurt IutI arms so bad, they were all nnmbed (for they hit awful hard blows, I tell yon). Oh ! she ran and screamed, and suni; mit 2)en-and-ink like anything; bnt what is the use ot'runniii » ainl screaming in the country; there is no one there to hear vou op help you, if you do. There warn't a living thing near licr butj an old mare and her colt a-feeding by the wayside; and tlicv neighed, and scpiealed, and joined in the race too. At last iho i'rock-waist gave way, and down dro])t the goose and toddkd back to his family; and olf went the disconsolate bride to Irt i home too. " AV^ell, homo warn't free from vexations neither, for the old folks kept snch awful bad hours, it npsctall her habits, forthev went to bed so early she couldn't sleep till near mornin-^'; anil then the cocks crowed, as if they were raving distracted at thoip wives snoozing so hmg, and the cows called after their calve?', and the pigs after their food; and this (piiet. peaceable i'arni- honse appeared to her a sort of Tower of Jiabel. To get n litili) rest and b(^ alone by herself, she took a book and went to tho beantiful grove that stood on the point of laud that ran out in- to the magnificent basin, and opened snch splendid views, and went into the pretty little snnnner-house-looking building, there to sit down and enjoy herself, when, just as she opened the door, she was nearly knocked over and stilled by clonds of saw-dibt smoke, for it was a smoke-hut for curing herrings ; and the bcaili e'en-a'most poisoned her, it smelt so horrid where the fish wero cleaned. " She was in a peck of troubles, that's a fact. Still it didn't seem to take the nonsense out of her. "Whenever she went among the neighbours she made them stare, she talked so line and so foolish about balls at IMason's llall, pick-nics at M" XaVs Island, steam-trips up the basin, the parade and the military band, and the fashions, and so on. She took me in hand onoe?t, and ran on like a mill-stream, about a regatta and the tlictitiv, and how well Captain Drill of the 15th, and Major Halt of tlio 18th, and Colonel March of the 7th, performed ; and what ;i charming little afterpiece the force of Jlif/h Life hclow >Stairs was. " ' That's a farce,' says I, ' marm, we see played every day of C'Ur lives without going to a theatre for it. Hans has beeuatt- 1 ing a part in that for this while past ; and I am glad he has got I i i' LIFE IN A COLONY. 239 -woman of sense for liis wife now, tliat will not let Lim make lifool of liiiuHelf any Ioniser.' "'I don't nndei'stand you, air,' she Raid. " ' \W11, it ain't easy to see them thiuufs all at o!ieest, my var friend,' says I ; ' but y( yours. You don't know a plav lVi)ni a circus, for neither of vnu liud the broughtens up. JNow, when she wants to go to home, LIFE IN A COLONY. 211 take lier there, and stay with her awhile, and she'll lam. "When a woman's married, and returns to her lather's house, she don't find her own place again very easy ; and, if she does, it don't fit a? it used to did. And don't flare up at what I am going to say, for it's for your good. Your country ways and country talii will kind of mortify her, and she'll miss the notice she got from the men when she was single, and she'll want to get back again to Clements ; and here she'll he proud of you, for you're the likeliest looking fellow in these parts by a long chalk, and wo- men do like a fancy man, that's a fact. Critters tliat's bad broke like town galls, nuist be unbroke agin, and handled gently aud patiently, or they are ruined for ever. Be easy, therefore, with her, and she'll be all right arter awhile, for she ain't want- ing in the upper story.' Tliey are both cured." "Well, I'm glad you succeeded," said Miss Lucy, "but I can't say I take any interest in them. JN^ow, tell me Luke's story." " That little brother of yours," he continued, " that you are so severe with, is a beautiful boy ; I like him because he it was vorv fl ^'^^^^^ ^^ much like you, dear. Now, wiiat he did was nothing to what Hans' little boy did, for Hans has a family now." " Oh, the deuce take Hans' boy ! " said Miss Lucy, im- pritiently ; " I don't care a button about what Hans or his boy either did ; tell me about poor Luke." " Well, as I was a-telling of you," said the incorrigible talker, " they were cured, but Hans' wife ran to the opposite eitreme. It's oftentimes the case a'most with women that dress so fine for the streets, and so flash for ])arties, that they ain't ginirally tidy to home ; it's all show. Thej/ f/o out hutter- fiies and retwii griils. She is a slattern now, and looks like a bird that's hatching eggs. The plumage is all soiled, and the colours faded, and half the featliers gone, and them that's left look every way but smooth ; they hain't time to go to the pond, wash, and pass their bills through their wings and breasts. I thought I should have died a-laiigliing the other day. I went to Hans' house with Lawyer Jacksou, who was canvassing for election, and Hans called his wife in. Just afore she came down-stairs (for she ain't never fit to appear), 'Ann,' said she to the servant girl, 'does that hole in my stocking show ? will the lawyer see it, do you think ? ' " ' No,' sliys Ann, ' I guess not ; ' for she was too tariial lazy to go and get another pair. " Well, in she walks, and her little boy with her, tliat she's amazing proud of, he is so unconnnon handsome. AVell, the critter heard all the talk with the help, and he follows his 10 242 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, w I m mother all about the room wherever she went, a-looldncf down to her feet, and a-peeping first at one and then at the other of them ; at last, he said — " * INIother,' said he, * that hole in the heel of your stnoklufy don't show a hit ; nobody can see it ; you needn't mind it.' " Poor little fellow, she sarved him as you did that nioe little brother of yours, she just walked him out of the room. I am very fond of young people of that age, tliey are so inno- cent, and so fidl of natur and of truth." " AV^ell, I wish there was more truth in you, then," said Miss Lucy. " You promised to tell me the story of Luke, and now you won't, that's not fair." J3ut on he went as usual, without noticing her request. " They are so transparent, you can see what's opcriting in their minds, and what they are at w(n'k at, as plain as boeb in a glass hive. Now, there is my little boy Isaac — Ike, as we call him — ho made us all launch like anvthing the other dnv." " AVell, I dare say he did," replied the young lady ; "and! have no d(uibt he is as clever and as 'cute as his father; but what has that got to do with the fishing law ? ' " Let me tell you this story," said Stephen, " and I am done. Ike always had a wonderful curiosity to see his groat- grandfather, old Squire Sim AVeazel, of AVilmot, that he ot'ton heard the family talk of, but who hadn't been to our house for some years. One day, the old gentleman came to visit us, and we sent to the school-house to the master to give the boy a holiday, seeing that the old squire had arrived. AVell, Ike he f)ulled foot for home, you may depend, «as hard as ever he could ny leg to the ground, and, when he came into the room, the old gentleman got up and held out his hands to him. " ' Come here,' he said, ' my dear, and shake hands along with your i: 1 w'ii I will say, yoii have made a great run for it, at any rate the best I ever see any one make yet ! ' " ' "Who ?' said Sally. * Do you mean lum ?' and she sprnn" up as before, and, coming down the yame way on her feet, aiiri pointing at him with her fingers, jeering like, said, 'AVhor— - him — him ! why, the clumsy lumokin feller don't know hnw even to bepj'n to run. I ho » yor '> el letter, s'r ?' " * './ell, I do,' sai I Lukr, ' *-b.ws i. i.ict ; and I should like to run you agin, for I have an idea lu. :;,t time I could catch you in real airnest ! ' " ' You do, do you ? ' said she ; ' tlicu your ' like ' is all vou are * likely ' to get, for I never run any one twicet ! ' " "Oh, my!" said Miss Lucy, "what an artful, false girl! "Well, I never ! But is that all ? Is that what you call such a dismal story ? " " Oh, I wish it was ! " said Stephen. " The other is the end, but this is the beginning. I'll tell you the next to-morrow, it's getting late now. Don't press me, my little rose-bud, it's really tco sad." " Ah, now, you promised me," she replied, " and it's so different from anything I ever heard before. Ah, do, that's a good man ! " " It's too long a story, it will take all night !" " I don't care if it does take all night, I want to hear tlie end of it." " AVell, then, I am afraid I must trouble you again, miRs," handing her the empty decanter, "for I've drank it all beloie I've got to the part tliat touches the heart! " " Ah, Mr Stephen," she replied, " I'll get it for you, though I know you are making game of me all the time ; but if you are, I'll be upsides with you some of these days, see if I don't, "What aa awful man to drink you are ! " she said, as she return- ed with the li(pior. " Here it is— now go on.*' " AVell, arter the race, Luke felt a kind of affection for the young gail. and she for him. I guess they liked the flavour of them are kisses " " Ain't you ashamed to talk that way ? " asked Miss Lucy. " And he proposed to the old woman to marry her, but she wouldn't hear to it at no rate. AVomen don't much care to havt) a jilted man that v:ay for their darters ; cast-off thinj;.^ ain't like new, aiul second-hand articles ain't prised in a general way ; and besides, the old lady was kind of proud of her girl, and iMought she might make a better match than taking up with the likes of him. /it last, winter came, and things were ; to hear the LIFE IN A COLONY. 249 jrning on in tlii'f, issntisfaotory kind of was, when a tliouglit struck Luke. Sa'.i , ^Nas a'lnost a beautiful skater. 'Mie could j^o the outside edge cut circlet, one iuside the otlier, write her Diime, and the hg- "es oi' the year, and execute all sorts of things on the ije with ler skates; and Luke proposed to run her that Tar i'ur marriage, or twenty pounds forfeit if he didn't eateh !ier. It was a long time before the old woman would consent ; hit. at last, seeing that Sally had beat him so easy afoot, she Knowed, in course, she could outskate him on the ice like no- thing; and, therefore, she gave in, on coudition that Luke, if he was beat, should clear out and leave the Cove ; and, as ho cmldn't get no better terms, he agreed to it, and the day was :;xed, and arrangements made for the race, and the folks came from far and near to see it. vSome backed Sally and bet ou her, and some backed Luke and betted on him, but most people wished him to win ; and there never was, perhaps, a iiorse-race, or f ot-race, or boat-race, or anything excited and iuterested folks like this ' Kace for a AVife.' " Tiie Cove was all froze over with beautiful glassy ice, and the day was fine and the company assembled, and out came the two racers. Sally was dressed in long cloth pantalets, only lovered by her skirt as far as the knees, so as to admit of a free ii?e of her limbs, and a close-fitting body with narrow sleeves, and wore a black fur cap on her head. Luke had on a pair of ?\iman's trousers, belted tight round the waist, and a loose jti'iped Guernsey shirt, open at the neck, and a kr.owing little tt-al-skin cap, worn jauntingly a one side. It ain't often you see such a handsome couple, I can tell you. Eefore Sally left tlie house, her mother called her a one side, and said — " ' Sally, dear, do your best now, that's a good gall ; if you e-tbeat, people will say you let him do it a purpose, and that ain't womanly. If such a thing was to be that you had to marry him (and would be so mean as to take up with another woman's leavings), marry him conquering, and not beaten. It's a good thing to teach a man that the grey mare is the better i'iorse. Take the conceit out of him, dear ! ' "'!Xever fear, mother,' said she; 'I'll lead him a danco tbt goes so fast he Avon't know the tune he is keeping step to, I know.' "AWll, they walked hand in hand down to the Cove, and tlie folks cheered them acain and a^ain when they arrived on the ice. After fitting on their skates, they slowly skinnned about the Cove, showing oft', cutting all sorts of feats, of shines, evohitions, and didoes, and what not ; when they come together again, tightened their straps, shook hands, and took their '•■I' 250 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, i'i places, twenty yards apart, and, at tlie sound of a concli-slK]] off they started, like two streaks of lij^htning. Perhans it was the most splendid thiji^ ever seen in this country. 8allv iilavt'd him oir beautifully, and would let him all but catch her, tlica stop short, double on him, and leave him ever so far behind. Once she ran rif^ht round him, so near as to be able to lav lur little balance-stick across his shoulders, whack ! with all her mij^ht. Oh ! what a laugh it raised, and what shouts of an- ])lause every cutting off or heading of his received, or sadden pull \i\), shai'p turn, or knowing dodge of hern, was welcomed with ! ]t was great sport." " Sport, indeed ! " said Miss Lucy. " I never heard anytliin'r so degrading ; I couldn't have believed it ])ossible that a womaii would make a show of herself that way before men, and in such an ondecent dress, too! " " The Cove fairly rung with merriment. At last the hour for the race was drawing near its close (for it was agn^ed it should only last an hour), and she began to lead him oil' as fai* as possible, so as to double on him, and make a dash i'ur the shore, and was saving her breath and strength for the last rush, when, unfortunately, she got unawares into what they call blistered ice (that is, a kind of rough and oneven frocziiii; of the surface), tripjx'd, and fell at full length on her faee; and, as Luke was in full pursuit, he couldn't stop himself in time and fell also right over her. " ' She is mine ! ' said he ; * I have her ! Hurrah, I have won !' " " Oh, yes ! " said Lucy, " it's very easy to win when it's all arranged beforehand. Do you pretend to tell me, after the race in the field, that that wasn't done on purpose ? I don't think I ever heard tell of a more false, bold, artful woman ! " " Oh," continued Mr Stephen, " what a cheer of praise and triumph tliat caused! It rang over the ice, and was echoed back by the woods, and was so loud and clear you might have lieard it clean away out to sea, as far as the lighthoua' a'most!" " And this is your dismal story, is it ? " said the youn;,' hostess, with an air of disappointment. " Such a waving of hats and throwing up of fur caps was never seen ; and wlien people had done cheering, and got their lieads straight again, and looked for the racers, they was gone . . . ." " Gone ! '' said Lucy, " Where ? " " To Heaven, I hope ! " said Stephen. *' Why, you don't mean to say they were lost, do you : " LIFE IN A COLONY. 251 lald the young «Tos, I do!" "Drowned?" "Yes, drowned." MVluit! both oflhemr" "Yes, both of them." "AVliat, did they go throu*.di the ice?" "Yes, through the ice. It ^va3 an air-hole where they IfeU!" " Oil, my, how awful ! " "1 told you so, miss," said Stephen, "but you wouldu't Relieve me. It was awful, that's a fact ! " "Dear me ! " ejaculated Lucy. " Only thiid< of poor Lulce ; ':e was a inisfortuuate man, sartaiuly ! Were they ever iund?" "Y"es, when the ice broke up the next eastwardly gvle, they I: att'd ashore, tightly clasped in each other's arms, and were :uried in one grave and in one coihn. It was the largest funeral lever seen in them parts; all the tishermen from far and near stti'iulcd with their wives and darters, marching two and two ; •.he men all dressed in their bhie trousers and check shirts, and ;'ae women in tlieir grey homespun and white aprons. There ws hardly a dry eye among the whole of them. It was a most I idectiug scene. •' AVhen the service was over, the people subscribed a hand- home sum on the spot, and had a monument put up there. It itaiuls on the right hand of the gate as you go into the church- yard at Snug Harbour. Tiie schoolmaster cut tlieir names and Kes on the stone, and also this beautiful inscription, or epigraph, ur whatever it is called : — * T/iis lovinj^ pair went out to skate, Broke tlirough the ice and met their fate. And now lie buried near tliis fjjate ; Year, eighteen hundred and twenty-eight.' " "Dear me, how very awful!" said Miss Lucy. "I don't tliink I shall sleep to-night for thinking of them ; and, if I do, I know I shall dream of them. Still, it's a pretty story, after all. It's out of the common way, like. AVhat a strange history Luke's is ! Pirst, losing his wife by the fishery-law, then the race ou foot for the tea or a forfeit, and at last skating for a wedding or a grave! It's quite a romance in real life, isn't 'tr But, dear me, it's one o'clock in the morning, as I'm alive ! Mr Barclay, if you will see to the fire, please, before you go to bed, that it's all made safe (for we are great cowards about fire here), I believe I will bid you all good night." 252 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, "Tt ain't quito finished yet," said Stephen. "There was! another yoinijjj ladv . . . ." "Who?" said'Miss Lucy. " A far liandsonier and far more sensible p;all tlian Sallv one of tlie best broun;liten up in the whoh; country, and onej that would be a fortin to any man that was lucky enoui^h to llent, and comfortable, and happy home she made it too. It's a pity Hans' wife hadn't seen her, to take pattern hv her." by "Luke's you mean," added Lucy, "if she's sucdi a non- such." " Yes, and Luke's, too ; thou2;h Luke's wife warn't fit toj hold a candle to her. They hadn't oui^ht to be nuMitioned ia the same day. Xobody that ever see her that didn't love her — old or young, gentle or simple, married or single." " She was no great shakes, then," said the young hostess. " She must have been a great flirt, if that was the case." "Well, slie warn't then; she was as modest, and honest, and well-conducted a gall as you ever laid your eyes on. l| only wish my son, wdio is to man's estate now, had her, for I should be proud of her as a darter-in-Law ; and would give them; a farm, and stock it with a complete fit-out of everything." "If he's like his father," said Lucy, "maybe 1 3'd be a hardj bargain for all that. Who is your sampler that's set otf wit!i ' such colours, and wants the word ' Richardson ' worked on j it?" "But then she has one fault," continued Stephen. "What's that? Perhaps she's ill-tempered; for many beauties are so ? " " No, as sweet-tempered a gall as ever you see. Gness agni. " Won't take your son, maybe ? " " No ; she never siced him, I don't think ; for, if she did, it's my notion her heart would beat like a town-clock ; so loud, you could hear it ever so far. Guess agin." " Oh ! I can't guess if I was to try till to-morrow, for I never was a jjood hand at finding: out riddles. AVhat is it?" " She is a leetle, jist a leetle, too consaited, and is as niquisi- five as old INfarm Eve herself She says she has rules that can't never be bended nor broken, on no account ; but yet her curiosity is so great, she will break the best regulation she hi% 3's such a non- LIFE IN A COLONY. 253 imdtlmt IS, not to open the bar arter twelve o'clock at night, laore than once the aanu; evening to hear a good story." "All, now, INIr Stephen," said the young lady, "that's a Ifreat shame! Only to think I should be such a goose as to be ;„ok in so, and to stand here and listen to all that nonsense! hnJ then being made such a goose of to my face, is all the ;!ianks I get for my pains of trying to please the like of you ! IVi'll, I never! I'll bo even with you yet for that, see if I Icou't! Good night." " One word more, please, miss. Keep to your rules, they sro all capital ones, and I was only joking; but I must add ;liis little short one to them : Circumstances alters cases. Good Isiillit, dear," and he got up and opened the door for her, and whispered in her ear, " I am in earnest about my son : I am, kpon my soul! I'll send him to see you. Don't be scorny, jiow, that's a darling ! " " Do get away," she replied, " and don't tease me ! Gentle- lneii, I wish you all good night ! '* ii . ! I'W I! m] "■ 1 ;he case. CHAPTER XYI. A PIPPIN; OE, SHEEPSKINS AND GAETEES. )u see. Guess The next morning, Mr Stephen Eichardson, having left his torse at Mount Hope, and borrowed a pair of snow-shoes from Neal, set out on foot for Halifax. At parting, he shook me fordially by the hand, and invited "le to visit him, either dur- ing the following month of INIarch, i,r in the autumn, or, what le considered preferable, at both periods; for then, he said, he could instruct me how to hunt moose on the snow like a man, or to stand as still as a stump, call them, and shoot them like a I toy. " I should like," he said, " to have you a few nights in camp with me, to show you what wood-life is. Hunting is done now in these parts ; there is only a few of us old-fashioned fellows tluit know anything about it. Folks are so 'tarnel lazy, they won't go anywhere without a horse to carry 'em ; and so deli- cate and tender, they can't sleep anywhere but in a feather- ted. \V"e do know how to raise calves, that's a fact ; but, as for raising men, we've lost the knack. It's a melancholy thing tj think of. The Irish do all our spade work ; machinery all ti m 'tl 254 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, m our thrashing, sowing, and husking; and gigs and wnij'^ons all our leg-work. The women are no good neither. They arc alll as soft as dough. There ain't a rael, hard, solid, eorii-rcd other is rael, generous sport. And then at niLjht I'llj S|)in von \arns that will make vom* sides ache with lauL,dit' r. I .1 • . • . , .....-/ , . . . .. k low. (jlood-bye, my Iriend ! You r(>( 'O lIcH-t my name tl lev I'll 1 me Steve Jiiidiardson, when I am at home ; and my home is to CleuKiit-, and Clements is in Aiuia[)olis eounty, and Amiapulijj county is on the south-west side of the l^ay of Tundy." And awav he strode over the untrodden snow a^ lightlv:is:f| it were inerusted \vith iee. " That is a vtM'y evtrao/dinary fcdlow, " said Barclay aslo led me otf to the t-tables to look at his horses. " ^^otwi' ' -■ an !• ini: all thenonseuise he talks, he is amost industrious,t;n'i!"tvni:in, an ;l his fn-in is in excellent order, and wcdl. though n(U It'll- tilically, worked. AVe nuist visit him in the i itumn. It wouldl be madness to hunt n\ ith him in winter ; no man could keep paiel with him, or run all day as he does without halting; and Avv\)-\ ing on the snow, when heated by a long, hard chase, is attoiul* ed with great daiiger to the health. You will enjoy it better in his description, thau in undergoing the fatigue and exposurjl LIFE IN A COLONY. vonrsplf. He has aomo capit:il stories, too, tliat are worth going i) CltMuents to lioar. " On our return from tlio stables, we entered tlie har-rooiu, \^ ;isc'e"tain from tho teamsters when they inten(U'(l to re- jime their journey, atid to eonsult ihem upon the state of tho pads. It was a long, narrow apartment, simihir in si/.o and viieral appeaianee to tho kiH'ping-room, hut contained no fur- niture whatever, except a table and a few IxMiches. Across one ,ml of it was a counter, having tumblers and wine-glasses upon r, behind which ^ve^o easks and jars holding various kinds of liquors. The walls wore covered with printed notices of auct ions, jlvertiscMnents of (piack medicines, and hand-bills calling public r./ftings for the [)roinoting of t(Mn|)eraiice or the oi'gini/ation of nijitical parties ; while the ni'ver-lailing wooden clock notilied trnvcllcrs of the lapse of time, or of the arrival of that hour (d* mid-tlay that is always welcomed with a libation of rum and rattT. The room was nearly full of people. Some Avere smoliing, others drinkin:j:, and a few were putting on their outer cnats, a'ul j)i"cparing to lca\e the house. As we appi'oached the (U)or, wo heard a person saying, in a very loud \oice, ami with very npid utteranc(\ — "I tell you he- did — he did-— he did! Yes, he can ti'ot a iiile ill two miinites and thirty seconds ; two thirty is his exact i\\\^^\ sir." This declaration a])peared to be eoutradictinl, f)r it v.as rc- p.^scrted as before^, with the attestation of several extraonliuary ilanij; oaths. *• I tell you lie can — ho can — ho can ! AYhat will you bet? Go an\ thing you (lar% now! What will you lay on it ? Say ; a long hunting-uhi[), witli the t'l'tiii; doubled in his haml, and shaking it at the [)i'rson with ^vhom he was arguing. He was dressed in a blanket-coat th.iu r%-!ieil to his kn(>es, cut in the Indian fashi(tn * iMmmed with red • 'itli. and bound round the waist by a belt of the saim; colour. A huge loose j)air of gi'ey woollen stockings covei'cd his boots and trousers. On his head was a low-crowned fur cap, mado of otter-skin, from the b.ick of which wan suspended a bh'ck tail, four or five iuchca iu 1 rngth. Ilia ucck was euvcloped "PJTO ilR i li i ijiii; li 2^0 Tin: OLD Jl'IKJK; OK, m \\\\\\ sov»M';»l foldn oI'm vnrn coiuforliM', Himilar in rol •>'ir !iii(l niu I i(':ir;ni('(' to l\is sMsh. A Ioiil:; iron s|)mi', hI rn|)|)(«(| tui liis left u'cl. coiuplflril l)is ('(inipincnl. His (•oiih1(Mi;im(M< (ut l(';is(.;ill that (•(Ml M I '(> S('(>M O f il. for 1 i(» wore ni) cnornioiiH |(iiii. ,,f inih'inunctl \\1usK(M"s. wliicli imiliMJ under liis cliJ!!, aiid pro. Iimh1(mI over his ni'cKrlnt h antl wrappings) (•xliihilcd a sin^nhip ini\1wr»< i»r linuncss. tpiifkncss oC IcmptM*, and ^ood uaiinc- A\hili» his hrii;hl, rcslh'ss (>\(', peculiar londicail, and t'.\|ii luou IIk ,1 (Minted lint h cMninnii: and 't'SSIVO hinnoiM' Ah." said Hai-chiy. as seon as he <;<)t Ji <;Iiiu|)se of 1) *' luM-e is AlastcM- /eh Hunt ! lie is what our iVicMid St uouhl i-all a ' Pii^pnu' or a regular ' har-rooiu hird.' || nil. eplicii <• is a tlro\(M' and hiM'se-joeKev, and h\es on tiu* road, and is the nest t>r»'\(M'\ taxern. and ihi' ttU'iiuMit ol'all Iravi'Hei's; lor he | HO liMid. he can lie heard all o\«m' the hou :ilKs se Let us -ro ill ; |„. is wort 11 seeni'^. .as a spc^MnuMi ol a class onei> \(M'v eoniiiuiii jn this eiMintrv. and still intM't> iiuuhm'ous llian is dt>sirahl(>." Mr lluni lil'ted his ea|) to Harelay as he entered the reoiii, n niOile ol" salutation not \»M'y eoinnion in Nova Scotia, a shert, free .and eas\ nod vd'the head heiiit: inllnilelv less IrtMihl esoiiio uul c»M-(Miionious. aiu I. 11 UM-etore, in more tKMUM'al use. M iMMuni;- to vtMi. S(pin\> I ' he san ioui ami imiliar manner I am il d. in I lad i lis ai'(Mistomc(l Inud o see \(>u. I 1 i;l\t' beiM; w.aitiiii; lor \ou !\m' stMue tiim\ \o look at si luM'se I h ivo ier(\ that will jus' suit mmi. Wo is y/vvc/, 1hal'« si lael ; a pcr- lect ('asi' 1 ;issun> \ o\i. II I' can (rot h lis mile in two iniiuili and thirty sci'onds. and no break, shullle-rsick, or |)a('e, hut ii liaiiilsome riMiml trot, with siilemlid knee siction: not nawiii)' Ml 10 the air like mak»' lu'Iii*\i\ ium' jioundini; the rosul lik(» hreaki 8lones. hut a sort ot' touch-nie-li<:lit-!ind-iro-esisv style, like ll In^at o\\\ i^alTs tinucM" on the ]>i;niny ; and so L!;iMitl(\a chiKl I'aii jnanai^c^ him. \V1um\ \o\\ want him to ^o. t!iki> np the I'lius and lie's o\\' like a t'ox ; wIumi yon wsmt him to stoj), throw tluiii down. ;nul he'll stand all dav. The way he makes the spokes ily nnmd in a wheel, st> that ytMi can only see the riin as it it ^\as a hoop, is ama/inu;. It frightened me at lirst, and I am t d I \ seared n. a liorst 11 e IS a .v//-ptMMor snnmsil, beyoMi ,1 all doubt. I iievtM' was suited bi't'ore in all my lite, and 1 doiit IxUinv as he ain't spoilt me. so 1 shall bi' suited ai^in. Soinetinu's I lliink 1 can't ]iart with him any how, Tor I can't neyov ^ot another like him ; and sometimes 1 tsike a nc^lion into luy koad 1 oni:!;ht to sell him, as it is too much money for a jnmr man^ like mo to hayo in a horse. You' ye liearn tell of llehci' ot AViiulsor. hayon't you ? Well, he's crazy after him ; and, if lie dou't kuow a ^ood one wheu he sees him, he does when ho tries 'olour iind np. m1 nil Ins Ift't, i» vM( lr:ist. nil ■mous |);iir (if liin. and piM. tcil a siiimiliip };o()(l uaiiiiv ; u\il rxiinssivo iMi|)S(> of liiiii, VilMul Slt'|il|(Ml ird.' Ilt> is ;i iml is jlic |ii'M < ; lor lie (aik-i I lis (fo in ; lie ■sirahU'. crcd tht' iMiiiii, Scol ia. a shiM'i, ss 1 roulilcsiMin' 1 »1S(>. I'nistolUlMl liMiil .) von. 1 lia\i' a liorso I ha\i' I a lad ; a per- il two luinuii s or n ; no t \y.\ win |l like brcakii ^Ivlo, liko tl Kl llo.a rhi r ^M' ilu> r can mis >|>, Ihrow tlirm Iho s| Koa lie rnn as i )OlU'S fit lai lin. Soiuotini l-IFK IX A ('(H.ONY lir,7 ii 1 Imn, ntiil IIimI'm inon> llian hiohI nini do. IM lil.i' v<>ii j(, '\\',\\<* him. I'oi* N oil tire a jiidiM" n\' ',\ linrsi*, — |>irlia|iM llio licsl in llicso jKU't:-* (llioiiidi I've Hcni lli(> leak piil inio \iim loo jilon' now). Vdii will la'kT ^ood caiT ofiiini, and I u:\cU or loins. in I lie or IMM'K. )!' eliesi and haslioiis; and, as for lionfs, I liev ae| illy seem M^il'lliev was made a |i(irpos(> for a I roller. In |;mI, \()II may IV lie's llie i^realesl pK'ce ofsliiirever wrapped iij) m a Iioiv-o- M'v eoimuiiii in m \{\[\c. Come and look al liim, and jiid'.;e [\>v \oiir-i'ir. My \v price IS Iwo tiil\ ; onl il \(tn lil\e lum. sav Hie wdrd, ami l.e is Muirs al Iwo liiimlred do||,irs, Tor I'd like yoii I citiisail' lie'll siiil von lo a noleli. and do me rredil o lia \ e liiiii. I ( a\<'in il airl II ! iiiii'l lie I lie lio\' to slip l>\ I lie oHiccim' t amiems elnh Mai I lax. oKe winlv, and \ on a sil I in;; al \ our ea: (', iirotciidin M hold him in, Miid passim^' ol' I hem, iioildiie^' and lau'diiii'^ iiiKJ-nal nrcil like, as miicli as t o sa\' )oii I, yon wish y I / u otilid ke;'p the r(»ad lio.v _vd villain ? Vou measure other folk's corn with your m't uevor ;jot ■ own bushel, and judii^e vour nei^dihoiirff 1)y yoursdl' — ahoiit as uto my ho:iil ■ l,;i,l a staiulard IS yon II lind anywhere, ^(pllr(■, lie coiilimn S( lor a ]HH)r nuui ■ turninir away with aj)parent. contempt: from the man who had |l of Hcbcr otg tnubuvd him, " if l! if he leiv is anv one thinLir V .iride in\sell' upon un ; and, 11 1>« ■ ui (he world, it is on Ixmiili; candid. 1 am slraiufht iiji and dou ben be tries ■ \vij,^|_ j ^ mean, uud what I mean I'll bland lo. i tuku ad 17 M 25S THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, maiilxlnrl to be rofrnes^ mnro or less, and, Avlmt's mnro, caiitlnn- hypocrilical roj^ucs, too; i'or tliey j)ivten(l tiiy are lioncst, all the time tlicy arc clu'a'ing the Avorhl and tlie devil, ^Ow, [ am strai<;litronvard, op. mi, and above-hoard. I j)retend to no. tliin_t(. 1 won't say I'll not <;et the advanta^^e if 1 can in a liorse trade, or any other trade. 1 don't deny it. 1 a\{»\\ it oj)en. AVhat sort of a deal wctuld it be, were 1 to nri't the djs- a(lvanta<^'(» always ? Why, in six months, 1 shouldn't have ;\ horse to trade with ; for, what is trade, if you eome to thai, Imt gand)lin<; with the ehanees in your favour? I ;im not bound to tell my horses' faults. ] don't like to dwell on the faults of mv friends; I praise their virtues. I'cople don't cry stiidh in a nriniral wav, in anv market T was ev(>r in vet, Ix'causc filks have noses, and can suu^ll for tluMuselves, ] don't talk of sprains, curbs, and riiiLij-bones ; people ha\e eyes, and can see fur tlicii!- selves; an.d, if they are too plai^ny careless to look, whose fault is that? No, sir, I scorn a dirty thini]^. I conceal notliin^^. [ say. pid)licly. I cxptM-t the advanta;L,'e in a bargain ; and, if I can't i!:et it, I doiTt trade. That's my rule, sir; and 1 don't care who knows it. I hate and despise pretence. The Avorld's full of it. b'very man, in a giniral way, has more cloaks to cuvtr his villaii}- than shirts to cover his back. "INIy eyes were tlrst opened to the baseness and falseliood of mankind in el(M-tions. 1 had no idea what rascals p(ditiiiaiis weri> — cantiiiD^ about patriotism, reform, public spii-it, educi- tion, timclioi'ating the condition of the people, and so on : and aM the time using these slang words as blinds to conceal olfn-c ami place-seeking, selfish ends, grasping ])nblic money, and what noL I tlrst started in life on the Tory ticket, for I am a loyal mail, and so was father afore me. lie was a refugee loyalist, and left the Stat(\s and all his property t'^ follow the ling of his king into this ccdd country, that's only tit for wolves ami bears, \VA\, we had a grc^at election to Digby, and we carried ill our Tory man, liawyer Clam (him that was raised on the mud Hats to ' e jeggin) ; and. when our side won the day, and I went to get my !i- n- o\' the ]dunder, he had the impudence t.i tidl me all the ui'iees tiiat could be s[)ared nnist be given to th" Kadicals, to I'onc'Mat') th(Mn. ' Conc'liate old Scratch !' says 1 : ' giving ' hem !■ jiows soj/S, it-; like gi ing bits of raw' meat to bull- dogs; it oi''v ,'i!d:es tliem hungrier, furiouser, and wicdiodcr.' Jiut so it \wr, i.)d so it always i' as been, \\ith that party, in AiiuM'ica ; they ut>n'' .:="!; k lu their friends, and I ginn them \\[' in ilisgiist, aiu! A ari/i d sides riijht a wav. " 1 am a caiKiiJ man. [ am willing to serve the country, but then 1 like reciprocation, and the country ought to serve LIFE IX A COLONY. 259 mo. Triondshlp can't stard on one log long, and, if it docs, it's plain it can't go ahead much at any rate. Well, hymeby, the Kads come in. * Now,' said I, ' remember Zeb Hunt ; he wants ail ofTice.' ]5ut, lo and behold ! the offices were all wanted lor the leat'ers, and there were none left for the followers but tlio olTice of drudges. Seenig they were both tarred with tlie same stick, one side of which had too much liberality, and the other too much selfishness, I thought my chance would be better to bv hold on both ends of the rope ; and T went on both sid(>s, one foot on one and one foot on t'other ; but they j)ul]ed so far apart, they straddled me so wide, they nearly split me up to the chin. Politics, S(|uire, are like pea-soup ; they are all very well and very good wlien kt^pt well stirred ; but, as soon as the siir is ever, the thin part iloats up by itself, and the rich and thii'k settles down for them who are at the bot;om of things. Who ever heard of a fellow like mc being clioked by a I'jovcrn- iiiont loaf, or his throat hurt by the bone of a fish that's too larL;(; to swallow? Now, I've taken uncle Tim's place; I am neuter. I avow it, for I'm a candid man ; and a fellovv' can't be honest if he don't speak up plain. I am neuter now, and courted by both sidc^s, and wliich(>ver conies nearest my mark will get me. IJut neuter is my ticket just now. " You know uncle Tim ; he was small, very small — not in stature, for he was a six-footer, hut small in mind and small in lu'ai't : his soul was no bigger than a Ilea's. • Zeb, my boy,' savs he to me one dav, ' alwavs be neutiM* in elections. You can't £;et nothing by them but ill-will. J)car, dear I I wish I had never voted. I never did but oncest, and, dear, dear I 1 wish I had let that alone. There was an army doctor oncest, Zeb, lived right opposite to me to Digby : dear, dear ! he was a good friend to me. lie was very fond of wetlu^r mutton ; and, when ho killed a sheep, he used to say to me, ' FritMul Tun, I will give voii the skin if voti will accc^nt it. ' Dear, dear! what a lot of them he gave me, lirst and last ! Well, ont*est tiu> doctor''* son, Lawyer Williams, offered for the town, and so did my brother- in-law, Phin Tucker; and, dear, dear! I was in a proper fix. ^Wll the doctor axed me to vote for his son, and I just up and told him I would, only my relation was candidating als(> ; but giiiu him my hand and ])romise I would be ncuttM'. Well, I told brother-in-law the same, that IM vote for him with plea- sure, only my old friend, the doctor's son, was offering too ; find, therefore, gave him my word also I'd be neuter. And, oh, doar, (hvir ! neuter I would have remained too, if it hadn't a-been tor them two electioneering generals — devils, I miglit sa}^ — Lory JScott and Terry Todd. i)car, dear 1 some how or 'uotlier, .1 |i' '( f! 2C0 THE OLD JCDGE; OR, tifii' ■ thoy got liolJ of the story of the sliccpskins, and tliey gave mo no peace day or ni<;lit. ' What,' says they, 'are you goin^' to sell your country fur a shee})skin ?' The day of the eli'i-tioii tliey seized on nie, one by one arm, and the otlier by the othir and lugged me oil' to the poll, whether I would or no. " ' Who do you vote for ?' said the sheriif. " ' Would you sell your country for a sheepskin ?' shouted Terry, in one ear. " ' Would you sell your country for a shcepslvin :' belluwed Lory, in the other ear. " 1 was so frightened X hardly knew what I did ; but thcv tell me I voted for brother Phin ! Dear, d^ ar ! the doctor ncvcp gave mo a sheepskin while he lived after that. Dear, dear I — that was an ugly vote for me !' " UiK'le Tim is right, neuter ia the ticket ; friends to both sides, and enemies to none — that's a fact ! Political leach rs, S(piire, are an unprinci[)led crew of selfish rascals. 'i';ilk (,t' a horse-jockey, sir ! AVhat is he to a man-jockey? Think o[ a fellor with ])atriotism in his mouth, and oillce-seeking in liis heart, a talking of sarving the country while he issarving of the devil! Why, he is a villain, sir, whoevir he is! There is no- thing like candour ! !Xow, what I tell you of my lu)rse is true, sir; and 1 must have my j)rice. ]s there anything wrung in that? Wrong in a world where every class conceals motives? Look at lawyers now . . . . " A snule on Jiarclav's face reminded him that he was on di- licate y,round, and he extricated himself verv adroitlv. Look at lawyers, take them by and large, ])erhaps tluy are about as candid men as you will see anywhere ! " A geiieral laugh rewarded this skilful ruana'uvre; but Lo proceeded without noticing it. "ISlill some of them — 1 think you will admit thiit, ]\lr Har- clay — some of them, though they scorn to tell a lie tlieuiselves, tell oth(>r folks' lies to a jury; and tliee wind up by swearing thev believe Avhat they have said is all true." Leaving a topic into which he had so thoughtlessly blun- dered, he continued — " But, of all the scoundrels in the world, perhaps the doc- tors are the biggest by far, A candid doctor, like a sound horse, ain't to be' be found in every street of a city, I tell you. They are the boys for hiding ignorance and quack- ery under Latin words, or in red, blue, yaller, and pink lotions, and extortion in bread-pills by the cart-load. They tell you they visit the })oor gratis ! Perhaps that's the great- est lie ever told by man. They take credit for these acts of mm niYiv: but ho itlot^ylv bluu- LIFE IX A COLONY. 2G1 cb:ivlt:y wit\i tli^ public, ami debit tbo first ricb. patient •with the amount, in addition to bis own bill. No dnetor ever made a bad debt yet ; for, if one man ean't pay, anotluT can. It's only cbanging names, and it's all rigbt. According to tbeir creed, tbere is no barm in robbing Peter to pay Paul. " Pll tell you wbat — I knew myself oneest. Old I)r Green (you knt)wed biin, in cour.'^e — (>verv body ' nowed bim) lived (•11 i)igby Xeciv. ]Ie was reckoned a skilful man, and "was known to be a regular rotated doctor; but be drank like a fish (and it's actilly astonishing liow many country doctors li.ive taken to drink), and, of course, be warn't always a very -afe man in cases where a cool head and a steady hand was needed ( though I'olk's did say he kiunved a plnguy sight more, even wht .1 he was drunk, than one-halt' of them do when they are sober). AVell, one day old Jim Eeid, who was a ])ot-com- panion of his, sent bim a note to come into town immediately, without the loss of one moment of time, and bring bis ampu- tating instruments witli him, for tbere was a most shocking accident had bappe!ied at his bouse. So in come tlu^ doctor as hard as he could drive, looking as sorry, all the time, as if he didn't live by misfortunes and accidents, the old hypocrite! " ' ]\ry dear fi-iend,' said he, solemnly to lieid, and a-taking of him by tlie hand, and giving it a doleful sliake — ']\iy dear friiMul, what is the matter? — who is hurt? And Avhat the devil is to pay now? How thankful ,ve all ought to be that the accident hasn't occurred to one uhom we all respect so imu'h as vou ! ' " And then be unpacked liis instruments, off with liis coat, and up Avith his sleev(^s ; and. with one hand, pulls a hair out cf his bead, and, with the other, takes his knife and cuts it in two, to prove the edge was all right. Then ho began to whistle while he examined bis saw, for ]iothingputs these chaps ill such good humour as cutting and slashing away at leiis and arms — operating, as they call it — and, when all was ready, savs he — " ' Eeid,' says be, a-tapping bim on the shoulder, ' where is the patient ? ' " AVell, Eeid opened the door of another room, and there ^vas a black boy a-holding of a duck on the table that had broke bis leL' ' v'k than that, unless it Avas nne that that leather-lip|)ed ^'cii- tleman ^^^ Gates (who took the liberty of jeering at me ami my horse jnst now), played oU' iu Aylesford, iu company wilh this lamb, ■Master J3en Dale." And he bestowed upon the pair sucli a look of malicluiis mischief, that it wa;-; evident he was about disclosing a trick of trade, or sul)st itutii.i: tliem for the real actors in tlie traiis- actiou,for tlu'ir astoiu, hmcut^ and fre(juentand earnest denials, evinced that they then heard it applied to themselves for the first time. ]\lr Benjamin Pal(\ the person to whom he ap])licd the peculiarly expressive phrase of the country — "A Landj I " was "a character" also, as well as himself, but a specinuMiof a dillcr- ent species of the same genus of drover and horse-jockey. Unlike ]\Ir Zeb ]iunt, he had but little to say forhimself or his horses. He made no pretensions to the rej)utatiou of beinif a candid man. He was careful, (piiet, and unobtrusive ; and relied more upon the agency of others, whom he (.'m[)l()yed, than upon making broad assertions and dangiu'ous representations hiiii>clt'. He managed matters so as to have purchasers sent to him, wliu had been ])reviously infornu'd of all the valuable (pialities of his horses, and did little more himself than exhibit them to the be^t advantage. lie was rather reserved in his communications; but made use of language which, though extremely guarded, im- plied nuich nu)re than it (Expressed. Though engaged in the same business with the '' ri[)|)In,'' and equally expert and unscruj)ulous in his way, he was as dill'erent a person as could well be imagined. lie was a tall, t !;V: TTV: siiwd m iio of malifiuiis iiij: ji trick of 11 tho trau.s- lU'st cU'iiials, jlvcs for tliL! LIFE IN A COLONY. 203 tliln man, Mhoin constant exposiin? to tho \v(>a11u'r liatl so hard- (iicd, tliat lio ai)iH'ared to ilisilain i\\v I'lrciniiiate \\ra|)i)InL;s mnt-'rally used in lliis country to guard a:j;uinst the iutcusi'i-old. He \vas j)oorly, and — everybody else but himself would have said — very inaufHeiently clad. lie wore a pair of elose-littin^ jiautaloons, made of coarse blue homespun, of open texture, over vhich \v«'re di'awn a j)air of ion<; bot»ts, the Mide and capacious tops of which appeared to be ilesigned to catch the rain that might fall from the skirts of a pea-jackct,«whieh served the dou- lijc jmrpose of coat and surtout. This latter garment, notwith- standing the severity of tlu' season, was worn open at the breast, \viii('h was only protected bv a calico shirt. J I is neck, which ^\as in proportion to his height and skeleton-like form, derived (Miine sup[)ort from a still" black stock, buckled so tight as to account for the remarkable distension of his eyes, while his head was held fast between two enornums stilf shirt-collars that reached nearly to his ears, llis face washai'd, hollow, bony, and thin ; ]>is mouth large, and aianed with teeth of great size and >lrcngth (those in the upper jaw ])i"otruding considerably) ; Wis eves were cold, tixed, and a])pareiitly vacant. liong, (oarse, black, Indian-like hair, fell straight on his neck and collar, and was occasionally removed from the fore-head by a shake of the head, not unlike the twirl of a mop. Such was the person whom rivalry or mischief [)i'omj)ted Mr Zebuluu to associate with (jatt's in the charge of lV:uid. "Gates, squire," said thePi])pin, "set ofi" last year on a tour through the mountains to buy cattle, I'll take my oath," rei)lied the other, '" I havi- not been on the mountains these three yi'ars." "You was — you was — you was!" said Hunt, who put his hands on his hips, autl, stoo[)iug forward until his face nearly touched that of his antagonist, uttered this singular reiteration, with wonderful rapidity, rather through his teeth than with his lips — "It's true — it's true — it's true ! " and then, resuming his r.atural ]iosition and numner, continued — to 1)1 Didn't I tell you, scpiire, that fellows that are bad (Miough play rogue, are fools enough to be ashamed of it ? AVell, sir, he took a list of the names of all the farmers that had cattle to w him along the road at a dis- tance of a mile or two, so as to be ready to ])lay into his hand when he wanted him. Well, the first man he came to, he hantercd for his cattle, oflered h.im a sum far below the market price, and estimated their weight at just one half what it was, 2G1 THE OLD JUDGE ; OH, ii and thon, wlicii lio'd 8(3e Dale ta-jor^jring along, hcM say, *"\V«!1 I'll abide by whatever the first person we lind says, for I'lu }ur the fair deal, and only want what's right. Ah, here is Mr Dale; lie is reckoned as eandid a man as wu have in these parts, luij u good judge ot'eattle, too.' " ' .Mr Dale, just halt a bit, if you please ! Thiy gentlcpian and nu; are about trading ibr this pair of eattle, but lie vahus liis oxen at twenty-iive pounds. I say the price should he seven- ti^en, for he is evidently luidcr a great nustake abuut ihtlr weight. AVhat do you say ? ' " Well, Dale, wlio had hadhis lesson all beforehand inlhe mat- ter, at first declini'd being umpire, lie said he v.as no judL^e ; li. W(Mddn't value other men's things ; it was a thankless oflice, ainl seldom satisfied either ])arty, and so on. I'ill, at last, both parlies bv'gged and pressed hiiu so hard, lie consented. AVell,he hjoked vei-y wise, and walked round and round the oxen, feeling tlu'iu, and kind of measuriu'C them with his eves, as if he was trviii'^ to be exact, anil do what's right and just. And, at la^t, he t^ay.s — " '1 think, ]Mr Gates,' says he, 'with all due subnussion to vour belter iudiinu'ut, they are worth more than vou sav bv t!)ree ])ouiuls. 1 value thi'm at twenty pounds, which is .ne right thing between man and man, iu my luuuble opi- nion " Well, the farmer v.as awful dIsa])pointed, but he coulihrr help himself, seeing he had chosen him as umpire; and Gales pretended to get very wrothy, but, being a man of his word, he would staiul to his aureeinent, thouirh he vowed he would never take another man's judgment agin in business, as long as he lived. So he just tricked him out of live pounds ; and the pretly pair went all through the mountains, and cheated all the settlers they dealt with the sanuMvay. " Doth of them denied the story in tofo. They affirmed tliat they luul not only never travelled in company, but had not been on the highlands for years. "You did — you did — you did! — you was — you was — veu was ! " he repeal ed, with the same volubility as before ; and then oI.)servcd more deliberately — '• Oh, yes, deny it, of course! It's the way of the wo;](]. Pretend to be honest, and run down |)oor Zeb. It's i o harm to call him a rogue I'll trouble you, ^Iv Gates, another time, to nundyour own business, and not to interfere with me. Thai's only one of your capers I have told. !So, if you don't want to \\(\\v more of them, take nuun for vour text and watchword iu future. "Vr. LIFE IN A COLONY. 2G5 J ^vtls I !• villi' " XoAV, sir," ho said, rosnniin2j hh ('oiivorsntlon wllli T5;u'('l:iy, ••just ]h) caiulid, and toll me, ain't tlu-n^ tricks in all trades, ,,!lici'S, and places, in tlu; luiivarsal world, as well as the liorso \n(\c ? Did you never liear of a Govei'innent wareliouse do- jtroyed by fire, beinLj a grand excuse for (>v(>ry nii^sin-^ thii\'^ i>i' vears arterwards ? or stores, eondemned as unlit for use, btini; returned to their j)lace to make up I'oi* ;^'oo 1 ones t ikei\ lUt'r or crowbars and j)ickaxes accounted for as desti'oyed by t'liL' rats ? or thing's received at one lueasiu'e and delivered at another, and the dill'erence pocketed? ])id vnu ever know a iiirpcnter sli'^ht his woi'k, or charjjjcM'xtra tor thini^s iu liis eou- tnu't ? or a ])lacksinith i^ive you bad iron ? or a niasoi\ till Ids wall with rubbish, so that it fell down almost as soon as it was built? or a i^roccr mix sloe-leaves with tea, or turn water into rum, or roasted Indian corn into <4round eotVee ? or j)ut j^'ypsuni into flour so as to make it wei<2;li heavv ': or a baker irive vou liLfht \vi'ii,dit ? or a leu^islator snuii^i^le ov vote money ii.to Ids own pocket ? or anv of them little ii-actical jokes to make folks la ,/h ! l)li. how innocent the world is, isn't it ? AVhv even voiu' cold, h\\\. dismal, eovenantii i; doacons can do a little bit of cheatery til their own hook sometimes on tlu' sly. Tv.o of them \\as eau'dit in the very aet no later than last wei k. Old Deacon Bruce of Avlesford, last ^Nlondav week, bouulit a slei^/h of his ftllow-deacon, 8(piire J3urns, for five jiounds. On In's way home with it, who should he meet but Zeelv Morsi> a-trudLMU'j; alonii: t!irou;j;h the snow a-foot. '•'Friend Zeek, ' says the old Christian, ' won't you t;et iu :.:id ride ? Here's room for you, and welcome.' " 'Don't eare if I do, ' said Zeek, ' seeiiiLj that sitting is as ■'v^np as walking, if you don't pay for it.' So he hops in, and iiway they go. " Well, Zeek was mightily taken with the shM'gli. " 'Deacon,' savs he, 'how shall vou and me trade for it? it's just the article I want, for 1 am a-going down to Bridge- town next week to bo married; and it will suit me to a notch 1 1 fetch ]Mr3 Morse, my wife, home in. AVhat will you take for :t?' U ( Nine pounds,' said old Conscience. * It cost me seven P'^imds ten shillings, to Deacon Burns, who built it ; and as it's the riMit season for nsing it and I can't ijet another made till v~ or? next winter, I must have nine pounds for it, and it ain't dear at hat price neither.' '■ ' Dono ! ' says Zeek — for he is an off-hand kind of chap, and never stands bantering and challering a long time, but s:.ys ^'t once what he means, as I do. ' Done ! ' savs he — ' 't is mine ! ' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I I ■■° 1^ 12.0 us >- ^ 18 1.25 U. 1.6 •• 6" ► V2 ^ /M /J. 071 Yi ^'/^^i Photographic Sciences Corporation 4^ ^ «^ •S^ \ \\ ^eak f()i' iiself jeered at by a loug-necked, long-backed, narrow- chested, narrow-souled, wall-eyed, ongainly crittur, like that fellow Gates in the corner there, ain't it? It's enough to tn the pntieuce of Job to hear a man pass au opinion that doii t |!« ay, and leaves I I hi oli" s purcliaso. | lie •rocs to i ^11 he ujjjj uud I ? 5 seven pounds | lere is no mis- ; r'ou true. ]h; vas nol)ody liv );ud for yet, lie old num now. any day Vdu lis verv words it ofT and sue ve pounds, the on, and gaiind , well-malclkii worth, m a stir rices, it SLcni>, clergymen arc ■ what ...."' lerally laiowii tanding on the retched •i\ri\)>> 11 oouit'orters, -" let the iiiiii- to-dav ; doii'l \\\ head aclu' ; ," replied tli.' son or a C'iv)\v, at it's enough •ast that can't U'ked, narrow- tur, liki' tluit iMU)ni;'h to try on that doul Lii-T IN A COLONY. 2G7 from opt that has h hiiow a norsG irom a cow, except that one lias liorns and the tihcr harn't. Howsoniever, let all that pass. Have you seen :iiv horse, Uncle Ph'h'p P because, if you haven't, it's worth your while just to come to the stables, ah)ni^ witli me and Stpiire ]];uvhiy, and take ti look at him. I ain't ashanu'd to sliow him, I do assure you. He'd tell you himself, if he could, what sort ,!'a beast he is; but, as it is, his make and parts must tell it for liiiii. Do you recollect the Slocum niare ? (I don't remember vlii'ther it was John or Cale Slocum raised her, but one of them (lid.) Poor Dick llincs (him tliat afterwards owned the Circus) :;ad her for a spell ; and then she went to AVindsor, and, 1 be- lieve, died on tlie Monkville farm at tlie forks of tlie river. A\ ell, ; >he was generally allowed by good judges to be the best of all \ the descendants of the Duke of Kent's Arabian. Sometimes my orse Tommy reminds me of her ; but. Lord bless you ! she was : a sort of a touch to him in make, shape, or gait, by no manner if means. He can't talk, as I said before, but he can do wluit's f;ir better in a servant ; he can onderstand all you say, and do ail you want. Now there was the Poliiemus horse, tiiat folks made such a touss about ; why he was no more to be compared to Tommy than . . . ." " A\^ell, well," said the old man," I'll go with you and look at iiim before 1 leave the inn ; but I am no judge of these nuitters: so let us change the conversation, if you please, till we go to tlie ^t:lbles. How is the old gentleman, your father ? I hope he tiijoys good health now." "As to father, he is reasonable well, I give you thanks," answered the Pippin, " as far as bodily liealth goes ; but he is weak here, very weak indeed, poor old man!" (patting his forehead with his fingers) — " quite gone in the upper story. If you recollect Uncle Philip, lie w as always a great hand for barks, and gums, and roots, and barbs, and simples of one kind or an- utlier, and did a great deal of good among his poor neighbours, suing them a power of money in doctors' bills. AVell, the old ;,'entleman of late years took a theory, as he called it — a kind of kiiik — into his head, that anything worn tight about the body brought on dropsy. AV'^henever he met a gall, he used to stop and shake hands along with her, and chat away for some time, and ask her how she was, and if she ever had this, or that, or t'other complaint; and tlien he'd press his foreiinger strong on the back of her iiaiid ; and, in course, if it was a plump haiul, it would make a kind of dent, and look a little white where he pressed it. '■ ' ISee, my dear,' he'd say, 'you have a tendency to dropsy ; li'N^ 2G8 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, l! I'. 41 .. w'y. I'll that white niurlc shows then^ is too much, water in Hie h'lnod. ^ ou liave sometliiiig or another on that's too tight, 1 hopevou don't lace yonr stays too liard ? ' " AVcll, they'd satisfy liini on that score; and then lic'd " ' I ]d tl.cin a- p>inL!^ into his ol]ic(>, I joined the jiarty to s(>e the sport. Well, I ])tM'haps there ain't in all Nova Scotia a man that's so taken ]i\- beauty as LawycM* Ileri'inL'f. The sioht of a handsome woiiiaii sets him oil' a-ra\ ins; and !u- Avas stru(dv u]) all of a heaj) in a miiude, she was so amazin;:; li:()0(1- lookiui:;. Her hair, instead of beini:^ doiu? up with conihs, or ]>laits. ov riuiilets, was one mass of nateral curKi, about tlinuMir four iiudies loui:^, the splendidest thiuij^ ever seen under ilic blessed lii;ht o\' heaven ; and when she spoke, and her (>ves lit ii]> and sj)arkled, and her ])outinL!; nu)uth showed her two rows f o\' ivory, she was somethin;^ to look at you don't see everv dav, f ^ npinio T tell you. As for lawyer, he didn't hear a word she spoke, ' neither did he know what he said himsidf, for lie was lot^t in r ama/.emeut like, and bei2;an thinking aloud. I '' ' (lood heavens ! ' he said. ' what a striking Avoman ! ' T!iit she vowed she was not; she declared by all the saints (and she ; bad a string of them as huig as a dead-lett(T list) she iiovoi* I stnudc a iierson in all her lift' before, and wouldn't have hit tlio ? u Padd and h as Ai' room, th;i* f rubv i ly 1 1 I'lu' ea awake tlial \> I (lr()i)s\ i I. i nuiiuK Fray ffl'll u "] usual ; of rlio Imviuii olti man if ho hadn't a-behaved so very ondecent to her. But be diiln't beed her answer. If it were possible, be said, to take ber and jtut her into a tub of warm water and soap. 8he said, she -wasn't hurt so bad, she didn't need it. Or take her out oi the sun and bleacli ber, and restore ber complexion. She said be was mistaken; sIr^ didn't complain of sucb serious injury, but only of the insult. Then be threw bis eyes up to the oeil- in2:, meditating like, as if be bad some sebeme of taking her to himself, halter-breaking her, and fetching of ber borne; but nil at once, walking up like, as if it was notbing but a dream, he saul, ' but then she sits cross-legged on the lloor, and eats clams out of an iron pot with ber tingers ! (( ( Sir,' said she, ' I don't understand what you mean 1 sun's 1 "I tliat k next s Dii^hy fitv tc little 1 saving at the all of she st( tubs, s under and sli as sni \\\A\, and w anchoi lioppe LIFE IN A COLONY. 271 lioir sins ninl \.' niul Miisi,'!-; ]»<''l :il)()iit llk,» (M-y bil, as hW '_ \vll()l(> i'Minily tt>r 1m-('ii.'Ji !S('«nI 11, (Mil a- 'sport. Well, :•'« so InldMi 1)\- (Isomo Wdina'ii 1 aloussaliout is \\\'o. AV(-I1, 111(1 IkmvciiI up vv down o|)])(). bovorlici'licnd iiiscs ; and In. .'iniaziiitj; i^ood- itli coiii1)s, (ir about \\u\T iir MMi under ilic 1(1 luM" (>y('s lit luM' two vows soo cwry dav, rd slio spoke, 10 was lost ill kvonian ! ' But lints (and she ist) slio uc\cv 't liavo hit the to luM". Ijllt said, to lalu> ap. She said, iko lior out oi on. She said (orioiis injun. lip to the cc\\- takinsr her t^i home ; but ;ill it a divain. lio and cats elaiiis u mean ! ' « < a ( Paddy Ho on, my d(\ar,' said Ik^ ; and slio HnlslKMl bor story. IMioo, j)b(>o ! ' said the lawyer, ' iiovcr mind; it's only old Hunt s ^VMV lo s eniU lisl 1 now, no bod y mni( Is h nn and lio pbooli-pboobcMl tbo ^yllolo raniily out of bis olllciv .Inst as ;\ni;(di(pio, who was Ibo last that (lepart(Ml, Avas loayitii^ llio riKiin, iio called Iut back. ' ;\nLi;(di(pic,' says bo, 'I lost the pin tli;)+^^ fastened your bandlxcivdiief,' and takini; a ^ard a sbiif- fliriL:; of feet Ixdiind th(> door, like p(>o|)lc wall /.inij;, and prescnt- Iv 1 lu^ird sonu^lbing thai sounded amazini; like a sound box on the car; ;'nd out came AnL!;(di(]nc, lauL,diinij; and looking as widf^ f< awake and as ])leas(>(l as I'lin. \V(dl, that all'air cured faflier of that whim of cdiasinir <'alls for rs to sayi^ them from the * dropsy Now b(^ lias another crohdiet in bis hv;\d. I didn't ask you," said Ihe old man, with some asperity of ninniKT, "about your father's occu[)ations, but bo\y \\v was. I'rav how is my old friend, your mother? slu^ must now bo well up in years. 1 bojie she enjoys ^ood health ? " "j'retty well," replied Master 'Ach ; " jiretty much as usual ; she is about and slirrin<2^, thonj^b she (;()m])hiiiis a litth; of rheumatism lat(dy, which father swears is all owinij^to her liaviiiii; worn her <;arters too tii^ht wIkmi shi» was a *^all ; but my opinion is, it was ' Clii(dv, ebiidv, cbiidi ! ' that caused it." " Clii(d\, chick, chicdv ! " said tlu^ otluT; "what under the sun's that ? I neyiM* lu>ard of sncb a complaint ! " " Lord Idess you! " said /(d). "1 tboii<;ht that everybody that know'd mother, know'd that story. l''iv(^ years ai^o, come next summer, the old lady made a trip to Halifax, in oiu^ of our Digby coasters, to see sister Susannah, that is married in that city to Ted I'owler, the iijiludsterer, and took a wholt^ lot of little notions witb her to market to bear (>xj)ens(>s; for she is a siivinGf kind of body, is mother, and likes to make two ends meet at the close of the year. iXmoiiij; the rest, was the world and all of cgi^s, for she was a grand band in a poultry-yard. Some she stowed away in boxes, and some in baskets, and some in tubs, so that no one accident could los(^ tluMii all for her. AV^dl, nil aiK der the berths in the cabin were larf:^e drawers for bedding ; il she routated that out, and packed them full of eggs in wool, as snug as you pb^ise, and ott' they started on their voyage, W{dl,they bad nothing but calms, and light airs, or bead winds, and were ever so long in getting to town ; and, when tluy aiudiorcd, she got her duds together, and began to collect her I'jlgs all ready for landing. The first drawer she opened, out liopped ever so many cliickens on tbe cabin floor, skipping and Hi ""•> nil' (M n n iM.r . nu; nl. :ii ;)|| ' ' ,;n.l m.-lli,i. mi,! ,|,,. |,„,| i .' .>|>.'n.-.l ;) 'i,'r.>n.l. ini.l .Mil . imn ;i 'H't ..ii.l |I,., | ' "" in.M(> i ' Ml; I III' \^ ll '''».« .>'. U . . hwU ;n\,i ni.'l li. i ini.l :n)..| ifi. I ll II' IMll J'l«'"> ••<11 ,MH ri\r .•iiImu ll,>..i \\;l . , ll... I, lull ..| ll,, Ml . I :in llil.l hnlrluMl ill! ilin ,•.•;• . ||i:,| )><'.n .lu.i . .^u!in.-.l I Ml.' \\\ \ ll.' . i,'s,> .nui li.'t ill n\ (M * V\. I 111' I .ipi nn. :ni.l M- llm \y . ill \XUl\ l.Hl.v,lu,M'' M.mI NO ;ni>M'\ :)■< ;h', i.uni ; 1 !i,,i .-l | |Mi')cn.MM- I, MH.I n:nl.'r 1. I Ii <'\ I. "Ill \( <.'! w I i :i\\ liil 1111,1 I It I .Ml ;l .M' 11. 'I InUr I M:l . I I I illi\ ('( n.', ;nn ls',l\ li;hl hccw l,> Mnni.' ImiI I>. r ^.ll MM' Hill v\ :l' W .Mll.lll I I '''\ ll:l\(' « :Ulv;lU U . < h;)1 • m11 ' \< h\\\ M' s,',> :i w ,M .•»■< \ luM'.' W .W \\'\ , ( 1\, 1 I MM «" \\ :\i ii.Mlnii" li'K ImiI I " > i\ . nil. w .' .ll«M \ \ ;ll\ t'l. I l);|| h:l\t' :i;i\ <'M IU:|li\ W.MJ. tllO 1. M \\;i:; n.i .MV:ii. (Ii.^in;!) i-lin liK,<(i In | nn- I ;ir,i «>. ,;.M- v.'pj'.Ts, !.'.> . U \\:r. lli,M,'v;il ,M( lll.ll \\ nni,-, |||,m' llu' W.MM w.is i,N , ,. (I, -111 I' i'.'\ » O.'^livNl .M it :\\\cv I M\ . ;in.l. w linr.-vnr slin wcnl. j| U'\ h ;il! ;^.i.^v^'n vM' ili UT. ' ( In 1 . I*. » !ii. !x, ('In. k I mKiMIICiI ;iI>,>||| . . iv' uni':; nl nn.. In. '!• i( , ImiI ll lU;ui«Mn wors,' . t^r\ jn.i in p.M-,li.-:i. :nul l>.'lnn.l ,| i'iil\ .•iVni r,;l{<^s. nui ) IriU rs. ,•!•>! s.'.'n ;ls 1 lh'\ .1 I ^-ll\\\ (Mil. ' riih In. »'ln \u. » liuU nn. I ii(\'nl\ hnlJuMiNl :\\U. S, li.-r M ■^ s w 1, i\»' .'V>^'.n^'/•.n^.^n. li.M- rlu".iin;\t isin is ii.illnii;' Imii t u' (Mil'. 1 vV, w.iu; v'l IS.'. ;r,ul ;ilK\>uu>s iV.Mulli.'il fursntl * I'luck. ( In oa-.TK W \\ c]]. s ^.Tui tll(' ol.l ui;in. \ nu >c,, >;ii a :\ j>il'|Mn. riM-|;iii',;\, i^isrosjw lliil slv>n('s ;\s thcsn ol' \ our j>Mron1s ' ( ir\ r^'S'^iMs to tl\",M. \\ !uMi v.MinMuinl li.vr..^ — lomo- t h;il is. ll c\cv ii\(' \ .".1 \\\d \c\\ tho-.n. that \oii :\vo a oroi lit I .^ \.Mir m .\c\\> v. 1 h.-it Ov'>}v>\i r.u;uUn snx in.;, if o\or 1 rolurn 1 (\ui l!v,s. Nounj;- in;in. Tho ro;ul v^ui iwc 1r;i\ '1 v^r.O ; 1> lonir ; oIllIlLl IS 1. . . ^il^M 1 ;is It IS. ll \\:\\i \\\o turns in il one 1 .^ iho IV^r'tontmrx. .T.'.a tho otlior to tho unllows! Tlio t C'lilS i-uU in'in, li^.cn Ivth bonr nro 'pippins.' liko Non!'" :nul hi> U I'l tho i " ^^ «^jl. " ii'-'^ui Zobulnn. "th.-.t"s what 1 t-nll i;oo(l. ii.n\ :un^ nin't n man travols tltij^ road t'vMidor of a ixood storv i lypv^orilo will roctilKn't tn I no;o Pirl'ip. Yhc old oantine' 1 svliaMo 1 haxo said, and will ivpoal it all over, word lor u^r. ir.a Il'l 'It.' ImmI ,| ii' II n.i iM.'ii*' 'Ml I'l nil. 1. n|; 'M.l II,., K w |||\ hi! lu' |Mlll,,l I !>' m , I,,,' ll,,, 7:,''.' Ili:il \\( lo 1. i Ih\ I ,.'\1( (| HI.; lirik, 1 ,Mii> •in.' I li:i| vv ;|. Ill I I h. \ 1,:M,> I I <> :l w .'11 :iii . I I .» ( I \ . Mllil \ t' ;i;i\ ril in:in\ im1 I i> I mKc ( .Ht' licil l\rr I'm l\(>IU(\ t ll(> l','\ 1 • III* w ( ■ u 1 . 1 ! ', . \ Mkinuril ;il'.'u; 1 1 . 1 > 11 1 1 1 1 ' 1 ; i \ bchiuil il.'.'i . :i ('(MUiU';, ;,i: 1 illi.'i iM hiT ll owe K'Mils I'M. IN A (•'►LMiV. 'J/, I ^,^ I iliHlK I fl<'|. llHIl M llIlM" iJilWII niM) llll "I'l lI'iMllil III II. ,||||I||||.\ iiillX'l. M !|l|iililll" >i| III! |.l|"'. IMhI M •!I\II|i^, M'i V"*I 1, ll,,\\ I lull 111 >i .1 I III III;. Ill |i '. I 1 ■ ll If 11 llll ', . /,i ll I I II III i' W ' II , I'll III! \i>ii 11 Im^ I'l liiiii lli'il .\ill )|.'I ' iiii.'li ','111, timl iii!il(M ^ iHII Inn I . !• Itlj Mil I'll ll ' ' II III! Ill I I I lit II ll|l I In 'lull t III III.', I ','('>| ill, i. .| ll \ III. I :il I . Mini I .1 1 1 , I In III ll \ ( I III III,", nil II |i" III ' \ I 'ipl'i H ; ,r , l^l. Jiinl. Ill I'll' hii"!' liiuiit, v'"i fi'.ioei.'ilM v.illi ii' '1 w In Ml' '•! iii'I'mI Iniltllti iiinl iiii.'i."<':t ul nm n ly iil<' r'.iiiiiLic Jiii'j, ;il ;i llll jinrliriiil \ii'\\, !l|t' iijir I'l < ' nnl iidn llml yni jii" nin'ii 1'^ T lr;\\ t's li.v! ; ImiI 11\i' cllr. ' rhh'k, (ilh vy\\\. ('(M'l,'Ut:;\ , L'lrtMUs' (iiM' It IS. it' l'\(M' \ . .1 Irciiit to \i'M' \.iill' iiw II riiillll I \ iinii A <|. Ill r III !|i<'i I n III iiinl !i. nniin ml 1- iiiiili' K ii(>\vlril.',r "i| I I It '1 11 11(11 III mull rri\ n ynw ; ninl I In nnn <■ you , ll"\V o I llii'iii. I lio ni'i'.'ilnr (|iii'-i I, lie (liirmnrp (i|)ji(',if. 'I'lic W i':i| I'l'll llll 1 1 111' Nnv;i SrnI i;i, IM liDlllll y |M»)|i|r'i| hy tjin rlc- 'rcinl.l III :i 111 (llll n ilniiiiil !, Willi M ill 1;; 1 1 1, ml iriiil -, l.iiic 'it S'''ilf|i, Mill! mil " mill 1 I r. Mil I lie inul li ol I rrliunl. \\ il li I In- n sncriljori of :i cm liil\ Mi'Mlrd liv ( Jcriinm ;, ;mi| ji, |,(i\\ II '.lii|) l»y I'minli An;i,- iliiiliM. I Ihm |»i»|»iiI;iI lull limy imw lie ,",,ii(| I 1 Im ln»m't;i;('(H''(U'.. Tlii'mi"Ji«iiii' ll llicri' 1:1 nil mdiviilii.'ilil y iml. To Im' I'liirid m I'lii'di'iiid. 'riicrr .'ire mm Ii:iiiiI<'Im, imi lilMr fiit'.'d vill!i"r':t. no (■'>]- limi dl" liDiisi'M, IhiI llll' tin' |iiM|)ii.!i' (if I t';i(| r ; JiiKl ot couf ■ '' llirrc IM lilt iiuiiii!il d<'|)('iidiiirr lor !i '.,ihU,;iiir(i oc di f' lice. No hIciii oi' l.'indlord imd Inii'iiit, or r;iriiini' ,'iinl n(,l,|''r. ;md, (•OI|-', :ill, 110 iiiiily in rcliiMoiiH liclicf; ;ind, t In'rct'orc, no 'in li'iii|)lt' 111 which iJicy (':iii ;iJI wor.-thip l,o:.>;('.l linr, .'ind 'ili'"!' ii[) r united |)r;i\('rs .iiid I li;i,iik,-;:^iviiiLj.s ;i.-» ni.-nih.r.s of'ini; u'v<-;t.tj liii'i loi\ , ,. J H l.iuiily lo Lhcii'comiiUMi FiiLhcr ill lifuvun. JiilorcHi, tliorel 1 lor wcia. ■ •' ,,, ' 'jn; 18 271 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, I |)r(Ml(>niinnto>< ovor alU'ction, and tlio tics of fVicndsliip aro weak J'^vcry one livL'8 by liiiiisclt* and for hinisclt'. l*oo|>li' dwell (,i, tlieir own pro[)ortioa at a distance from cadi other, and cvcrv licMiseliold conistilntcs its own little W(»r]d ; l)nt even Ik.]-,. ||,*. habit of i-arly ini(), when the l''rench ])()ssessi()ns en this part o\i the continent |)assed inio the hands of the l]ni,dish. So i;reat had been the depri'dalions of theii* enemii's, that tlu^ popnlation of Lunenbnri; had only increased to the extent of seven sonls in as many years. ]n 17()l, the Indians entered iiit(j u formal treaty of peace with th(> local ater part of the preceding century, had been frequented by lishing- vessels from France, to the master of (me of which it was in- debted for its name, which it still retains. It is one of the largest and most beantifid rivers in this country, which it nearly iutersects. At its mouth there are a number of islands of great beauty and fertility, forming well-sheltered and safe anchorage- c^round, which, tradition says, were, in the olden time, the hiding-places of pirates; and that venerable chronicler, "the oldest inhabitant," whispers, were more recently the resort ot privateers. Several miles above the entrance, Nicholas discovered a part of the river which, by an enlargement in a semicircidar shape, formed a miniature harbour, nearly enclosed, and effect- ually concealed by two hooded promontories, that gave to the Cove a striking resemblance to a horse-shoe. Here he found, to his astonishment, a clearing that extended to the water's edge, and contained about forty acres of land, in the centre of wdnch was a long, low, wooden dwelling-house, which, with an exten- sive projection in the rear, resembled the letter T. On the right was a large substantial warehouse of the same materials, and, ou the left, a block-house constructed of hewn timbers, having loopholes for muskets, and, on the first floor, four window-shut- ters (one on each side), so arranged as to admit of the discharge liilj u 270 Tm-:; oi.d judok ; or, lis lloiip a of M swivc^l. wliicli WHH still on ifs ('MrrlM was no cciliiiLt, Iml the raflcrs siihhdiicd iii'll of siilliciriit si/,(> to 1)1' heard a<'ross tlicrivn*. On tlicslnpr towards llir tnrcsl.was a si|iiar(' licld •>!' about one acn' ipf l;iiid. surrounded I)\ \ci-\ larm' willows, and coiilainiii'' in lliccn ll'fc Si >ino old apple-trees, pla 111 t'd so elos(>l_v to^^ellier thai I heir limh wcvo eiilaiiLMed one wilh i he oilier Tl us enclosure had or rm- ally been laid oiil as a ijjardeu, and bor(> «Midenl iii.arks ot'lnsl ns well as canv The walks could si ill be traced bv lowed'Mi 1"S. which had iijrown wild iVoiu neL;h'ct, by currant and i^oosebci-rv- buslu's. and rose-lr(>es. and sweet briars, that/ now coiileiidcil with tall rank i;rass lor sullicient air and lii;ht, to supporl lijc. ov(M' a. bubbling' spriic^ N ear the iMilrancc was an arbour built ift .t rp 'o account tor these ivmarkablo orectiona anc d ext ensivc oloarinL::^, it is necossarvto iiirorui you that, from the year 1(10(1 to 1710, this ])roviiice was constantly changing owners. At every rupture between the French and English, all the trading' posts of the former (iu Xova 8cotia. or Acadie, as it was then called) were destroyed, aud at every treaty of peace the country f- ter, and so complel(>ly covered hy a liiMiriaiiL woodbine, as (Mleclually to (>\clude tlu> rays of the sun. A ^- massive, rustic tabl(\ and seals i)\' the saiiu» slroiiL^ material, f evinc(\l that it was designed for us(> as well as ornament. On llu^ fuMiKM' wi>re rudcdy carved many initials, and si'vei-al naiiics ; at full len^■th, among which those of Oharies FliiMine lialonr ; and i'^rancis (ri'inlrement oci'iirred more than onci'.' Oiiacor- ; uer of the 1abK>, two clas|uMl h.ands wer(» utMtly but deepl\- cut in the wood; and underneath the words I'iiM'ro and JMadcliiic, 17 to. As if lh(» caus(» of llu» lattiM* inscription were not obvious enough, poor i'iiM'r(> left a record that it was occasioned by tlit; recolltH'tion of ''the girl \\o left Ix^liind him;" for lie achlcdtlie words of Ovid. " Scriberc^jussit amor." I'he secbuled and deserteil, but romantic place, was om^ of (Extraordinary beauty. It appeared like the work of magic to |; the poor bewildereil Xiclu)las ; but, what was of tar more con- % sccpuMice to him than its loveliiicss, it was a discovery of iimnciisc ;• valiu\ Ho therefore procetvled immediately to Halilav. ami ^ obtained a grant of a thousand acres of laud, the boundaries ot which were so described in his patent as to embrace this imjiorl- ant ]-)rojierty. to whii'h he gave the very aj)propriate uaiuo of liufeiseu ]5ut*ht, or llorse-shoe Cove. ' Tlic fonnor had a c:r;int from tho KiiiiX of Franco of tlio whole country on hoth sides of I,a ll;iive, tVoai its mouth to its source. Some of the doaocud- ;aits of tho latter are still residiiiij iu this province, near Yarmouth. T.II'l' IN A COLONY. 277 'II iliis llimr )ll the slupc ere nl" !;ii|i|. 1 t lie ceil' IT llu'if liml-s ' l\;i(l ori'_Mii- rks of t:istt> low t'll'^fiiii^s, i^OOSclM'lTV- ,• ('i)Ut(Mliltil ui]>i)()rl lite. l)lmL,' spi'iii',,' a liixufiaiiL ic Sim. A ii'j; iiKittM'ial, muMit. Oil i'V(>r;\l iiaiiu'S i>nni> liiitiuir ,' On a ('Mi'- t UtM'ply (Mit 1(1 Madfliiu', > nol oluioiis ioiu>(l by tlu' he luUlodtlio Avas ono of ot" maujii* Id .r move eon- [• (if iiunuMisc lalit'ax, and loiindarii's dt this iinpoK- liio luiiuo of lit! extensive le year lODi) )\viiei's. At the trailinij; it was tlioii the country whole O'Mintry lot" the dcsooud- loutli. was resldj-cd io ils orii^'iiial ix'ojti'ielors. 'I'lic l''tii^lish corvlciilcd lliciiischcs with dainaL,MiiL; the ciiciny, Init made no altciiipt to |i(iicl rale into the intcrioi', or to lorni set I h incnts. 'liic c.-lah- li>hnicnl a I I he ciiji'ance of t he v'wrv La I laivc had been scvci'al times hiinied down, and a ^I'cal deal ot" vahiahic |ii'o|)erly curried (ill hy I lie [irovincials of lioston. To avoid I he r<|tet il ion of sneh ruinous losses, Ihe I'Vcneh selected this seclinled s|)ot, se\ei'al miles Inrlher n|) tlie stream, lor Ihe purpose (d' storiii'.f and secret iiiL,' their I'lirs, and of i'liinipean ^oods lor siip|)lyiiiL^ I hi; Indians, while lish and salt wci-e alone kept at Ihe Jnwer post. Motliin;; could have heeii hettei' suited for the piirpo.-c (d" i-oii- (•calineiit. than this ( '(tve,' w Iiitdi was not disceiaiihle iVoiii IIk; ri\er, and could only he approa(dicd Ijy boats throii^h a narrow .•iiid w indiii'.;- cut ranee, nearly hidden by the o\crhaii;^nnLC 1 rees. It is no wonder, I herejore, 1 hat .N i(diolas was astonished and (i\crjoyed at the discoxcrv; and, as soon as Ids <^M'ant I'eceivcd tlie (iovernor's sii;naliii'e, he reino\('d his laniily thither, and liMik possession of " Ihe llnicisen ihudit." His joy was ^reat but silent, lor his heart moved more rapid- ly llian his (on^^iie. ||(> j^ave Nciit, 1o his ))Ieasnre in Ioiil; prot racted piiU's ol" tol)aec(). He walked round and ronnd tlu; |iremises. contemplal in<^' Ihe ma^iiltnde of the jjiiildin^'s, ihe value of the land, Ihe beauty' oi" the or(diar(l, and tlie streni^'th of the i'ort, as he called the bhxdi-hoiise. Jle s(ddom spok(; to ;iiiy member of his lamily, and then only to issue some indisj)en- sahle order. Onei; or twice, as he eiitei'ed the house, lie ki(dve(l liis douj lor nut risin<>; up respectrully when tlu; great landowner ;i[iproaehed. Jle ate l)ut bttle, and drank rather moi'e than usual, lie could not compreluMid at oiu; \ iew the wliole extent (if his iiiiportance, but evinced every day Ihat lu; was gradually l)cL!;iiniing to appreciate it. Jle was observed to take up tiu) lioiai mug which he generally used, ami throw it, with great ('oiitem[)t, into the corner of the room, and, l)y a mute signal, caUed for an old silver one (that had (U'scemhMl to him through tin-ee generations), as better suited to the digiuty of his Jiew sta- tion. JJis attitude in sitting was nuich changed. Jnsteadoftho easy ami natural position that bespeaks a man wliolly unoccupied, Ills legs were stretched out to their full extent, his head thrown back, and his eyes directed to the ceiling, to which heoifered the continued incense of tobacco fumes. Now and then he was hoard to utter the name of some gentlemen at Luneidjurg, as Kudolph, A"on Zwicker, or Oxner, who had belonged to good familic's in their own country ; and when he did, it was with a scornful air, and the word was followed by a contemptuous grunt, and an uplifting of the right foot, as if he felt entitled i i .1 iaU' ^^. l:7s THE 01/1 > .irncK ; Oli now 1o Idol^ down u|ioii Ids Ix^IIim'n. mikI would liK(>| :m ii\lolli:.!;ilil(> liini of his siijiofinfil \ . oL'i\c iiiiii His Ihmily woiil, wboiil tlioir iisiimI oniploviuouls in ll jU'CMslouiod iii.'iiuuM', l)iil .\ichol;is li;id ;is iiiucli iis I icir in iroinjj: liis conliiuiod rounds. mikI in diucstiii;' 1 ii' ClUllil (j,, IIS UncCIl ,j||,r ndniM'.-il ion. IS ('os1uin(> uudoi'wcnl ;t cIimiil'o no llinn his niMiuiors. d I ^s sinlvuiL'- O (11S('!U"(I0(I MIS old .MlMI.'n'O .'I Mil (llV liiinsolt' in ;i siii! which h;id hit horlo boon |)i'(>st'r\fd wiih M'CMt vwvc Tor Sund.iN s or lioh.l; i\s. lust(\Md of Ins Wdi'kii f.'U). niountod .'1. hoaiit ifid, iow-crownod, i)i'o;id-hiMiuMi('d h his h(>st douhl»>-hro:is((>d comI, i)\' h\\\c S;i\on doll ;i\rl' h;i! ; K \\ i 1 h i I s (>n!.:^ w.Misl, spuMous skirts, and innnonso i^ilf hiiltoiis, Ih hi'illiniu'v ol whicli had ho»Mi prosorvod by wooMoii coNcrs wIk u not us(m1 : his riiu* I'od cloth waistcoat, wit h its si|uart' Hans and jKMvliM' buttons ; his black brc(>clu>s and dark-j'ibbcd st()cl\iM^s; and. aboNO all. his sihcr kniM* and sho(< buck! cs, WMIcll iiai \i' I b(dou!;cd to his c;randfatluM', tho hunt siiian of tlu> ii;roat" du his master. II is li(>st piju^ was doomed to do daily dut \ , iiisicad o\' jL!;racinu- icstivals, as hcirtol'or(\ It was :i costly artiolc. for it, had a silver cover, and its spacious bowl lield twice as imicii lidiaeeo as :v common ont\ while its loni; wooden handli*, ti[)pcd with ivorv. bi^spoke the ease and allliuMice of its owner. Thus attired, I'arryint; th(> valuabU^ pipe in his KMl liaiiij. and a »'ane with :i horn head curiously cai'ved in \\\c otiici-. ?sicholas lowly piM'fornunl his ineessanl; jxM'ambulations. Ihit man is •■ ^mss creature: lu> cannol live on love, or subsist en air: he nnpiiivs i'ood. The aiumal predominates ovih" the spiritual nature. Nicholas was nu'alled to Ihest' mean considia'- aiions by the faet that, thoun'h his house was la r^e, there w;is no bread in it; and hia cup, thouii,h madt* of silvcM'. wanted suilicient scheidam to iill it, small as it was. AVith ureat rel'ictance, theret\)re. and a findiiiij: very nt\arlv resembliuL;- that of iletxradation, ho (Hnulescend(Hl to lay aside his new I'aiik for awhile, and go to Halilax with his two sons, in his shallo[), to buy iirovisions for his i:nnilv. On takin*:; leiivo of his wife, he attempted an awkward imitation of a ceremonious bow, aiul kissed her hand with an air of oallantry, for which he was very oiierlv rewarded, bv his indiirnant fran.Avith a substantial box propi on the oar. If he had lost his senses, ther o was nt) occasion, she thoiijj;ht, for him to lose his heart ; and she was nnwilHiii,' to exchange the warm ami allectionate cMnbrat'c, to which she had been accustomed, for cold, nnmeaning bntl'oonery like thij*. The w ind being fair, he set sail with his two boys, ami accoiii- plished the voyage of sixty miles in the incredibly short spatv of three days, and returned again with equal speed, to fcaat hii '•m- :"V5 Is ill llu'ir IC ('(lIlM (In lllicc;; ,|i|"- I'ss slrilviii^ ml (Ircssiil W illl L'Ti'llt ini; cnp, ln' l>c;i\rr hill ; !i. Willi ils llloiis. l!l(> 'oNcrs wlicii 'V IImjis Mini . SlocklllL;:. ; which hail ^rcal (hikr iity, iiistcaii ii'tich'. lor It ['{) :is iiuich i\(lh\ lippi'vl \vv. h>H hand. Iho olhcr. ions. Ihit subsist (111 s oyer iho n considor- , Ihciv was With iir(>at iiblmi:,' that w raiilv \'ov shalhi[>. to liis wit'o. hr s bow, aiul u> was vrry stantial box U) occasion, s iiinvilliiiL: > which sht> 'V bkc this. and accoiii- isbort spatv to fcaat his 1-I!'i: IX A COI.oNV. 1^7:) ('\ (>s owcc inoi'c npon his new prcporty. w liicli imw apjx'arcd ;ii(iro spacious t hail ever ; fur, wil h the exci'pl loii i)roi)i'iei(ir oi a lai-'n-r estate pro] bh> h hail he had d 111' as iiiiicli hai)|(i- cvei' supposed il possihie he eoind own, ;iii( iiess as was al all compatible with eoMilbrl, era bearl ofeoiii- mon si/,e could contain willi satetv S(»i iielimes, iiHh'iMl 15 w(Uibl (h)ubl the I'caiity, ami wakiiii^ up in the ni^lil- wdiiM look out (Ml the traiKpiil scene, and ask himsell' whether it was all as it. aj)peai'e(l to be, or only t he delusion of a dream. I']\cr\ •■ The jilaiiitixe wad ol the iiielanch(»lv iielv hootiiiL,^ oi' the walcbt'ul owl; the brilliant, myriads of ii roll les. t hat reiniccd in t he da mo thin:'" was new t(» him. 11 •5 w hip-poor-w II wamleriui^, lie lo •\halat ions of ihe sediiy bi'ook thai. lb)Wed into the ( o\c and the wild scream o r tl le niLihl -hawU. as it, nursiKM I wit I rat)i< and irrei;ular JliLi^bts the wini^ed insect, tiabe, conyinccd biiii that he was awake, thoiii:;h in a world ol" wonders — ,'i si ran'j;<'i' in astran,L!;e land; ami be i'elt ami knew thai be dwelt, on that land, not jis ;i serf, or labourer, (M' tenant , but, as lord of t he soil. lie would then recall lo bis mind bis condition in his own coini- try, com|)ai'e it. with bis present situation, and say,'" (Jolt, ist/ i!;iit !" ((Jod is ^'ood), and return to his bed with a Ihankrul heart Ibr all this unmeriled and unlookeddbr prosperit y. Upon one occasion be tboiiujbt he heard noises of a far diU'erent kind ; and ,!j;cttin;!; up ho beludd from tlu' window oiu^ of tli(^ wooded ])romontories illumined \yitb watch-lires, and dark, shadowy iorms [)assini^ ami ri'passiiiu^ between him and tin; stron;^ I'ed lij^ht. TluMHi was iiolbiufj; but mai^dc tiboiit bim ; but who were Ihosemaiijicians? Wcmv theythofairies thathad erected the bnild- inL;;s, or demons who intended to destcoy them? lie \voidd hay(^ liked lo hnvc b;id neiii;hI)ours ; for as rich (dotlies arc; but of little use if there is no one to s<'e -.nd admire them, so lar<^f(! huildiniia lose their value if there art' not smaller aiul meaner ones to eompiiro them with to iidvantaL;'e : but Ik; tliou^dit, lu; could dispense witb these nocturnal visitors, uhouver they iiii^bt be. Day dissolved Die mysteiy, and dispelhMl, torrellier with bis (loid.)ts, nuicb of bis peac(! of mind. They were; Indians, the savage and eriud enemies of the eiiULrran's. It is true they ^vere then at ])ejice with the i^overnment, but they were; a vindictive and treacherous ])eop]e. The place where they wer(! encamped wtis an aneietit burial-ii^round, to which they bad now jvsorli'd to deposit lhi> body of a deceased chief. Tlieir maanier \vas gloomy and unfriendly. They evidenliy considered bini ua 2S0 Tin: OLD .lUDGK; OK, i !' I m iulnidcr, niul wrvc ni no pnins io ('(incr;il IIumi' \v t^.'irluMii ni;i(l(> liim .'I Kui;:; mikI ;iiiiin;il('(l s])i'('cli in Iiidinn, mc- ('oinp.'micd bv somr vtM'v lVii;liirul gestures, ;iiul sonir lloiirisl.cs of !i loiii.-'.liMw k llial made his Ijlood curdle. 'I'o this \icl,(i|;is, who was a ma)) ol' ))))da))i)<(Ml coDJ'a^e, rc^jdied. wilh jimcli 1i]'))i))ess, i)) an (M'alio)) i)) ( l(M')))a)), a))(l u,a\(> idVcct Jo scNcral i\-issa;;('s l)y (>('i'asi()))ally poi))! i))^; m jmsIoI n1ih(> head ol" the savage waia-io)'. 'These two wcll-luiow)) W('a]>o))s wia'e theojdv Ilii))!.:,s that W(M'(> i)itelli^ihh', I'o)* th(M)' )))))ti)al (do(|)ie))e(\ hei)ithe)' i)))i)'a))slMtahK', was wholly Dscdess. This ]i)is()ci;il visit lasted a wm-k, w IxMi, lh(^ l'i)))(M'al )'iles havi])!^ heo) dnl\ ]ie)'to)'])ie(l. the ))))W(deo]))e i;)ies|s disap|)ea)'ed as SJxIdenU ;is \\\c\ had a)']'iviMl, a))d JNii'htdas was ai';ai)i lell in a t>\;i\c o\' 1)'a)i(|)iillity. liis eomt'oi't had hccu )in]eh disli))"hed hy this (Mcui.huf still he was a ve)y hai>])y ))ia)). lie was j)ossi>ssed of a iIkhi- sa))d ac]'(>s o[' la))d, eovo'ed with vali)ahle ti)))he)', lillcd wjili iletM' like a pa)'k, and intcM'seeted with st)"(>a]))s aho))iidi))L,' in sali)\o)i. t )'o))t . he)')'i))ps. smidts^aiid a va)'iety ol' delicate a)id c\- C(dliM)t lish. His hiiildi)igs wo'e as la)':'-e as tl)os(> oft hi> ste\v;;i'il o\' his landhu'd i)i his owji co))i)t)'y. a)i(l lie had neithc)* )Tiit, taxes, uov lithi^s io pay. Ih^ had I'lM'ty ao-es )-(\'idy I'o)* the ]dom;h, a ]iroiluct iv(» oi'chni'd, n))(l evo'ythi))^;- his l)(>a)'t could di'si]-i'. i^\t't>pt mo))ey ; h))t he had Ihat which W(>))l(l a!\va\s ]ii'(nlm'e it. an ine\l)a))st ibh^ s)ipply of s))p(M"io)' l'))el lo)' the llalitax m;n'ke1. 11(\ the)'(do)'(\ co)))i))e))ccul a i-(\i;)ila)' t)-ai!c in eo)'d-w"(HHl, a l)'airie wl)it'h the (uMM))a)i settlcM's ha\(^ co)ilimi('(l a)ul monopolized to the ]))'(>scMit day. This wood was ent oil' to tlio le)-))ii])at io)i of th(^ two ]))'o]no))to;Mes that to)Mn(>d the* li of ili(^ llorse-shoe Cove; and the o\ t')'l)a))i;i))i; ti'ees thaf cen- cealinl thi^ iMit)'a))ee a))d tibsti'iicted the passaj^i^ ol' masts wcav rtM)\o\ed. \'ov the (lo))ble ]n)i'pose of (M)ahli))i;" l)i))i to wa)'p liis shallop i))to liis own beaut il'iil liarbou)*. and to expense to the hilild Kill ndmuMn^- eyt^s ot all who nav]ii,'ated the vwcv (he spacn)\)s mtx ot' the " llnfeisen liiicht." Alas! it was a fatal amhil foi" poor ]Nit'holas; for, in ]irostrati)\^ thc^se a))cie)it trec^s. lie liad nni)it(Mitionally connnitted sat'i'ileii,e. and violated the )'epose of the di'ad — an otftMiee that, in all coinitries and in all aiics, has ever been regarded with pious horror or implacable resent - nient. ]n tbo antnmn of 1777. he was rn<]:nq:ed as nsnnl in his coast- ing trade ; a)id. in the latter ]i:n't of ()cti)ber, had i'etur)ied i'vowx Halifax with a load of ]n'ovisions and stores for his fai))ily, in w Inch he had invested the proceeds of sevei'al cargoes. Castiii!^ anchor at the mouth of the inlet, he dressed himself in liis best in Ills oofist- IuimuhI flH)lU s ianiily, iii i^s. Casting' I.IFH IN A COLONV. 2^^! ntlin', ;)!)(! prcjiai'cd l<> land will) lii.s Iwo hoiim. lie liad n () siMiiicr ( IcscciKlcd iVoin 1 lie .side ol' t lie vessel, and Healed hiliiHclt in llie nlerij of 1 lie I)(»al, than lie evelaiiiied — " More nia!.;ie ! " lie liardiv knew tlie wooded screen tlial- eoneeiiled liis cove. The fairies had been hiisy in his ahseiiee, and so altei'e(| Ihe a|)- pt'iiraiK't' of eveiw tree, that he eoiihl no Ioniser disi inujiii.sh one iVtim another. The maple had doll'.-d its j^reeii, and assiniied a brinlit^ red colour. The loni; |)endeiit lea\('s ol" the sninacli !(uikcd shrunken, droopin^j;. and yellow. The pophir had snd- (ji'iih hecoiiie ;j;r(n -headed, and t he asli ha those inischiev oils and wonderful littlo arlisis had w tints and imparled new shades to vvi'vy leaf of e\ crv tree and ever\' sliriih of the forest . lie had ncNcr lu'iicld aiiyt liiii«.;; like! iJiis in his o\\ n coiml rv. Me had ohserved llic leaves of the few trees he had seen to fade away in aiilnmn iiiitl perish on the appro;icli of winter. This |)i"ocess appeared 111 liim to he as slow as t heir trrowt h ; it, was a irradiial decav of iialiire P>iif here deal h was erne as we II IS iiiiDal lent and like a consiimpt ive I, ver, heaiit illed its victim with heel ic colour hclnre it, deslroycul it, that; lis loss mijj;lil be iiion^ keenly ielt aiKl iamen l(al. lie was in a new world, and it; was natural il, should conlaiii lunv ill ini:;s, bill; be was not iirepai'ed tor what, followed. When lie entered the little placid Com', which lay j^dit teiiiiLi; li!\c a lake of niolfen silver beneath the ar, blue wky, with its liL;"ht, iU\'cy (doiids that floated slowly throiii:;h its Iransparent alm()sj)her(\ while tlu^ eaL,de was distinctly visible, siKiriiijr in unri'strained liberty in the subterranean lieavens. liVery stroke of tlu^ oar separated tlie trunks of those enormous ;ii|iiatic trees, wbicb divided to alford a passaii^c^ to the boat, and lliiMi united instantly as before. Had Nicholas been a forester lira bar<;-eman in his nativ(> land, tbesi^ phenomena would still liave astonislu>d him, lor both iivv. exhibited in this country in a more remarkable decree than in abnost any oilier ])art of the world. Jiut, liavinj; ])een nicrtdy a landsman, and never havin<^ ifwii a collection of water till be beheld the ocean, or a forester until bo landed in Nova Scotia, it is not to be wondered at if ke felt bewildered, and occasionally doubted wbether it was safe {■I ;iF': ^i]' f; ■" I ;: i 1 ill THi: OLD JUDGE; OR, !; >a il «l It) Irusi llu^ ovi(l(Mi('(> of 1 lis own scMiscs. II j)I(';is('(l, 1h('ror()r(\ \v]umi lie toiiiid liiinsi'll' once iiioi .'111(1 w;is convinced jli;il liis lion ])(> Avas ])v no means sal islied uilli the car(>less indill AV <' Avas not ;i lliii,, <•' "II hiliil, se was \u its n^iit place; l„it; erence uiih liich its inmates regarded the ajiproacli of so impni-t.-ini ;i , ir ler son as Its lawliil loiM ami masier. lie was resolxed to teach ;iii,[ ent'oi'ce iiiorc^ resixM'll'ul lr(>atiiienl lor Ili(» rntnre, and accord- inulv was [)repar(>d by llietime lie reached llie door with ;i terse and shai'p r(^i>i'ool' wlua-ewit h 1o !j;re(^<: them. 1I(> eni(M-ed with llu* ])rond and hannhty air of a man mIi> foc]s Ih.at ho has sn tiered an indiLMiily, Inil which was snperscdrd hy an eNj)ression ol'inteiis(> horror, as his (>yes lell en t li(> awjul s|)ectacle hel'ore him. 'i'heir lay tluMnaiiLijhHlhodies oriiiswil'c and children, his slani^'httM'od doLif, and I he i'raniiieiits el' liis hroken t'lirnilnri' and I'ilU'd i)i'operty. ''.riu' lii-e on the licarih was burned onf, and all was as silent; and as desolate as wlicii he lirst (liscovtM'iHl it ; but", alas! that sihaicc^ was the silciui; ol*w(>ath, and that d(\solation tho work ot'ra])ine and murder. It was an ap])allin:; sc(mio, and it was but too ])lain wliesc infcMMial work it was. lor tho heads of all bore the fatal mark of the I ndian sealpinu:-knife. Nicholas and his two sons exclKui^cd looks of ad, and fell lu>avily forward owv tluMnulilated body of his imforlnnate will'. .His sons lifted him np. and removed him to the boat, and from thence to the vessel, and immediately drop])e(l down the river to the settlement at its entranee. wIumi, takiiiLi; all the male jiopnlalion, with tluMr arms, on board, th(>y returned lu the ilnteisen l^ueht, and hastily buried the dead. They iheu ])iir- sued the enemy with all speed, who, not expecting such prom])t and tlecided measures, had not proeeeded far, or adopted the nsnal }>recantions. when they were overtaken, attacked, and defeatcnl with great loss. On their return, they hanged loiiriif the pi'isoners on the willow trees in front of the bouse ; and the remaining two were sent to Halifax, to be held as hostage's, or dealt with as the (Governor jhonld direct. iVicbolas, with his two surviving sons, returned to Lunenburg, the latter ]i:iviiii,' vowed never more to put their feet within that magical and ac- curs(Hl house. The Indians had purposely abstained from setting fire lollie buildings. They bad been erected by their old friends the I'rencb. whose language they began to nnderstaud, and llu; forms of whose religion they bad ado]ited. It was possible they might reipure them again, and that the fortune of war might place them in a situation to resume a trade that haJ ) m :iUll ; l'ep( Ih' V i,:. h ;:in(K lii'SCC liicir liiclai . \i'r ; Mil) \ lior ri Lime ;ia er made vdiat( '■'lira: ■Hut ^ ihcy 1 i where fe J was ] :■ terror mi J, lAVK IN A f'OLONV. 2S3 is llnl ;i liiil,. V*. >l"l'i.' "11 l:m,|, V, 111 l)l:ifc; hut; ^ lIltTClli'l' \\ ii ii I'oi'lniil ;i [MT- tl to Iciich an, I \ iind accoi'i!- , iv with a It I'M' , man uiio to of a as sii|uM'sci II (Ui llie awful : lies of his wilh ^. ;im'iits (if his ; (Ml i\\C hciil'lii I <()latc' as whc!' - as i\\c sih'iiri' :; and niufilcr. ; )() plain whdsi' - .' i'atal niai'k of ions exchanged . 't'hlcss. Thcv infcd, and \'v\\ )rlunaU' wife, oaf, and from )\vii tlu' river all tlu' male nrnml to the \cy iluMi pur- j; snch in'ompt adopted the attacked, and anm'd four o( onse ; and the s hostaux's, er i(das, ^vitll his latter having lairieal and ue- iiio; fire totlie Id iVieiids the land, and the Avas possible lirtune cf war kide that bad '•I'lived so Loneficial to both. The pro|)riet(irs ■\v(M'0 rqnallv uii- 'Ailhni;' to dcsl roy a j)ro|)i'i'ty Avhicli, though they conbl ncsci' iihahit. ihcnisidvos, iniLrht: afterwards hv sold for a lar^c sum (d" Mduey. They were, therefore, hd't standim:;, to terrify t lie navi- _:ilors of La .Ihiive by the s|)eetres and ghosts that always iiannt ;i scene ol' violence and mnrder, J'oor old ^icdiolas lii'ver recovered the massacre of his family and the loss of his M'operly. Ilis^rief was, at first, most acnte and (list ressinL,^ ih' would talk' of his ])0()r, dciir, dead fran ; (d'th(> Ivhine-land, ills lia])|)y liome, that lie had so tlioii^ht lessly left : oi'his little innocent, slanu,htei'ed (diildr(>n ; and coiulemn his own folly in ilrsecrat ini^ the Indian bnrial-d by a settle(l iiiclancholy. lie never more; took any interest in anythin;^, or .\i'r atten(l(>d ai^ain to bnsiness. lie •jjenerally sat by tlielir(\ iitowhi(di he looked vacaidly, and smoke(l. He neither asked nor res[)()n(le(l to qnestions. His h(>art was broken. One (lay he was missinL,^ ami i^reat Avas the consternation in Limenbnr<^, for every ])erson fearetl that his own hand had jnit all end to his existenco. ])ilii4'ent in(piiry and search \\('\'o made both in the town and its neij^hltonrliood, bnt no tra(*(> whatever could be found of him. 7\t last, some persons, more t'oura<:;eous than othei's, venturcMl W(dl armed to examine tlu; "llnfeisen Bucht," and ascertain if he Avas there ; and there they found him, exten(UMl on the of his wife and children, where he had perished from cold, fati^n(% and exhaustion, lies was interred wliere ho lay, and incj'eased the number and the terrors of tlu; nocturnal wanderers of the Cove. ]''()r many years the place was shunned by all, excojit now and then by Indians, who occasionally visitcMl it to li^ht their funeral ilres, deposit their dvnd, and (diant their monotonous lUKi (lisma 1 (1 irsiea. ]\!eanwhile, the buildinijs became nnndi dilapidated. The shutters of the blockhouse Inning b(H'n forced otfhy the wind, the large ])ell, set in motion by its fitful gusts, added its deep-toned and nudancholy notes to the wailingofthe lilast, and the atl'rinhted bargenuMi, as tlu\Y hurried by the ill- ened spot, would say, " Old jS'ick is walking to night and 01)1 tolling his bell. Years rolled by, and emigration began to be directed to the beautiful npland and rich alluvial soil that border the nohle river. Above, far above the Cove, were setth^nents ; and Ixdow it was .1 continuous line of farms : but for several miles round the Haunted house no man was so hardy as to V(nitur(\ It was giv(>n up to its lawful ranger, Xieholas ►'pohr, and to his fearful com- panions, the ghosts, goblins, and spiritsof the " llufeisen Bu'jUt." liSl Tin; 01,1) JIDUK ; OK, ('ii.\iTi:i( will llltUSK-SUOi: COVi; ; OK', liri'F.ISKN mcuT NO. II. In 17s;?. m lr(\')i\ ol" iu^mcowms si^ikmI willi llii> n-bcl col OIIH'S now tiM'niiii;_;- the Inilcd Slides, nnd I lu-ir iii(K'i>(Miih'iU'(';u'kiin\\- l('il,L;t^l l>v the nidi licr-coimt ry. Tliis v\c\\\ wms I'oilowfd \)\ ^ V(M'y i^renl eiin^riit inn lo Ni»\;i Si'diii ot" men, wlio, pi-eterriiii; llieir idleuiimee 1<> iheir properly, ;ii>;iiidoiUMl tluMi* eslales, am} Tenun"ed into I lie cold and inhospitaliU* a\ ilds el' lids pi'ovin 3les| et" lliesi> siMlIers (eononenly Known as Loyalists), ('(• W('n> ]nn^ple ot suiistanc(> and ediieat ion, nnt in llieir Irani weriMiianv piM'sensofa dillerenl di^scription and \ei'y oi)posittM"liaratU'i'. i'-\er_\ \ essid that arrived tor several months ai'terwarils hr(Mi;j,lit iinmereiis j)arti(>s ot' r(d'nm>es. in one I'rom N»'w York, \\as a Captain di»hn Smith and his family. Who or what Ik* was, lUMliUh- k new and as t hi>se wiM'e sn hieet s t)ll wliu hi u> niamtain- lul an impeiu>lrahle n>siM'\i\ iiohody l)iit inysell' eviM" did kiu)\v. His ohjiU't ajipc^ired to \ c retir(Mm>nt rather liian what is calKnl s'ottlement. Lea\ini;- his I'amily at Halifax, lie examiiuHl the ndjaeiMit eonntry, and when at liniuMibnrn", lu>arinn;et"the*' Jiu- i'lMsiMi r>iiehl," MM'y mneh to the astonishment oj' i>V(>ryb(Kly, d It, listiiiH', w ent to see it, and. It) their still i;'iv;iter suri)rise, ])nn'liast' nd annoniuHHi his dcttMMumat ion to reside tliore loth At tl tlu^ (.\ni* was as mueh huh iirow len 1 rem view as ever ler a new ih ot' wiiod hail sprimmip on the eleariii_j;s ot'Miehelas.aiul liad a^ain so embowered its iMitranei\ that no partot'the harbeur, the bi.ildinus, or the arable land, wiMV visible i'rom the rivrr. The bouse had fallen into a sad state of deeay, nnd requircil very i^xtiMisive n^pairs to reiidor it lenantable, and be experi- eneed no lilt h> trouble in iiroeiiriiin; workiiu'ii to engage iiii^uclia hazardous enterprise. The (Joriiians absolutely refused, and he was eempiellcd to brini^; meebauies from Habfax, who were un- aetpiaintiHl with the horrid traditions and bad n^piitation of the plaee. l)y dint of perseverauee, a liberal expenditure of money, and an easy. aij:reeable, and assured manner, lie conquered all ditllculties, and it was once more put into as i^ood order as when tirst discovered by poor ^Nicholas Spobr. He then lemoved his family thither, and took possession of the haunted, house of the "lluVeiseu Bucht " i LITK IN A COr.ONV. 285 l^liis bold and dociNivc sl(>|), however, n\v;d<(MUMl llic \\",u'h (I Hiis|)i('ioiis of his HiipiM'sl il iouH iici^hhoiii's. The ( jmiiaiiH lire, nolcd loi* I lifir dis- ,,[' |jiiiuMil)iir^ jilwjiyH h;iv(! hern, and s( ill |a like to tli(> iiilniHioii of si raii<^(>rs into Ihcir coiinly, the wlinh; )|' which I hey eonsider as a eoiii|)eiisal ion loi* llieir eniiL^i'at ion, ir as a reward for tiie loil and dani^er of sett lini^ il. ; hnl, al, tlu; le I am s|)eakinii^ of this I'eelinLj almost involved persecntic nil )n. TranKMl ui 1 hen* own connt ry to respect- and obey tiien'siqx'nors, ilicv wer(> williiiij; to snhinit ti)eMis*'lves to authority; hid, who VMS iNIr John Smith ? Was that a real or liet it ions name ? Ili.s liahits and manners were iiniil<(> anyt hinre then known as S|)anish Joes. When his name was mentioned they shook their heads, linked mysterionsly, and whispered of |)iracy, of hidden ircMsm'es, s[)ies, traitors, and persons who had iled IVoin justice^. Captain Smith, as ho was called, was a tali, siiu'wy, athletic iiinn, ahont thirty-eii;ht years of aii;e. 1 1 is ujait and manner so sli'oni^ly resembled lhos(> of a, sailor, as to induce a belief that ;i ijrt^at part of his life had been spent on the sea. Jii disposi- tion lu' was f'raidv maidv, and irascihle, while his convei'sutioii exhibited snch a thoroiii^h knowledge of the world, that it was evident \\i) was no oi'dinary man. lie spoke several lanared to be iamiliar with Ihe ))rincipal ports in Hie Eun)i)0 and America. A great part of his time was spent in fishing, hunling, and boating, in all of which he exhibited sur- prising dexterity. By most of his neighbours lu> was feared and avoided — an aniu)yance i'or whi(di lu^ appeared to derive some compensation from the friejidship of tin; Indians, whom he attatdied to him in a riMuarkablo degree, and in encouraging and prt)voking fears, the absurtlit",y of which he was either un- willing or too ])roud to explain. Still, although the people on tlie river declined associating with him, they wei-c; afraid to dis- olioy a man who ai)i)eared to them to be in league with siij)er- iiatural powei's ; and no one had his commissions at JIalifax so well executed, oi* his iVtMght so punctually delivered, as lu; had. All intimate accpiaintance with the state of the atmos[)liere ibled him to ])redict with great c rtainty the continuance or ingeofwind, and the approach of a storm; upon which sub en ell ct, whenever his opinion was accidentally^ asked, he weeiried to ■H 2S0 THE OLD JUDGE ; OK, iA m 1:iko iuii:ilicIoiis])]e;isiii'(' in t(»ll:iiL;-tIic Ix'll oi'poor XicliolM.sSpoiir asj it" Ir' (k'l'ivcd his inl'oriiialiou li'oin its peculiar iiilonalidns. Mm ^Slnitll, who was si'Ncral ycurs youiiLjcT than Iut hiishaiul was an iincoiiinioiily hanclsoiuc woman, l)ut tlu' iircdoiuinaiit cliaractcr of her lace was that of melancholy, the cause of which appeai'ed io he as mysterious as everythini^ I'lso ahout them. Whether it arose from the total seclusion in ^\lli(•ll tlu'V lived, ti'oiu the loss of children, of which she at that tinu' u|)|)eai'eit to have iu)ne, from ill-health, or from the ;ii)[)relK'ii>i()n of some iui[)emling calamity, people were luiable exeu lo coujeclure. J'he iu)uso exhibited a stranj^e mixture of coarse furniture and articles of considerable \alue. The principal room, whieli liad been nnalteivd fn)m the tiuie of the i'lench, was of unusual ]enL;tli, havinir a lireplace at either extremity, as if iiilendod tnr the reception of two tables — an arn. liiement which Cajitaiii !Siuith ai)peared to iiave a[)pr()\ed and atlopted, as the fui'uituie of v',H-h end was ditferent, the one resemblin^:^ that of a [)ar!our, and the ot'ierthat of a servants' ludl. At both sidt's of ihc chimney, at the upper i)art was a door leading into a bed-room ; a C()rres])onding arrangenu'nt was maile at the lower end. one apartnuiit being a scidlery and the other a sleeping-room. 1 have bi'fore observed, that there Avas a large projection in the j'ear, w Inch gave to the entii'i; building a resemblance to the letter T, and counnnnicated with the hall by a door in the centre. The v.hole gronnd-ilat of this part of the honse was approj)ri- ated to the double purpose of a larder and storeroom, and contained the staircase that led to the attics. The decorations of the h;dl bespoke a sportsman. The walls were covered with the anth'rs of the moose and carriboo. I'uwl- ing-pieces, fusees, and pistols, most of which had rich, and some anticpie mountings; and also with fishing-rods, landing-nets, salmon-spears, and every variety of a lisherman's gear. .South American bows and arrows Avere also displayed there, from the latter of which was susj)ended a card, marked poison. 2sc)thiiig excited such terror among his simple iieighbours as the accmmy of his aim, and the deadly ell'ect of these mysterious weapons. In hunting the deer of the country, he always carried theui m addition to his gun, but never used them, unless there was a lierd which he was unwilling to disturb by the noise of tire* arms. Upon these occasions, he resorted to these quiet but certain messengers of death. Whenever or wherever any animal was struck with one of these missiles, in less than tliive minutes it fell a victim, if not to the wound, to the poison ; and yet, strange to say, though it destroyed vitality, it in no way LIFE IN A COLONY. 287 se furniture CtlUU HI till' afTectcd llu^ flnvnuror iluMvholcsoimMU'SH of tlio vonison, Evt'ii th(> siivjiL^u's belu'ltl with awo a uum who ])()ssrssiMl arnus as I iioisi'U'ss a.s their own, as uncrriiiij; as thosi of tiio wliitt^ men, aiul more fatal than eitlier. On shelves near the door ]ea(hn<^ I into tlie projeetion were several articles of ohl and curiously- fashioned silver, tlu* form and woi'knumshi|) of which were whollv nidike anvthinir of that eenturv. It was dillicult to sav •' * ' ' * ^ 11'* whether they were tlu' remnant of family plate, o .i collection resultinL( from a taste for articles of anti(|uity. J lis neii;hl)oui's, however, very sunnnarily decided that thev were the plunder of a pirate. The mantelpiece was <^raced by a guitar, a viohn, and biii,de, and one or two exquisitely ihiished and richly nunuited miniatures. There were no carpets in any of the rooms, the plnce of wliicli was supplied by furs of bears ami other animals. AVith the exception of the fearful and deadly arrows which I ]i;ive described, there was nothim^ in all this to excite the surjii'ise of the simple-miiuled iidiahitants beyond that of ec- centricity, and resources to which they were iinaccustoiiu'd ; hit at the lower end of the room sat two b(unf:;s who realized all that the Germans had ever heard, read, or ima<,Mned, as ir- oiirmite devils. The familiar attendants on this daiii^erous Btran^er were an old man and woman, of diminutive stature, as black as ebony, Avhose heads were covered with wool instead of bair, having teeth of extraordinary si/e and whiteni'ss, and I'eet of enormous length, half of which extended behind the ankle, in the shape of a heel, and who spoke a language neither JSaxon, English, nor Preneh. The man, whom he called Cato, was several years older than the female. His head was grey, -which contrasti'd strangely with the colour of his skin. His arms were of uncommon length, ajid wholly disproportioned to his height. His hands were >inall, and his fingers long, slender, and bony, bearing a striking ivsoinblanee to ehiws, while the palms and nails were almost wiiite. He was habited in a sort of frock-coat made of seal-skin, gathered in at the waist by a red sash, from which were suspend- ed a fur pouch, and a large knife, covered by a leathern scab- bard. The rest of his apparel consisted of small-clothes and black gaiters. The wool on his head stood out from it like the Wwe of a sheep, and gave it a heavy and massive appearance, ^hile the outer and lower part was braided into numerous small plaits, and fell on his forehead and neck like pendent iiicles. He wore a pair of large gold earrings ; and a puncture through the nose showed that that feature had, in times past, been decorated in a similar manner. Hia shirt, which was of «^^ i-^.lM it'ii n 'JSS Tiir, (>M> .irnfir, ; or? U-A \\lill(> fdllon. AVMs s(MMin>(I :\i \\u' I>rt":isl I»y m Inri^o «'ir('ii!;ir sil lutMX'h. ill I lie [\\v\\\ of M rill";. tVoiu wliicli \v;is siis|)(>n(lci|, | Vl'l' •V ;i shiMM cliiiin. M suiiill j>ii'C(< ol «'iin«)Usly Wdrlird i\ ory. coiijiiinji,,, w li;il \v;is. no (liMibl. I't' incsl im;il)l(' Miliic lo liiiii, " m cliiinn " of iinibiM". Mis ('lUiiilciiMucc llioii^li soiiicwli.'il dull, :)iii| iini|.|, (lislimmNl 1)\- i\\c cliccKs bciii!.': iMlloocd, wms, mi llic wlml •'. 111- •IlllS. \\;is »li(';iti\(' nt' ;i Kind mikI j^otxl (lis|)(>sij ion. Tilt* rciiiMlc. w ho ;ins\vrri>(l f o ( lu' cl.'issicnl nnnuMif \' \ov\ siiKill. \rr\ thin. ;inil. lor lu>r sMy, r(Mii;ii'K;iMy .*icli\('. S|i(> w ore on lior Uc.xd ;i l)ri;;li( sc.-irlci silk li.-iiitlkcM'rliict', ( icd lichiinl. 1 1 01- dress (•( nisi sled ol' :i short hody, ni;id(> ol' prinlcd r:ihCo, w iih f^ay ;ind i^aiidy Mowers on it. .'ind :i skirt orshiniiii; !.da/,('(l lmtcm clotli. l\'onnd htM' neck \ver(> wound several I'ov. s of hr;i(ls, uhieh snjuiorted an i\ory case, similar in form, and devoted to till' same nnr|Mise. as that of Ikm* hnshand. TIk^ l'!n<;;lisli S(Mtl(M's. the deseendants iA^ i\ ]i(V)]>1e uho, in New l'ai;;land. had helie\ed in sorcery, and Inirned wilrJKs, IhiMiuh not witluMit a full share (d' snperst it ion, and on oIIkt points siilliciiMit Iv t(M'rili(>d at tlii* new occnpant^ of the haunlcd hous(>. knew these blacks to h(< Africans, and <>\idained totju' i^iiiM'ant foriMuiUM's that tlu^v wcw a p(>ojde descended fcdin Cain, and destined In l*i'o\idence ti> e\piat(> th(> sin of llicir pri\mM\iti>r. In" IxMtii^- tor (>\er the slaves of white men. This, howtMiM", was nuM-elv an assertion, nnsnpported by .any pnuif whatintM' — tcM'rihh^ if true, but iiunv awfid il'lals(\ Ibit tnii^ it coiihi uo\ bi\ t'or tlun' had neviM* s(Mmi snch beinu;s in (icrinanv, which was a I'oiinti'v that containeil all that was W(»rtli s(>cino; or knowini;- in tlu^ worhl. d'hey heard the (>\|)lanat ion. shook their lu\ads. and disbcdi(W\vl ; for they whm'i' i'nlly satislled that ('a|itaiii Smitli was a magician, and that Ids two siM'\ants wove imps o\i darknoss. wlui either ins[iired his con^luct, or executed his wick- ed I'ommands. Snch was tlie hons(\ its inmates, and tho re|>utatinn of Imtli, in the year 1 TOo. .MthionL;;h the '* llnttdsen r)ncht " was dread- ed and avoideil as much as possible by the inhabitants, there were two classes of piM'sons who constantly t're(pienti>d it. ami were always liospitablv entiM'tained — the Indians, aiul sportim,' olVicers \'ro\\\ Halifax. o\' both the armv and uavv. 'V\\c I'li'st 1 uinon 1 ever caught was on La llai\i\ when a jiaiest at t!ic (\lVi d '\i\a even lu )w, at this distance o\' tinu\ 1 recall with jireat pleasure an evenin-j; spiMit in C(Mnpan} with Mr and Mrs ISmith. in listeniuLT to the dcliirhtt'ul conversation of the t'ormci', and the sweet and nielanclioly songs of that most charnnniia"d interesting; woman. .Tuda'o of mv siu'prise, tliend'ore. when tlio I'olioNving year (1700). while at Lunenburg with the coiu't MI'K IN A COI.OXV 1>S0 nMilnr silver MMidcil. hv ii . «'iMil;iiiiii)<; 1 cliMnii.'" (if mill iiiiii'li It' \s1im1c. 111- r \'iiiiis. \v:is !l}d(» \\\]o. ill iird wilrlus. nid on dllicr till' liauiitrd Iniiu'd Id ihi' ('(Midi'd tVnin > sin (if lln'ir iiuMi. This, IV MllV IM'tUil' ' ' . l^iit Inic it in (!i'nii:iny. wcrlli st'i'iiii;" n, shook lIuMi" llial Captain vviM'i> imps ot' itoil liis wiik- ation ot'bi^tli, " was di't'iu'.- tants. tluM'i' ."iitinl it. an.l and simrl ;;'.;■ V. Tlic tlr-: nsnrr than ItiisincMs, for I was not llion callod fo llic i»ar), I met Captain Sniilli in I lie ciislodv of n nntiiltcr of .Mrmcd men. on a oliai'i^c of li;i\inL; I'iddxd and ninrdrrcd ;i 11: xMtlai llo l'<';^'L,M'd mo to accoMipanv liini In the prison and prociiro a prolrssional man to ('(indiirl his dcfonro, coni^ralnlat- iii;r lnms(df, at tlio same t imo, t hat , as t he roin-t was sit t MIL'. aiM he was innocent, he would he at lar^;e afj;aiii in the course of ;i few days. It appears that, ahont four or live years |irevions to his arrest, in conse»pienee of the in<'reasinrsation, in which they mutually related stories of murder, rohberies, [ind ap[)arit ions, which the boy stated so riveted his attention, as to kei p him awake during the whole period they were up. and so terrilied him, us to oQca- wo)\ his sleep to Le broken and nneasy. lie went ou to say, I'J !V> HIT men iM'4iit» liiMW it. i;ni'\iMi', ji (Itvid Imilv (pud^ <'tM(>rt"il \\\\\\ :\ I'lonK). «>l llio hi,.' miiiI ImiIK oI llic |>ri|l:ii. wli,, WMM :) itMniii l«:il>l\ nI.mi1 ni:iM . lliill llu' lri>( (ip|ir;irril lii|irl;i;( (Micil t «>'',i'l lirr, .-iiiil I 111' iiniiM »(>\ (-iTtl l<\ IIum |i>:iK . IIimI Ihii iiI,| n.'( »li '( iiiiMiiili ill!" Ii'iil lire* < lluK(Mm«'. \\y\\\{ ol (l(i> \\( |||,< It'll'". M:i. K Iciif lh;i( itntMTil li . lli;il (lif l>i>il\ \\;im iiiiKril, iiihl 1'it' \\lu(('^l«in :»'< iiKinilr'^l M'a il" il w rrt> r\liili|lril |i\ il:i\ lii;li( , I Ir 'iw ,;i'i iiiiiihh' lo iihiihlx I hr in;iii w I 111 I ;( nird ihr r.'i'l ol ihr ri. :\'< ho h;iil iiomt mooii hmi holoro oi:iiiiri«, lliiMi«'.l\ his :inpi';n;iiii'r wii'^lh.il ol u Mjidor I lo I'lnl hi r i|i n,n \\\. \\\:\\ hr (list lUi't 1\ hi'MTil iho I'ool '.lop* of iho I w o nun ;in,| l!ii' sonuil i>r n SH'il on tlio \v\^<\^ snow, until lhi\ wrio lo.l m llu' il('.t .liii'O ; iiiiil lli.il. ;il hiil. wi'.inoil ;inil o\ h;illMl nl. ho irlj l":isl Msh'oiv nml il w :o^ hro;iil il:i\!i''hl w hrii ho wilt .■iioii •il li\ tlio r:i]>t;un. who or.joroil hiiii to r^r\ ii|> .•iiiil roploni h iho Iji .lUil t hon prov'i'i'iii'il hnnsrirto rcin'w his ow n. .'inil r:ill t ho oil i< 1 r NliorlK nt'liTW ;iril -i. lu' s;\iil, iho 1 w o No'-roos in.iilo I irir n]>]H\'ir;uu i' . ;i h:isl \ mo.il w :\^i propiiroil. ;inil ;ni:in".rnionl :; in;i,|i' lor uus'si' hnnt ni'', . t h.il . -as l ho\ w oro ;.il ( m-; ilow n to I ho 1 .ihlr, tiir otlii'iM" .-islxOil w lu'io ihi' poilhir w;i'). \o whii h Mr Smilli ii'- Y\\{\\ lh;it h(' h:iil ilop.'irtoii (':irl\. wliilo ho h:iil hoon .'ih-.ciit o:iti"lini«; si^ino iVi'sh tish lor ihoir hro;ikr;isl . :niil lh;it l;i,\ Irllnw ^^in«\'Uun'V ihi' ili'poiu'uO \\:is MsK'op hrfori' lIu' liro ; jiiiil he \\;i -i sorrv 1«> s.n. li.ul l«M"i iho honso w iihoiil h;i\in,". hiiil ;in\ 1 luii:- lo 0:1 1. Ill' I'liril \cv stnloJ. lh;it .-is soon :is Ins iii;islor ;inil the 1'u\M' w oriMMit orMi'Ju. Ill' I'oUowi'il iholr.iok of I ho h.niil-slcil, \\lr,i'li \\o tiMi'i'ii ih'wn tv' lh(^ ('o\('. :inil :ir''oss it to iho oiiln* (AlnMUilx ol'tlu' lu'i'l I'l' lh(^ l\iM'si>-shi>i'. wIuti' liu' onriiul of t]i<' ri\(M' h;hl swi'pt ;n\ ;i_\ the ii'i\ l<';i\in!', th;it o]\ ihc sholliTcd .-r'.il .|uuM Tvn (^ ;!•< lirni .iud .-is solid ;is in the uiiddlc I'l'lhc w iiilri' ; \h:U ;U .-ihor.l lliirtv loot iVom llu' tonnin.'U ion oi'lhc iro tl\rrt> \\.is .•! Inr^:!' n]V'rturo ncwK i-nt \\iili;in mnc. :»nd he I'oiild p!;iinly ]HM\viV(^ llu" unpn^ssion o(:\ hiunnn body o\londod;il rnll lrn!;lh vMi tlu'' snow, wliioh both tluM'i' nnd nl llu^ ('d;;o no;\r iho ri\iM' A\;is ;i i;oO(i d«\'\l tr;\nipu\l down. Ho had. ihorot'oro. no means, h.o said. i">{" asoort.airiini;' wliollior tho bod\ was thrown into tlu» ViXiM' 10 1 H' oarru\\ bv It s onrronts mlo thooooan. or sunk wiili ■!(\-n\ wo:i;: hroDC^^ ^b(^ holo in tho io(\ but ih.al ho h:id iu> do'.iin A\h.aU'\or il was disjiosod of oithor ouo way ov \hc oiIut. \\c addvd. ilial lio had novor had a bappy »l:»y siiuv. tlu S50i rot liad provod so lioavily on his mind, ilcv^ply alVoi'tinu' lis buvlth. s'Uvugih. and spirits, and that ho had tivi]nontiy maiie Mir, IN A (Ml.ONV. •JDI jM'illMr, wim 'tl lit \u' lil'l )i:it III' t'l iilil Mini kI |Iii< mlv lice ll\i> < iiMltcil. mill l'\ .l:i\ li-'lil. I lie In Mil w .11 W llii I uniril liift" i>r :illiri\ 111 IliM' ilrp.'t \\i> iiirn Mill W I'll' It' t III iMini. Ill' r. II M Mli'll .\ nisli till' iiir ;||| I lir iiHli rr 't uiMili' lliiir mmiumiIm niihli- \ I (1 1 hr I :il>lr, ill- Siiiitli ii'- ln'iMi :\l'-riit :it l;i,'\ I'rlK'W » ; iUlil 111' Wil- li ;u»\ ll>m;'. 111 >r;nul llx' *'t- l\i> liniul-^li'il. 1,1 \\\C iMltiT ,0 I'lirrrul >'l till' slicltrrril >\' \\\c w mtrr . tin' il'(* ll\lM-i' I'onlil |>l:iiiil\ ;it lull liMliMh u\'\r l1u' rmr \yc. wo inran^. lowu into tlw' or sunk Willi Ml ho hiul no or tlio oiliiM". ;iv siiu'O. tlu> MtVov'tini;' liis Ipionlly niiule iiii|iiiiii"i III rvny o|i|Hiil iiiiil \ Hull nllt 11(1, iiiiij iiKvMVM ludnj lliill llit< |trilltir WlIM II nilMMIliir iMilll ili> riiMrlmlrd iiy nIiiIiii!', IIimI Iiimii iiImhiI IIuiI |h iiml IJir imiimim r mI Iiim iiiimlrr, v\Im), Im \\ :l I Mill r. Miri|irr|i'i| liilii nl li l|i i\\ i |i,i<; mi itiirl li i li;r (il llir tiii||'(|rr', li.iil llllilri',i'iilip II \riv iiiiIm\ nill iililr i liiili/'r Iii\\iiii|m Iiiiii. I'l I'V Ii)I|m|\ Id IIiii rvt III. Iii> IiihI lirrli Klhij mimI « i )Mmii|< imI i> In Iiiiii, IhiI mhhii iiI I i r\\ iinlfi lir JMrMliM' mim ic mimI liiMiiiMr, niitj, ii^i il !<• mil ii ijiiilr lii!i < liiir/T, or In miniiiil Inr il v\lirii iiiimIc, IhkI liri|iiriill\ Mil iiMi il Iiiiii n| Mlniliii'> ii Milvrr i ii|i ; niiil liinl liili Iv I lit r.'llriiril, ll lir iIdI iml |i|'iti|i|ir il, In iiiiiLi' lillii (tli'i |i iilitli f till' lull iiri)|il \ li'lliiltl'l III llir lilmh -liollMi', ulinll \\r lilld MO iliuilil \\;iM iiilniilril In jir ll |i|<'liii|i< In Ihm iiwii iniiiili r riilM WiiMji MriiniiM rlifil'i'r, iiml uluit invrriliil it Willi limrM I W, iiii|)iii'liiiii'r, u :iM I li.'il ll VMiMwrll Ivintuii in I Id rmiiil I'v I litil I lin iirilliir. wliii liiiil Ih I'll li'Minl In Ilir jjiilrhtrii riinJit IdkI nivtr iurii Mirii or lujinl mI" iillrrw iiiiIm ; .'iidI Iniiji; ImIiiic IIh- jm < ii-ii liKll li.'lil MMMiiiiiril llihi ilrliliilr :iiiil |m i.'^.i! i\ r liiltii, ii niliKiliI' liinl In ri^ iM'lirt'Mllv I'll) llhllril tiliil In In \ril lli:il lir liiiil rii|hi> In nil mil iliK'lv rtiii I lici r. Sill 1 1 ll. Ill lu ever, iii!nlr vrry lif'lil •>!' )ill I Ihm, ntiil hum I I li;il no IIKIII III llIM MrllMCM nilllll ImIii'VC (HH'Ii Mil mImIIIiI f.llil'V ; IIimI I Im |ii'\ \\;iM iinl iiiiicli iiiiiir lliMii lull l-w ll I fi|, mimI iiioiiovcr um.-i ii, lliirl', MM lie liMil mIiiIi'Ii rnnii Iiiiii mii !iiiIm|ii<' (.iIvi r «'ii|i, vnIimIi, liiiii;Mi ol III) 'MtmI iiisI riiiHir vii Inr, I iiiiii mliiin riiriiiii- l;in''» H riMi linlnl Willi ll lii> |iri/ril iimir iliiili.'ill tlic l^^'l olllit' |>l;il''. lir ll.'lil III llIM llDllsr. Mr .'..'ImI lie rrrnl Irrl iij I lie iicdhir licin" ' llirr.\ Miiil (Icp.'irl ini^ c.'iiU iii I In- iiioiniii!', ;iimI Ins MroMm!^ Iii.h j HciNMiil (';ili» Inr Mllnwiii;^ Iiiiii In yn uillioiil, In-i l»r<;iM,'iHt,, ;in(| j lli.'il llir i\('!;rn rvciiHcd liiiiiscH' liy s,'i yiii,"; I IimI I lie liiiili ex pre H- *i I'll ;i. w imIi In iln mii Inr Ir.'ir n(" (IimI iiiliili;^ I lie liniiHi-linld, IhiI, I liMfc : ltr\iiMd lliis mII IIi(> itmI, nl" llir Htnry \vjiH;in iiivciilioii olfi, diHor- • (Iricd i^v wirkrd lliltld. Tlic Icsl iiiiniiy nl' ( 'mIo w.'IM :iII I li;il lie li;id In n|i|»OHC In t liin ciuiiiri'lt'd .'iiid diTjidl'iil jiccuhmI mn, :iiid Inn cniitiHid coiisidcffd ll indiH|irMSMl>li> llinl III' Mliniild Ix- prndiiccd mI. t litr fri;il; hut, sir.ini;!' In M;iy, iiol )l lii.'iil in I lie plMcc cniild In- indnrcd to ]jn Inr liiiii. 'riic iiinsi lilicr.'il rrw.'ii'd umm nllrrcd ; hut, h eh v.mh llir hnrror »'\('ry hndy rnlcrlMinrd nl" llir lliirciHrti JJnrlil, ;itid ils iinu.'ilcs, ('s|u'ri;illy the hl;icl\H, lliiil, every ntK^ w;ih ;ilV;iid \(> iiii(lrrl;dj the magistrate, without the sli^^iitest varianci' or prevarication. There was such an air of sincerity and trutii in his manner, and such a total absence of anything like temper or exaggeration, that his evidence made a very strong and unfa- vourable impression against the captain. Smith's lawyer made a very able and ingenious defence for him, and called the African to prove that he had seen the pedlar at daylight in the inorii- ing, and had pressed him to reu^aiu and breakfast before his de- parture. I shall never forget the effect produced on the audience bv the appearance of the Xegro. Tlie crowd involuntarily drew back and opened a free ])assage to a being whom they regarded with the most pious horror. When he was placed in the wit- uess-box, all those in the neighbourhood of it v.ithdrew to a distance, as if afraid of his fearful inlluence upon them. liis testimony was clear, distinct, and positive as to his conversation after daylight with the jiedlar, aiui completely negatived timt part of tl;e evidence of the boy which went to prove the removal of the body during the night. The charge of the Judge was in favour of the prisoner. He stated to the jury that there was no positive proof of a murder, nor of the identity of the body ; that it was quite possible that a weak-minded bo}^ terrified by the superstitious character of the place in which he lived, and the nature of the conversntioti he had overheard that night, might have seen in a dream tliat Avliich he siqiposed he had beheld when awake ; that pedlars, iroiii their habits, were erratic peo[)le ; and this one, though he might not again have repeated his visits to La ILiive, might still bo pursuing his wandering occupation in some other part of the province; that in all cases the body of the deceased should be found, unless its loss or destruction were most satisfactorily ac- counted for : I ut that where the evidence was weak on this point, the proof of a murder oujdit to be so clear, so plain and conclu- sive, as not only to leave no doubt upon the mind, but to exclude any other possible hypothesis whatever : and much more to the same effect; and, after adverting in strong terms to the con- flicting testimony of the black, he concluded by recommending a verdict of acquittal. The jury, after retiring to their room, returned into Coui't LIFE IX A COLONY. 293 proceeded t but i'fiir- tli that we 11 iu sail'ty ich lie had variance or ul truth in ike temper Lj; and unt'a- wyer made :he xVtVican the morn- t'oro his de- Liidienee by tarily drew L'y regarded ill the wit- lidrew to a hem. His ()iiversatiiin tived tinit ic removal soncH*. lie ;'a murder, ossible that laraeter of ouvereatioii di-eam tiiat dlars, from o-h he miglit lilt still bo irt of the . should be ac'torily ac- 11 this point, and conelu- t to exeUule more to the to the eon- ommeudini; into Court |- u in a few minntes, and the foreman announced their decision, which was that the prisoner was Guilty ! Smith was evidently taken by surprise, hut he did not lose his S(df-possession. lie thanked the Judge for his able and im- partial charge, and assured liiin that the day would come wbr with the mur- dered pedlar. It was a great event for lleindrich Lybolt, the landlord of the great tavern of Lunenburg, who disposed of more gin, rum, and tobacco on that day to his agitated and all'righted countiymen than upon any previous or subsequent occasion. 294 THE OLD judge; OR, Everybody had lu\ird straiigo noises and seen strange siglifs 11'' 1 ill during tlio preceding m'glit. The gaoU^r asserted thai, hjs cliihlren were nearly sufloeated witli \\\r l'uin(>s of sulphur, and that the house shook as it' it had been rocked by an (vuMlKiuakc. One of the oldest wonuMi in the town averred that she had seen a ball of lire resting on tlu^ ehureh steeple for several minutes; while many persons maintained that tlu^y had heard the most frigid ful screams and ytdls ; and, although they could not recollect the voice at tlu^ time, they now remiMuhered it resembled that of poor Caspar as he was carried through the air. 'V\\c foriMuan of the jury declared that, at about twelve o'clock that night, as he was leaving the taveni to proceed to his own house in the next street, he encounteri'd an enoi-inously tall black man with a pair t)f eyes that glisteiu^d like iiiv, who immediately grap[)led him by his neckcloth and nearly choked him, and dragged him along with him, with as nnich ease as if liH had been a child, to the edge of the woods, where he left him, almost strangled, to tind his way home as he best could, having lirst inflicted many grievous stripes uj)on him ; and he (^xhihiteil the marks on his throat and back, which were distinctly visible for sc^'cral days. At the tinu^ I am speaking of there was scarcely a horse owned in the whole county of Lunenburg. All the country piv)[)le who had occasion to visit the town nnited business with pleasure, and brought a waggon-load of wood, or some agricul- tural production, to sell to traders, who exported them to Halifax. These waggons were drawn by oxen, harnessed by the horns instead of the yoke, as nsed by settlers of American descent. The great tavern (for there was but one then in the place, which, strange to say, in the absence of all snch animals, was called " Das AVeisse Hoss," or White Horse) was snrroundtvl by nriinerous teams of this description, while their masters wt>re spending the money they had earned in the tap-room. The terrors of the past night induced all the farmers to leave the town earlier on the followini:: mornino: than nsual, that they might not be overtaken by night or the convict before they reached their respective homes. As this procession nu)ved otf from the inn, loud screams, min- gled with many (lerman oaths, were heard from one of the carts, the owner of which protested that Captain Smith or the Devil lay concealed in the straw in it. Many absconded and left their cattle to their fate ; others nrged them to their utmost speed ; while some, armed with pitchforks, more courageous than the rest, advanced to try the etl'ect of cold steel upon the demon. LIFE IN A COLONY. 295 Assailed on all sidoa, and divadfiiUy wonndcMlby hia fricMuls, ])()or CaHi)ar Horn niana^cd to roll over on liia back, and sit up and exhibit liiinself to the view of his astonished eountrynien. His neekeloth waa tied tightly over his mouth, iiis hands were secured behind him, and his feet iirndy bound toj^ether witli a cord. When released, and enabled to sj)eak, he had but little to tell, and that little was most marvellous. The last he recol- lected of the ^aol was walking np and down in front of th(^ \)v\- scMier's window, with his musket on his shoulder ; tlu; first tiling he know afterwards was that Ik; was bound hand and foot, sj)eechless, and lyin<; t)n his face nearly smothered with straw ; but how, when, or by whom tliis was ell'ected, he was perfectly i;i;norant, having been in a state of insensibility the whole time. The character of " Ilufeisen Bucht," if it was indiflerenfc before, became now j)erfectly terribli;. The owner had tliis day converted all rumours into realities, and had clearly shown that its occupants were in li'ai^ue with the Prince of Jiarkness. Every accident or misfortune that afterwards bap[)ened in the country was laid to the charge of Captain Smith or the Hevil. Every calf that died, every cow that refused to yield her milk, every b(.)at that was vi])set, aiul every unsuccessful voyage or failure of crop, was attributed to the agency of tliis mysterious stranger. After his conviction and esca[)e he was never seen. The boatman avoided the Cove, and the huntsman the forest that surrounded the " Ilufeisen Bucht. " Whether be or his family were there, no one knew, or had the wish or the courage to ascertain ; all that was known was that nobody had seen him. The following year, I again accompanied the Court to Lunenbin'g, and, procuring an Indian canoe, ])roceeded to La llaive, and entered the beautiful and rotnantic little Cove. Everything about the house seemed to wear tiie same aspect as when I had jjreviously seen it, and everybody to be pursuing tlieir several occupations as before. ]\lrs Smith received nie kindly and hospitably; but, though she well recollected me, and the warm interest I had taken in her husband's defence, she declined giving me any information about him. She enter- ed fully and freely, however, into conversation relative to the abominable charge (as she designated it) that had been prefer- red against him, and the still more extraonllnary verdict, wlilch was neither supported by law nor evidence. After partaking of some refreshment, I took n\y leave of her, entreating her, if evt'r, on any occasion, she thought I could be of any service eilher to herself or her husband, not to fail to command me. 29G THE OLD JUDGE ; OK, hill Into iho nppor pnrt of tlio Covo fell a larn^o atrrnni, wliidi "Nvns iod by oxltMisiv(» l;ik(>s in ilic intcM'ior. l^i^sidc llio dcsiro I lijul to roviyit tlu^ t'nniily, I li.'id anotluT ohjcct in view, iisliin«' for s.'ilmon, for vvliicli 1 was fully ('(|uij)pod. Instead, then Inn^ of roturninuj to tho river, 1 ascended the stream, wliieli 1 tried with indillerent success for about thre(^ niil(>s, Aviien inv ])ro^ress was arrested by a cataract of <2;reat luMi^dit. AVIiib^ ])ausiiii; to considcM" wlietluM' I should attiMupt to cland)er up this prcM ipi- tous ascent, or return to tlu^ main riv(>r, 1 lu^ard the soiiiul of an axe at no threat distance from the rit^ht bank of the brocik. Know inn; that this could alone proceed from an Indian encamp- n.ent, T immcMliati^ly hastened in search of it, for the douhlo ])nrj)ose of obtainini; a ouide throui;h the woods to iVtito liivier(\a distance of seven mih^s, and to avoid the disn^re(>ah1c necessity of ai;ain intrudini]: upon the ]irivacy of ]\Irs Smith. In a few miinites I reached the ])lace. and suddenly encounter- ed my friend the cajitain at tlu^ door of the ])rincipal tent, which stood at about tiftv vards distant from the others. lie was overjoyed to stH"" in(\ and press(>d me to remain witli him all nii^ht ; an invitation which, for many reasons, 1 was anxious to receive^ and acce])t. " Wvvc I am," ho said, "in perfect security, na yon see, and also at perfect liberty; beini; w(dl guarded by the ghosts and goblins of the ' HufeisiMi Bucht' on the one hand, and on the other by my faithful allit^s, the Indians, ov(T whom I possess an absolute control. I do not consider it prudent to reside con- stantly at my house, because even cowards iind ccnirago in, num- bers, and there is no telling what the posse comitafiis of the county UH'ght take it into their wise heads to do. I frequently visit mv family though, and sometinu^-s siic nd two or three davs there at a time ; but upon these occasions always take the pru- dent, though, I belicn'e, unnecessary, precaution of having out- lying scouts, to give me the earliest intimation of an attack. I often smile at the idle imjiortance with which I am invested, liaving nothing whatever remark-able about me, but for having been all my life the victim of circumstances. I kncAV you were in the neighbourhood, and my body-guard are now in search of you to bring you hither. I\(\ul this despatch" (a note from his M'ife) "while I recall them;" and then, taking from one of the posts of the tent a bugle, he blew the retreat. I have alwavs admired the notes of this instrument, the tones of whicli are so clear and powerful, and at the sami^ tune so sweet; but in the silence and solitude of au American forest thcv are of a nature never to be forgotten. The paper he had put into uiy bauds rau as follows : ?:' LIFE IN A COLONY. 207 am, wliiclj lie (lrsin> I thcrclon', ii'h 1 li-itnl y |)r(iL,M'i'ss l);uisin;j; \^^ lis ])re('i[)i- sound of the l)ro(>k. :ii onc.'iiiip- ulio (loublo to Pet i to is;iLir(H>ablo Urs Smilli. (Micoiinlcr- toiit, whicli . ]fo Mils th him all anxious to 111 soo, and i^liosts and iiul on the nissess an eside cou- in,nuni- <7.s' of the Voquontly thr(>o days tlie pru- ivinji; out- Ill attack, invest od, 'or havin;:: viuMV ytni re now in h" (a note ikinsi from eat. mient, the same time ieau forest ""Mr Saiulfoi'd in now fishiiii; on bi'oolc ; se(d\ or avoid liiiii as you think ])r()j)er; but, from the strou'^ interest he ex- presses ou your behalf, I reeoinmend an interview. J']. M." I returned it to liim, Avitliout iuakinij^ any remark upon the siL!;uature, which ])k'iinly (bsfdosed that Smith was a fictitious name, and merely oliserved that; h(^ ou^ht not to be sur[)rised if ]M>ople. who w(»re not aware of his means of information, rei^ard- i\\ his knowledijje with somethinuj more than astonishment, lie jlien ei'ossed ov(M* to the eneamjiment, and returned with an liidiati, to whom lie eonviM'sed frecdy in his own lanii^uai^e, who iinmediat(dy S(>t about ])re[)arini; a eoueh for me in the corner of tlu^ tent, made of bijjht- spruce ])ouL!;hs, over Avhich he spread some furs, and, in a few minutt^s mon*, |)rodueed a capital sup- ])(M' of broiled sahnon, smoked herrini^s, and dried venison, fn the ev(MiiiiL!j wo. walked u[) and down in front of tin; camj), smokini; and talkinu^, till a late liour. The j)rincipal topic of conversation, as yon may naturally suppose, wa.s the crime of which he stood oonvietcnl. " It wouhl be easy for me," ho sai(b " to efTeefc my eseaj)(% if I thoui^lit proper to do so, and T certaiidy would, if I were nuiltv : but knowinix the ehar'_re to be false, and feeliu": how imicli fli), juid a verdict of accidental death was return- ed. From what they saw, they were constrained to do so ; but as everything was possible with a magician, they were far j'roin satisfied that the captain and his black sorcerer had not con- jured up those appearances to deceive the public. But as they had suilered so much by his conviction, tliey now thouijjhfc il: not unwise to appease his wrath by an apparent acquittal. AVhen the box was opened, the first object that met the aston- ished siglit of SmiHi was the silver cup, which had occasioned the early departure of the pedlar, and the ur.just suspicions against the boy; nor was he le:s surprised by the production of a black fox-skin, which he recognised as his own by a bullet mark though the body, that had much impaired its value, and the loss of which he had always attributed to the carelessness or dishonesty of the person to whom he had intrusted the freight of his furs. After tlie discharge of the jury, and ou.r return to the" llufeisen Bucht, " while discoursing upon these events, he suddenly remarked — " That black fox-skin has recalled to my luind the whole affair. The boy, after all, had some foundation for his charge. I now remember, that late on that day on wdiicli the officer and the traniper arrived, I found a vessel at anchor in the river, nearly opposite to the Cove, and that the skipper, Peter Strump, promised me, when the wind should be fair, to take on board to Halifax a XL'vy valuable roll of furs, which I was desirous of sending to England. He was one of the very few Germans who were either not afraid of me or my place, or so fully believed in my power as to deem it safe to comply with my orders. I recollect propheysing to him that the wind Avould change a little before daylight, and directed him, if such should be the case, as it was a moonlight night, to come and taj) at my vvindow, and I would assist him to convey the package down to ^^'"Nti, LIFE IN A COLONY. 301 by nuicli titciy to the 1(1, and the cturiu'd by my advice, itcdy to tlio lit anytliiii'^ 1 bccMi dis- peed to Iho ?nt for. and a circuitous uce tliom to was retuni- do so ; l)ut ?re far iVom ad not cou- c. But as lOW tbouLi;]it it acquittal, t the aston- . occasioned ■j suspicions t'oduction of by a bullet ; value, and carelessness 1 the frei^lit ir return to le events, lie the whole his cbari^^e. officer and 1 the river, ter St rum J), on board desirous of iw Germans or so fully y with my ■wind would such should d tap at my ige down to Ids boat. lib' accordini:;ly came, and we carried it from tho projection throu<,di the liall (\\ht>re the boy slept), as noiselessly as possible, so as not to disturb the oillcer. The nnuiiuM' in which it was rolled, naturally exhibited the wh.ite tanned sid(> of the outer skin, and the proj(>ctinij^ fur at the end mi^dit easily have 8ui,^^ested the idea of the hair of the head, while the (doak was thrown across it, to be worn afterwards bv nivself, wheu catchinj; fresh fish for breakfast through the hole in the ice — ;i novtd mode of flshiuij; su^ijjested to me by the Indians. ]Iow I should have overlooked or forLjotten these particulars T cannot iniajj^ine, unless it arose from the profound conteni})t I I'elt both for tho boy and h.is story, or from a fatality that has always accompanied me through Hie, lor I have ever been the victim of circumstances. " * * Two years after this event. Captain Smith called upon me at Halifax, and informed me that he and his family were about embarking on the following day for England; that he had hro ight away a few articles of value with hiui from tlu^ ITuieiseii ]5ucht, distributed the rest among his old friends, the Indians, and burned down the buildings, which being of little value in themselves, and wholly unsaleable, could only serve to record the misfortunes of their past, or awaken the fears of their future owners. At a subsequent, period. I had the pleasure to renew my acquaintance with him in his native land, England, when lie gave me a narrative of the causes that compelled him to (ex- patriate himself, and related to me the particulars of his singular and adventurous life in the coloni(>s, under the assumed name of Smith, the least remarkable of which was his residence at La llaive. The laud comprised within the grant of poor old Nicholas Spohr at the Cove, and a large tract extending a con- siderable distance on each side of it, remained derelict for many years ; buc as it was covered with valuable timber, cu])idity in time proved stronger than superstition, and the forest lias all long since been removed, and the appearance of the ])lace is so eifectually changed, that you would now find great difhculty in identifying it. The story of Nicholas and Ca])tain Smith is only known to a few old men like myself, and will soon be lost' ^ As an illustration of tlio manner in wliicli traditions tjooomo confusod, and finally lost altogether, the Jud^e told mo that the precediiig year, wlien re- visiting tho scenes of bis 3'outhftil days, he ascended J.a Ilaive for the pnr]>ose of taking a last look at the Ilufeisen Bucht. He said, that having known it wken a young man, in all its beauty, he could not have believed it ^jossible iiillili. i|#*|i; iy:']';il 302 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, altocjetlicr, in a oo\intry wliero thoro is no ono likoly to found ;\ romance on tlic inmates and incidents of the " Jlui'fiscn Bucht." CHAPTER XIX. TnE seasons; oh, co^rEiis and goers. " The sensons in this colony," said the .Tndc;e, " are not onlv aroomj)anied hy th(^ ordinary nnitaticms of weather observed in otlier conntries, but pn^sent a constant and rapid succession of incidiMits and people. I'^'om the ojxMn'ni^ of tlie ports to the ch)se of navigation, everytliiii! tho rockless cloariiif^s in America arc calk'd, could have so traiistnrnied and di^figaired this h)vely spot as they have done. lie was slioi'ked to find tliat it was a common-lookinij, naked inlet, or indentation, in a ijreat bare tichl, ovcrU)oked hy an nnsii!:htly h)i;honse. Three small triveu mound? still marked the site of the former huildinj^s, but the glory of the place had departed for ever. 'J"he peo])le that resided upon it, who were squatters, kn(>\v nothing of its history, heyoud that of a murder having been conimitted there by the Indians, in the first settlement of the country. A more respect- able family, living on the opposite side of the river, asserted, that the original proprietor, Xich(das S])ohr, had been robbed, and barbarously killed, by a pirate called Captain Kidd, or Captain Smith ; that there was a tradition that the buccaneers had buried great treasure there; and that one Jacob Loluris, lat(dy deceased, used to aver, tliat at the full of the moon in September (about the time of the first white frost), a little old man, with a long pipe in one hand, and a cane in the other, had often been seen walking on the beach at midnight ; that it was a long time since they had heard the story, but thty thought Jacob said he once heard him ringing a little hand-bell. LIFE IN A COLONY. 303 iro called, could lavc doiio. lie ,or indcntiitiim, irec small ntH, conic and nople have a conntry and a home. Vnlil that period, it would seem as if they were merely comers and o^oers. " i'oii will soon have an opportunity of witnessinsj; this moviui^ mass of stran;u;ers, for the sprins; is now openiiiL^. It arrives later hei'e than elsewhere, has l)ut little tinu^ to remain, a vast deal of business to des})atch, and, being possc^sscd of the power of ubi(piity, is at work everywhere. It comes with a clear unclouded sky, a bright and daz/ling sun, ami a soft and balmy south-west air. ]t jtauses for a while, as if to survey the extent of its labour, and smiles with satisfaction and delight at the contem])lation of its own power, and the speed and case with whicli it can dissolve the chanis of winter, and vivify and clothe prostrate and inanimate nature. ]n an hour or two, the snow begins to be soft and moist, the ice to glisten, and then grow dim with trickling tears, while the frozen covering of accumu- lated drifts releases its hold, and slowly m()\es from the roofs of the houses, and falls like an avalanche on the streets, which first assume a yellow, and then a dinirv brown colour. The lulls, meanwhile, pour fortli their streams, which, descending to low places in the vain bope of finding their accustomed vents, form large pools of water, that threaten to unite and submerge the town. Everybody is occupied in preventing this calamity, and axes sliovela, and bars of iron are in requisition, to force the entrances of the subterranean caverns, and open a passage to the sea. "• At night, time is given, by the cessation of the thaw, for the waters to pass off, and in the morning the work of tlestruc- tion again connnences. Long, bare pieces of mutldy street appear ; teamsters may be seen urging their weary cattle across these sloughs to the sides of the road where the sun has had less power, and there is still suilicient ice to support the sleds ; little noi TIIK OLD JUDOK; OK, cmtimIs an* (>v(M'\ wIum'c In pi'occss of fonunlion, lo ('(HkIikI Hk* ■wilier iVoin coiirl MirdM, to the rcscrNoirs of the streets, aiid iiei^dilidurn assist each olljer \\\\\\ ^ood-natiiri'd zeal in tliis work ot iimtiial dej'eiiee. In a lew davs, tlie siiow disappejirs IVom tlie town, save here and tliei-e a black and slimy heap, which ;i envei'ini; of ashes oi' of straw has protech>d iVoin the seai'i liin.r rays of t he sun. Is this a snihh'n thaw ix'ciiliar to this cliiputi' or is it the adv(Mit ol'Sprini,'':' Jt is a (|uestion that tnav well admit ol'donhl, and esperience is in favonr* of (>ither opinion, lint il the answer is ^iven from above. JCvervbody is nhroad and iwerv head is raised to the heaNcns, and \ociferons i>rect iii lloi-ks of wild <;eese are eonl inii;illv jiassini; i'rom A'orth to Sonlh, in their senii-aninial mii^i-atioii. The lirst comers have come, and, like all other emii^rants. lose •ireat nnnd)ei\s on their arrival. J)ealh is busy e\ervwlu'i'e. The shop-boy has a holiday, the ap|)rent ic(» makes one, the ^«'Iii;^' lu'lps, nndliopo to terminate it l)y Ix'coiiiini; lielpinales. I lope, and no\elt v, and n new world ai'e w it li tlie exdes, hnt nieinoi'V, w it h its liappN past, and loneliness and desertion, with its divary Intnre, is the lot oi'tliose they have heliind Iheni. Tiuis is it e\er in life — it is not those who are taken, hnt those who remain to mourn, that- are rrea to h t (hst )it led () \\c inait a|)pears to I lover ronnc I tl lem III ress, nnal)le to ;,'o, and nnwnlini; to l)e separated li'om tiiem, and wanders to and fro, hkeoi"* who cannot decide what (Miirse to pni'suo. At hist he assumes the conra^M' of (h's|)era- tion, joins tlie vveej)in^' circle, and, alter some apparent dilliciilly, ])rovails npoii one of them to walk apart with him, and indnlij;!; him \\'\\\\ the melancholy |)l('a>nre ot'e\('hanL,Mni; their sad adiens in ])rivate. 'I"he lair one yields to his entreat ies, and, after Ji short hnt emhari'assini; interview, ahandons her migration, and remains in her own country, to consent to ;i union whichslumo donht thouL^ht oiii^ht to have heen earlier proposed.- "'{"he places of the wee[)in!j; friends is soon snpplied by arri- vals IVom thc: ^LranI^e sail. In e\chanLi;(' for the ' factory ladies' e.\[)oi'ted, American itinerant pedlars, lecturers, and s|)eculat(»rs, are imported. A tall, thin man, \vith a j)air of shonlders ofre- markahly narrow dimensions, and a neck of uunsiial leni^th, dressed in a suit of black, Avith a satin Avaistcoat surmounted by t^everal coils of <,'old chain, and wearin;; a glazed leather stock, and a. low-crowned, broad-brimmed hat, moulds f^uard on the AvRarf over a larj^e bhlck trunk covered Avith yellow copper-look- iiiLi; boltheads, secured by clas[)S of the same brilliant metal at the corners and edjj;es, ami havin%iS\ I I 306 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, baccliMnaliaii ditties for tlio hnr-ronins of inns. 1I( IS sol'cr aniusiiiL,', and lioiu'st, and acccplH lio?;|)italil y, or sonic Irillii rcniuiR'rat ion i'or his cicrviccs. Jlc talks so iamiliarlv of .1 t'Wish liistorv, that many people i'e'd persuaded they have seen and eonversed with the real wanderer. " The ])arty is now inci'eased by the addition of a thii'd person. Jle is a stont, iolly-lookinL,^ lellow, Avith a facetious t'\j)ression of face, which is somewhat increased by a kiiowini;'- Icjokini; travellini;-ca|) woi'n jaunlinnly on one side. ]Ie carvi'^s a eai'pet-bai; in one hand, and a cloak in the other, hoih dt' which he deposits on the trunk of skulls, diagrams, and calico ishirts, belonjj^ini^ to Ins friend, the iihriMiologist, in order to iwait the landinti(nis knowiiiu-- Ih' carrii's r, bolli tit" iiiul caliint L ovdiM* Id I'll prooci'd liLijiits ;i!i 3 brtH'clu's- ■ iu>ai' liini, y I'or in any ss it's ^^hat iii't easy to oins of tlie mills that. |vi>.' ']-irst would 1)0 Several... ' IV.' 'Have c-leaiisei's. lU coinnuni, I he with- fi!j;ar iVoui e otlu r, IV- limself the xpress that le Stirlin;:; — ' On tlie or at that iii't patron- )i'()diietion ; rants eiL;l»t is the ])rin- i\ Craurl;! like that, eer- looking 11 fellow, so free and easy, too, and so inquisitive. AVho is he ? Nobody knows, but 31r John Smith: and the P.P. ^L, CO., Mss., says he is Colonel Smut, or the Smutty Colonel, as lu* is ealled in tlio States. ' Ah ! his leetures are not very delieate, tiien — not lit for hidies to hear; they woiTt go down in this eountry, IJe had better keej) hisaneedotes for the bar-room of a eanteen.' — 'He is no leeturer,' rejoins 3Ir Siniih; 'no theorist, but a praetieal man. He has invented an apparatus to attach to grist mills to eleanse Avheat of the smut. Jle has taken out a patent for it, and come here to disj)()se of it, and set up the gear. He talks of nothing else, and is therefore ealled Colonel Smut, or the Smutty Colonel. J lis name is Jonatlian J^aneroft,' Corn brooms, horn rakes, bush pullers, straw cutters, Avooden clocks, and heaps of Yankee notions, are now put on shore for Pineo J5igelo, who intends to sell them, as he expresses it, for half nothing ; and, if money is scarce, receive old iron, broken copper or brass, rags, horns, or wool in return. His time is short and precious, and he intends to give Ijreat bargains to his fri(Mids. " ]3ut Avho is that sedate-looking man with spectacles, \vho, having landed a well-made, tall, bony horse and a waggon, with an Hidia-rubber awning over it, is now taking his seat, and preparing to drive to the inn?' 'He is a travelling doctor, and vender of patcnit medicines. He can cure gout, rheuma- tism, dispopsy, consumption, and all the other ills th.at ilesh is heir to. liis medicines are strong but innocent, simple but certain. They arc all vegetable preparations, the secrets of which have been purchased of the Indians, or discovered by experience, and a thorough knowledge of chelnistr3^ The phrenologist knows him, and says he has the bump of benevo- lence largely developed, and the scientific faculties more exten- sively displayed than lie ever before observed. The doctor returns the compliment, and tells of the hirge and respectable audiences uttracted by the lectures of h's friend. The broom and notion man is an unprofessional fellow, that lowers the name of the great nation abroad by his tricks of trade, and they do not know him ; while Colonel Smut is able to speak for himself; and, as for his machinery, it only requires to be seeu to be admired, and to be understood to be valued. " Da\ bv day, the exchange of <^w/gratioii for 2;»W7gration continues, with this dilference, that those who go, seldom return, except to spealc of disappointed hopes and broken fortunes, and tb.at those who come, remain only for a season. lietreating winter now rallies, and makes a last and desperate ellbrt to regain its lost ground. It ridea on the cold northern blast, or, t 308 TIIK OLD JUDGK; OK, (Irivliiix ilK-" flonlliiij i('o-fu>l(lH of Ili(» St; La\vnMi('o niid Lahrad l)(>rori* it, nils 11,0 Sirnilsoi' NortlimnlxM-lMnd, lilockadcs tl or it> ad- jacent harbours uith its nionnoiis ii'«d)('i'<;s, and ciriM'tualb rotiii'ds all vt\L;,»>lat ion, \vlu>n i-suddcnlv it (Mncr^cs ai!,ain IVom thi oast ward, and covers tluM\'irtli with snow. IionLT. ted lOilS, tiiM'ce conllicts between these t wo ciMdendinir st'asoi and IS (Misne. til th \o sneconrs ol advanemi; Sununer tertnniate the eontcsl. Spring HMi^ns trinniphant. The lakes throw oil' tluMr wintrv torpor, the forest vi(>Kls np its niassi>s of snow, and the ever- p;r(HMis of the deep and shady swamps can no longer conceal or retain the linijerini; ice. ^'honsands and tens of thousands of 11 ii;ht inhales (for so the I'diiu I'ltn/ii/aiis' (A' this countrv is hu- morons Iv d esiiina ted), simnltaneonsly scmkI forth their noctin iial S(M*iM»adt»s, and c(>lehrat(> the vict(>ry that has i-elcased tliciu from prist)!!. The incessant and iii)i'oari()\is (Kdi^hl of thcs(» libei'aled cajitiv(>s !nnst he heai'd to b(>l'nlly comi)rt>hendcd, and th(» i>ai' accustomed to its music In^foiH^ it, can confer the plca- sni'c that it mw(>r fails io i!ni)ai't to tin* !iatives. " SpriiiL!: has !iow so far advancml, that wf can hai'dlv l.c- ]i(ne that lUinoo is tlu* same plain* wt» b(diidd a few weeks a^e. The wimlows and dooi'sot'the honsc^s ai'i* all opiMi — evei-vlhin:;' i!!(l every bod V Sl'l ins to be in a nnivei'sal state of transition. 'fhi^ fn'st o\' ]\lav liives n tnv lod iiei's to new houses, am la sninil tanev)ns exchange oi' tenants takes ])lac(% Avhile thost* who do iu>t remove (Hit of their tenemeiits appear to abilicate nearly oveiy room in them ; for what is called the uiMUM-al ' honse- cU\ininii ' has coiinmnn'tHl. Paint and white-wash bi-nshes ai'e nsv evervwheiv \l oors, ceiniiirs, walls, and m!'i!iuiiv, m I fi "filed I) liy the smoke of a lon>^ wint(M\ !indtM'i;o a i^eiiei'al ]mi'il:cation, to the inlinito fatii^ne of servants, ami the nnspeakable annov- ance oi' the male pai't of the household, uho are expelled by mops, bi'ooms, and scrnbbi!i<;-brnshes IVom their bonu^s. Vacu the stiVi^ts scarcely atVord a safe retiH\it tVom the showei's of Avater thi'owu upon or irom wiiulows, snbjeetiiii; the iinwaiy straiiLrer to the daiii^er of snddiMi immersion ; nor does snch a time of disorder and fatij^ne shelter the opei'ators fi'om the el- fects of practical jokes, or screen the otVenders fi-om immediato pnnishment. A loud lanL:;h. sncceediHi by a scream, attests some pi'ank, while the snddiMi irruption of a footman from the hall- door, followed by the iri'itated housemaid, mop in hand, exhi- bits the inconvenience of havim; sjiort eonvei-ted into earnest. \\ bile the bouses aiv thus metamor])hose(l within, the sti'cits present an e(]ual change without. Crates, deal cases, bai'vcl^:. and boxes, ]niblish the ai'rivals of En^lisli sprinu; i>;oods, and hiL- millii^MT and fancy shops are crowded by ladies, who, luuiiig MFK IN A CO LOW. noo iHiiili'ii Labrador rs till' ;ul- rlVc.'tunlly M iVoin till" (lions, :iiiil (MISUC, t ill ;> t'outi'st. rir uiiilry \\\i' v\cv- conceal nv )iisan(lH of wiry is Im- icir noctiii'- ^ascd llicm \[ of 1hcs(> uMidcil, and r the plca- lianlly W- wiH'ks an(>. -ovcM-ythiiu; transition, mil a siiiuil- )si» who ilo icato ncai'ly ral ' hoiisc- Ibi'ushcs aro nro, (loilloil mritication, iihlo annoy- xpcUod by nos. Kvou showers o'' ho iiiuvary oos sm'h a Ironi i\\o ot- in\nioiliate ttosls sinno 1 tho hall- hand, oxhi- to oarnost. iho striHts i ninsie o|- birds, departs as snddeidy us it ar- rived, and leaves the seed to bo i-ipened and the IVni*. inatiired bv the Hiu'ceedinu^ season. A deep bine skv, :i bi'iL^ht, and bril- liant, snn, a. bi'eat bini; of the west wind, so sol't. ;ind ;j;enlle .'is scarcelv tonwaken the restless aspen, a tropical dav, precedeil liy a i;i'ev mist, in t he moiiiinL!^, th:it ^radnallv discloses to \ iew the rich, luxni'iant , nnd mellow landscape, and shed a lijoI den his- t re over the waving" meadows, jiiid, abn\e all, * he solitary locust, that seeks the loft ii'st- braiudi of t he elm on the lawn, and sin^s his monotonons sonu:, when the leathery tribe are seekini^^ \\\{) cool ret i-v'ats of the t hickets, n slier in t he sii miner. The siiii hart scarcely sol- behind the dark, wavy outline ul' the westci'n hills, ere the Aurora liorealis mimics its selliiii,' beams, and revels with wild delii;ht, in thebeaxcns, which it; claims as its own, now ascending:; with meteor sj)eeil to t he /eiiit h, t hen dissolvinu^ into a thoiisand rays of varicL^ated lii;ht, that; vie with each other which shall lirst reach the hori/,on ; now tlaHJiinLJ bright, bi'il- liant, ami pjlowinij;, as emanations of the sun, then slowly n;- treatini; iVoiu view. ])ale and silvery white, like waiiderimj; moon- beams. ' " Its sportive vein is soon over, and, ^vhil(^ yon ■watch for itH re-a])|)earanee, hnndi-eds of small volcanoes bnrst i'oi-tb, from the (le|)ths of the; iorest, in all directions, sen(lin<4 np lonjj;, black, dense masses of smoke, that are suspended in the sky, and then illnminated by tlu; colnmns of llaiiu; benetith, liko sluH^ts of bo 'uished j^old. Tlu; woods seem as if they were in a bhizo everywhere, and would soon be wrapt in one g(!neral ' Till' llrst, Miipoiirntu'o of flm Aurora TJorcalis was very nstonisliiiii,^ to our ;nir(>stors, ixitli in I'liiropi' iind Aiinrica. Jt, was first seen in Ku;;l;iinl in 171*), niid in British North America in I711*- A very intcrrstinj^ account of the for- mer was written by tlic licv. Tliomas Pmicc, wlio was tli(>n in I'luropc. A iiiiiiuto (lcsci'i|)tioii of the latter ,vas pnhlislied at boston hy an iiiiniiymous niilhor; Itotli of which papiTs ;iri; to ho foiiiitl in tho si'cond volume of tho Colleetious ot' the Historical Sdcicty f Miissacluisctts. It was first noticed at '.!(i>-ton at oinht o'clock in the evcnin;.!; of the eleventh of December, 171". 'I'liis person who describes it concludes his quaint account iis lullows : --" 'I'ho dn adt'uluess a>< well as stranu'eiu'ss of tliis iiicteoruiade me think of l\Ir Watts's '' riptioii of tho Day of Judgnu'ut in Kii^lish Sappiiick, and of tiiesc liues ni Fiatniiu : — ■When from tlie dinif;:eon of tho 'i!ii'!!1 !'l|i .ii ^ ^ nio THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, f'onflap^ration. How brii^^lit and Ijcaiitifiil is tin's nocturnal fire ! now rising Avitli ini])(>tuoiis rai;o above the tallest trees, tluii Bubsidini^f into a smouldering]; heap, and again eneirelin<^, like ;i wreath oi'liu^ht, some tall pine, and Avaving from its top its ban- ner of llame, in token of A'ietory. The giant tree, nnahic t() resist the devouring element, falls heavily under its ibe wiih a crash that shakes the very hills, and sends np showers of lire I'nr away into the heavens, '^fhe foresters have invoked the aid of this dreadful (>lement to disencund)er the ground of its tiiriber, and thereby enable th(Mn to bring their land into cultivation. Alas! they sometimes fall victims themselves to their dangerous and ra]>acious ally. The summer is ,i ])eriod of cojnparative re- pose, ami the assizes are held, and the judges and lawyers 'conit> and go,' and the races are opened, and followed by balls and reirattas. " ]h\t Avhat is this procession, and whence all thismnsic? A remarkably light, open, but capacious carriage, the most beau- tiful thing of the kind ever seen, as the handbills say, drawn bv eight white horses, which are managed Avith greater apparent ease and security without the aid of postilions, and directed ra- ther by certain cabalistic Yankee words, perfectly nnintelligil)](> to all but the prancing steeds, than by whip or reins, convevs the celebrated brass band of New England, ' the most distin- guished in the whole world.' Immediately behind this wonder- ful equipage are some ten or twelve horses, gaudily (richly is a more aj)propriate term) caparisoned. These ' real Arabians.' foals of the sun, are remarkable for their lire and docility, their delicacy of limb, and great endurance. Next comes croam- eoloured ones of the same roval stock as those in the stables of the Queen of England, with magnificent side-saddles and hous- ings, covered with golden stars, and decorated with deep frinuo of the same valuable material, and then jet black ponies, with long tails and flowing manes, so wild and intractable that nobody but iSenor Caldero, 'Felix Bibb,' the great South American horse-tamer, can manage, and in his hands they are as gentle as lambs. " A long train of carriages bring up the rear, the last of which, drawn by six Pennsylvanian heavy dray-horses, is most conspicuous. Whatever it contains is carefully concealed from view by enormous folds of snow-white canvass, and is doubtless very heavy, as it requires a team of such uncommon strength to transport it. From the centre of this mass of canvass rises a stalf which supports the British flag, a delicate compliment to the S'ensitively loyal nerves of colonists, who are always thrown into epileptic and sometimes into convulsion fits at the very ~«'7 LIFE IN A COLONY. 311 irnal fire ! ret'H. tluu 11*,', like :i J]) it.sban- luuihlc to foe \\h\\ i\ of liiv far the aid of ta tiiii])t'r, iiltivatioii. daiiTrs 'eoiiH^ balls and music ? A lost Lean- drawn by ' apparent ireeted ra- intelli^i1il(» IS. conveys ost distin- is w'onder- (richly is Arabians,' ility, their es cream - stables of and hons- leep fringe )nies, with at nobody American IS [gentle as lie last of s, is most paled from , doubtless trenen, and there is an end of the matter. " Is it an apparition, or a dream ? it is ])assedand i;one, and nothing is left to remind nsthat it has been here, bnt the chorus of a negro song caught up by the boys in the street, and shout- ed forth at every corner at night ; or, a rumour that a child has brok'en his lc\g, or injured his s[)ine, in attempting snnnuersets, after the maimer of little master Y'oung, the //;rr// Phenomenon. Scarcely has the last cheer of ap|)lause rewarded the last rehearsal of the last joke of the clown, ere the pegs are drawn, the cords loosened, and the tents struck, packed and rehxaded ; the handsome men, in yellow tights with scarfs and gold-lace jackets, are converted into teamsters, grooms, or musicians, in rusty black clothes, and the pi'oi'c^ssion is again in motion to the uext village. Jt is a tale that is told — they are forgotten among the ' comers and goers.' " J3ut, if this is one of the lights of life to the juvenile part of the conununity, here is a melancholy shade — a gcmeral glotun succeeds — reflection will come. The crops are bad, the potatoes have failed, the Aveevil has destroyed the wheat, and lomr and continued rains have damaged the hay croj). Fires at Quebec and Xewtbnndland, the famine in Great Britain, and want and poyerty at home, have dried up the sources of charity :— when, lo! the highways are thronged with groups of strange-looking, emaciated, squalid lunnan beings, such as, thank God ! this hnj)py, thrifty, industrious country never produced, and, if we are left to ourselves, never will and never eau exhibit. A strong stout man, dressed in a blue coat and brown breeches, with a pipe in his nu)uth, his shoes iu one hand, and a short stick in the other, is i'ollowed by a woman walking barefooted, and bendinix forward uiuler the weight of a child seated on the top of a dirty bundle of infectious c'. thing, which is fastened on her shoulders — two small, pale, shoeless girls, with luieciual pace, travel by her side ; and the rest of these paupers, of various sexes, bring up the rear of this sad, silent, and sorrowing party of emi- grants. ' The door of the settler, ^yhich was uever before closed, is now guarded or bolted, and relief is timidly administered through some aperture. Idleness, insubordination, and disloy- alty, have induced ])oyerty — poverty has induced want — want LIFE IX A COLONY. 313 pmipjrncion — and emigration, amid foul air and bad food, lins engendered disease ; and tliese wretelied exiles have earried it tlirough tlie eountrv, and sliook it out on the wings of the wind, to bo dispersed evervwliere. " A\^e are ])oor ourselves -not from idleness, though we might be more laborious ; nor from wilt'id inaetivity, in order to force others to I'eed and sup})ort ur, for we are too proud and too right-minded to do so ; nor i'rom op])ression, for we know it not ; nor from the sterility of the soil, for this country eould feed millions ; but we are poor, because it has ])leased Ood to withhold from the earth its wonted increase, llow, then, shall we maintain these unfortunate creatin-es ? — and why are they thrown upon our shores ? are they sent here to starve, or to consume us also ? The Lazaretto is full, though death deci- mates it daily; for fresh victims are contiiuially arriving to supply their places. Thousands have, landed but to die, and thousands have embarked, who were soon consigned to the bosom of the great deep. " Amid all the bad passions and bad fechngs which unprin- cipled and seditious agitators have called up in the breast of these peasants, urging them on to resistance and crime, how nianvirood, all'octionate, and devoted hearts are still to be found " • 1 • among them ! AV'ho is that woman, and what is her history, who sits apart from the rest, who are making their mid-day meal by the road-side of viands prei)ared in yon house for its own inmates? Her head is resting on her hand, and her countenance sad and distracted, while her mind is evidently far, far away — perhaps among the green hills of her own native land. The ship in Avhich she embarked soon became an hospital, and day by day death seized upon some one of her family, until ull were gone but her baby. She was alone in the world save with this little one— she had feen them sink one after another, and all her care and all her alfections centred on this helpless innocent. She watched it by day and guarded it by night, and mingled her tears with her prayers for its safety. But, alas ! death is inexorable, and strikes the afilicted as relentlessly as those who know no sorrow. It died, like the rest, and she was left a childless widow. But she was not thus to be separated from the object of her alfections : she concealed its death, dried up her tears, carried its little corpse in her arms, carefully covered it from the rude winds, caressed it, sung to it, and pressed it to her heart. At last her secret was discovered ; but she clung to the lifeless body with frantic energy, and begged so earnestly to have it reserved for a grave, that the captain kindly yielded to her entreaties. A little coffin wan nu THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, mado for it, and it was depositinl in tluO)oat tliat luincj ovor tlio stern, with a l.uinane Droiiiisc that it should be [jivscrvcd as lour as possihio. and, if |)i'actical)l(', buried on shore. Day and iii<'iit, she remained on deck, and kept her ews on that she could imt enfold to her heart, and, cwn w\\vn darkness overspread ihi- lieavens, sustained hers(df witli the nielaneholy (.•onsolat ion of dimly discerninii; it at rest. At hist they descrii'd the eastern shore of the province; and in the eveninuf tlio boat uas lowered, a was dnuf, and tlie body interred. The captaiu inscribed the name of the harbour on a card, with the bearings of the s|)ot, and So. 1 faintly inscribed on it, from Avhich it is fair to infi-r that there is a ]S'o. 2 in reserve for the introduction of tithes: a resolution therefore condenniatorv of such men and measures is nnanimously carried amid great acclamation and ardent ])ro- lestatiou of their determination to lav down their lives when ]ieedcd, and their fortunes when acquired, for the honour of the C^ueen, and the benefit of the province. " A eonnter Conservative meeting is now convened, fit whi occasion deprecate any interference with the prero- gative, and maintain that the Governor has nndoubted right to select his officers from whatever party he ])leases provided he acts constitutionally, by choosing them froni their sitle, and that it matters very little to the country whether Eels or ISharp, Thompson or Jackson, is appointed, as nobody feels particularly interested in either of them ! As for the im- ])osition of tithes, they assert that nothing can show the folly of such a supposition more plainly than the fact that few peo- ple in this poor country have ten calves, ten pigs, ten haystacks, or ten sheep : children being the only productions that ever reach that ominous and taxable number. They very logically conclude, therefore, that where there is no tenth, there can be no tithe. A vote of confidence in the present ministry is carried, as a matter of course, nem. con., with three cheers for the Queen, three for the Province, and three for Conservatives. Hap- py country, where you cannot find a grievance ! and happy peo- ])le, where your contest is for men, and not for measures — for places, and not for theories of government ! " But there is something to be seen this evening infinitely more amusing than political jugglery, in which all sides can join good-humouredly in approving; for, here is practical jug- ^dery, and Signer Blitz will take less money out of your pockets, and give you more satisfaction in return, lie again is followed by a troop of rope-dancers, ventriloquists, German and Swiss bal- lad-singers, giants, dwarfs, and precocious children, all of whom .-ay they have exhibited or performed before the Queen of Eng- ii -'i:!: i, . niG THE OLD JUDGE; OR, land, tlio Kiiiijf of I'^rmuv, and tlio Emporor of T\nssia. l')n::iirrr(- otvpe men succeed, wlio take yonnuj ladies' likenesses; Inrhiiic tellers, wlio provide them liushands for sixpence ; traveiijn r jewellers, to I'urnish the weddini^f-riniJf ; tin-relleetor men, i,, bake the eake; strolliiin; preaehers, to marry them ; and bell- ringers, ready to ])errorm at the: t-ereniony ; Avhilo ])i('lui'(' venders sneeeed, to ainnse, and siiii^ins; and daneini^-maslcrs lo teach the children. These iellowa seem to have an intiiilive kno\vledi,'e of the Avants of a new conntry, and to under.->taiitl the rapid ('k.' — 'Then retnrn to me. and I wjll jwovide yon with a home and employment while 1 live.' The old gardener who staiuls ereet when he addresse.s voii, and ri;ilcd crowd that occupies the space where those two highways ineel, and coNcrs the teiices and thnui^s the doorway of ihat deceiii- lookiiiLj temperance! inn, to the well-l'eii;ne(l ainioyance of iis inmates and the horror of all ti'ue fi'iends of sobriety, is emplov ed in arran''inloom\'. Jt is iwillv a country of ' comers and goers.' '"1 shall leave the t(>xt to moralists and j)reachers. Custom has sanctioned the presentation of jiddresses on such occasions, to express and record the respect and sorrow of the community, and experience has shown that the practice is a wise, grateful, and salutary one. It is a ])ity, however, that propi'r bounds and limits have not bi>en assigned to a custom which is now f;ist degenei'ating, not mertdy into an idle ceremony, but into a ridiculous exhibition of folly. 1"o-day a commantier of a steamer, ^ who mistook Xewfonndland for a log-bank, and thereby en- dangered the lives of his passengers and crew, nearly destroying the valuable vessel, is entertained at a public dinner, and presented with a ])iece of plate and a ilattering address in which, omitting all mention of his egregious careh'ssness cu* ignorance, his coolness in peril and bis fertility in expetlients are highly extolled, in terms equally honourable to the under- standing and good taste of the subscribers, and to the modesty of him who could hear it without blushing, and receive it with- out mortillcation. ''If the spring is short in this country, Nature has compen- sated us for the deficiency, by^ giving us a second edition of it at this season, called the ' Indian summer.' The last fortnight is restored, with sunny skies, bland south-west winds, and delicious ill ! ' i^ i 'iil! ! ; 320 THE OT,D JUDGE; OR, weather, which hiis the warmlli of sprin^^ without its sliowers the summer sky without its heat, aud autunm uiglits withuut th(-ir frost. It is Nature's lioliday — th repose of the seasons, the iiufTerin<]f beauty of maturity, ere tlie snows of age elface it for ever. Tiie savag.'S seek their winter quarters, by ascendiuf tlie lakes and rivers to the ImntinjT' ground ; tlie sportsmen arc in the fields or the woods, the farmer is busy with his plough, and the mariner hastens homeward to dismantle his Aessel, an(l moor lier securely before the approach of snow-storms. IIk^ migratory birds, too, avail themselves of this lull of the Avinds, and proceed on their southern journey, to avoid th,e wiiitrv blasts, wiiile every animal of the forest selects his cavern, or hi's den, and makes all those preparations that unerring in^'.iutt suggest-j for his safety or support. " A heavy storm of rain, succeeded by a sudden shif'r of wind to the north-west, brings winter upon us in an instant : the lakes are covered with ice, the swamps congealed into a solid mas3, and the ground frozen as hard as adamant. "vVlieii tlu> wina relaxes, snow succeeds, until the whole earth is covered with it to a great depth. Everybody is abroad, and in motion ; Ihe means of transport, which were suddenly suspended by the frost, are now furnished by the snow. The ' New Comers ' are delig!>.ted with the novelty, and anxiously exchange runniM's fur wheels, and leather for furs, to essay an upset (by no means a diillcult feat), and to try the speed of horses that have lost their activity with tiieir youth, and who have already trained several generations of ' JVew Comers' before them. The roads are miw covered witli sleds, the streets with sleighs, and merry voices and merry bells proclair.i that the season has arrived when nearly all the ports are closed until spring, and there can no longer be arrivals or departures — Comers or Gloers." i ClIAPTEU XX. THE WITCH or IXKY DELL. A]MO>'G the various classes of comers and goers that have at difierent times visited this country (continued the Judge) witches and a})paritions have now nearly ceased to honour or alarm us with their company. Forty years ago they were very numerous, and every village and settlement had its ghost or its sorceress. Many well-authenticated tales are told of their sayings and do- , IJJff . m LIFE IN A COLONY. 321 m^s, ar.cl of their marvellous power ; for when was a story de- ficient of proof, where peoj)le are crafty or credulous ? As a sample, I will tell you one that was related to me by a person who had been for some time sufferin": under the maliiruaut in- fluenceof the AV'itch of Inky Dell, in Cumberland, Xova Scotia. Shortly after tlie termination of the American Eebellion, a number of the inhabitants of the old colonies^ emi<;rated to this ])rovince, the majority of whom were Loyalists, who, re^Inquisli- ing their homes and possessions, followed 'lie fli g of their king into this cold and inhospitable country, while uol a few belonged to the opposite side, which they had either disgraced or desert- ed. Every county of Xova Scotia received great numbers of these "refugees," as they were called, and, among others, Cum- berland had a large proportion. Driven f-om their homes and ordinary occupations, it was a long time before they settled them- selves in the country of their adoption, and many preserved, daring the remainder of their lives, the habits of idleness en- gendered by war and exile. Taverns were then places of nuich greater resort than at the present day. when they are almost ex- clusively given up to travellers, and the voice of contention or merriment scarcely ever ceased within them, either by day or night. The battles of the recent war were fought over again wiiii re- newed zeal, and it must be admitted that these Loyalists were a most distinguished body of men, inasmuch as it appeared that every individual was confident that the result of the contest would have been far different if the British Government had followed his advice. These faithfid and wise councillors daily met, deliberated, and decided upon the fate of the nation, but, alas ! they had no means to execute their designs, and the world unfortunately went on as usual with 'ut them. Among this little loyal band was one AValter Tygart, or "Watt the Tiger, as he was more generally called from the fero- city of his temper. lie had held a commission in the celebrat- ed corps of cavalry known as Tarlton's Legion, and was a strong, well-made, active, daring man ; he had distiuguiohed himself during the war as well by his valour as his cruelty, for it \\as a ftivourite maxim of his that "the Devil was thefirst rebel," and that therefore to sj)are a traitor was a devilish and not a Christian act, and was accordingly noted for never having taken a prisoner, or given quarter to a foe. lie was a noisy, rollicking, dissipated fellow, full of anecdote, with some humour, and a strong but dangerous propensity to practical joking. ^Fy first recollections of Cumberland are connected with the " Loyalist Club " and AYatt the Tiger, the revolutionary aneodotea they severally 21 322 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, related, or, as the evening advanced, all told togc"' or, myself Leing the only listener amid the cUiinorona party. 1 remember an absurd anecdote he told of one of their bro- ther members, ^vho was absent that evening. It is impossible to give you an idea of his manner, though his language may serve to show you the style of man he was. Tbe stijrv re- ferred to Captaiu Lybolt, a retired ofllcer of German extrac- tion, who had recently been appointed a magistrate, lie was a vain, pompous, and ignorant man, not very scrupulous in his conduct, and resolved to make his new oiUce as lucrative as pos- sible by means of lines, of which, at that time, no account was ever exacted or rendered. "I say, boys, old stick-in-the-mud is made amaglstrat'^ ; he is, npoii my soid ! fact, I assure yon, boys. The criltur lias be- gun to line already, and where the line goes the king's lingers will never follow, even if they were as long as a connnissary's. It would have made you die a-laughing if you had seen his iirst trial to-day, as I did, it would, upon my soul, boys ! fact, I assure you — I hope I may die if it wouldn't ! A chap crossing his orcliard yesterday picked a few of his apples, and ate them, which, in all Christian countries, is only a sociable, neighbourly act : but old cat-a-nine-tails, dod drot him ! called it foraiiiuir on the enemy, marauding, plundering, and what not, and issued a warrant against him for stealing. ' AVliat is the use of being a justish,' he said, ' if you can't do justish to yourself!' He did, upon my soul ! fact, I assure you ! true as thunder, boys ! " To make the court look respectable, and scare the poor devil, with his law and learning, out of his money, he piled up great heaps of books on his table, business and earnest-like, took his scat on one side of it, and made Corporal Cotton, his orderly, sit down on the other, and act as clerk, and then order- ed the constable to briiig in the prisoner. 'Got for dainine, what do you mean, sir ? ' said he, a-bristling up and a-bridling like a whiskered Lucifer, ' what do you mean by stealing my apples?'— ' Who! me?' 'Yes, you ?'—' Stealing! ' ' Yes, stealing, sir ! ' — ' Do you call that stealing ? ' ' Stealing ! to be sure it is.' "' Cotton,' said Lybolt, a-whispering to his orderly, 'bring in more book: he don't respect the law, nor the king's appoint- ment, nor the justish. More book, sir;' and Cotton brought in several arms-full of ' more book,' and piled them up on the table. ' xn'ow,' said the Captain, swelling out like a tarnation big bull-frog chock full of wind, ' what do you say for yourself ':' — 'Ididn'tthink itany great matter,' replied poor pumpkin-head- ed red-nose, ' to eat a few apples — what a touss you make about 'V'n LIFE IN A COLONY. 323 iiothiug ! ' — 'Put tliat down, Cotton,' said the captain; 'lie confesses be stole them, and calls thieving a touss guten himmel. I shall teach him better for all time that shall be passed, that shall be present, or sliall come ; ' and he snorted like as if ho seed an indgin, he did, upon my soul, boys ! — fact, I assure yon, fellows ! dod drot me if he didn't ! ' Constable, remove the prisoner till the court deliberates on the punishment. Serious ollence, this. Captain Tygart,' he said to me, winking and blink- ing like an owl in the sun, ' a very serious otfence, pillaging when on march through the territory of a friendly power. It is death by niartiaUlaw ; ' and he ordered in the prisoner : ' I pronounce you guilty, sir,' said he, ' and now I sentence you — you shall be hanged— you shall be whipped— or you shall pay live pounds, and you shall have your choice which.' The poor crittur, who had no pluck in him, or he would have capsized him and his clerk, and buried both of them under their books, ])aid the five pounds, showed a leg, and made himself scarce. ' ]''ary good ofllsh. Captain Tygart,' lie said with a knowing wii^k, as lie pocketed the fine -' fary good offish ! fines are more better nor apples — as apples are more better nor nothing. It shall be worth more uor two hundreds in one year' — ti-ue as rates, he did, upon my soul, fellows ! I hope I may die if he didn't ! fact, I assure you, boys ! ' " Soon after that, I missed Watt the Tiger from his " accus- tomed haunts," and iniderstood he was partially deranged. His conduct became suddenly so strange, and he persisted so obstinately in refusing to give any reason for his behaviour, that somebody attributed his melancholy to a disturbed con- science, and remorse for past misdeeds, while not a few believed that he had been visited or claimed by the Devil. It appeared that one night, when returning from the club, his horse arrived at his house before him greatly terrified, followed some time afterwards b}' his master, wliose clothes were torn and soiled, and his countenance and manner niuc^. disturbed. Soon after, the same thin couiih-v takinj; Ilia tri'asiu'os with liim (though, ])oor ti-llow ! liis onfy po.sacssions wiMV liis farm, liia caltlo, and a [)iMision of 11 fly ponnds a yoar), and crossiiiijj over ilio s(\is, and ))la('iii<; his jowola, l>ars ot'i^old, and cliosts of money, in tlu» ]?ank ol' Kucr. land, and siHMidini; iho romaiiulcr of his days in {\w sporiiu" worlil, I'ar away IVom all piratos, (hn ils, wilclu^s, Lrldlcs, sidc- facKiles, anil black marcs. In iacl, his comhu't and conviTsation Avci'c so incomprehensible, that he was U^t't to pnrsue his own iiuMlitations nnmolestinl and nnipu'slioned. As soon as he ceas- ed to bo a wonder, ho ceased to bo talked of*, and, thoiii;h not fori;otten, his name Avas seldom mentioned; Avhon, all at once, lie awakened, as it wore, from this dream of existence, and rc- appoarml amoni; his fricMids of "the Loyalist Clnb " at tho Cornwallis Arms with all his former uproarions mirth and bois- torons bohavionr. It was iu tho early part of Juno, 1790, that ho rejoIn(Ml his companions. Tho day was rendered momorablo by one of tho most terrilic thnnd(M'-storms over known in this conntry. For several honrs, the roar of thnnderand incessant 'lashes of li<;]it- lung nearly deprived ns of the power of vision or hearin-^, wlien tlio whole forest in tho neiL^hbonrhood of Inky Doll, which lay to tho eastward of tho village, was snddeidy wrapt in flames, that illnminated tho heavens with their strong Inrid light. It was a fearful spectacle, and gnvit ap[)reh(Misiona More enter- tained for tho safetv of the stragLding and detached settlements in that vicinity, the inhabitants of which appeared thus sudden- ly to bo deprived both of succour and escape. That ])()rtion of the wilderness seemed peculiarly calculated to extend the con- flagration, for it consisted chiefly of "soft wood," as tho re- sinous evergreens of America are usually denominated. The valley was a deep and gloomy hollow, between two high hills, and was clothed with a growth of exceedingly tall, thin, spiral fir-trees, known among Inmberers as scantling or ranging timber, which grew so close together as to admit of no underwood or shrubs. It was a forest of s])ars. For thirty feet, at least, from the ground they exhibited no limbs, after which a few thin branches protruded, loaded with long, pendent streamers of grey moss, resembling straggling locks of hoary hair, while their tops wore lost iu a thick umbrageous covering, that was impervious to tho rays of tho sun. It was, consecpicnt- ly, a dark and gloomy vood. The very birds seemed to avoid itrii IJFE IN A COT.ONY. 32."> It oiiter- uldcn- ion ot* (.'011- the re- i. it, nnd <1io linrdy liltlc sijnirrcl disdiiliiod to TivmI upon flio roiK^a Hint- f;n'\v in it;H dank .'ind stiiu^nnnt nl mospluM'o. Tlic ])i\\ and the owl iilono n^sortcd to it, and starllcd the Irnvcllcr l)v llicir nninhcrs and nocturnal vii^ilMnco. Tlironu;Ii tho ('(Mitro oi' it flowed a lliick, turl)id,and la/y stn^ani, which, IVoin liMvin^ IxmIh of coal, became ^lerl'ectly black, and thus iin]inrted to the v;dley the name of" Iidll." The wat(M*, besides IxMnjjj discolour- ed, was as stroULi: as brine, from the numerous s;ilt-s])rinii;s that flowed into it. The marij^in of the brook was covereil, for somo distanci", with dead trees and sickly and cousum|)t iv(> dwarf liemlocks, that hnd j)erishe(l or lani^uished in the innvholesome moisture with which the sui)-soil was s;it uivitetl. 1\'ill, criarse, slimy, acjuatic jjjrass, partaking; of the colour of the Hoods, afford- ed a shelter for londs and reptiles, that l:iy concealed in its tanu^led roots, as if asham(>d of their dojnicile. Thc! dell was int(M-sc(\ed by a iJ^ori^e which, though not de- scondinij^ as low as the Unci of the water, furnished a convenient openitiii^ for a road, which crossed it at this ])lace. On th'^ western side of the valley and broolc stood a small lon^-hous(\ in a ticdd coutaininf]j about an acre of laud, immediately behind "■"'Inch rose a conical hill, whosi^ base was covered with such timber as 1 have described. Hevond that Avas a jjrowth of stunt(Nl birches; aiul at its toj), which was uncovered, w;is a fountain of pure water. It was, ])rob;ibly, the value of this sjirinu; that led to the seltM'tion of the site for the house. Jie- low the road, the rec(>dinLi; hills alforded a small strip of interval, which had once been cleared and sown down with jjjrass scimIs, and, thouirli mnch ovcM'irrown, admitted a litth; liirht into tho landscape. On one side of the house was the ])rostrato eov(T- inc^of a bnildinc^, Avhich had evidently been a cow or horse-shed, but which, i;radually decay in? y proofs ation. It leased in ipring on tall, thin ^\>untain, ihray re- )v were of dack, and K^wledgo 's among and un- bhe very ^tand tho lid with LIFE IN A COLONY. 327 im out the aid of fire, disclosed where stolen goods might be found, by means of a skilful cross-examination of the upph'cant or the confession of the thief, and sold cabalistic charms that had the power of warding off misfortunes. The numerous instances in which her prophecies either fulfilled themselves or were acci- dentally accomplished, are really astonishing, and is it no won- der that the whole country was filled with awe and admiration of the power of " the Witch of Inky Dell ; " many a fair one listened in breathless expectation to the sentence that Xelly Edwards was passing on lier future life, and returned to rejoice or murmur over the unalterable decree. There were those, however, who, though willing to believe in her power, were reluctant to intrust her with the secret of their hearts, and, therefore, confined their inquiries to the single point, whether that which they wished, or that which they dreaded, would come to pass. As this evasion implied a doubt, if not of her power, at least of her secrecy, she imposed severe terms on her compliance. The applicant was desired to come to her by moonlight, and compelled to ascend the mount by its dark and winding path, in company with her and no other at- tendant, and then, filling a cup, marvellously and curiously carved, with the pure water from the fountain, to turn quickly round three times, terminating the evolution with her face to the east, and then to wish and drink. At the full of the moon, the wisher of wishes was requested to repeat the same ceremony; and then the enchantress, after consulting the appearance of the sky and the language of the cards, encouraged or extinguished the hopes of her suppliant. " All, however, were not so credulous, or so obedient ; and, among others, Watt the Tiger, who not only threatened her with the penalties of the law and personal chastisement, but claimed Inky Dfcll as a part of his property, to which it adjoined, and in the fjrant of which it was included. INTanv and furious were the wordy contests between these two violent people, who defied and denounced each other ; and hag and witcli, and the dragon, on the one hand, and marauder, munlcrer, and the villain on the other, were the mildest terms in their copious vocabulary of abuse. The locality of the fire was easily distinguished from the windows of the inn. The day on which it occurred was a club day, and several of the members had arrived previous to the storm, and discussed the probable exteut and origin of the con- flagration. Some attributed it to tlie naturtil and probable cause — the lightning; others to the Witcli, bur most of them to the Devil, who had uo doubt claimed the fnltilmeut of the 'III I III if hi' ijiilii :"i |i 328 THE OLD JUDGE ; OR, compact into wlilch lio liad entered with her, and had como to enforce it, I'or no doubt wan entertained by any one present that the sudden, violent, and extrn'^Ive fire must have consumed tlio house and all within it. The lightning was succeeded by a tre- mendous shower of rain, sucli as is seldom seen anywhere but in tropical climates, which gradually yielded to a sudden shift of the wind to the westward, that cleared o'.f the clouds, and left everything as smiling and as tranquil as ever. The rain had the eVicvt oi' arresting nnd partially extinguishing the fire, which s(>nt forth long, heavy, and black masses of snouldering smoke, that rose gloomily ini,o tliesky, and slowly passed away towards the east, nntil they were lost iii tlie distance. An arrival from tlie scene of the Ui'c conlirmed our apprehen- tiions : the deep pine and llr forest in Inily Dell was all destroved, and Mrs Edwards consumed, together with her clfeets, iu'lier house. Various were the remarks made ju thi-; dreadful cala- mity by the company present. Some 'onuniserated the poor woman's misfortunes and untimely end, and felt as men ought to do under such a dreadful dispensation of Providence. Others thought the country was well rid of such a dnng(>rous inhabitant, and not a few believed it to be the work of her own wicked in- cantations. " I never did believe in witchcraft," said one, " and if I had been 30 weak, this event would have cured me. What's the use of it, if she couldn't foretell the lire in time to get out of the way of it ? " " You don't believe ? " said another. " AVell, that's good, now 1 didn't you go to her, when your horse was shot, for ad- vice ? and didn't she tell yi)U it wai^ Felix Coon thai; did it ? and didn't you get him convicted ? " " AVell, 1 did ; but it was only to please my wife. Miss Lii! ■ coin, for I knew it before I went. But women have such in- fernal curiosity, they will always ax a question as long as there is anybody that will answer it." '• Well, I don't know," said a third ; " she is dead now, and it's easy to kick a dead lion, any ass can do that, but I believe she was a powerful woman, and knowed more than a Christian ought t'.^ know. She told Patience Fulton, old Caleb's daughter, she was wrong named, for she wouldn't waii patiently, but make a runaway match ; ai;d, sure enough, my son Ted helped her one morniui!: next week o-^t of her bed-room window afoje her fa- ther was up, and they were married by Squire Tommy A^ at- son afore breakfast. Will any one tell me, after that, she warn't a gifted old lad}^ ? Kobody ever prospered that quar- relled with her. There is our old friend Captain Tygart now, he has an u 11 never him ; one p( man o liang 11 cai'ries other, plain t slowly vil, anc AVatt wild { old— wilful He up shoi and but the old as pie-c I may t of a lie ain't, bt a heavy beat a t; are you, who the "Dt pose she you'' bes inind, se vinegar, quick m lastini!: ( rt Inky deserted boys ! hearth-l decanter maitre c at tlie c per, sir, ing me, I am Ci gion, a I LIFE IN A COLONY. 329 never been no good since slic ])ut the curse and tlicevil eye on him ; lie ain't no longer hiinsielt', and goes waudering about like onu po.ssesHed. It's cheap talking about not being atVaid of man or devil ; once, I don't think the Captain ever was ; but hang me it' I like to hear people talk so rashly. ll(i\v ct)mes it ho carries the IJible in one pocket, and the Prayer-book in the other, it" lie ain't timersome of the old witch of Inky Dell ? ex- plain that to me, will you? Well, I declare," he continued, slowly and in an alarmed tone, "well, I declare, talk of the De- vil, and he is sure to a[)pear! As I'm a living isiinier, here is AV^att the Tiger, a-galloping down the road like mad, looking ai'i wild and as wide awake as a Cherokee Indgin. 1 know him of old — he's not safe when he's up in the stirru|)s that way. lie is a wilful man when his blood is up. What's to pay now, I wonder." lie had hardly uttered the words when the Caj)tain pulled up short at the door, dismounted, threw the reins over a post, and burst into the room, saying, " IFullo, boys ! are you here ? the old devil's dead! — clean gone! burnt up to a cintler! crisp as pie-crust, and twice as tough ! she is, upon my soul ! I hope 1 may die if she ain't — fact, 1 assure you, fellows ! not a word of a lie in it — as true as steel. I am a free man now — see if I ain't, boys ! " and he took up a chair, broke the legs of it off by a heavy blow on the floor, and then, sei/iiig one of the bars, beat a tattoo violently against the door for the landlord. " How are you, old fellow ? " he said, as the door opened. '• lluUo I who the devil are you ? AVhere is Mogan ? " "Dead, sir!" " Dead ! the devil ho is ! I didn't know that. Ah, I sup- pose she rode him to death, too! Bring me some wine, some of youi' best, too. I am going to stand a treat to-night, and do you mind, set; that it is good — none of your black strap and mother of vinegar, but the best port and madeira. Come, right about ! quick march ! Poor Mogan ! ah ! well he was always an ever- lasting coward — died of fright, I suppose, at seeing that old hag rt'lnky Dell. Thank fortune, she is gone now, quitted her post, deserted and blown up the magazine. Ah, here is the wine ! come, boys ! Stop a minute, though ; and he rose, and taking the hearth-brush, inserted the handle of it in the neck oi one of the decanters that had no stopper in it ; then, sunnnoning the maitre d'hotel, whom he called old corkscrew, by beatib'i: again at tlie door with a leg of the broken chair, " Is that a fit stop- per, sir, fo'' I gentleman ? Yon haven't the honour of know- ing me, sir — so I will rake the liberty of introducing myst If. I am Captain Tygart, sij , at your service, late of Tarleton's le- gion, a man that gives no quarter and takes no nonsense. If 330 TIIK OLD JUDr-Ii; OK, you tliiiiU you won't know im* .'i^niii, you inny Hn any ^mxc ju or back out in mo ; and, as it was, she nearly lixed my Hint for ine. IShe is done lor luM'si'lt", thoui;h, now, that's a t'ai-t, for I've seen her with my own eyes — I went to where the house stooil, and felt for her with a loiijjj pole amoui; tlu» ashes, so as to bi' certain of it, and, w bile poking; about, I stii'rt>d u|) somelliiiinj that looked lik(> old I'.dwards's powder-b.orn, and olf it went likci ihunder, and scatti'red her bones all abri>ad like a Ixnnb-shell. It knix'ked me ovi'r, too, it did upon n\y sold ! but J am not easily scai'cd by j^unpowdiM*. Here is a pleasant journey t;t her, and a hap|)y nu'i'tini; with her old ally and master, (leueral yi'ratch, himself! JJars of };old, my boys, ibamonds as bi^ as plums; ^okl anil silver saints as bij; as babies, candU'sticks as tall as cornstocks, and graven inuii;es from the Spanish main — • Joes, half Joes, iloubloon.^, Louis d'ors, iue, Sandfoi-d, if ever you mean to l)e a jud^^'e, you must driidi voim* wav to the heiich uiue loosens tlu^ loiiLTUe, sharpens th(> wit, steadies tlu^ nei'ves, and uidoeks t he ini;i;^ina- lion. lle?'e'syoup health, youni^'stcr, and hoping you may hav,!^' tongue wore vory sore from the rusty old bit, and my heart it was nearly broke to be saddled and made a beast ol*, by that old she dragon, in auch a shameful manner. "The next time I was here, I walked home, with a p;()od stout stiek in my liand, so as to be seeured against a fall, and to defend myself against her if I could, and I positively made up my mind, if I caught hold of the old sereeeh-owl, to beat her to dealh. AV ell, just as I was returning, I met her again at the self-same spot. 'Good evening, Captain,' she said; 'so you are walking to-night?' — 'What the devil is that to your' I replied. ' JN'othing,' she said; 'I only wanted to burrow your horse, but you will do yourself, I suppose, instead, though I must sav you are about the slowest and clumsiest beast 1 ever rode.' ' Mother Edwards,' said I, ' none of your cussed non- sense now. Stand off, I beseech you ; for if you dare to come within reach of me, I'll murder you — I will, upon my soul ! and if I have no power over you at night, seeing that you'i;e leagued with the Devil or some of his imps, I'll kill you by day, as sure as there is a Heaven above us ! ' — ' Don't talk of Heaven, you villain ! ' she said, most provoking cool ; ' you have neither lot nor part in it. But come, give me your hand, and promise to behave like a man, a neighbour, and a Christian, and relinquish your claim to Inky Dell, and I will forgive you.' — ' Avaunt, Satan! ' said I, 'and get behind me.' AVith that she uttered a fearful yell, and flew round as quick as wink and jumped on my back, and clung to me like a tiger, and my arms were turn- ed into legs, and myself into a black horse again, in little less than half no time, and whack went the whip, and dig went the spur; and off we dashed as before, like a streak of lightning; and the same old women, mounted in the same way, joined us again, and away we scampered over that everlasting long old Tantraraar marsh to the fort. As I arrived last I was turned into the stable loose, without being put into a stall, and got dreadfully kicked in the breast and legs, by a wicked devil of a black mare, that laid me up for months ; and I was rode home, and leaped over the gate as before, and, when I got my own shape, and looked round for that wretched old miscreant, she was clean gone out of siguu. It was a dreadful ride that, boys, you may depend ; and my tongue, being kept out by the bits, got frostbitten, so it was actually too big for my mouth, and I had to keep snow on it all winter to cure it. It feels so cold now even at the thought of it, that I must have some more punch to warm. Come, fellows, fill your glasses! Sandford, you young rogue, stand up to your collar like a man, and do your part— no heel taps, my fine fellows : it ain't fair. I ' ! 'i 1 „'i l|i ii I 834 THE OLD JL'DGE; OR, " "Well, boys, to mal:o a long story short, the next time I ■was here, and that was tlie last time I ever darkened tliose doors, "was in June, just three years ago this month. I loaded a pair of pistols that liitcli, and put them into my pocket, and was de- termined to lia\-e a crack at her, and, if tliat didn't do, to stay at home always at niglit, ^vhen evil spirits are abroad on the face of tlie (virth. AV^ell, she met me again, as usual, at the same spot. The very siglit of her put me into a cold sweat — doddrot me, if it didn't! — 'You are late to-night, Captain,' said she, witli 't •k soft I of id sweetness of] ,'oice ana swcerness oi mannei ' Bettci' late tlian never,' said I ; and I up and fired right into lier face. ' I tliouglit you was a good shot, Captain,' she said, coolly, 'but your Imnd is out; it's some time now since you killed womon and children, and, besides, it's dark. Fire ngain, for you have another pistol there — be cool now: take good aim, for a murderer's arm is always unsteady.' 'Take that, you old liag,' said I, ' for your impudence ! ' and I fired again right into lier, and 'threw the pistol at her with all my might. ' ^Missed it aij^ain, my bold dragoon,' she said, laughing ready to kill her- self. ' Come, v>'e must be off, my pretty charger, for our time i« short— then she waved her liand, and in a moment I was wrapped in horse-hide the third time, and off we flew, as before, only faster, for she was in a desperate hurry, and thrashed me all the way, and called me a brute, a cart-horse, a broken- winded beast, and anything she could lay her tongue to. " A\'^eli, wu went throuiih the same man(cuvre as on the other two visits to the fort, but I was so out of breath on my return, that before I reached my gate, i stumbled and fell, and, when I got up, there I was in my own shapt, and there was old Xelly wiili Ike bridle in her hand. ' INIrs Edwards,' said I, ' I have a favour to ask of you.' ' AVhat is it?' says she; anything I can do foL' you in the world T will do with pleasure.' ' Kill me on the spot,' says I, ' but don't treat me like a beast.' ' Kill you, AVatty, dear! ' she said ; ' I wouldn't hurt a hair of your head for any- thing under heaven. You are a brave man. and I honour \on — a iiandsv.'ne man, and I love you, dear. Kill you! no, never' * Then, give me my clothes, nuulam, and let mo go to my house.' * Your clothes ! ' says she ; ' dear r.ie ! I dropped them near the hiivstack on Deacon Fulton's marsh. Come, I'll show you where they are : ' and she seized my hand and wtdked back ; but, heavens and earth! her walk was so everlastingly fast, the utmost I could possibly do by running as hard as I could lay li'g to the ground was to keep up with her, it wa^ actually worse tlian the horse-gallop. "When we came to creeks, and sloughs, and miry places, she walked over them dry-footed, and I nearly away * "Wii/.t said I, ' "NYell, that's old ]N"e of age, been at andlsh to my f * I will * Kill nl amoiifif LIFE IN A COLONY. 335 snnk up to my middle, Avhcii she would drag me out by the arm, till she nearly dragged that out, too " At last, we came to tlie Deacon's Honeypot, where so many colts Avere smothered, and, as I had no shoes on, tlie bones of the critters hurt mv feet dreadfullv. AV^hen I got out of that, I looked about the nastiest thing in all creation, covered over with red slime that way, and she laughed like anything. ' Come,' said she, ' take a swim now across this creek, and wasli yourself; for on the other side is the havstack and your clothes.' There was the stump of an old willow-tree there, and I turned my back on her and sat down, and rested my elbows on my knees, and buried my head in my hands, devoured internally by sorrow and rage, and externally by black flies, musquitoes, and ants, that had built a den in the dead log. Mv heart bled, and mv back bled, and my feet bled, and I felt about the meanest of all living sinners. ' Captain Tygart,' said she, 'you aiv a brave man ; I respect your courageandendurance;' butlmadeherno answer, * There is no back out in you.' I said nothing, but I thought to myself, ' Oh, my stars ! I wish to goodness I could back out of the old Witch's clutches ! ' ' And vou are a handsome man,' she continued ; 'the handsomest man in these parts. I really admire and love you.' That word love made my very blood curdle with disgust ; it made me sick at the stomach — dod drot me, if it didn't ! ' AVill you marry me, AVatty ? ' she asked. ' I'll see you d — d first,' I said, ' and then I wouldn't ' ' * Don't be rash, Watty,' she said, coaxingly, and a-brushing the flies off my back with some bulrushes ; ' don't be rash, dear. I will be a fond and good wife to vou, and I am not so old as vou think. I am a young woman. Press your hand firmly on your eyes, and tell PiC what you see.' AVell, v\iiat I saw absolutely took away all my voice, it astonished me so, and I didn't speak. ' AVh.'it do you see?' she said, again. *I see a beautiful girl,' said I, ' one of the most beautii'ul creatures I ever beheld.' * AVell, that's me, AVatty, dear; turn round, and look at me — that's a love ; ' and I turned round, and sure enough there was old Xell put back in years to twenty-four or twenty-five years of age, as handsome and blooming as I suppose she might have been at that time of life. JStill I knew it was all witchcraft, andlshuddered all over, aiulturncHlback again, and i)ut my linmls to my face. ' AVill vou marrv nuMiow, AVattv, deai' ? ' said she. ' I will give up sorcery, and renuiin a young and loving bride.' 'Kill me,' said I, ' if you like — drown me in this lloney|)ot among Deacon I'ulton's colts — do what you like with me — but I never will ally myself to the Powers of Darkness. So no, there, no\. . Marry ! uo, never ! I'll be darned to daruation, if 1) I ^i I.I I. w 'I I 88G THE OLD JUDGE; OR, I do ! ' ' Don't be rasli, Jear,' she said again ; ' you don't know what you are refusing. I have untold gold.' ' I don't care if you have your weight of it twice over.' * Yes, but I have fifty- times that amount. I know where the pirates' treasures are concealed — say but t!ie word, and they are yours. Press your hands on your eyes again, and I will show them to you. What do you see now ? ' ' I see a large bay,' said I, ' filled with is- lands ; ' and my heart jumped to my mouth the moment I beheld it, for I knew it the first glimpse I got of it. It was La liuive Bay, where we were at anchor three days in a calm, on our way to Ilalifax ; but I didn't let on that I know'd it. ' Look again: do you see a light T have put on one of those isl^.zids, to mark it for you ? ' 'I do,' says I. ' AVell, what pise do you see ? ' Before I answered her, 1 counted the islands right and left of it, and took the bearings from the river, and the distance from the Cape all in my mind, so as to be sure to know it again, and I do know it, boys — I do, upon my soul ! I hope I may die, if I don't — fact, I assure you, boys — true as Gospel ! ' AVell, what do you see ? ' said she. ' I see a cave,' said I, ' and chests of gold bars in it, and others filled with images, crucifixes, censers, and long candlesticks of the same metal.' 'They are prizes from the Spanish main, dear,' said she. 'What else do you see? for that ain't half that's there.' 'AVhy, boxes of gold, coins of all sorts, and great heaps of money piled up ; and trunks of jewels of every size and variety.' ' Consent, and I will give you all that, and another hoard on the mainland more rich than that,' says she, ' Watty, and we will leave this country and go where we ain't known, and live rich and happy all the days of our life.' " Well, I won't say I warn't tempted, because that would be a lie whicli never yet disgraced Captain Tygart's lips. A little loose talk I plead guilty to, for soldiers are not parsons, and preacliix.g by general orders is tlw' duty of a chaplain, but a lie ! — I scorn it as I do a nigger. I was tempted— that's a fact. It nuide my ipoutli water so it actually choked me a'niost, and made me drivel like an idiot ; but then I thought what's the use of all that wealth, after all, if ill got. The ])irates had to hide it, and leave it, and it didn't save them from getting hanged ; aiul if I get it by witchcraft, perhaps, it wouldn't make me ha})])y neither. It would be better to take it hereafter by right of discovery. ' Wliat do you say, AVatty dear, now ? Will you marry me ? ' ' No,' says I ; ' never ! ' ' Then take that,' said she, ' you good-for-nothing, stupid, heartless wretch!' fetching me a blow on the side of the head, that knocked me down insensible on the ground. cons insei in tl me. ble, ( and < ed p{i it, aij and, 1 a-feet some to eat when soon i and oi on hci niore J house, ed crit f'*oni fc, iiw;»y. away i and, w at the saw a 1 shot to slie de\ me, if J as her came j) "It and I and die thougiit AVhile line Iian went tl luck wo I was in flannel then got rips, and where I 1 LIFE IN A COLONY. 337 t know care if ve fifty ires are 'ss your What with is- I beheld ^a llaive our way jk again; to mark 3U see ? ' left of it, ; from the in, and I y die, if I i'ell, what chests of 8, censers, are prizes you see? 1, coins of trunks of 1 give you rich than ^ry and go le days of lat would s lips. A L)t parsons, plain, hut L— that's a me a'most, ,r]it what's )irates had 'om getting ihln't make reafter by lear, now? Then take t;s wretch!' uocked me il : ■ " When I awoke, it was broad full day, the sun was up a considerable piece, and actually blistered me all ovc where the insects had bit me. I was lame, still", sore, and faint ; and how ill the world I was to get home 1 couldn't tell for the soul of me. I couldn't get back the way I came, for tliat was impossi- ble, on account of the miry ground; and to head all the creeks, and go round all the Honey pots, and leap all the ditches, seem- ed past my strength ; but it was neck or nothing, and I tried it, and at last gototfthe marsh, and reached Xed i)y kin's place, and, seeing the stable-door open, I thought JS'ed might be there a-feeding of his cattle, and 1 went in to beg him to lend me some clothes to make mystdf decent, and to give me something to eat, for I was e'en a'most beat out. The tirst person I saw, vhen I entered, was Mrs Dykinsa-milking of her cows, and, as soon as she got sight of me, she screamed, upset her bucket, and off like a shot out of the otl^erdoor, and I after her, calling on her, lor Heaven's sake, to stop and spealc to me ; but, the more I called, the more she screamed ; and away she Hew to the house, and set the dogs on me, and barred the door. The cuss- ed critters made at me so wicked, I was obliged to draw a stake fi'om the fence, and stretch two of them out before I could get awt'v. " Then off I goes to Jerusha Chubbs. "Well, Chubbs was away to the militia-training, and all the men folk with him ; and, when I came to the door, his daughter was stooping down at the wood-pile, a picking up cliips in her apron; and when she saw a naked man coming up, she dropt the cliips, and olf likea shot too, yelling like all possessed; and old INLother Chubbs, the she devil, got down the duck gun, and swore she would shoot me, if I attempted to come in, audi knew she would be as good as her word, too, for she pinked more nor one of the rebels that came ])lundering about her father's house in the war. " It seemed to me as if all the world had turned agin me, and I had a great mind to lie right down, and cuss all creation and die ; and I believe I should, if it hadn't been that the thoughts of the pirates' treasures kind of cheered me a little. While I was standing doubting what to do, I spied a clothes- line hanging in the yard, with ever so many things on it, so I went there, to see if I could find anything to put on, but, as ill luck would liave it, they was all women's garments. And there I was in another fix : at last I got desperate, pulled olf a red flannel petticoat of the old woman's, and jumped into it, and then got a short bedgown, and squeezed into that, after a few rips, and splits, and tears, in stretching it ; and off I went home, where I scared even my own servants out of their wits. 22 |i i I it 338 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, " I tool?: to my boil, and kept it ever so lon*:^, for shamo and vexation ; and at last 1 came to i resolution never to f^o out at night, when the Powers of Darkness were let loose : and l)y day to carry the Bible in one pocket, and the Prayer-book in the o'^'ier, for protection, seeing pistols were no good ; and there I have been a prisoner ever since, till this day, when the Devil flew away with the AYitch of Inky Dell. Now, that's a fact, boys, I assure you — it is, upon my soul ! I hope I may die if it ain't ! " You may talk, boys, about civilized warfare, such as pitched battles, and sieges, and ambushes, and skirmishes, and cavalry charges, and hand to hand work, but what is it, after all, fel- lows ? — for I've been in them all — why, just good schooling for a soldier, and nothing more. And you may talk about Indian warfare (where a man wants all his Avits about him, I can tell you), and boast of tommyhawking, and scalping, and pistolling, and all that. And pretty hard work it is, too, to have bullets flying about you everywhere, and you not see your enemy ; but what is it, after all, but duelling at a hundred yards, with the butt of a tree to cover you ? It's cowardly work ! The weapon for a man, boys, is a bayonet, and then it's a hurrah, a charge, and a squ'\ak, and it's all over. " If the British Government had taken my advice, that cuss- ed rebellion would have been ended in six weeks. Says I to Sir Harry Clinton, 'Sir Harry,' says I, 'hang every d — d rebel taken in arms, and the game's ours in no time.' Says he, ' I'm afraid the rebels will hang their prisoners in return.' — ' Serve them right,' says I ; ' d — n them ! I hope they will. Let them die fighting like men, and they will escape hanging like dogs.' ' It will exasperate the colonists,' ?ays he. ' It exasperates tliem much more, your Excellency,' says I, ' to see you pardon them villains that way. Sir Harry,' saul I, ' mark my words, coiici- liatioii is thefaiher, and clemencij the motlicr, of rehellion, and a d — d pretty child it is, too; having all the iffnora nee and meanness of one parent, andthehjipocrisy and eoicardice of the other.'' '• But that is neither here nor there, fellows. As 1 wasa-say- ing, talk of civilized warfare, or Indian warfare, or any warfare you please ; but the Lord preserve me from Spiritual war- fare ! Fact, I assure you, boys — it is, upon my soul ! I hope I may die if it ain't — true as fate ! Pill your glasses, boys, then let's have another brew, and then hu rah for a song — the Major's song : T'lic rcbol fla? waved liigli in air, Altove tlu> ran-gcd crew, Wliou Taiitou; &c." I n'gh; nevei r in a 1 of In rem a J you li and b. ■\7n said, if study, ] Lo\\ tT [ There is .'ind it is PJnglit^h you as j the year it has su the usiia may eJej ^'orm an result in The ( A m erica, liave, the ^ f^iy difli without ps the pe( j<'cts the Ihe precli his foreio'] t-els of lii It was 1 l^ions asse ^'"g to pai LIFE IX A COLONY. 339 tind tat day tho re 1 )evil fact, lie if died valry [, fel- lor for Lidian u tell mllets ; but ebutt L foL' a and a cuss- to Sir rebel ,'rra Serve it them dogs.' >s tliem Li them conci- and a \C(()lilCSS 1, > U a-say- Larfare \i\ war- I hope Is, boys, Lr — the As Captain Tygart liad promised, they certainly made a night of it— sucli a night, indeed, as 1 never saw before, and hope never to witness afrain. Toor AVatt, the Tiger, is long since dead. lie lost his life in a vain attempt to raise the pirates' treasure, that the AVitch of Inky Dell disclosed to him in La Halve Island. It was a very remarkable adventure ; and, some other evening, I will relate to yon how he came to his end, in endeavouring to undermine and blow up the Devil. CHAPTEE XXI. COLONIAL GOYEENMENT. "WiTEX we rose from the breakfast-table vesterday, the Judire said, ]f you will have the goodness to accompany me into my study, I Avill give you an outline of the Constitution of these Lower Proviiu-es, which I have drawn np for your information. There is no colonial work protessedly treating of the subject, and it is only incidentally mentioned, or briefly referred to, in English law uooks. To render it as usefid and intelligible to you as possible, I have given an abstract of it as it existed until the year 1837, and then added an accouut of the modifications it has subsequently undergone. I have preferred this course to the usual mode of incorporatiug both into one, in order that you may clearly comprehend the extent of those innovations, and form an opinion as to the consequences that will probably result from such organic chauges. The Constitution of England, as it stood at the discovery of America, had nothing in its nature providing for colonies. They have, therefore, at dill'erent periods of their growth, experienced Aery difl'erent treatment. At iirst, they were considered lands without the limits of the realm, and not annexed to it ; and, as the people who settled these mpariihus iwleris were liege sub- jects tlie king resumed the right of ])roperty and goverimient, to the preclusion of the jurisdiction of the State. He called them his foreign dominious, his possessions abroad, not parts and par- cels of the realm, and as not yet annexed to the crown. It was upon this principle that, in the year 1G2 1, when the Com- uums asserted their right to a jurisdiction over them, by attempt- ing to pass a Bill for establishing a free fishery on the coasts of ! H 340 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, Virfrinia, New Enpjland, and Newfoundland, they were informed that it was not fit for tliein to make laws for those countries, which were not yet amiexed to the crown, and that the 15111 was not proper for that House, as it concerned America. Upon this assumption, the colonies were settled by the king's licence, and the governments established by royal charters; while the peo- ple, emigrating to tlie provinces, considered themselves out of the realm: and in their executive and legislative capacities, in immediate connexion with the king as their only sovereign lord. These novel possessions requiring some form of government, the selection became exceedingly dilHcult. At last, an analogy was supposed to exist between the colonies and the Duchy of Normandy, and a somewhat similar constitution* was adopted as had been used for the island of Jersey. The king having assumed a right to govern the colonies Avithout the intervention of parliament, so the two Houses of Lords and Commons exerted the same power without his con- currence. They appointed the Earl of Warwick Governor-in- Chief ofallthe Plantations of America; created a committee for their regulation, and passed several laws concerning them. Upon the restoration of monarchy, the constitution of the colonies received a great change. Parliament asserted, that all his Majesty's foreign dominions were part of the realm; and ^ It is, however, observable that, although it was evidently the intention of the mother country to grant tlic power of election to the people of the colonies, so soon as tliey should he in a situation to receive a representative form of government, yet the people assumed the right themselves, as appears by tlie following extract from "Ilutchhison," vol. i. p. 9-1. — "Virginia had been many vears distracted under the government of President, and Governors with Councils, in whose nomination or removal the people had no voice, until, in tlie year 1620, a House of Burgesses broke out in the colony; the king nor the grand council at home not having given any powers or directions for it. The Governor and Assistants of the IMassachusetts at first intended to rule the people, but this lasted two or three years only ; and, although there is no colour for it in the charter, yet a House of Deputies appeared suddenly in 1G34, to the surprise of the magistrates, and the disappointment of their schemes of power. Connecticut soon after followed the plan of IMassachusetts. Kew Ha- ven, although the people had the highest reverence for their leaders, yet on matters of legislation the people, from the beginning, wodd have their share by their representative. New Hampshire combined together under the saine form with Massachusetts. Barbadoes, or the Leeward, began in 1625, struggled under Governors, and Councils, and contending Troprietors, twenty years. At length, in 1645, an Assembly was called, and the reason given was that, by the grant of the Earl of Carlisle, the inhabitants were to have all the liberties, privileges, and franchises of English subjects. After the llestoration, there is no instance on the American continent of a colony settled without a represent- ation of the people, nor any attempt to deprive the colonies of this privilege, except iu the arbitrary reign of James the Second." King i though were iu 1st, dividua the iufe fornierlj object 1( tially pi LIFE IN A COLONY. 311 then, for the first time in thrir projior capacity, intcrj)ose(l in their regulation and government. From that period, sundry laws have been pai^sed regulating their eon.meree. and having, in other respects, a direct operation on them. The boundary of jurisdiction between imperial and local Parliaments had been settled by the mutual consent, or rather ac(|uiescence, of both bodies, on the broad basis of constitutional liberty and common sense ; the supremaf^y of the former having been acknowledged iu all external, and of the latter, iu all internal ali'airs. Collision was thns effectually avoided ; and each body wisely confined it- self to those matters in which it was not only most interested, but the best informed, and most competent to decide. The un- alterable right of property, however, had been guaranteed to colonists, by the act renouncing the claim of taxation, the ISth of George III., by which it wjis declared " that the Iving and Parliament of Great Britain will not impose any duty, tax, or assessment, whetlicr payable in any of his Majesty's Colonies, Provinces, or Plantations, in North America or the West Indies, except such duties as it may be expedient to impose for the re- gulation of commerce ; the net produce of such duties to be always paid and applied to, and for the use of the Colony, Province, or Plantation, in which the same shall be respectively levied, in such manner as other duties, collected by the authori- ty of the respective General Courts or General Assemblies of such Colonies, Provinces, or Plantations, are ordinarily paid and applied." The rights of the Crown again, which were perfectly com- patible with the legislative supremacy of the Provincial Assembly, were didy guarded and seciu^ed, by tlu* negative of the Governor; by his standing instructions not to give his assent to any law of a doubtful nature without a clause suspending its operation, until his Majesty's pleasure should be known ; and by tlie power assumed and exercised, of disagreeing to any law within three years after it had passed the Colonial Legislature. There was originally much variety in the constitutions of the several American Provinces, arising out of the unlimited power of the King to grant them upon su'h terms and conditions as he thought proper ; but, at the close of the Eebellion, in 1784, they were in general reduced to three classes. 1st, Froprietorif Governments, granted by the Crown to in- dividuals, in the luiture of Feudatory Princijjalities, with all the inferior regalities and feudatory powers of legislation, Avhich formerly belonged to Counties Palatine, on condition that the object for which the grant had been made should be substan- tially pursued, and nothing should be attempted in derogation II I! 842 THE OLD JUDGE; OR, oftlio nntlioviiy of llio K\n<^ of England. Of tliis kind were IVniisylvania, .Maryland, and Carolina. iind, Charter Goccrnvicnlfi, in the nature of civil corporations, with the power of makinp; by-laws for their own internal reni. Undei' this authority, Provincial Assend)li(>s had been con- stituted, Avith the power of making local ordinaiu-es not repug- nant to the laws of England. Eor some time previously to the lievolution in America, the popular leaders ail'ected to call the Provincial I'^stablishments, or King's (jiovernments on the Con- tinent, Coh-iiies instead of Provinces, from an opinion they had conceived that the word Province im])lied a conquered couuti-y. ])ut, whatever distinction there might once have been between the terms Province, Colony, and Plantation, there seemed now to be none whatever, and they were indiscriminately used in several Acts of Parliament. A Provincial Government v. as immediately dependent upcm the Crown ; and the King remain- ed Sovereign of the country. He appointed the Governor and OniccM's of State, and the people elected the Representatives, as in England. The »J udicial establishments were similar to those of the nu)ther coiuitry, and their Legislatures consisted of a Governor, rejiresenting the Crown, a Council, or Upper House, and an Assembly chosen by and representing the people at large. The following is a short account of the powers and privileges exercised in ]S'ova Scotia by these several branches, previously to the year 1837. Governor. The Provinces of British North America were in general com- prised in one command, and the Captain-General, Governor, and Connnander-in-Chief resided in Canada. The Governors of the several provinces were styled Lieutenant-Governors, and had the title of Exeellcjuy, iu consequence of being the King's inunediate representatives. The Governor of Nova Scotia had the rank of Lieutenant- General, and was styled Lieuteui.nt- Governor and Commander-in-Chief iu and over his IN Fa jest cellor J the foil 1. 1 thr Ml v/.i !ii)i iMilitia. of Con ♦Tusticei AVitli t Genera and dis: cmplovi patrona were us appoint! entitled sii])erse( authorit a fit obji except i instiuice the Kov 9 T Art • A m the 1; his juris the Lor( of those 3. li andadm by statu 4. ]I Council nature o Law. 5. Tl nient, alt Judge ot privateer G. H( whole te might no improper general r LIFE IX A COLONY. 313 INrnjesty's T vnico of yov;. Sco^ia and its dcpcndenoles. Cliaii- collor and \ :.'0- Admiral of ■.ho same, lie \vas invested with the foHowin" powers: — 1. As Cu 'iman 'er-in-Chicf, ho liad the actual command of nil thr ]Militii; and, if a senior militarv onicer, of all tlie arm\^ v.li'iiii lu"s (ioverninent. ik! .le commissioned all oHlccrs of the iNIilitia. lie appointed tlie .lud^'es of all the dilVerent Courts of Common Law, pnd iiominatcd and suj)erseded, at will, the Justices of the Peace, and other suhordinate civil (^flu'crs. AVith the advice of his Council, he liad authority to sumuion General Asseir.hlies, which hi? mi^ht, from time to time, ])roro;jfuo and dissolve, as he alone should jud'j;e needful. All such civil employments as the Crown did not dispose of were ])art of his patrona<;e, and, Avhenever vacancies happened in such ofTices as were usually filled up by the ]ji-itish Government, the Governor aj pointed jiro tempore, and the persons so appointed were eiiitled to the emolumeiits till those who w(>re nominated to sujiersede them arrived in the coh^iy. lie had, likewise, authority, when he should judt^e any otl'ender in criminal matters a fit object of mercy, to extend the Kind's pardon towards him, except in cases of nuirder and lii^h treason, and even in those instr.nces, he was permitted to reprieve uutil the signification of the Eoyal ])leasure. 2. The Governor had the custody of the Great Seal, presided in the llif^l' Court of Chancery, and in general exercised within his jurisdiction the same' extensive powers as were possessed by the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, with the exception of those taken away by particular statutes. 3. lie had the power by law of granting probate of wills and administration of the efiects of persons dying intestate, and, by statute, granted licences for marriages. 4. He presided in the Court of Error, of Avhicli he and the Council were Judges, to liear and determine all appeals in the nature of writs of error from the Superior Courts of Common Law. 5. The GoATrnor was also Yice-Admiral within his Govern- ment, although he could not, as such, issue his wan ..nt to the J udge of the Court of Vice- Admiralty to grant connnissions to privateers. 0. He had an annual provision settled upon him, for the whole term of his administration in the colony; and, that he might not be tempted to diminish the dignity of his station by impropercondescensions to leading menin the Assembly, hewas in general restrained by bis instructions from accepting any salary, ! I 1 f 2U Tin: OLD JUDGE; OR, imlct^3 the saino sliould ho settled iij)on liim by law witliin tlie 8j)ace of one yvnr ai'ter liis entrance into tlic Government, and e,\])ressly made irrevocable durinu^ tlie whole term of liis resi- d(Mice in the administration, which appeared to bo a wise and necessary restriction. A (Governor, on his arrival inlhe Trovinco, aurreeablv to t)u; directions of liis commission and his inatrnctions in the fli'st place, cansed his comnussion as Governor and Commander-in- Chief and also of A^ice-Admiral to be read and pnblished at tl:o i )f the C il, and h oth irst meetnin; or iiie v^ouncii, anil also ni sncii otner manner as liad been nsnally observed on snch occasions. ]'n the next place, he took tlic customary oaths of office, and administered the same to each member of the Council. Every (jioverno:*, to<^ether with his commission, received a large body of instru>?- tions for his t^uidance in the discharge of his various duties. In the event of his death, the senior military olllcer took the command of the colony until an appointment was made by lis IMajesty, and was required to take the same oaths, and make the same declaration as a Governor. Such were the ])0\ver3 and duties of a Governor; and the mode of redress for tin; violation of these duties, or any injuries committed by him upon the people, was prescribed with equal care. The party com- plaining had his choice of three moiies — 1st, by application to Parliament ; I2nd, by comj)laint to the Privy Council ; 3rd, by action in the King's Bencii. By statute lltli and 12tli "William IIT., cap. 12, confirmed and extended by 42nd George 111., cap. 85, all offences commit- ed by governors of plantations, or any other persons in the execution of their offices in any public service abroad, might be prosecuted in the Court of King's Bench in England. Tlie indictment was to be laid in Middlesex, and the offenders were punishableas if they had been committed in England. The Court of King's l^ench was empowered to award a mandamus to any Court of Jiidicature, or to the Governor of the Colony where the offence was committed, to obtain proof of the nuitter alleged, and the evidence was to be transmitted back to that Court, and admitted upon the trial. T/ie Coimcil. The Council consisted of twelve members, who were appoint- ed either by being named in the Governor's instructions, by mandamus, or by the Governor. Their privileges, powers, and office were as follows : — 1 . They were severally styled TTonourable, and took prece- dence next to the Commauder- in- Chief. Th I LIFE IN A COLONY. 315 2. Tliev woro .1 Council ofSiatc, tlio Governor or Commander- ni-('lii('t' j)n'si(lin'. 5. The Council was a constituent part of tlic Leujislaturo, aa their consent Mas necessary to the enacting of laws. In this capacity of Legislator!^, they sat as the I'pper House, distiju-t from the (loveriior, and entered pi'otests on tiieir journals, after the maimer of the House of Peers, aud were attended by their chaphiin, clerk, etc. House of AsscmJ)] ji . Tlio Assembly resembled the Lower House of Parliament in i' • formal ion, mode of procedure, aiul power, within its juris- diction, as far as the ditferent circumstances of the country per- mitted. The freeholders were assembled in the several counties and towns entitled to representation by the King's writ, and their suffrages taken by the Sheriff. The members thus elected were required by the Governor to meet at Halifax, the capital of the Province, at a certain day, when the usual oaths being administered, and a Speaker chosen and approved, the session was opened by a speech from the person administ(>ring the Government, in imitation of that usually delivered from the throne, in which, after adverting to the general state of the Province, he called their attenticm to such local subjects as seem- ed to require their inunediate consideratiim. The qualifications for a vote or represeniation, were either a yearly income of forty shillinixs, derived from real estate with- in the particular county or town for which the election was held, or a title in fee-simple of a dwelling-house, or one hundred acres of land, five of which must he under cultivation. It was requisite tb.at the title be registered six months before the test of the writ, mdess it were by descent or devise. The Assembly continued for the term of seven (now four years) from the return day of the writs, subject nevertheless to be dissolved in the meantime by the Governor, who had the power of proroguing the Legislature, and appointing the time and place of its session, with this constitutional injunction, that they should be called together ouce at least every year. 31G Tin: OLD JUDGE ; OR, Clunujcs irhich have fakcn 2)Jace since 1S37. An addros,' to llio Crown from ilie House of Assembly in I lie yciir iSiiV, coinphiininij; ( f tlie constitution of the tlu'U c.xisl iiiL,^ co'iii' it, of itH iri'csj)onsibilit y to tlu; jn'oplc, of tho niiiuucr in wliicli its Lcijjishitivt' |)roc'('('(liiii;s avciv coudut-tcd, and (d' practical evils supposed to result from theses causes, was soon afterwards followed by its disorj^auization and reconstriic- tioii, and by the separation of its executive from its lej^dslativo fuuctions, which were assi^^Mied respectively to dilferent bodies, (lesiL^niated as " The ]v\ecutive Couucil." and "The Leii;isl;itiv(! Couucil." 'I'he Chief .luslice and Judges of the supi'i-ior courts \vere excluded from seats in either of the new Councils, and certain instructions were <;iven to tlu^ Jiieutenant-Govenior, in- dicatiu;^^ the priucii)les tiiat were to ^'overn him in provisional jiomiuations of individuals to se:its in the newly-constituted bodies, aiul suLj^n-estinu:, particularly, tlu^ necessity of a re[)reseut- ation, as far as miiijht I)e [)racticab!e, ot'all the leadinuj classes and interests, especially of tiiose connected with the agricultural dis- tricts, as also the avoidance of a preponderance of any religious persuasions. An organic change was thus made in the constitution of the province : and although the principle contended for by tlu' AsscMnbly, tltdt il oiKjht to excrcUc, a control over the q/Jlccrs of Goocnnncnt ami tlte Exccufico Council, analo(jons to that ichich the Jloifsr of Commons possessed over the Ministers of State, was, at ilrst, sternly denied, the claim was reiterated in subso- (pient sessions, exj)(>rieuciug a gradually decreasing opposition, until, at a very recent period, it seems to have bi'cn conceded, to a greater extent perhaps than was anticii)ated by those with whom it originated. The tenure of Colonial Offices, which under the old system was nominally during the pleasure of the Crown, but, practi- cally, during the good behaviour of the incumbent, was, as re- spects nu)st of the higher olUces, excej)t judicial and ministerial ones, declared by the despatch of a Colonial Minister, not to be equivalent to a tenure during good conduct, but to involve the necessity of retirement w henever a change in the person of the Governor, or exj)ediency suggested by motives of public policy, should be thought to recpiire it. The newly-constituted Exe- cutive and Legislative Councils were, in some measure, recast from the materials which composed the old Council, and some of those who had been members of the latter were retained with seats in both of the former ; others, whom it was deemed inexpe- LIFE IN A COLONY. 34' fllio the rsof h ieh Slate, bso- tion, Hied, \vitli client to ren]")])oint, relirinp:, by desire of tlio Crown, but \vltli th(? rank altaehedto the illation whieh they had i'elin(|iiiMlie(h Soon at'ler tlie reconsliMieliou of lhesi> bodies, 1 he prineipie, if not formally announced, was at least {generally understood to be, tJi(tt, with the aiiitilc e^weption of the tdle Procineuil Seeretitri/, icho retdiiiei/ a aatt in the Jietv J'Jwccittire Vouneil irithoiif beinr/ a Diritiljcr oj' ci titer of the J louses of J.efislittioii, a .scut in one or the other nti- uieiit on (juestions of ])ublic pulley was not dei'nied necessary. The retirement, however, from the Council Board of some of its members, duriiii; the administi'alion of Lord I'alklaiid, immedi- ately after a <;,i'iieral election, induced a struii:'j;le in the House of Assembly, between those who had retired ami their Parliament- ary su^jporters, on the one hand, and those who had adhered to the Governoi', with their upholders in the House, on the other. As the constituency, after the termination of that Parliament, returned a majority favourable to the ojjposition, a practical re- sult was, the relimpiishment of all the seats in the Jv\ecuti\u Coimcil to the majoritv in the new House, and the transfer of the Crown ollices, together Avith the renu)val from oHlce of the Provincial Secretary, upon his resigiuitiou of liia seat as an Ex- ecutive Councillor. An attempt made by the present Li(Mitenant-Governor, soon after he assumed the government, to ellect an arrangement be- tween the leaders of the two contending parties, with a view to the formation of a Coimcil that would give the country the benefit of the ability that both coidd furnish, was unsuccessful, but the failure was thought to render necessary an appeal to l)i)wning ytreet, whence a despatch soon afterwards enuuiated of sullicient importance to exercise a consi -rable inilueuce upon the future destinies of the colony. It recommended that in Xova Scotia, as in England, tenure of ollice during good behaviour, in the ordinarily received mean- ing of the phrase, shoidd practically be, thenceforth, the ye/s])at(*li ])arti('ul:u'ly moniloiicd, llio Colonial Secretary iiislrueled the Lieutenant-Governor ///r// no ohshivlc (wi.sit (I, ill lii>i ojiiiuoii, in the prciiliar circioii.siniirrs' of Novii, Hcotia, to Ihv inimcdidle fijipUcnfion fo if of the fiijfilcni of l^urliamcnturij Gocernincnt that prcvuilcd in Enjland. Lord Durhani's Commission. Tlie Le^'islal Ivc Council, wliicli previously consisted of twelve nieinbers, \v; s increased to iitteen, and ilie ninid)i'r of the Exe- cutive (to \vlii<'li all jiulicial authority was transfernMl) was limited to nine, but 8ubse(|Uent ili'S[>atclies have authorized the increase of the latter, under s[)ecial circinnstances, and the for- mer was c()iii|)osed of twenty at the close of the last session. Wheth neiher the departmental system ot Canada shouhl he ni- troduced into this country has been twice? keeidy contested be- tween the Conservativ{>s, ami the dillerent parlies who at pre- sent act together under the name of'" Croat Jiiberals," aiul has bi'cn alternately rejected andado[)ted. 'J'he Colonial Secretarv, actuated bv the same kindly leelinsi: that has alwavs inlluenced Ins })redecessors, and entertaining the same san^uiiM' li ^)e < f the ellect of concession, has, to a great extent, decidi'il the ijues- tiou in the atr!rmaliv(\ What the position of the Govornor, in relation to bis Sove- reign, his Couneil, and the local Legislature? is, has been t(derablv well settk'il in th"orv, by the asseudjlv havini!- fci'ui- ally adopted J^ord Metcalf s explanation of it ; ' but what 1 .And wliorcas his Excelloiicy, Sir ('hai'lcs IMctcall', lin.s thus i'x])l;iiii('(l. in an answer tn an addiTss IVoni (ioro, in Canada, liis views uf Ucspon-'ihlr (io- vcrnnicnf — " "With n'rcrcncc to \n\\v views o' l'i";]i«in^iltlo Government, T oannot tell you how tar I coneur in thcni, witliout knowiui;' your nieauing, wliieh is not (listiiietly stated, " It you mean tliat the Governf)r is to have no exercise of his own judu;- nient in the adinini>tration ot the f>-overnment, and is to he a nien> to(d iu tlio liands ottlie Council, tlien T totally disaii'ree with you. Tliat is a condition to MJiich 1 can never sul)Uiit, and wliich her Majesty's Governnicnt, in my ojiinion, never can sanction. " It you mean that (>very word and deed of the Governor is to lie |,ivvious- ly suhniitti'd tor the advice of the Council, then you propose wliat, l)esidcs heinr^ i.iinecessaiy and iiseless, is utterly luipossihle, consistently with the due des- patch of iiiisiness. '• If you mean that the patronnffo of the Crown is to he surrendered for ex- clusive ])arty ]nirposes to the Council, instead of heinp; distiihuted to reward merit, to meet just claim<, and to pi'omot(> the efilcieucy of the ])uhlic service, ll.eu we are aiiain at issue. Such a surrender of tlie pieroj'ative of the Crown is, in my o])inion, inconijiatihle with the existence of a Jhatish colony. " If you mean that the (iovi'ruor is an irresponsible ollicer, who can, Avith- out respuusibility, ud ipl the advice of llie Courcil, then you are, 1 conceive, it if June man siojij impe less 1 what as in but I tiiore tions troub Jn Oover most ( ^ylliell as to \\ <'ii(ii-ely : '■^ not oil resjxnisil ^':u'li;uiu' tirins or on the ad I'leadiiiu- |n'oj)Ic ,',/■ every dav " liut .. mean tim j derstood ^^41 shoij I f'l to olfr^ ' tliat tlie (I advisers, «IiouId he the CouiKl that wheil sponsihhj }"ii, and colony ()„j undertakis equitahir Th.Te tlie true j)i Thi,j oniiriarvJ "f tile ad! Jono- extrj «t' their ov liJul heen }j of tlieiro naJs of th — — i IJFi: IN A COLONY. 810 „m1, llio ■ llidl no aurrs of Hslcm of oftwclvo the I'AO- )rl/.L>d the il the ibr- uUl 1h) iu- itested be- K) at pre- ,;' aiulhuri See ret 11 ry, inllueneei-l >• h ,)0 . f •cUlieiiues- po his Sove- l\:is been ivini;" Ibrui- biit ^vhat 1 ciinnot toll '\vUiiU is nut liis own ini^!^- ,^,,^v tool ill tlio . IS a (•i.niliti'>iito \ , iumy o,liiiii"ii> to bo i.ivvious- at.bosiaoslH'inS ith the line (U's- •vt nilorod for ox- ibutinl to vowava n. public sovvico, ivo oltbo Cvowu I colonv. r, ^vUo Van, witb- II arc, 1 conceive, it is practieally, mIII always bo a iiiaitor of c^reat doubt, as imieli will de[)eiul on tbi' abibty, inle^M'ity, ans])nii-;lliiliti('s than any other in it. Jle is respon-ilile to the Crown and I'ailiaiutnt, and the penplf of the Mother Country, for every act that ho pcr- I'ornis or snii'ers to bo done, whether it oriuinates with him-elf, or is adopted on the advieo of others. lie eould not divest himself of that respon>ihilitv l)y pleadiui^- the advice of the Council. IIi' is also virtually itspoiiNihlc to the peo])lo of the coliuiy, ami practically more so than even ti> the Mother Country : every day jjroves it, and no res(dntions can make it otherwise. " lUit if, instead of meanini; any of the !.t)ove-stated impossibilities, you mean that the Government should be admiiii-tered according' to the well-un- derstood wishes and interests of the people, that the resolutions of Se|tteml)er 1S41 siiould be faithfully adhered to, that it should be competent to tlie Coun- cil to offer advice on all occasions, whether as to ]>atronan'e or otherwise, ami that the (Joverm r should icceive it with the attention due to his eoii^litutional advisers, and consult with them on all cases of a(le(]uatc importance, that there should he a cordial co-operation and sympathy between him and theui, ami that the Council should be responsible to the Provincial Parliament and [)ro[)le ; and that when the acts of the Governor arc such as they do not choose to be re- sponsible for, they should be at liberty to resign, then, 1 entirely auree with you, ami see no impracticability in carryiu;^ on i;rs])onsil)le (iovernmeut in a colony on that footinj;, ])rovided that the respective parties enga^^ed in the nndertakinij' be ji^uided by moderation, honest purpose, common sense, and e(|uitahle minds, devoid of ])arty spirit." Therefore, rciiolved, That this House rccoj^nisc in the above documents the tru(! ])rincipl(>s of Colonial (jovernment, as applicabli> to this province. This Resolution, of which the abovi' is an I'Xtraet, is one of the most extra- ordiiKiry papers ever entered upon the journals of a lejiisladve body. It consists of t!u' iulo])tion, verbatim^ of four rescdutions of the Canadian LeL;islatu!t\ of louii' extracts from lu'wspaper reports of the speeches of two of tlie memb'rs of their own body, and the answer of the late Lord Metcalf to an address that had been presented to him])y the people of the Gore district, without one word of their own on the subject. It ii.ay be iouud t-u tlig C7th pajjo of the Jour- nals of the Assembly for 1844. 350 THE OLD JUDGE. ! I the hope that experience mii^ht improve, or vip^ilancc regulate, its motion. Colonists, wlio jire the subjects of the experiment, are not ai^rced amonj^ themselves as to its import ; some supposing th.it it means the transfer of tlu^ Avhole power of the Governor, who is virtually superseded, to his Council ; others, that it is the su])stitution of party for moral responsibility, while not a few take the most extreme views, considering it, on the one hand, as a panacea for every evil, and, on the otluT, as fraught with destruction to all that is good, and loyal, and respectable in the country. If properly controlled, limited, and directed by the authorities at home, it is to be h()|)ed it may be rendered, if not beneticial, at least innocuous, allaying the fears of the well- aflected, and disa])poiuting the hopes of those who, having no- thing to lose, are always the advocates of change. ]3y compar- ing these modifications of the machin(M'y of th(» Executive and Legislative bodies with their couditi(>n in 1SIJ7, and carefully perusing the Resolution of tlw^ Assembly expressing their view of administration, and the despatches of the (.'olonial ]Minister, to which I have referred, you will, T hope, be able to understand what the constitution of this colony was, Avhat it is now, and how, when, and by whom those changes wen; ellected. Upon the (luestions which have; agitated the public mind so greatly, nanudy, whc'Jher the Colonial JNlinister could legally make those organic changes without the sanction of the local or Imperial Parliament, whetlicr they are conducive to the hajipi- ness of the people, and suited to their condition, or compatible with colonial dependence, and others of a like nature, J abstain from Uiaking any connnent. ISly object is to give those facts, but not to argue on them. I only hope I have rendered myself intelligibk: ; but the truth is, I take no interest in our little provincial politics, and therefore am not so much at home on the snbjv'ct of these constitutional changes as Barclay is, who is iu the way of hearing more about them. THE END. ?OHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS :e, its t, are osing (pnor, it is not a 13 one .'table od by red, if well- v* no- nipar- :c and •cfiilly ievv of ter, to rstand vv, and lind so legally ocal or happi- jiatible lb stain e facts, myself IV little ;)n\e on is, who