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Maps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de reduction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 S e THK CAPE BRETON GIANT A TRUTHFUL MEMOIR By Jas. D. Gillis f \ }■ ■ r' ,•1. •■ o q . ■^ rr" Jl j ^ ^ Q Q DHontteal : fvd for tlie Author by John Loveli, A Sox, 1899. J >Y Jl C Page 1 Page : "Oif she Page joye^l as l»age Page Page Page He doe walked \ A thh: AW CAPE BRETON GIANT A TRUTHFUL MEMOIR ERRATA. T^ to 1'HV. line duelist read duellist. Page 12. loth line, uue _^^^^^ ^^^^^^^j p.,^: m BXontvcaii Printed for the Author by John Lovell & Sox. . 1899. •f r IS 1 1 1 > T t 1 iiilPWiillMiHiiniiiiw >!; 'K •vy ' 1 / ANGUS MacASKIUU and TOM THUMB A aJ ^.^a / tl I I 1' JAMF.S I), (ill, US r Th one, of hi beinj 1 far J son. was son tea Gil col A M foi ta .*'• ■ , . 1 V r^rrsnt^r to ffive a sketch, a brief ''%T'°own'lt L;Cay f loducdon to those 'I^Tbtro; July nth. .870.at StrathU; -t far from the residence of John Maclsaac. Donalds '""■ In early childhood 1 removed, or more correctly 7 1. TTooer Margaree. I went to school "rt^e ^ndlSonbeca'meprofident enough to TchscLr By the way my teachers-. J^ne rhfhald'S:MaSane.DanMacphail and A. S. ""frttice to the united States ; I do not say so /^r:r;-r;ngagedin schooUeachmgin Kil- tarlity school. I \!*\^ ' ■ \' PREFACE /' By their Biographies. ■'%«>^ The celebrities of other lands are daily brought be- fore our eyes. This is well, for it is pleasant, recre- ative and beneficial to know and to study the lives of great men. The poet Longfellow says; — *'Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime; And departing leave behind us Foot prints on the sands of time." Longfellow is right. Experience is an able teacher moreover, and we can actually derive benefit from the story of the experiences of great men, that is, from the story of the ways and means by which the great overcame difficulties, and acquired fortune and fame an 1 attained to eminence. Plutarch said : "To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood all our days." Now, dear reader, is it not proper to perpetuate the fame of a deserving country ? "Breathes there a man with soul so dead. Who never to himself has said : This is my own, my native land, Whose heart had ne'er within him burned As home his footsteps he had turned.?" Cape Bretonians, one and all, remember that Angus MacAskill was our countryman. Remember that we have reason to be proud of him. Remember that he was one of the greatest giants the world has ever seen Yes, one of the giants of the world was a native of Cape Breton, viii PREFACE But apart from our hero's bodily strength— he was also an excellent man otherwise. The following stanza is suggestive of his general personal character: 'True worth is in being, not seeming; In doing each day that goes by Some little good — not in the dreaming Of great things to do by and by, For whatever may be said in blindness And in spite of the fancies of youth, There's nothing so kingly as kindness, And nothing so royal as truth." The writing of this work was suggested by Mur- doch MacLean, of Upper East Ainslie. The author had seen an article in the "Family Herald and Weekly Star" about Angus MacAskill. In a col- loquy which this suggested, Mr. MacLean said, "it would be a grand idea to write a life of MacAskill*' The author soon took up the matter, and this book is the result. The author desires to thank the following people for their help:— Kenneth P. MacKay, Rear Scotsville; Duncan MacAskill, St. Ann's; John A. Morrison S. Gut, St. Ann's; Alick MacKinnon, North Ainslie; John P. MacKay, Scotsville; Hugh Gillis, Warden, Upper Margaree; John H. MacPhail, Upper E. Ainslie. He also desires to thank Murdoch C. MacLean of North Ainslie, for suggestions. Respectfully, James D. Gillis, Teacher INTRODUCTION There is not a settlement in the Dominion of Can- ada, or in the United State?, that is not aware of the fact that there once lived a man by the name of An- gus MacAskill, who was a prodigy of size and strength. This general idea, my frienis, is not enough; it is rather vague to be satisfactory. True, it is that in some settlements a story or two may be heard, but again, this is not enough. Now this book gives all the important events ot MacAskill's career in language, which, if sometimes florid, is none the less easily understood by all who are fairly versed in the language of England. The reader may have heard different or deviating versions of some of the exploit anecdotes here fur- nished. She or he will perhaps doubt the authenticity of this book, but the author is satisfied that this work is virtually a surperb representative of MacAskili's greatness. The author's researches for information were thorough. Now he ventures to say that a few read- ings of this Life and Exploits of Angus MacAskill is emphatically enough to enable any person to grasp a non-shadowy conception of the hero. Alpreover, he believes that these readings will be pleasurable, re- Creative, very instructive and practically beneficial. * As an "inspiring volume," it will possibly be of benefit to old and young. The language being easy INTRODUCTION. as already stated, no one need fail to derive morals from the Life of Mir A cHii u- ■_ morais profit. M^'cAsk.ll. which may permanently Geographical descriptions are profusely given. furtt r*""'"'"""'^'- O'd-d later day hLo'y e e :":7^'^^ the reader's path to the kn'ow.ed'e ^yeeks, a thorough knowledge of the Cape Breton The fact that, as a rule, only one exploit is portrav attheZeThereof^^aTra^f "°k "'''''''''' '"' that another rapid L a " Thf r"" "'' '""^ r-thein„stL/wTer. ScrGrt'-'Tti: "sed .n a metonymical sense, of couL. ' " i he author is confident that it will be fn„n^ ■"teresting than a fairy tale. He Ta devZ """' t'-e to the work, having commenced it inrh ""* of '898 at Upper East linsHe '' "'"'^'" Applicable quotations sparkle here and there and where convenient are credited to their author^ that this bmgraphy is the very best of the kind that was ever published. '"" f t * 1 CHAPTER I Birth Plack of MacAskill. On the west coast of Scotland is a cluster of islands, called the Hebridts, about five hundred in number, of which one hundred are inhabited. Some of the H islands have high mountain?, and are noted for their picturesque scenery. The climate is mild and humid. The Hebrides I i ed by an arm of the sea called the Little Minch into the Inner Hebrides and the Outer Hebrides. The inner group lies clc.se to the west of Saotland. The principal islands which constitute the group are: Skye, Mull, Jura, Isiay, Arran, Bute and Staffa, The latter is a small island on the west of Mull, and is re- markable for its basaltic columns, and for Fingal's cave. Fingal's cave, to the Irish and Scotch people, how musical the name ! lor it recalls to memory what we have learned of the great Fingal, an illustrious king of a part of Scotland in the days of antiquity. Yes, and reminds us of King Fingal's gifted son Ossian the poet. It reminds us of his other sons. Gall, Con- nan and Oscar, also "famous in story." Fingal and his sons, in their own way, were like bonny Marshal Ney of France, "the bravest of the brave," and we have reason to conclude that they were likewise re- puted the greatest of the great. They were generous, chivalrous and brave. 12 Ossian's poetic narration of his visit to Erin or Ire- land cannot be excelled. Ossian was romantic. The maids of Scotland were beautiful and charming, yet none of them approached to Ossian's ideal of woman- kind. Fingal saw and smiled and said "my son, go to Ireland, there is many a lovely maiden there, and I believe you will see one at least there who will more than captivate your youthful heart." Ossian went. He arrived at the palace of an Irish King, where he got a ho pitable reception. It chanced that on that very day, this King's daughter, the fairest maid of Erin, was to be given in marriage to the best duelist. The arms used were a shield and spear. Os- sian won the day though there were several compet- itors, and this prii.cess gave him her hand with her heart in it, and his joy on that day he remember'^d till his dying day. It must not be omitted that, previous to the duel or contest of spears, the heroes were permitted to get, a glimpse of the lovely princess. Ossian was so ena- moured by her beauty that he was willing, were it possible, to die for her hand ten thousand times. However, he returned to Scotland soon after ac- companied by his vvife. They lived in bliss for many a year, but cruel Death at length robbed him of his darling "Evir Aluinn." lona contains the ruins of a monastery, a famed seat of learning where Calum Cile, otherwise known as St. Columba, presided and taught in the days of "lang syne," Eigg is famed for the cave of Frances in which all the inhabitants of the island were smoked to death by a hostile clan. I I ■A 13 The outer group of the Hebrides comprises Lewis, North Uist Benbecula, South Uist, Barra, and num- erous smaller islands. They are separated by nar- row passages, and extend in a line of about one hun- dred and twenty miles in length. The total popula- tion of the Hebrides is ioo,ooo~(See J. B. Calkin's Gen. Geography.) The south-west part of Lewis is called Harris. — Here our illustrious hero, Angus MacAskill, was born. As an infant, he was, as said elsewhere, but ot aver- age size and nobody dreamt of the bustle his future prodigious size and appalling strength were to occa- sion throughout the whole world, civilized and un- civilized, from pole to pole. But, reverting to Harris, be it said that it has pro- duced many eminent men, and forefathers of eminent men, and though many of them "were born to blush unseen," and to "waste their sweetness on the de- sert air," yet, generally speaking, the Harrissonians and their descendants of other climes rank high. Angus MacAskill was born in the year 1825. His parents were respectable, and of "blood unstained and lineage good." I^is father was 5 ft. 9 in height, and stout. His mother was a good sized woman. There was a family of twelve besides him, three girls and nine boys. There were two girls and a boy older than he. Four of his brothers and two of his sisters are still living. Some of the family died in infancy. CHAPTER II. Cape Breton As It Is. Cape Breton Island is to the north-west of the peninsula of Nova Scotia. It is divided into four counties, namely: Inverness, Victoria, Cape Breton and Richmond. Cape Breton Island is remarkable for its beauti- ful scenery. Good harbours are plentiful. It has a plentitude of good highways and some railways. Of the latter kind of accommodation, many more are talked about, and the expectations of those interested may be gratified all in good time. The soil is gener- ally fertile, and is extensively cultivated. The fisher- ies of and off the coast waters are famous. The Bras d'Or lakes and some fresh water lakes, as Ainslie^are simply enchanting. Into the latter flows Trout River —a favourite resort of trout. From Lake Anslie flows the South-West of Margaree river, a river, though fairly large, still unassuming, a river whose intrinsic loveliness, coupled with still more charming surround- ings, has a prominent place in the directory of superb phenomena, Reveting to Lake Ainslie, it is suf- ficient to say that a great writer has successfully de- monstrated that it is equal in beauty to the paragons of such beauties, viz., the Killarney lakes ot Ireland, Again, Middle River, Harvard Lakes, North-Kas Margaree, Cheticamp, Broad Cove, Mabou, Port '5 Hood, Judique, Nyanza, Beddeck, Whycocomagh, the Sydnies, East Bay, Mira, Arichat, St. Peters, and St. Ann's possess panoramas of scenic magnificence uni- versally supposed to be unrivalled beyond our shores. The island is entering a "career of brilliant pro- mise." The exodus to other parts is decreasing. The flow of our boys and girls to the United States will probably cease forever at no distant day. The average Cape Bretonian is a George VVashingtcn in the line of truthfulness. But that Dingley Bill of the Americans indirectly contributes to Cape Breton's coffers. The resources of our island are many. It invariably piys to develop them. Many, many reasons could be adduced to prove that it is far better for the Cape Bretonians to stay at home than to go abroad, and of late years experience has con- firmed the majority and more that those who hive been fortunate enou.;h to gain a foothold in Cape Breton Island cannot leave it for a better land upon this revolving star that we inhabit. Before ''you and I" were young. Cape Breton Is- land belonged to France. Vivacious France was '•quick to learn and wise to know" the great value of Isle Royal, as they called Cape Breton. They built a town on the east coast, fortified "to kill, "and called it Louisburg in honour of the then King Louis of France. Louisburg's fortifications were not kept in good re- pair. In 1745 A. D. it was taken by a small fleet from Great Britain aiiJ an army of New Englanders. France was bereft of Islu Royal. Afterwards it was i6 ceded to France. Again, in 1758, however, Louis- burg was finally captured by Great Britain. The bon Isle Royal was ceded forever to Great Britain in 1763 A.D. From 1784 to 18 19 A.D. the island formed a se- parate province, under a military Government. While a military Government would not be adequate to-day, it is clear that it would be much butter for the island to be still, and forever a separate province. With due respect to the inhabitants of the peninsula, we are sa- tisfied that it adds nothing to our dignity at home or loroad to be affiliated with them under one provin- cial Government, As for road and bridge grants, etc, there is a "leagued oppression" against Cape Breton in these matters, which needs no Argus to ob- serve. However, there is a sentiment among the is- landers in favour of secession. At a seasonable oppor- tunity a "long, strong pull together" will gain for us that separation which will be the keystone to our political freedom. In closing this chapter, it may be remarked that, as the climate of our island is grand, that it is reason- able to suppose that MacAskill, the hero of our tale owed some of his size and strength to his being bred here for the most part. Yes, our island is exception- ally conductive to the growth of humanity. A visit to us will convince anyone of this. While all admit that our hero was by far the greatest of all, the average Cape Bretonian is little less than a giant, comparative- ly speaking. But the debts we owe our land we shall remember, our gratitude our land esteems full high. ¥ ,;'; 17 hence, while Cape Breton exists, she will reverberate with praise of her sons and the realm of size and strength vaunt our hero to the very skies. Such, such will Cape Breton show her love of him who loved her well. s rl CHAPTER III. MacAskill Comes Across. When MacAskill was a ycdth, the subject of im- migration to America was pervaded with great and sometimes unrealized expectations. Of course, truth is stranger than fiction, and a truthful account of Am- erica could not be exceeded in wonders and interest by the most fabulous writer "orator. Yet, there is no clime on earth where all succeed. Even America is not an exception, though it offers the poor excep- tional chance?. Hence it wa;5 that many immigrants even from Scotland were disappointed. But it is gra- tifying to know that the great majority who crossed the "Atlantic's roar" to the land of the setting sun might reasonably celebrate the day the thought of coming over flashed through their minds. § In those days iVmerica was the Boston, the Why- cocomagh or the Klondike of to-day. News from America excited public interest to concert pitch. In truth, a vessel hailing from the New World would occasion as lively a bustle as did the arrival of Sir Randolph Murray with his ''News of Battle," after the Battle of Flodden. As favourable reports were usually submitted, it is no marvel that many 'took a leap and o'er the sea." " Moreover, the Scottish island?, as well as other parts of Europe, were becoming overcrowded. The 19 resources of these countries were seldom equal to the demands made upon them. In many cases, in spite of economy, thrift and hard labour, "want even as an armed man came down upon their sheds." It may not be irrelevant here to remark what in- calculable gratitude the greater part of the civilized world owes Spain. Were it not for Spain, America might not have been yet discovered. True it is that Columbus was not a Spaniard, but it is equally true that it was Spiin that furnished him the means to cross. Say, reader, just think of the millions who have been indebted thus to Spain for fame, fortune and life itself. Fancy the thousands who, of recent years, came from Europe, combined with the millions whose forefathers came from there, yes, fancy them, packed, I may say, in Europe ; who can picture the result ^ As long as an inhabitant of America appreciates elbow room and pure air, he or she is lacking some way if Spain is not recalled to memory with a flush of grati- tude. Yet there are some, but in the honest Dominion of Canada their ranks are wearing thinner, who would rejoice in the downfall of Spain. The same people would laud their o-vn little idols of humanity to the skies— these little idols of theirs whose prominence falls like that of kites, and likewise would fall to be lost forever only for the tangent selfishness by which it is fastened to some unscrupulous hand. It is of little interest to refer to that discovery of America by the Northmen. It was at best a slipshod 20 affair, and resulted in songs which our ordinary people of this day could not understand. As for Cabot and others, previous to Columbus* discovery, they had never dreamt of the roundness or rotundity of the earth. But our great benefactor, Columbus, studied physio- graphy for years. At length he concluded that the earth was round. He set off westerly for East India. By the way, though confident in his conclusions about the earth's form, he was not aware that there was such a country as America. Yes, he set off for India, but better still, instead of discovering s. shorter route to that land than the one then taken, he discovered the land of lands, America. But enough. However, when Angus MacAskill was six years old "he saw the ship that brought him o'er." Yes, he was but six years old when his pa- re'.its lead him by the hand to the ship. Though his parents were confident in the future, yet their hearts were almost bursting as they bade their friends a **heart-warm fond adieu." Angus shed tears too. Next morning the ship left the harbour. When An- gus realized that they were actually going to live out of sight of the old home, he cried bitterly. His pa- rents consoled him as well as they could, but almost in vain. However, as was customary, when the vessel pro- ceeded out a piece, twelve violinists stood at the stern Soothed by this sprightly air, Angus dried his tears. By and by, he pouted "I'll be a man yet, and 21 may yet see my own, my native land," and he did see the country of his birth, which may be credited to some extent to his determined will. This may possibly remind some of Napoleon Bona- parte at the Bridge of Lodi. 'Twas at the Bridge of Lodi, during an exciting engagement with the Aus- trians, that the idea flashed through Napoleon Bona • parte's mind that he might yet be a great man. - However, after an otherwise uneventful voyage, Angus MacAskill arrived safely at St. Ann, Victoria County, Cape Breton Island. t ■ J CHArXER IV. From Upper Margaree to St. Ann's. A journey from Upper Margaree to St. Ann's gives pleasure, recreation and benefit. It can be more con- veniently and profitably performed in summer or au- tumn. Leaving Upper Margaree, the tourist ascends to Egypt. Egypt is a fine settlement, physically and otherwise. It is fairly well adapted to farming. Not far from Egypt is Piper's Glen, where a famous piper, Niel Jamieson, dwells. In regard to pipers and violinists, Cape Breton is not behind. Hector Mac- Q'uarrie, of Loch Ban; John N. Jamieson, formerly of Pipers* Glen; Angus MacDonald, of Mabou; Donald MacLellan, of Judique; Neil J. MacDonald, formerly of Broad Cove; a Mr. Beaton, of Mabou; the Mac- Kinnons' pipers of bonny Lake Ainslie; Allan J. Mac- Farlane, Duncan Gillis, James Hugh Gillis, and the intellectual giant, Malcolm H. Gillis, of Upper Mar- garee, are pipers that would electrify the stoutest hearts in Scotland and the fairest ears as well. Egypt plenteously abounds in crystal clear foun- tains. In summer, Egypt smiles with strawberries. Kinnons, pipers of Bonny Lake Ainslie ; Allan Mac- garee by the lovers of good living and by the roman- tic. Between Egypt and Gilander's Mountain, Middle i b tl cl T^'v^^r^^ • 23 River, "Victoria County, there is a defile through the forest of three miles' duration. Over this road a buggy will roll and jolt with some safety, barring ac- cidents. Shortly after emerging from the forest, the tourist sights Middle River, upon which he is apt to gaze "long and thoughtfully," as Napoleon Bona- parte gazed on Moscow. On Gilander's lives Donald A. MacDonald. His is a family whose friendship I will ever treasure. They are pleasant and hospitable, and their financial plentitude enables them to attest to their kindness in an enjoyable manner. From MacDonald's to the river the distance is about three miles. The Presbyterian church here is a comely building. Along the road you may telescope landscapes most beautiful, and farms that may remind you of those of Ontario. The river is "a silver thread" that attracts many trout and salmon sports. In its bed gold is found in modest quantities, Deeper search may reveal more of that ever- valued element. The road soon slopes up Hunter's Mountain (call- ed after Mr. John trunter), and from the highest de- gree which the roau describes you may behold com- binations of scenery and contrasts, about which a By- ron might compose a Lochnagar. By and by you pass through Big Beddeck and over the bridge which is so lofty that you experience cold chills as you go across. Along to Beddeck town the road is inlaid with I1 24 «'li spruce trees, and, hence, is rather monotonous. Four* miles travelled and you are in town. Beddeck is a lovely town. There are many fine houses, and several churches. The post-office would be a credit to a city. Steamboats, etc., without number call at Beddeck, Across the harbour may be seen the ghost or perhaps the skeleton of the ill-fated "May Queen." Beddeck people are exemplary. They are indus- trious, artistic and kind. Much and varied work and business is daily done. Money is plentiful. Loung- ers are few. In politics the voters are practical; de- corum prevails. With due respect to others, about Allan Mac- Donald, blacksmith, I hold that he and Mrs. Mac- Donald are individuals whose acquaintance is worth having. Mr. MacDonald is a violonist. Indeed, a visit to Allan MacDonald's is something which no one will ever think of without a thrill of joy. From Beddeck to St. Ann's, the miles number ten* The road is good. On the way you pass by an I. 0. G. T. Lodge. From Upper Margaree to St. Ann's the people along the road are good, always profuse in furnishing information or any other restorative the wayworn may require. Four y fine would [deck, jrhaps indus- •k and .oung- il; de- Mac- , Mac- worth ieed, a ch no >er ten* by an people nishing ayworn CHAPTER V. St. Ann's. In the eastern pirtof Victoria county, a few miles to the west of Great Bars d'Or, the tourist suddenly beholds a ba)- which is truely lovely. This is St. Ann's Bay. It is over six miles in length, and has an average breadth of over a mile. At the mouth of St. Ann's Bay, on the west side is the town, Englishtown. The people of English- town are remarkably progressive. Education re- ceives due attention. In short, the success of En- glishtown poeple is a vivid example of what can be achieved by patient study and continued labour. Along the bay, for the most part, and on both sides, are excellent farms. The scenic beauty of these cozy farms ranges from the simple to the picturesque. A reasonable number and quantity of north temperate plants are grown. Well blooded horses are plentiful. Cows and calves add a lustre to their allotted villas, while in the lofty distance sturks, oxen, sheep, etc., can be seen in vast numbers. Scores of sailing and steaming vessels plough the waters of St. Ann's every week. As these gigantic cradles gently rock, they resemble fabulous vultures of the deep in the act of sunning themselves aad rest- ing moreover before taking one of their long and happy flights. \i' 26 There is a sufficiency of wharves. Not far from one of these is a saw- mill which would be no disgrace to a lumber company in New Brunswick. The rapidity of this mill in shingle sawing reminds one of marvel- ous tales reported about sleight of hand. The roads are pretty good. Iron bridges appear to be very fashionable, for brooks of very ordinary pie- tensi ns babble the "go on forever" boast; — They've bridged me o'er with iron. The southern end of the main bay is extended by a creek. The neck between this superfluous head and the bay is designated South Gut. Into the west side of St. Ann's Bay rolls the lordly North River, This river flows through a fertile re- gion. Yes, the farmers of North River need but "tickle the ground, and it smiles with a harvest." Again, North River hay, pressed or otherwise, has more than a local reputation. But, reverting to St. Ann's, the people are agree- able, cheerful and hospitable. Young and old seem to be exceptionally robust. As a rule, the people are good looking. To "treat extensively" upon this might be indiscreet, for two reasons which need not be told. Three churches, magnificent buildings, emphatically testify to the "applied Christianity" of the place. One of these buildings is elsewhere mentioned. The re- ligion isPresbyterianism. There are several I. O. G. T. Lodges* The object of those ladies and gentlemen who meet here is to suppress intemperance. The school sections are large and populous. Good ,1 i ^ 1 work, and plenty of it, is being done in the schools. ° ,j The chief occupations of St. Ann's people are farm- ing, fishing, na^'igating and lumbering. Farming heads the list in lucrative importance, the others fol- low as above respectively in the order of descending magnitude of profit. In these industries there is a gradual but steady im- provement. New blood and new capital is occasion- ally introduced. Equanimity prevails, and it is rea- sonable to suppose that St. Ann's will yet vie with historic places of eminence. The homes of St. Ann's might remind the tourist of Mrs. Heman's poetical tribute to the lovely " homes of England." The exteriors of these (the former) are only excelled by their interiors. Clumps of flowery flower-plants are seen in discreet profusion mildly blooming outside the inviting open doors of these pa- latial cottages, as if the florid sources of varied sweet- nesses within "had run o'er," as the gold of Venice seemed, to Rogers, yes, "had run o'er," which necessi- tated the removal of the plant inhabitants outside the music resounding walls. The fisheries off St. Ann's are far-famed. Fishing is quite a significant source of wealth. Formerly, how- ever, United States traders came up the bay to pur- chase bait, and paid a high price therefor. Directly this filled the coffers of St. Ann's men; but, indirectly reckoning, 'tis better for St. Ann's, like other parts of the Dominion of Canada, to deal with others in pre- ference to United States people. To-day, and no one regrets it, the United States flag is seldom seen in the bay. 1 28 One reason for the collapse of United States trade" here was the fact that our laws obliged the Amer- icans to buy licences ere proceedings to trade with " us. This they thought rather oppressive, hence their exit, and no one sings "Will ye no come back again." Many of St. Ann's young men "take a loup(leap) and o'er the sea." They are smart on the sea, and their promotion is usually rapid. They are regularly, well paid, and later in life these mariners generally settle on a farm or else open a store or a kindred in- dustry. In winter the forest resounds with the perpetual re- ports of the axe. Beech, birch, maple, ash, elm, spruce, fir, hemlock, juniper and pine are here in abundance. In due time, the yarded lumber is con- veyed to the whistling and ever-hungry circular saws. Many jolly crowds are engaged in the varied employ- ments which these allusions suggest. St. Ann's has moreover a plentiful store of gypsum, better known as "plaster of Paris." This mineral, when thoroughly utilized,, will prove its great value in several different phases. In fact, St. Ann's is a country which no one would desire to leave. A description thereof that would do justice thereto would occupy a volume. True, this country has a few faults and drawbacks, but those weigh but very little against the merits which prepon- derate overwhelmingly. The merchants are a fine set of men. They buy and sell fairly, and have discarded the credit :l 29 system long ago; but liberally assist a customer or a stranger on credit, if it lies in their financial power, when a special emergency justifies the concession. There are justices of the peace, lawyers, and med- ical doctors. The land is so peaceful and healthful that these men find little or nothing to do; such is St. Ann's. in- m -.4- I 1 J CHAPTER VI. MacAskill's Appearance, Size, Etc. ; ! i;'! > a,'. In appearance, Angus MacAskill was prepossess- ing. His eyes and countenance bespoke a stern and shrewd mind tempered with kindness. His height was seven and three-fourth feet. He was three feet and eight inches across the shoulders. The palm of his hand was six inches wide and twelve inches long. One of his boots at least is still extant, and is eighteen inches long, A coat and vest of his are to be seen in Boston, Mass., and the vest can be comfortably buttoned over two good sized men. Though his face was becomingly plump, he was never fat. Touching on his face, it is interesting to know that it was positively beardless. Hence he was never obliged to patronize the consolations of the barber's chair except for a hair cut or a shampoo. His eyes were blue and deep set. His voice, though musical, was somewhat hollow, owing to his massive wind or- ganism. The reader may gain a faint idea of his re- sonant voice by getting a friend to sit in an empty puncheon and speak. He weighed over 500 pounds. He was afifable, courteous and friendly. His hospi- tality was famous. His character strongly reminded people of Goldsmith's lines in praise of his father. He frequently visited his friends. Like all good and great men, he had enemies and ■-'<''■ ■J^ 3« # Opponents, but, as he always trod the path of virtue in addition to his strength, his enemies and opponents never got the upper hand literally, financially or pu- gilistically, or generally speaking in any way. Yet he never risked the extension of his lines by trying too many things. He was in religion a Presbyterian. At the age of twenty his knowledge of the Bible was extensive. Sundays, or Sabbaths as the reader may choose to csiW f/iese days of rest and devotion, he carefully ob- served. A Mr. Campbell, writing from Riverside, California, for the Montreal "Star," says in addition to other information about MacAskill: -'He conducted meetings in his own (MacAskill's) house on Sunday." This not only attests to his knowledge of Scripture, it proves that he endeavoured to conform his life to the truths condescended to happy man on the inspired pages. He seldom went to any church save the one of his own parish, not even to a Presbyterian church, be- cause hispresence was liable to draw the attention of the congregation too much. This was his reason. He clearly saw the danger and governed himself ac- cordingly. But this was probably excessive modesty, or modesty a little misdirected. 'Twere better for him to attend. It may be superfluous to say that he was not a bigot. No, far from it. Though firmly attaciied to his own religious belief, he treated the expression of different religious opinions with cautious gravity and invariable leniency. 32 I. Such, such was Angus MacAskill, a man whose size, strength, k'niness, virtues, and exploits will be long remembered. In his own realm of greatness he was the Bonny Charlie, the Wallace, the Bruce, the Napoleon Bonaparte, the Marshal Ney, the Welling- ton, the Nelson, the O'Connel, the Robert Burns or the Washington of his countless friends, according as they happened to be impressed by the different phases of his greatness. Even to-day in Cape Breton, and in many another land, the mere mention of St. Ann's Big Boy creates a sensation. But while we rejoice at the greatness of our hero, let us not forget the unremitting loyalty of Cape Breton to her sons and daughters. She never "warps or swerves or stirs" from what she thought or spoke of them, and when they leave her like wanton birds, who paint aloft upon her flag the modest wel- come, come what may: — "Will ye na come back agam? Yes, hundreds of eminent people yearly vie with one another in sounding the praises of the Cape Bre- tonians. It is gratifying to reflect upon the fact that our reputation is often the subject of friendly discus- sions within the "merry homes of England." These remarks, far from deducting from our hero's claim to what we call immortal fame, make his claim so much the stronger, for such a people would not careto "throw up their bonnets" for one not highly worthy of such an inestimable tribute. vhose ill be iss he :, the lling- ns or ngas chases lother reates less of Ity of never ight or i^anton 5t wel- back e with pe Bre- ct that discus- r hero's s claim aid not highly CHAPTER VII. MacAs kill's Ancestors. At this stage of our hero's life and exploits, it is both reasonable and natural that the reader will be curious to know something of his ancestors. Were there any giants among them? It has been said al- ready that his father was but of moderate size, and that his mother was a good sized woman. But the reader will probably desire to dive deeper than that. . But before proceeding with this phase, a few re- marks on heredity miy not be inappropriate. Nature works in mysterious ways. A child may bear a striking facial resemblance to his father, while his limbs may resemble those of his maternal grand- father. Again a man may not resemble his father a visible iota, and his son may be the picture of his paternal grandfather. But in the case of such a man the points of resemblance were there, though not evinced. Moreover, a man may be found to be al- most a duplicate of a great grand uncle. Yet, as a rule, and as a rule a salutary thing it is, children are ideal images of their parents. And though " Auld Nature" wantonly as if by accident devirtes occasion- ally from her rule far enough to use anew the moulds in which our remote ancestors were moulded, it ra- ther strengthens than weakens the belief that Nature intended us all to be and to look a little or mere like 3 i\. 34 '^'^;; one another, and like Adam and Eve, This pheno- menon of Nature is called heredity. In our hero's paternal ancestral line, if we go back several generations, yes, several centuries, we will find another giant (a MacAskill) whose prowess was al- most equally great. With said exception, our hero's ancestry were people of average size. Now it is possible that that MacAskill line may yet startle the world by producing another herculean spe- cimen of humanity. But in the case of our hero, Angus MacAskill, cli- matic influences the most favourable, as elsewhere sug- gested, and other circumstances possibly were power- ful auxiliaries of Nature in building his stupendous body and in its thorough development. It may be here remarked that as a baby he was so small that no one expected him to live. As time pass- ed he began to grow, and to grow in earnest. After the age of eight years until he arrived at ma- turity he always ate a bowl of a palatable mixture of cream and oatmeal, sometimes called crowdie, after each meal. Such a dessert might seem crude and unattractive to some, yet it was good and mention thereof may serve to show the wisdom of substantial diet; it slams the door on the dwarf's nose in days of growth. How sweet to see our hero doffing his bonnet to enjoy his modest but superb repast! And who wojld dare to scoff! i pheno- o back /ill find was al- r hero's nay yet an spe- kiU, cli- ere sug- ; power- DC ndous ; was so me pass- d at ma- ixtnre of lie, after ttractive eof may ; it slams growth, onnet to tio would I CHAPTER VIII. MACASKILL used TOBA.CCO. Those who do not use tobacco cannot be blamed though they condemn the tobacco habit. Of course, there are some who do not touch tobacco, who care little or nothing whether others smoke, chew, snuff or not. Others are readily sickened by tobacco fames. To these, passing swiftly through a smoking car is an ordeal which they would not like to repeat. This re- spect is one of the mnny in which variations of or dif- fering constitutions is expressed. What is one man's medicine is another man's poison, though not a well underpinned principle beats the winds of time fairly well, and the researches made by the moderns reveal that it will rock there yet for quite a while. The above mentioned maxim (did I say principle.?) has been well illustrated in one of the foeign regions somewhere. A certain lad, a soldier, decided to try his fortune as a doctor. He did not go to college or to a university, but he just bought a valise full of me" dicine and a few implements. He had R. R. R., G. G. G., Hood's Sarsaparilla, Ayer's Cherry Pectoral etc. Thus equipped he joined another division of the army, and enlisted as a doctor. His first patient was a Dutchman down with a raging fever. Give me "sour krout" shouted the poor Dutchman. The doctor (so-called) got his patient thecabbage soup. The dutch- \ t I t 36 man swallowed his fill, and soon recovered. The doctor wrote in his professional diary: **Sour krout cures fever." Next morning he was called to attend a Prussian, who was all but gone with the fever. The doctor gave him sour krout, and in five minutes the Prussian was dead. The aristocratic Prussian consti- tution was ruined by sour krout. The doctor wrote in his diary as follows: — Sour krout heals a Dutch man's fever; but it is a Prussian's coup ie grace (or finishing stroke.) Now a medicine, drug, or even a narcotic, may suit one person better than his twin brother. Some who receive a charge of ether never recover in perfection. There are others who experience no evil consequences But is tobacco a failure.-^ Thousands answer "yes" and hundreds answer "no." That tobacco users are in the minority is no argument against its use. Medi- cal knowledge or science cautiously advises the world to avoid tobacco. Said science teaches that a moder- ate dose of smoke or an occasional chew or a fre- quent shot of snuff has no ill consequences of a very material nature. But here, as in many other things, people are in danger of overstepping moderation, and, moreover, tobacco, like strong drink, usually causes a greater appetite for what? for more of itself. If too much tobacco be taken, it impairs or injures the mind and the body, makes a person bad looking, clumsy and weak. If you once begin, it is, you may say, im- possible to discontinue the tobacco habit. In fighting with your inclinations, you are but one against two. First, force of habit is against you ; secondly, you have \'. ! 37 the insidious craving for the weed, which is a more bitter enemy than the fir.'t. Don't begin to use tobac- co ; no, don't touch it if you mean to stop using it some other day. It is a pungent, that is, a bad smelling weed too, and as it does no good, that is, as it is usually taken, why not leave it alone? Of course applied to cuts or snake bites, etc., it is a valuable medicine. Plowever, it is well to make known that our hero used tobacco. He was "barely yet apast his teens" when he acquired the habit. In those times, smoking was somewhat fashionable, and, of course, MicAskill could afford to smoke as well as his mates. One ot his pipes is still extant, and is a marvel of size. It is of cherry wood, one of the limbs serving the function of stem. Possibly it was made on a colossal scale merely for merriment, not for the sake of logical proportion. It will hold one-sixth of a pound of tobacco at a time, and resembles a mallet in the distance. But to be serious, tobacco had no ill effects on Mac- Askill's body. He was so robust and able that it would take tobacco half a century to make the least impression upon him. Should his supply get ex- hausted he did not care very much, for he could con- trol his craving till it was convenient to have his orders sent. ■If id, j\ iii t 1 CHAPTER IX. MacAskill would take a Glass. The folly of drinking intoxicating liquors has been often and conclusively proved. The arguments ad- vanced in favour of strong drink are all very shadowy. But against strong drink scoies of able arguments can be adduced, and this without great study or re- search. At this day no self-respecting person bothers with "tangle-foot" at all. But in former years, say, thirty or forty years ago, it was not known that alcoholic liquors were so perni- cious. It remained for the present studious, laborious and researching generation to discover the danger. Rum, etc., injures a person morally, physically, men- tally and financially. This being admitted, why would any one drink strong drink? The author of this book ventures to answer that question. It is be- cause rum, etc., so to speak, creates cheerfulness and happiness. But, dear reader, this cheerfulness and this happiness are merely counterfeits, yes, merely delu- sions. One smile is more beneficial to a sober person than a peal of laughter to the man who is "pretty full." Again, after the direct effects of a sjliss or more of rum, etc., are over, there is a reaction. The man is dull and sad — these are penalties which he must pay for the folly of drinking alcoholic drinks. Really now, there is no pleasure in rum, etc., drinking; it does not ;v. 39- been ts ad- dowy. iments or re- others rs ago, perni- )orious langer, Y, men- d, why hor of : is be- :ss and nd this '- delu- person pretty r more man is ist pay y now, 3es not heat you in cold weather, except in your imagination ; hence, I ask again, why drink the hateful liquor at all? But, as already suggested some years ago the evil resultants of alcoholic drinks had not been discovered. This serves as an ample apology for those who drank them. No further apology is needed for anyone. An- other helping or auxiliary apology is the fact that the intoxicating drinks forsale then were not adulterated. They were not additionally poisoned with soda, tobac- co, etc., etc. Angus MacAskill took a glass of rum, brandy or whiskey occasionally. Did I say glass.? Well, 'twas a mistake. He used to drink out of a wooden dish called a tub. The tub would hold three glasses. However, ordinarily speaking, strong drink did not hurt Angus MacAskill, i.e., to any apparent extent. He was so healthy and strong that a few drinks a week did not injure him. No one will dream of disrespecting the memory of Angus MacAskill on account of the knowledge that he drank strong liquors. No! no! Drinking was cus- tomary in his day, and as aforesaid it was supposed to be harmless. In fact, drinking was thought to be a semi-elixir which would make perfect health better and cure every ailment peculiar to the age. About rum, etc. — our hero was no niggard in a li- quor store. He'd call for a drink for all hands as soon as he'd enter, no matter whether the crowd was large or small. He did not sell strong liquor himself, but often had !i ilplli ! I 40 some in his store for private use. Any customer whom he knew to be fond of the "drop," would get a hearty "swallow," and then in the din of funny yarns, broken only with laughter, he'd drink a '*shot" himself. Had our hero heen of the present day, we may be sure that he'd be an advocate of total abstinence. However, be it said, that drinking never excited him to any visible extent, and that he never drank to in- toxication. !!■: 41 ! ■;,'■ i^ 'y ! ii? 1i,- \ i:; fl' i I'* ;h '5 II u I r astoiner would f funny L "shot" may be tinence. ted him k to in- CHAPTER X. MacAskill Could Farm. In his early years, except fishing, no work pleased our hero more than farming. He could plough, har- row, and in short, was an adept at all those duties pe- culiar to the farm. He was an expert ploughman. This is interesting to the farmer reader, for he knows that ploughing is one thing and ploughing admirably well another. Our hero became versed in the science and art of ploughing at a very early age. He was carefully trained to it by his father, who always tried to have the following momentous principle practically applied:— What's worth doing at all is worth doing well. His father taught him the wisdom of having one general principle in all doings instead of trying to follow many rule?. His father often demonstrated that, if men do their duty to the best of their judgment, power and strength, it matters little whether the mo- tives are selfish or not. He showed that there is no antagonism between doings that are really good; in fine, that what is really and positively good is good and cannot be bad; yes, that that what is good for one man is good for all, directly, or indirectly. Moreover, he held that nothing approximates the expression of the above principles as near as the golden rule, to wit: "Do to others as you would have others do to you.' : I I Ml / !| 'I ::,.i'i'h^ ?m 42 Such was the philosophic general instruction imparted to our hero, to which he largely owed "that prudent, cautious self control which is wisdom's root." Won- der not that the son of such a parent was morally and generally a whole man. He loved his mother too deep and too much for words. Nothing pained him so much as to see her sad. He spared no pains for her comfort. Her word was law to him, and he never persisted in anything of which she disapproved. One instance will serve to prove this quite empha- tically. He and his lather were out ploughing one afternoon. A neighbour came around, and in the course of a colloquy with our hero bet ten dollars that the field would not be finished that evening. Our hero put up ten dollars, too, ana the neighbour went off till a later hour. Soon, however, one of the horses got sick, and had to be unyoked for that day, whereupon MacAskill stepped into the horse's place, took hold of the traces, and was fairly more than a match for the remaining horse. He filled the sick horse's place successfully for two hours. At four o'clock his mother came out with a lun- cheon. She was astounded. In fact, she wept. She prayed her son to cease such work at once, and never to do the like again. Without a word of explanation our hero begged her pardon, which was readily granted. Luncheon over, he walked home, and smoked for a while. Then he pocketed ten dollars ouj;^of his safe, and payed the bet. Were it not for -":i;i 43 iparted irudent, Won- lly and uch for her sad. 3rd was thing of empha- ling one le course the field lero put Dff till a rses got .ereupon z hold of ) for the ;'s place :h a lun- p^. She nd never Dlanation readily me, and n dollars it not fot' his mother's interference, he would have won the bet, but rather than hurt his mother*,"; feelings he let his money go. 'Twas months afterwards that his mother heard of the wager. She was sorry, yet shp was satisfied that she did right to interpose. The good lady was right, for A pebble on the streamlet scant Has turned the course of many a river; A dewdrop on the baby plant Has warped the giant oak forever. Hence, her interposing probably stayed him for these happy years at least from indiscreet under- takings which might end disastrously. "A man's a man for all that," no matter how great his strength, and labours usually assigned to engines or beasts of burden are too heavy for the strongest man, at least if continued, and are moreover a little undignifying. Years afterwards he said: my mother's counsel on that occasion cost me ten dollars, but to me it was worth a thousand. Let all mothers who read this endeavour to train their sons to refrain from indiscreet undertakings. Thus, they'll confer a favour on all humanity, for in a great measure, as Napoleon Bonaparte said, "the cradle rules the world." i , li ■ :;'u l!. I! -■;i^:i 1' •!:;:•( ■J I CHAPTER XI. I He Suprises His Father. When all the world is young, lad, And all the trees are green; And every goose a swan, lad, Ard every lass a queen ; Then hey fcr boot and horse, lad, And round the world away, — Young blood must have its course, lad. And every man his day." Though by no means a vain minded person, our hero's chief pastime, in his early days, was the per- forming of feats which might startle veteran circuS spectators. But in his case the feats were real, and devoid of all trickery, jugglery and sleight of hand. He was a giant by nature. He never attended a gymnasium. We can barely imagine the result had science and art been brought to bear on the develop- ing of his strength. At the age of fourteen he was known as St. Ann's Big Boy. He moved slowly, and had nothing to do with other boys of the same age as long as he had more mature company. This was not owing to pre- cocity, but because these contemporaries of his, pos- sibly through jealousy, were wont to tease him about his great size and his slowly gait. When, however our hero showed signs of anger, they took to, theii heels. 1 L 45 lad, rson, our 1 the per- 'an ci'rcus real, and >f hand, tended a ssult had develop- St. Ann's ng to do he had g to pre- his, pos- im about however took to, As above intimated, he was not precocious. At this age, though big, his mind was boyish. He en- joyed his own innocent sports with as much zest as other youths enjoyed theirs. Touching on precocity in children and young peo- ple, nothing is more ridiculous. It is invariably the fault of parents, guardians and teachers. Those who instruct children and young people surely ought to know that, if it were better for the young to think land act like mature people, that they would be in- Istinctively inclined to do so, and competent, too, of themselves alone. Parents and others cannot give laws to Nature, but they should carefully co-operate with Nature. They should allow children to indulge in childish pastimes, In fact, parents, guardians and teachers ought toencourage in those under their juris- diction such studies, plays and labours as are only suitable for the young. The great majority of the world's celebrated women and men did not think or act like grown up people until the> passed their teens. Reason, common sense and history combine to prove that precocity is a great danger, or, at best, an utter failure, for it places the youth in the embarrass- ing situation of the "daw in borrowed feathers." About the first time that he showed his great strength was when he was sixteen. In those pioneer j^ays boards were sawn by the whip-saw ; the logs were placed on what was called a pit seven or eight feet jtom the ground, and it took a good deal of strength put up the logs. Our hero and his father were one lay sawing boards in this primitive way. For once I li 'I li,,' ii 'll! I ! I 1 46 in their lives, the two disagreed about something. The dinner conch sounded as they had just got a heavy log on the pit. His father went to dinner, but our hero did not go. When his father returned, the log was laying on the ground, whereupon he accused his son of gathering neighbours to help him in doing mischief. Our hero then seized the log and threw it up on the pit as if it were a little block. He then said to his father, "we have quarrelled a little, but I am sorry. As it was our first quarrel, let it be our last. But in a manner I'm glad that it was you, for, if it were many a man, the possibilities are that I'd relieve bim of his head with one clip of my hand." He extended his hand to his father. They shook hands in silence, and they never had a cross ■ word again. Indeed, he loved his parents dearly. Filial love, yes, exceptional filial love, always merits admiration. Most great men of ancient and modern times loved their parents or their guardians, as the case might be, to a degree almost incredible. Angus MacAskill was not an exception. Nothing that he could do for his parent's comfort or welfare was left undone, and woe to him whether friend or foe who would insult them Yv'hen he was near. In this he has left the younj^ people an example by which they can benefit, and, as one laudable thought or deed breeds another, and so on, that example may be the means whereby some may rise step by step to a position where they can take advantage of " that tide in the alifairs of men which taken at the flood leads on to fortune." Dmethtng. ust got a inner, but irned, the ,e accused I in doing d threw it larrelled a [uarrel, let hat it was bilities are clip of my er. They ad a cross ^ilial love, dmiration. mes loved J might be, :Askill was , do for his e,and woe nsult them :he young ;fit, and, as lother, and ^reby some e they can .irs of men I ne. ft CHAPTER XII. He loses a Frfend, but no Enmity. « Some of the exploits of Angus MacAskill, like those of some of the celebrities in other walks of life, savour of the curious; one of these is sufficient. Were many of these given the author would possibly suffer the rdium of being classed among the liars of the age. However, some of these reflecr a ray on our hero which would lead one to suspect him of want of sense or of virtue. Here is a word portrait of the exploit suggested: — One day our hero and a friend of his set off afoot on a journey of thirty miles or so. They arrived at their destination, and, having Discharged their errand, they resolved to return home that evening. They di- rected their steps homeward, and all "went merry as a marriage bell" till about dusk, when a tempestuous thunder storm rolled along, *'And such a night they take the road in As ne'er poor mortal was abroad in." Down poured the rain. MacAskill viewed the ex- cited elements wi;h composure. But for the rain he would have been delighted, for he had a keen relish for the awful and sublime. He asked his friend if he would like to call anywhere. His friend said that he would rather go home. "All ri|ht," said MacAskill, "but as I see you are getting tired, come on my back, I'll carry you." i I '!"|l- ll !i:','ii! N f I :! 1 1 I 48 His friend laughed an objection, but our hero in- sisted. So after a few moments our hero was walking swiftly along with his friend perched on his back. , The lightnings flashed, the electric bolts shot zig- zag where something was scented to devour, the thun- der rolled, but MacAskill was not alarmed. He told his funniest yarns. When within a mile of home his friend remarked that he had recently heard that a friend of theirs was sick out in Texas, adding that enquiries ought to be made whether he was out of money, etc. MacAskill was touched. He became silent at once. Absorbed in the sad news, he unconsciously let his friend slip off his back. His friend said nothing, but walked on behind. Not until our hero had got home did he think of his burden. His friend, though weighing one hun- dred and ninety pounds, was in the matter of weight so trifling to him that his back never missed him. His friend soon arrived, and, after both had a sump- tuous repast, they went to bed, and were up again hale and hearty in "the morning early." The round trip, sixty miles, was quite a distance to walk, but our hero did not mind it. Had he a dis- tant errand to perform the next day he would gladly go. He was so strong, and his step so long, that a hundred miles a day would not cause him serious fatigue. >f m >« % hero in- walking back. ^ shot zig- he thun- He told e marked heirs was rht to be t at once. ^ let his tiing, but think of Dfie hun- veight so im. 1 asump- ip again stance to le a dis- Id gladly g, that a I serious CHAPTER XIII. He Shakes Hands In Dead Earnest, Now, here's a hand, my trusty friend. And gie's a hand of thine. And we'll take a cup of kindness yet For old lang syne. One day, at the time when MacAskill's fame was dawning, a renowned fighter put in his appearance, MacAskill soon suspected something, but made no remarks. He entertained the stranger in true Cape Breton style. This reminds one of Roderick Dhu's attitude towards his illustrious guest, James V. of Scotland, when they met in the wilds of that "home of the happy." At length the question arose, is this burly stranger going to perpetrate a miniature Glen- coe massacre in St. Ann ? At length, the suspicious case requested our hero to fight him. MacAskill re- monstrated with him, told him that pugilism was an abomination, and fraught with evils many. But the stranger persisted, and charged our hero with cowar- dice. ThelaUer at last said, "all right, my friend, but let us first shake hands." Well, dear reader, they did shake hands. Alas for the stranger, I suppose he "never smiled again." MacAskill squeezed the unfortunate man's hand, which caused the blood to flow freely through the tips of the latter's fingers This stranger was, of course, more fortunate than Sir 4 'm'\m ,!!:', :;■ !: !-i lilli <■' '.''■'■ ''4- I • t 50 Henry de Bohun, who tried to assassinate King Ro- bert Bruce at Bannockburn. Yet, it is probable that he never thought of his adventure Vv'ith MacAskill without a sense of shame and fear. However, he re- treated hastily fiom St. Ann, well convinced that, as Brittania rules the waves, Cape Breton rules the earth in the realm of muscular strength. Not loner after this event, another man came to see MacAskill; nay, not only to see him, but to wrestle with him. As before, our hero was loath to wrestle or to open hostilities for fame or curiosity. His mighty heart was brimful of charitable humanity. He in- variably held that men ought not to wrestle, fight and such like without plausible reasons. He recognized the principle which Burns thus set before us: — "Then gently scan your brother man, Still gentlier sister woman; Although they go a trifle wrong, To step aside is human. One point must still be greatly dark, The moving why they do it; And just as lamely can you mark How far perhaps they rue it. "Who made the heart, 'tis He alone Decidedly can try us; He knows each chord, its various tone, Each spring — its various bias; Then at the balance let's be mute, We never can adjust it; What's done we partly may compute. But know not what's resisted." L' 51 King Ro- )bable that MacAskill :ver, he re- id that, as s the earth ame to see to wrestle restle or to is mighty He in- ', fight and recognized us: — But when he saw the impossibility of convincing his would-be antagonist of the barbarity of wanton wrestling, fighting, etc., he got hold of him. Near by there was a woodpile fully ten feet in height and twelve feet in width on top. As already said, Mac- Askill got hold of the man and threw him over the woodpile. Yes, though he weighed over three hun- dred pounds, he was sent whistling over thit wood- pile, describing a curve like a projectile fired from a mortar. This stranger was a United States sea-captain. Some of his crew met him on the beach on his depart- ure from MacAskill's. Their boat required sjme ballast, and they proceeded to take stones and rocks, therefore off MacAskill's farm. Our hero said noth- ing till they were through. Thereupon, he lit his pipeandstrodeleisurely down to the shore. The boat was put to sea and had moved out about one hundred feet when our hero got to the shore- "Say, captain," says MacAskill, "get back here with those stones and rocks you took." "What do you want them for ?" said the captain. "It matters not," said MacAskill, "bat it was a dirty mean trick to take them under the circumstances without my permission." "I will not send them back," responded the cap- tain, "but if you go out again to my vessel, you will stand a show to get them." MacAskill seized a stone and threw it at the boat. The one stone damaged the b^at so much that the captain judged it was better to surrender in time. The ^r? m ! I 52 boat was rowed back and the captain and his men were obliged to put each stone and rock exactly where it was before, while our hero superintended the work with a beaming countenance which showed the appreciating by-standing boys of St. Ann how highly he was amused with the captain's humiliation. "The sun had now gone out of sight Behind the mountains tall ; And on the sand around his feet The dew began to fall."— Malcolm H. Gillis. And now the ballast episode being over, MacAskill walked home, meditating with wonder on the vanities and follies of some men. His home that night was crammed with eager visitors who came to congra- tulate him. Soon the sound of choice music from violin and bag-pipe rose over the sweet and delicious music of happy voices. "Eyes spake love to eyes that spake again." The dance begins. The celebration was a success, and a delightful one. Such were the early days of MacAskill. Such were his exploits. How pleasant to reflect on the fact that, as an exceptional man, he was timely recognized and appreciated. His recognition and appreciation by his friends and countrymen was to him an ample reward for wisely using his muscular superiority. Of him it cannot be said: "He who is truly wise or great Lives both too early or too late." i_. his men exactly ided the )wed the w highly n. '. Gillis. acAskill vanities ght was congra- sic from ielicious lyes that ebration ich were act that, zed and n by his I reward Of him CHAPTER XIV. He goes to a Frame- Raising. •'Then let us pray that come it may, And come it will for all that; That man to man the world o'er Shall brothers be and all that." — Burns. The Cape Bretonians are far-famed for their unanim- ity, and for their strict observance of the Golden Rule. If a Cape Bretonian happens to need assistance of any kind, he has only to undergo the ordeal of mak- ing his wants known. Their unanimity has proved a general blessing. The merits of unanimity were well illustrated once by an old man. He was contemplating the matter of em- barkation to eternity which was "too, too soon" to be inevitable, and before leaving he desired to give his family an object lesson, the last of many, which would crown all the rest. He got a few sticks, put them to- gether, side by side, and tried to break them across his knee. Having failed, he took the sticks separate- ly and broke them easily. ''Now, my dears," he said, "there is strength in union, and if you practice unanim- ity you shall be much more apt to succeed." Shortly after he died. His family observed his counsel, and the result was that they became the leading men of the place, "with wealth at^ their will." The absence of unanimity has retarded the progress Illl i"! I ill ■Ifc iliil';:^'' 54 of nations. It had something to do with the failure of Charles Edward Stuart (Bonny Prince Charlie) Yes, dissensions retarded the progress of Scotland* Ireland and of England. Even in our great Domin- ion of Canada, dissensions, political and otherwise, have sometimes proved very embarrassing. Not so in the Island of Cape Breton. What dis- sensions we have had owed their origin to varied opinions respecting the means to be employed for cer- tain praiseworthy ends. As all parties were sincere, and meant to do good, and did good, these super- ficial tempests were almost essential constituents of unanimity. A discreet quantity of word warring strengthens the right. The difficulty is to guage ourselves at the proper line. The philosophy of the benefits of op- position suggested in the preceding sentences is some- thing that only one in two thousand have learned. Those who have not time to study large books on this philosophy can proceed in another way. Let them watch and observe discussions. As a rule, they will find that the results of discussions where all thought and spoke alike are ahvays zveak. But to our hero. A neighbour of his was to have a barn frame raised on a certain day. As customary in such cases, he requested his neighbours to "give him a lift." The call was promptly and cheerfully re- sponded to by the arrival of sixty or seventy men, Angus MacAskill among the rest like a lighthouse among lamp-posts. ^ le failure Charlie) )Cotland> Domin- :herwise, hat dis- > varied 1 for cer- sincere, 2 super- uents of hens the 5 at the ) of op- is som^- irned. Doks on y. Lat ale, they liere all to have stomary jive him lly re- :y men, hthouse 55 The frame was not quite ready, and MacAskill peeled off and went to work with the big augur. As he worked he noticed that the crowd were getting "unco happy," and the breath of the first man that came in close proximity to him reminded him of a rum distillery. That was enough. He understood that for some reason he was to be neglected that day by the frame owner. He said nothing. He was not very fond of strong drink anyhow, but he was none the less insulted at heart. The frame was raised, and was ready for the rafters :when the dinner bell rang. MacAskill loitered behind* and when the rest had entered the house he went to ' ,the frame, climbed up, and lowered one of the side ^'plaits, a stick 6oft, x 8 in. x 8 in., put it on his should- er, and walked off with it. He made fortIi2 sea- shore, which was about four hundred yards away, and ^consigned the plait to the Atlantic Ocean. The splash was heard in the house, but they dared not go to ask for explanations. Our hero walked away satisfied in leaving a token of his displeasure. On his way home he called at a certain grocery store. He ^sked for a pound of tea. The proprietor said: "Well, Mr. M acAskill, take a handful out of that box, and if it weighs one half of a pound, I'll charge you nothing." MacAskill tried as requested. The •phandful was weighed, and it weighed one pound. The merchant offered him a whole box as a present, but this he poliiely refused, and went home. CHAPTER XV. He was not Vain. As already observed, it was the good fortune of our hero that he was not swayed overmuch by vanity. Of course, he duly appreciated the praise of his admirers, but not to excess. Vanity or love of praise is not a sign of weakness. On thecDntrary, this power of the mind is essential in t he mental organism. But, like th(: other faculties, it requires Providential grace for its suitable enlive.iment and a grace-pervaded reason or understanding for its guidance and moderation. Given these akin to essential requisites, vanity is a treasure. Some of the greatest men had aseasonble dash of vanity. Where is the young man that would not face astounding odds for the sweet enconiums his darling can bestow upon him? Where is the man, young or old, who would not fight and die for his country with joy, if he were confident that his name would be placed on the list of heroes, to be honoured for all time. They have not been born — at least in Cape Breton Island. However, as already intimated, Mac Askill was not a slave to vanity, nor to any other passion. But, by the way, it is gratifying to know that his great size, and strength were, by no means, a brake on his content- ment. He took as lively an interest in himself, as a natural prodigy, as others took. It is said that "it is MM 57 ne of our anity. Of admirers, ; is not a verof the But, like ace for its reason or )n. Given treasure, e dash of d not face 3 darling 1, young country would be :1 for all in Cape vasnot a t, by the size, and content- self, as a hat "it is a wise boy that knows his own father." Very good^ but wiser still is he who knows himself. MacAskill wisely endeavoured, discreetly, of course, to gain an idea of his own exceptional value, so to speak, but in the line of strength he failed, because he never failed, fc he never attempted a lift or kindred feat without succeeding with wonderful ease. From the above gleanings the reader, at least after some re. flection, can realize the utility of vanity. Harmoniz- ing with the other faculties of the mind, as in the case of our hero, vanity in one sense ceases to be vanity, yet constitutes a whip whose strength or weak- ness influences man to a high degree. Our hero often merited and enjoyed the applause of ladies and gentlemen by passing swiftly over the sidewalk with t;vo barrels of salted pork, one under each arm. In get ting the barrels under his arms he did not experience much difficulty. Lifting a hundredweight with two finger?, and raising it till his arm arrived at a horizontal pose, was mere child's play to him. But who else could do that.? Reader, think well. Add to this that he could hold his arm in that position for ten minutes. Even this will convey the idea of his superior strength to per- manent conviction. But not to lower the fame of MacAskill, but to solidify it by fair comparisons, it may be said that two Cape Bretonians, a Niel MacDonald, of West Ainslie, and a John J. MacFarlane, of Upper Marga" ree (both of them untrained), did something tough too. The former took a weight of 86 l6s. on his little 58 finger, and wrote his name legibly at a level with his face. The latter wrote his name at the same height with a 56 pounder suspended from his little finger. These men were but common sized, and did well, but be it said that great as MacAskill's size was,' his strength was greater in proportion to his size than that displayed in the above comparison. \m-l^: «*'tP with his e height i firiG^er. A^ell, but was, his ize than ■^1 11 '" CHapter XV7. MacAskill Helps a Friend. "Courarre brother! do not stumble, Thoucrh thy path he dnrk as nif]jht There's a star t3 guide the humble; Trust in Gtjd and do the right." The hero of this history was uncommonly warm- hearted. The poor and oppressed of his diy never appealed to him in vain. It is a happy fact that the great majority of the world's great women and great men have been in all ages exception illy :hiriMbh v\ \ devoid of unreas- onable pride and haunrhtiness. This is worthy of young people's earnest consideration. However, an instance or two will serve to illustrate the truth of what has been above asserted of his warm-heartedness. Once upon a time, a certain man, humble in cir- cumstances, presented himself at a certain store and asked the proprietor, an acquaintance of his, to let him have a barrel of flour on credit. Times were dull, and hence the merchant was the same. He gave the poor would-be purchaser a look of merchantable contempt which meant a positive refusal, but said nothing. Again and again the man made known the object of his call, and told the merchant that his wife and little children were on the verge of starvation. Again and again no answer, save the whistling of the simple and mi I (III Ilili 'i|iH li 60 mellow music of "Home, sweet home/* At length, however, the merchant spoke out this poser: "I have a vessel down here at the wharf. There are several barrels of flour in the hold. If you throw a barrel out of the Hold on deck, a height of twelve feet, the barrel is yours," and warmings up with excitement, he added : "Yes you can have all the barrels that you or any man can throw on deck." "That's pretty tall talking," said the poor man, "there are lots of strong men in the world." The merchant was nettled a little mite by the man's sober reply, and said, "I defy you to procure a man in St. Ann's that can do what I have proposed." The man shrugged his shoulders, thought of Mac- Askill, and proceeded homeward. His horse was slow, the road bad, and the entire world looked gloomy The future "was ominous and dark." The man, not- withstanding the jolting of his cart, thought of many things. He dreamt of his early days "when his bosom was young." Then he thought of his courtship of the loveliest of them all, and of the many imposing castles he had built in the air before and after marriage. Having come in sight of his home, he espied his wife. He paused, shuddered and wept. But who happened to come to where he was but MacAskill. He gleaned from the man's woeful coun- tenance that something was wrong. He asked what was the matter. On being told, he said : "is your horse tired?" The man said "No." "Well," said our hero, "let's go back. The distance is not very great." And off they went. Arrived at the store, our hero walked «\'i'v ;^u^MMBB(fta ^p 6i t length, "I have e several a barrel feet, the ment, he Lt you or »or man, he man's a man in • of Mac- k\'as slow* gloomy lan, not- of many s bosom p of the g castles larriage. lis wife. was but il coun- ed what ir horse ar hero* :." And walked in and told the merchant that he was ready to pur- chase flour on the "latest" terms proposed. "All right" sang the merchant. MacAskill and his friend, accompanied by the merchant, proceeded to the vessel. On the wharf there chanced to be a crowd. Each and all of them were eye witnesses to what occured. Our hero jumped on board and down into the hold. It then occurred to his cloudless mind that should he throw some barrels on deck they would be smashed. But resolved not to be outdone. He seized a bar- rel, threw it, up through the hatchway it went, and out splash into the harbour. Out came another, and another until six were floating. Fortunately, none of the barrels collided. Therupon he helped his friend in removing the barrels to the cart and the two set off for their respective homes. However, be it said that MacAskill was warmly thanked by his friend, and applauded by all the by- standers, the merchant included. Little by little his friend whom he had so practically helped and indirect- ly encouraged, improved in the science and art of success. Twelve years afterwards he was quite well to do. Before his death he had several hundred dollars in bank, and his descendants to-day are reputed among the higher rural class, socially and financially. J W i ■ i ) lit CHAPTER XVII. MacAskill liked Fishing. Fish and fishing, where are the eyes that do not sparkle at the mere mentioning of these two musical words ! How many happy recollections "flow gently'^ into the memory! Fish and fishirg, "go where you will on land or on sea," these suggestive words, in what- ever language spoken, awaken thoughts which never fail to benefit the mind if not your general worldly interests. Fish and fishing illustrate or illustrate more and better morals than Aesop's fables. The credulity of some fishes, shows the folly of extreme credulity. The imperative painstaking of the fisherman proves the necessity of taking pains in what is to be done before success may be expected. If the reader be ci keen observer and thinker, and a person of force, he or she may derive pleasure, recreation and benefit, from a thorough consideration of fish and fishing. But a warning note may be not amiss. It is danger- ous to think too much on such matters — half an hou- in the afternoon is suflficient. River fishing or angling is very attractive. It is particularly so to veteran anglers. The new begin- ners' occasional plights are lovely described by the great author, Washington Irving. Irving humourous. ly remarks that he hooked himself instead of fish, etc, 63 t do not » musical V gently'^ : you will in what- ich never I worldly more and edulity of credulity, an proves be done ader be )uld hold out his right arm and with the other he'd hoist Tom Thumb to the palm of his right hand. Here Tom Thumb would dance as merrily "as you please," Thereupon, MacAskill would sometimes throw him into his pocket. Tom Thumb was quite a joker. He'd put up his hands in boxing attitude sometimes, and challenge MacAskill to fight. This used to amuse MacAskill very much. The chief towns of the Provinces were visited in due time. The New Yorker often remarked : "the day I met MacAskill has proved to be a red-letter day in my life. My fortune is made, and, moreover, he is such good company." As railroads were not so plentiful then, they trav- elled much in coaches, but the roads being smooth their journeyings were attended with comfort. i: i ' I CHAPTER XX. MacAsktll Travels Much. Our hero spent a short time in Cuba. It was then the depth of winter, but the weather was still uncom- fortably warm. He was not very favourably impress- ed with Cuba. But, as he said himself, ifhe had seen more of Cuban scenery, probably he might find some- thing to admire. He was not accustomed to travel very much about the places at which he and his employer called, at least until the rush to see him was over. Were he to per- ambulate around, few only would pay a dollar to see him thereafter as one good look at him would satiate cuiiosity to a bearable extent. In the course of his travels, he met a man who was as tall as he himself, but almost as slender as a child. This man could walk in a dead calm, but the least wind would jeopardise his equilibrium. MacAskill averred that he was quite a sight. In fact, a gale might hoist that man " to the very clouds themselves." He saw a darkey woman who was nearly as big as himself. Yes, she was almost his peer in height stoutness and weight. As to her strength, there is nothing recorded thereabout. We can easily conjecture that our hero saw many strange sights. Just fancy how delightful to spend a day in his company. Of course, be it said, that con- 71 versing over his reminiscences was no hobby of his. But, if courteously requested, he would willingly tell many stories of what he saw. It may be remarked here that on his foreign tour he posed as a prodigy of size, not as a prodigy of strength. This was discreet, for had he chosen the latter, it might end very sadly. Hence, it was that he tried his strength but seldom during this under- taking. He enjoyed his travels very much. He was not bashfull, and, under the gaze of thousands of specta- ' tors who came expressly to see him, he would stand up and walk around without evincing an iota of excitement. No one ever went to see our hero to return disap- pointed, except in another sense of the word. They were usually agreeably disappointed. Yes, disap- pointed, the right way for them ; he was a greater show than they usually expected. This reminds one of a western man who got sick and came east to die. He soon recovered in our health-giving climate, and went back, as the papers chronicle, ''happily disappointed." It does not belong to this book to give our hero's "tales of travel " in full. But what has been stated will serve as a fitting sequel to the rest, which was not for the most part less interesting. Many of St. Ann's ladies and gentlemen can recall with pleasure, mellowed with a little sadness, the hap- py days they used to repair to our hero's home to listen to his marvellous stories. 1 1 1 '1 \' % i:' CHAPTER XXI. He verifies Reports about his Strength. The people of the United States, generally speaking, love their country and their countrymen to a remark- able degree. This is not unreasonable, for their coun- try is a great one, and they, have and have had their great men. Bat some Americans go so far as: o ignore the idea that there are countries and men in other longitudes and latitudes as great as theirs. The above remark is intended to warn the reader to be cautious in weighing the patriotic effusions of our friends "over the boarder." Let the Canadian study neutral statistics, and then decide for himself about the comparative greatness of the United States. However, during our hero's sojourn in the United States, a friend of his and some Americans had a lively war of words about our hero's strength. Our hero's friend was one of those sturdy Cape Bretonians who say their say where they please, regardless of danger. Like Galcagus, he possessed some of that stuff of which heroes are made. With his back to a brick edifice, gracefully posed, manly sounding the praises of MacAskil), he woud remind one of James V of Scotland, as depicted by Scott, exclaiming ; "Come one, come all, this rock shall fly From its firm base as soon as I !" At length the crowd dispersed, the greater number % id 73 of them going into a wholesale liquor store near by. This friend of MacAskill's walked down the street. Turning a corner, whom did he meet but Angus Mac- Askill. It was a pleasant meeting. MacAskill was betimes told of the doubters. " Never mind," he said, "let us go to the store, and I may have a chance of impressing upon them the truth of the adage 'seeing is believing.' " They arrived in the store. The crowd was still there. On seeing MacAskill, some of them fearing violence visibly trembled. Our hero called for a drink for "all hands." While the rest were leisurely enjoying theirs he stepped over to a puncheon of Scotch whiskey, containing one hundred and forty gallons. He lifted it on end. Then he struck the head a rap with his knuckles. The bung flew out and made skyward. Whereupon, he raised the puncheon, as if it were a jar, and drank to the health of the bystanders. Whether the drink was a large one or not is not known ; it has not been record- ed, but at the least it was taken on the wholesale principle. However, having quafTed his, he paid for "all hands," and walked out. The Americans of the episode were more than convinced, and declared that he ought to run for Congress, while the satisfaction of MacAskill's friend can only be fancied by those who have been repeated- ly tantalized in a foreign land. This achievement soon spread like a prairie fire, never to die, and is listened to to-day in Australia and in other parts by thousands of British descended people with a zest equal to our own. IPs ( f\ f CHAPTER XXII. He Visits Queen Victoria. In this world of ours, few exactly apjree as to what character constitutes the ideal ruler. Perfect women and men are scarce. Hence, the most loyal, not without reason, sometinies criticize their chief ruler rather unfavourably. Again, and probably for the best, people differ in the nature and in the extent of deferential feeling towards their ruler. P'or instance, members of the British Empire are, as a rule essentially loyal to the Queen, but few from the same motives. Some are loyal through personal affection, some through a love of the Queen's royalty, some through fear, some through appreciation of the Queen's policy, and others are loyal because they judge that, to an important extent, loyalty to the Queen is loyalty to themselves and to their interests. The last motive is decidedly the best. AIJ men a born equal. Every woman and every man have a perfect right to be loyal to hcmselves, and, more than that, it is their duty to be loyal to themselves. This granted, it goes without saying or demonstration that, if loyalty to a chief ruler is subversive to one's own interests, it is his or her duty, if oppressed by the Throne, to seek and obtain redress or to hie to a less oppressive banner. The idea of regarding chief rulers with great awe, L 75 sense of danger, etc., is erroneous. Should it come to the crisis that innocent men would be lawfully sup- posed to quake in presence of their r"J;r, surely any lady or gentleman could discern that there "was some rottenness in Denmark." Yes, readers, and remem- ber that sovereigns are servants of the people, and are only to behonourt^d for the trust reposed in them and for their beneficial or praise- worthy services or achievements. Loyalty should ever be governed by reason, The great people of the world afford ample examples. Artemus Ward, for instance, says, "bully for the na- tional sentiment!" but we cannot shout worth a cent on empty stomachs. The East Indian members af the British Empire could say likewise a year ago, when they were perishing in thousands, while millions of dollars were being spent in other parts of the Empire in the name of loyalty. Speaking of extreme loyalty reminds one of a cer- tain servant. His master did an extensive business, and kept a ledger whose statements were souietimes doubted. When a customer was settling his account, should a dispute arise, the servant was at once tele- phoned by his master, when the following dialogue would tak. p'ace : — ♦Halle!" ' Yes, sir." "Will you swear to this ?" "Yes sir ; yes, what is it .^" But reverting to the character best fitted to rule, we are many. As already^ said, few of us exactly agree I: it -I % SI ; ii 76 on that point. But our noble Queen Victoria is truly great and possessed of the dignity that becomes her charge as well as with that humility that endears her to us, so that the attitude of one and all towards her is like that of his flock to Goldsmith's village preacher. Queen Victoria is a great personage. That she is a queen adds not much to her splendour. For, in the words of Shakespeare, the king of dramatic poetry ; "My crown is in my heart, not on my head ; Not decked with diamond and Indian stones, Nor to be seen ! My crown is called Content — A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy." But enough. However, be it announced that Her Majesty Queen Victoria invited Angus MacAskill to Windsor Castle. He soon called upon her. She gave him a cordial reception. She chatted pleasantly with him for a few hours. She was highly intere^ited in his great size, and com- plimented him very warmly. She presented hfm with two rings of gold. MacAskill regretted tlipt there were no means of showing his power of lifting, but he thought of a plan to leave a token of his strength on the sly. He walked back and forth before the Queen, secretly pressing the carpet with his heels. When he left, the carpet, though thick and strong, was cut here and there, in bread-cutter fashion, by the heels of the giant. The Queen said afterwards that he was the tallest, the stoutest anJ the stronfjest mm that ever entered the palace. 71 MacAskill was well pleased with his visit Yet he was not intoxicated by the honour, but preserved his wonted composure. 'Tis true, lier kindness increased and enlivened his love for her, yet there were others he loved best, loyal as he was. Chief among those were his parents and his brother and sister. Still our hero was a model of loyalty, but, in ordin- ary matters, with him -the man was the gold and all that." ^ t ill \:\ 111 In 11*1 ; t ii CHAPTER XXIir. He Goes to Edinburgh. Our hero's visit to Edinburgh interested him very mucli. Edinburgh is brimful of interest, not mere curiosity, but genuine sensible interest. There one may see plenteous tokens of the varied trains of thought, study and activity which have prevailed in the ages that have been. If there be "a whim-inspired fool " who supposes that the Scotch have been un- civilized in any age, let him go to Edinburgh. There> the mist which constitutes such a supposition will be dissolved forever by the light of revelations which convince. Before proceeding further, it may be not amiss to refer to one of Scotland's giants and heroes, Sir Wil- liam Wallace. This was an "extraordinary man." Historically, it is not very long since Wallace livep and died, yet, a great many lies have been manufac- tured about him. Jane Porter wrote a novel, called Scottish Chiefs, in which Wallace figured, and strange to say some suppose that novel to be a true story, Jane Porter is not to be blamed for this I presume, but it is a recognized fact and a happy one that the truth about Wallace is more interesting that the brightest inventions of fiction, and it is to be regretted that such an able writer as Jane Porter did not write a true life of Wallace in addition to her famous novel , Scottish Chiefs. verj fai thel En^ W;i loui ian< friej Brie 79 Sir William Wallace flourished in tlie thirteenth century. He was uncommonly stout, tall, heavy, muscular, strong, brave and full of life. His patriot- ism will be remembered with undecreasing apprecia- tion while time exists. Among the first exploits of Wallace was the kill- ing of a few English armed warriors. The Scotch- man's only weapon was a fishing rod. It may be remembered that in these days the Eng- lish kings strongly desired to rule Scotland. Wal- lace from the cradle up was strongly opposed to Eng- lish rule. Some of the English soldiers and sentinels sent to Scotland were to haughty and insolent, hence the episode recorded above. Wallace marshalled an army in due time, and was very successful against the English. In 1297, at the famous battle of Sterling Bridge, he utterly routed the English governor of Scotland. "Soon not an English soldier remained north of the Tweed, and Wjllace was elected Governor of Scotland. ^'For eight years, in spite of the coldness and jea- lousy of the old nobility, he ably maintained Scot- land's cause. At last he was betrayed by a false friend, and hanged in London in 1305 A. D."— See Brief History of England. The King of France once requested Wallace to cross over with a few officers to help him against a certain country. Wallace consented. He and a ne- phew of his and a few more soon went aboard a ship and sailed. Soon the red sails of the fleet of a well- known sea pirate hoved in sight. He was known as M 8o the Red Rover. The captain was shocked. Wallace said, "fear nothing." Wallace asked the captain if he knew the Red Rover. The captain said "yes." Wallace said "describe his appearance." The captain said ''he's a great big man, about your size, and as a distinction wears a red woolen coat over his mail. Moreover he usually is the first man to jump aboard the prey." "That will do," said Wallace, "you and your men go and hide." Then he ordered his own men to go down below ex- cept his beloved nephew, Wallace, and his nephew paced the deck, waiting for the Red Rover. They had not to v/ait long. In jumped the Red Rover, Wallace grabbled him, and, ladies and gentle- men, that was a tussle. Soon the Red Rover's heels described a semi-circle in the air; down comes the Red Rover on his face on deck. Wallace siezed him by the back of the neck and knocked the deck with his mouth. Who are you ?" gasped the pirate. "I am William Wallace of Scotland" was the reply. "And the strongest man I ever met," said the Red Rover. "But I'm your man now and henceforth" added the Red Rover. He was as good as his word. He brave- ly fought under Wallace in France, and afterwards in Scotland, and was one of King Robert Bruce's right hand me'i at the Battle of Bannockburn. The sword of Wallace ranks among the wonders of the world. Nine inches were accidently broken ofif the top. The two parts may be seen in Edinburgh. The sword was seven feet in length and wide propor- tionately. Hugh Gillis, warden, of Upper Margaree, 8i interviewed two reputable men who actually saw and handled the sword of Wallace. IJoth men's descrin- t.ons exactly agreed. Both these men declared that .t weighed forty pounds. After the death of Wallace I1.S sword was treasured in Dumfries for hundreds of years. In the reign of good King George the Fourth on the occasion of his visit to Edinburgh, the memor ' able sword of Wallace, that the King might see it was taken there, and there it is to-day. MacAskill went to see the sword of Wallace He sa.d he could possibly wield is on the battle-field but tliat It was rather big and heavy. Now gentle reader, think of theman who could w.eld U as easily as you could a bayonet. But it is gratifying to know MacA,klll was the only man who could swing and brandish it in martial style exceot the great Sir Willam Wallace himself. But a few words about Dumfries City. Here lies buried one of Scotland's intellectual giants, Robert Burns. He was a great poet. Notwithstandinc' his naturally strong and rebellious passions, he lived a good life, a life of current sobriety, a life of super fluous honesty, and died happily, attended by his wife, bonnie Jean, and by his lovely friend, Jessie Lewyars. Edinburgh, Dumfries, etc, were visited by Mac AskiU. The most of them pleased him much but Edmburgh the most of all. CHAPTER XXIV. He Shoulders a Monster Weight. The anchor exploit of Angus MacAskill was truly- wonderful. The author has read and heard more than one account thereof. Of these he will narrate merely two, which, though differing in details, agree essentially. However, the second version given is more authentic, and, in fact, there is no reason to doubt its truthfulness. The first version says that on a New York pier, there was an anchor weighing twenty-two hundred pounds. MacAskill came here one day and met some French sailors. After chatting for some time, the conversation drifted to the big anchor. The French- men had heard before of our hero's strength, and wanted to see it tested. They said that they knew a giant in France who could shoulder it, and spoke in words as much as to say thit a mm from St. Ann's, Cape Breton, could not move it. Our hero ciught the anchor, shouldered it and poised it on his shoulder with ease, to the surprise of th^ Freiic'i n^n. Taey had not expected th.it. B^ ic sii 1 also that taeir French giant story was but a fib to trick MacAskill into trying his strength. The author does not intend to try to justify them, but their motives, if dishonest, might have been more patriotic than criminal. But sad to say, when MacAskill threw the anchor off, one J( cl al ul i. r of the flukes caught in the shoulder region, and shat- tered his massive constitution forever. The second version his no French connected there- with. But this is not what nukes it preferable, but that it is very probably the truth entirely. To begin, the fa.Ti3u> anchor weighed two thoj- sand seven hundred. It was lying on a N"ew York pier. Why it was disuse.! at the time is not now known. Our hero went to the pier one evening, and for pas- time grabbed the anchor, and with startling ease raised do not tremble, his face does not redden. ^He walked back and forth wit[i that poaderoas anchor on his shoulder. Little did he know " that soon, too soon," his blooming constitution was going to bs blighted for- ever. But it is a good thing that "coming events" do not "cast their shadows before." Were people to know their futures, the knowledge might be, if not always sad, yet a little or more embarrassing. Our hero as already said p iced the pier, and at length tossed the anchor as if it were an ordinary caber, but one of the flukes hooked his shoulder, and wrecked his stalwart fram-. The bystanders all were in tears. He was in great pain for a while. In course of time he improved to some extent. In another chapter it will be seen whether or not this wrecking accident was so significant to his strength as a miniature accident would be to an or- dinary man. CHAPTER XXV. Other Giants. U is .uUe proper to announce th^t we Ja-^^^f^ and have in Cape 1^--;;;; , ' .^rno'ne of them Nova Scot.a, scores ° S'^ ^^'^'^^^ ^^^, ^f them could be compared w.th ™^<=^3'- j^ others have been or are gUnts of s.e a -^^'^J^^^^,^, ^:o,-,fc in <;trenfTth alone, we mi'^* giants in stren^t French, Scotch and from various nationahties. Irish, 1 renc , His son, 1^1. ^ u^ U asstroacr asnine athletes in the J<^ ^^^^^.^^ ph sique. or ten men, and (M of Ute an . f g.^ts. .In H GiUi., of ScotsviUe, is a modern g,ant of strJfgth He l.ft's very heavy weights with surpr.s- 'V::i.. John GiUis (Peter's son), S- W^Iargaree was a marvel of strength, and so was Alex. ban. ToHn^s son) of West Side, S. W. Mar^aree. .John s son;, o _ Margaree, is six •Vn'^us A. Mici.eiU'i, ol b- vv b 85 had, j la of them them thers jnded 1 and over feet six inches in height, and weighs proportionately. He performed exploits of which no Cape Bretonian or Nova Scotian need be ashamed. A large spruce log he can handle like a long shingle block. The MacFarlanes, Gillis', MacDougalls, Mac- Donells and Camerons of Upper and S. W. Marga- ree have and have had giants in their ranks, that would grace a Royal Guard. These fought too (I do not mean among themselves), and, figuratively speaking, sheathed their swords, but for want of ar- gument. Broad Cove, Mabou, Port Hood, Judique, Ports Hastings and Hawkesbury, VVhycocomagh, etc., have had and have giants. Margaree Forks, P^merald, N. E. Margaree, AI. Harbour, Friar's Head and Cheticamp have their celebrities. The late Mr. Brussard (J no. Brussard's father), of Margaree Forks, has had but few equals. One day; he hauled a plough by the side of an ox for six hours. The MacKinnons, of East and West Ainslie, will be ever famous. Again, at Upper East Ainslie, there is an unassuming man, Allan MacDougall by name, who if attacked would prove to be a terror. Again, L. E. MacLean, Black River; Charles L. Macdonald, of Kirkwood, Lake Ainslie, Allan Mac- Quarrie, of Loch Ban, Michael Kennedy, of Loch Ban ; Simeon MacDonell, S .W. Margaree; Thomas Dunbar, North Ainslie; Ronald MacLcllan, Egypt ; Donald R. MacLean Broad Cove Mines, S. W. Mac- garee ; Duncan A. ]\iacLellan, S. VV. Margaree ; John ■AXfttfjiumtincm %, ^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 Hi 125 ■10 m ^ 144 ■ 2.2 ^^^ <^ n / Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) S72-4S03 s %"■ I 86 J. MacDonald, S. VV. Margaree; John J. Gillis, S. W, Margaree, are all men who grace our island chivalry. Victoria County is not wanting in fine bodied men. MacCharles and other have wrested laurels from com- petitors of high order. Cape l^>reton County and Richmond raise stal- wart boys too. Throughout the Peninsula 'Nova Scotia propei i, an exccp" innally strong mm is not a strange sight. Ikit a few Cape Bretonians are still to be mentioned One of these is the late Mian MacDonell, of Mount rirasant, Upper M.ir.iarec, whom the late Neil Mac Donald ol Kiikwooci, Lake Ainslie, reputed to be the suonirest man lo lilt a weight lie over met, and Archi- bald GiUis and Angus MacNeil, of Broad Cove, two who will never know to pertection what they cm lift and what they can't. This chapter, far from lessening Angus MacAskill in appreciation, will, on the contrary, serve to con- vince the reader of the truth of what is related of our hero. And, moreover, the modern "instances" are interesting in themselves. The author, however, apologizes for using some names without asking for consent, but he opines that his friends alluded to are too lenient to criticise this, and much too lenient to criticise "the style in which it's done."— Farewell. CHAPTER XXVI. A Trip from Upper Margauee to Margaree Harbour. The author of this book on being informed that Angus MacDougall, of Margaree Harbour, had work- ed for Angus MacDougall, set off to interview Mr- MacDougall on a fine October morning. The sun was just peeping over the Egyptian moun- tains to smile on Kittarlity, as I directed my steps northward. The landscape views that seemed to pre- sent then: selves voluntary to my gaze in close succes- sion were near to perfection, at least if my judgment of perfection be taken as a standard. The road was soon alive and abustle with girls and boys, horses and buggies, bicycles, etc. Soon a gen- tleman from North Ainslie, John C. Campbell, sailed along in a horse car. He told me to jump in, and I did. I soon learned that he was en route for Mr. Murphy's with apples. After half an hour's travel over the smooth road, we arrived at Mr. Murphy's. Mr. Murphy was away from home, but none the less I enjoyed my call very highly, and so did Mr. Campbell. Our hostess (Mr. Murphy's housewife), a beautiful, magnetic young lady of excellent disposition, rallied us with pleasing chat and a delicious repast. This over, Mr. Campbell treated us with apples, announc- ing to our hostess (Miss Ross), at the same time that i 88 he was marketing apples, moreover. The bargain was soon transacted. Mr. Campbell made quite a wholesale that morning ; in fact, he sold the entire load, eight barrels, right there and then. While the hired man was removing them to the store- house, I bade my hostess and Mr. Campbell a fond good morning. Being in very good humour, I walked briskly, and soon sighted Margaree Forks. Margaree Forks has been so often described that further descriptions are unnecessary. -In due time I tipped the door-bell of Hugh Gillis' residence. I was well entertained stayed over night, and took the road the next morn* ing at "break of day." About seven o'clock I was at my destination. Mr. and Mrs. Angus MacDougall reside about a mile south of Margaree Harbour town. They are a kindly couple, and soon regaled me with news, anecdotes and a profuse table. The brandy bottle was produced, but as I declined 'its intimacy (being a teetotaler), it was set aside. Talk of hospitality, but they are lovely. In due time I related the object of my visit, Mr. MacDougall took the matter seriously, and was silent and abstracted for an hour or more, and then told his story of MacAskill. In some minor points it differed with my data, but they were essentially identical. Next morning "happy be the day," I left for Upper Margaree. My friend MacDougall drove me to Margaree Forks. An hour and a half's walk brought me to S. W. Margaree. I could not resist the inclina- <: 89 tion to call where I had called on my northward tran- sit, and, in fact, I did not try. "1*11 ne'er blame my partial fancy, Nothing could resist my Nancy ; But to see her was to love her, Love but her and love fotever." Shortly after noon, however, I was on the road again. Betimes, I was back in Upper Margaree. Though I don't owe my birth ^o this settlement (be- ing born at Strathlorne), however, as I passed many years here, I may be peimitted to say that it is a beauty. Mountains, glens, rocks ant" valleys, intersected with streams of becoming size ; clearances, houses, barns, wood factories and forests — all these are here, as it were in semi-careles« profusion. The homes of Upper Margaree, so plenteous in wealth and cheer, are generally ornaments that would set off any country to advantage. Gentle reader, if such scenery be not truly lovely — loveliness upon our earth is surely rare. li CHAPTER XXVII. MacAskill After his Return, and his Death. Angus MacAskill was well paid by the New Yorker with whom he travelled. Hence, when he came home to St. Ann's he possessed a snug fortune. He donated resp' ctable sums to many of his rela- tives and friends. Of course, none of these were poor before, but the gifts of* our hero were none the less acceptable, and some of them were appreciated as in- tensely as Napoleon Bonaparte's gift to Campbell's English sailor. He filled the role of a second Marc Lecarbot by building two good grist-mills a suitable distance apart. This undertaking proved very profitable. He was an accomplished miller, and at times ran one of his mills himself. The other was in charge of Angus MacDougall, at present of Margaree Harbour. It was interesting to see Angus MacAskill, while picking the millstones, hold the pick between his thumb and two fingers. It need not be siid that he would turn over the stones with as much ease as a Scotch-descended Cape Breton sonsie lassie would turn over a sugar loaf. As for wheat bags, oat bags, etc., some containing four bushels, they were mere playthings in his hands. Were the mill-brook to run dry, and flour or meal to become scarce, provided that there was grain on ■ 91 hand, he could avert a temporary embarrassment by driving the mill himself. He could easily turn the pit-wheel rouud for hours, if necessary, or tear of the cogs. Pie built an elegant store and stocked it well, and kept it so. He was a reputable business man, honest, prompt and agreeable. He sold his gouds at a low figure, and thus, though not intentionally, he, like Sir Richard Arkright, relieved the sailsof other merchants of some wind. He never admired the credit system, and in business he never encouraged its adoption, yet, he never refused to help a person in need, be he an acquaintance or a stranger. His ledger, etc., are still extant, and evince a prac- tical knowledge of commercial book-keeping. Yet, to day, from the fact that £. s. d. are there instead of $ and c, they maj- appear a little quaint. At St. Ann's, you may see the great Angus Mac- Askill's store. There it is, a momento of a glorious past, but unoccupied. How many a heart overflow- ing with gratitude departed from that store! Our hero and many of his customers have gone to their reward ; but are they forgotten ? No. And while a vestige of that edifice graces the landscape, it will re- call to the minds of one and all, MacAskill's life, Mac- Askill's charity and MacAskill's philanthropy, and thereby associate our hearts with trains of thought fully as beneficial and enobling as Goldsmith's Desert- ed Village. By the way, the doors of the storebear further evid- ence to our hero's overhead requirements. They are i t : m. ' i 92 nine feet in height, and his favourite stool is there. What do you suppose it is? It is a i8o gallon molas- ses puncheon. It has been already said that the anchor seriously hurt our hero. In fact, his frame was permanently shattered. Possibly his back bone was injured, and probably some of his ribs were displaced. He could never afterwards stand straightly erect, and rising from a chair to a standing posture was always a mat- ter of difficulty, and oftentimes of torture. But still his strength was prodigious, a fact which he occasionally manifested. Now and again some people would fancy that his strength was failing down to the ordinary. But ho ! my friends, some new ex- ploits would more than dispel these visions. The anchor exploit already portrayed and his sub- sequent ones excited more than usual interest because he had had previously a severe fever in Spain. This malady had impaired his constitution forever, and lessened his strength over twenty per cent. There- fore, the anchor exploit may be pronounced doubly wonderful, and his later exploits trebly wonderful. But, regarding his exploits, they were all astonish- ing. Hence, all who have heard of them and of their hero, MacAskill, take pleasure in treasuring momen- tos or remembrances of his strength and size. At Donald MacKay's, blacksmith, Scotsville, one of the family, Thomas MacKay, showed me an inner boot sole of MacAskill's. This sole I measured, and its size was not contradictory to my earlier researches About Genevra, the poet Rogers began; — 93 "Reader, if thou should'st ever come to Modena," but I say, reader, if thou should'sl ever come to Scots- ville, stop at Donald MacKay'sand ask for to see the sole mentioned, and you will, and, moreover, receive what Robert Burn desired to receive in Heaven — "a Highland welcome." However, in August, 1863, Angus MacAskill was seized with that dire ailment, brain lever. The dis- ease set in without any apparent cause. It is gratifying to know that medical science and art were timely exerted to their utmost to save his life, or, at least, to prolong it, but in vain. Shortly before death, all the delirium left him. Indeed, for a few hours he enjoyed sweet tranquility, and conversed with those around him Yet, he was woefully weak, ^and he thought that the end was near. On the 8th of August, after a week's illness, he ex- pired as a child falls into a peaceful sleep. The pastor of the place was present. Though confident that his soul was in "that better land," yet all around were in tears. The news of our hero's death spread like wild-fire. Sympathetic messages were received by his sisters and brothers, and were promptly acknowledged. Notwithstanding the furore caused by our hero's size and strength in the days gone by, so great was the sorrow and excitement occasioned and aroused by his death that his most intense lative admirers were surprised. Newspaper after newspaper told the tale of the death of the Cape Breton giant. Encomiums were showered on his memory. .- I 94 Hi§ sisters and brothers bore their affliction with great patience. The sting of death was sore indeed ; but they were sensible enough to see that they had many consolations. Our herd had died in their midst, "with comforts at his side." His life and death were edifying. These consolations soon relieved and in due time completely healed that horrid wound— the recollection of a friend's death. ' CHAPTER XXVril. The Cokfin. After our hero's death, among the first things con- sidered was a coffin. In those times imported coffins were not yet dreamed of. Two reputable carpenters undertook to make the coffin, and they had it com- pleted in six hours. The coffin was made of native pine boards, as cof- fins usually were in the days when pine was plentiful. The cover was one-fourth glass. In size the coffin was a sight of a life time. Yet, so well proportioned was it that it looked uncouth by no means. Yes, it seemed to be smaller than what an actual measurement would attest. It was costly lined with white cloth. Great pains were taken with every detail. Accomplished ladies and gentlemen thus vied with one another in show- ing their respect, admiration and appreciation of this extraordinary man. The exterior of the coffin was lovely. The bright mountings shone out in harmonious contrast with the sober dark ground which they embellished. In due time the sad task of laying our hero's re- mains in their last earthy home was becomingly per- formed. The lid being replaced, the spectators in dozens paced orderly along once more to gaze "on the face that was dead." Bcquetsand wreaths with- 96 out number were brought along. An aged aristo- cratic man present who had spent years in Edin- burgh said : "I have seen many a coffin ; but, if this is not the costliest coffin I have seen, it is the most beautiful and the best festooned. These boquets would do honour to a prince. Never have I seen such genuine and sensible indications of sorrow as MacAskill's mourners have evinced." The minister of the congregation arrived at the ap- pointed hour. After prayer and scriptural reading, he preached an appropriate sermon. His Christian and modest eulogy of our hero will be long remembered. During the sermon many wept. But ere he had neared the end the mists of sadness began to dis- solve "like the dim fabric of a vision," and when the moment of the benediction arrived, there was not a sad heart in the crowd. But, reverting to the coffin, the reader has probably by this time formed an idea thereof in his or her mind. The beauty of it can be imagined by com- parisons or "modern instances." But to imagine its size is very difficult. It has been said that figures speak. That is a true saying. Yet the actual dimensions cf our hero's cof- fin need not be given, another way of communicating an idea of its size being judged, more easily grasped, and more easily remembered moreover. Hence, an emphatic illustration is chosen to con- vey the idea, not at all as a substitute, but as a better medium of this knowledge. Figures may be forgot- ten, but the following disclosure never. 97 When the woodwork of the coffin was finished i. e., when it was ready for the dressing, etc., it was found to be sufficient to hear or float three men acroaa the Bay of 8t. Ann's. How this has transpired is left to the readers as a matter of conjecture. However, it serves as an ad- ditional argument in support of the far-famed saying, "truth is stranger that fiction. I I «>' CHAPTER XXIX. MacAskill's Grave. I On the eastern side of St. Ann's Bay, about a mile and a half from the sea, there is a bonnie cemetery. As you go down by the bay, facing north, it is on your right hand side. Less than a mile to the south of it, on your left hand side, is one of St. Ann's church- es, a magnificent building, with a vane on the top of the spire, which tells the observer there the four fun- damental points of the"compass, and what's of little less importance '* the way the wind blows." The church is referred to above to aid the stranger in locating the cemetery without asking too many questions. Strangers who are extremely modest like to be spared the odium of asking questions on every side. Close by the road the cemetery begins. It con- tinues quite a distance up a brae or hillside, then curves over to the top of the hill, and you are on the level, and a few yards ahead you observe its western boundary. In this cemetery the vegetable kingdom is profuse- ly represented. There are elder bushes, cherry trees, raspberry bushes, low wild- rose bushes, and many other beauties of the kind. It remin Js one of a pass- age that we read in Lucy Flemming — that quaint, though happy phrase, "its cheerful graves." 99 ""H. ; On the upper level of the cemetery, a mound of earth twelve feet in length, artistically set off with gravel, and a respectable gravestone mark the earthly resting place of our hero. A few feet to the no/th-east of it are the graves of Mr. and Mrs. Rev. Abraham Miclntosh. Rev. Mr. Macintosh was pastor of St. Ann's an.! North Shore. He died on March lo, 1889 His wifj's maiden name was Annie Ross. . Siie was born in 1822, and died 1884. There is a becoming paling yard around their graves. Lastly, there's a superb monument, which, if not necessary to perpetuate the raemory of their virtues, designates to the tourist their cozy abode at the top of the hill of life which, like Joon Ander- son and his wife, they weel "had climbed together." The breath of St. Ann's cemetery, is as fragrant and sweet as that of a flower garden. As one walks along he is apt to imagine that a costly deoderant has been sprinkled about a few minutes ago. But let us go back again to our hero's grave, and read the inscription so deftly carved on yonder stone. Here it is in toto- "Erected To The Memory of Angus MacAskill, The Nova Scotian Giant, Who died, August 8th, 1863. • Aged 38 years. A dutiful son, a kind brother. Just in all his dcc^lings. ; ■