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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 V i4 Ml ' mtmasm'i'i- X S^ SUFFEKK^ as OF THE NEEDf ;• "^ih •*,» V-, OR A JOURNEY TO THE WEST; •AND BACK AGAIN ;*WITH ITS • PRlftTlONS m DIFFICULTIES, AS RKIATED BY ALEXANDER DERBYSHIRE. \t 'r-K TO WHICH IS ADDED a short Sketch of the MFE OF JOHN A. B»EWE», WHO DIED ON THE COAST OP SOUTH AMKRICA. A true account from Real Life, ^ ^ BY MARIA GIBSON. % PICTON: •. 1PR1NTED AT '' THE NORTH AMERICAN JOB OPVICKy # I i nso^XV JUL % 19 1949 -^ Entered according to Act of Provincial Parliament, in tlie year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty fivej by Walter Ross, ia the OflSce of the Rf istrar of the Province of Canada* m ^«. ^ t T PREFACE. Diaries and Journals are generally looked upon by the reading world as dismal, uninteresting accounts, which have little or no life in them. This work cannot be, strictly speaking, a Journal or Diary, and contains scenes which I hope will excite the interest of the reader enough to give it a careful perusal, particularly those more accustomed to the reading of wol-ks of truth than of fio- tion. By the reader of Novels I have no doubt but it will meet with a cool reception, therefore, to the candid afld thoughtful, more than these, I recommend it, as it shows in a clear and plain manner the trials persons are subject lo, and the privations they have to endure who are strang- ers in a strange land, without the means wherewith to help themselves to the necessaries of life or to convey themselves from one place to another. Also, when cast upon the wide world, how few are to be found who are willing to jpractice our Saviour's Golden Rule, ** Do untO' others as you would they should^ do unto you." • - witf i MtjriWilF The writer has endeavored to collect and arrange the different scenes in their respective order so as to give th« reader as clear an idea as possible of the trials, position and whereabouts of the travellers. After a careful perusal and examination the relator has declared this to be a true account, the only deficiency ^ being that words cannot fully express their privations, or impress the reader's mind with a full sense of the real- ity. The sketch of the Life of John A. Brewer is vague compared to what it might have been if any minute ac- count could be obtained of his life while at sea, but be- ing unable to obtain anything further than could be gath- ered from a few letters, his friends consider it no more than a tribute due to his memory to have it committed to the Press, THE AUTHOB, •ppiiUHWJU CONTENTS. PREFACE. CHAPTER I.— Introduction. CHAPTER 2. Birth and parentage ; my mother's death ; readODfl for going West ; John A. and Johnson Brewer go with ua. CHAPTER 3 Start for Iowa j St. Lawrence ; Lake of a Thouiand Isles ; Kingston. CHAPTER 4 Niagara FaUs. CHAPTER 6 Sarah Ann sick ? medical advice ; William Abels has trouble with the runners ; Detroit; Cars run oflf the track ; storm on Lake Michigan ; Benjamin Firman stops in Illinois ; Chicago. CHAPTERS Canal Boats; Sarah Ann and Erwin sick ; Boots mis-> sing ; Lasolle, Boat towed by men, Sand Bar, Boat aground. CHAPTER 7 Description of a Steamboat on the Mississippi. CHAPTERS From Laselle to Keokuk ; hunger, no noney; borrow» buy bread, Sarah Ann unable to eat, no spoons, a substitute, J» A. Brewer saws wood from Alton to St. Louis, Deck PaMagei rain. uncomfortable bed. CHAPTER 9 -St. Louis, paved shores ; nee*le|iiourney of fifty miles | Slaves, cruel treatment ; warm weather ; William Abets and I try . rfL. _1-_- V^^-J ^^^ k «« n*M 90 4V&14 VX/Fii I Va*viv*iS( wS* iirV««i*S j Vi*^ iii^i* W '/^ Vi H f- I (;^APTSR 10 Land at Keokuk, lo«e box in rit©r, goodf daniii«ad ; Sarah Ann still sick ; start on foot 30 miles j Sarah Ann tirei out farm house ; John A. and W. A. go for friends , lonely walk mourning doves. CHAPTER 11 At Daniel Slack's, Iowa, Prairie flowers, herds of cat, tie, timber, settlements, buildings ; Valley of the Mississippi, itfl advantages, emigration, productions, fat cattle. CHAPTER 12 Tobacco, Sorghum, minerals, winters, ravines, rivers^ snakes. CHAPTER 13 Hunting prairie chickens ; use of a dog } settlers rf • Iowa, Yankees, Huosiors, Buckeyes, Kanucks. CHAPTER 14 At Daniel Slack's ; Canada boys, Blue Racer, old log bouse, public square, Salem, one chair, make bedstead, thunder- storm. * CHAPTER 15 Got wood ; heat ; flour, furniture ; go to Blacksmith- ing, John A. hires to Boyle, Sarah Ann ashamed of our circum- stances ; LaBranch ; Johnson plows out corn, hire to Masden overcome by heat, obliged to quit. CHAPTER 16 Discouraged, John helps us, get windows, trade watch for stove , Eggs ; go to Isaac Benedict's, Watermelons, fruits. CHAPTER 17 Get a letter from home, want to go back to Leeds, Sar- ah Ann unwilling, consents, makes preparations for starting. CHAPTER 18 Start for Canada ; Sophia Slack ; Mormon Temple ; scene on the Mississippi ; Laselle ; rain, Canal breaks, unload ; Bridges ; Canal breaks again, go un footto 4.hicago, wade ; Illinois. CHAPTER 19 Chicago, cars to Cottage Hill ; J. Nickols, B. Firman, E. Canada ; Erwin worse. CHAPTER 20 Chop wood to get provision, John and I go to the city ; haystack, stragglers, tavern, tickets ; S. Slack goes on ; confusion, fiddling and dancing, gambling, grey-headed veterans. CHAPTER 21 All quiet, Boat aleak, S. A. gets up, no satisfaction, 6 fcot water in the !ited,*out of sight of land, meditation. Straits of ^15^ Vll CHAPTEK 22 Lake llnron, Huron Diatrict, RWer St Clair, U3ie St. Clair, Detroit, Lake Erie, harbours, navigation, advanUgci. CHAPTER 23 Competition at Buffalo, Boys start on foot, regret, take Johnson on the cars I Lewiskon; threaten to put Johnson off, se- Crete him, get to Kingston, Toronto,thunder-shower,reach Brook- viUe, Philip Wing, home, weeds. CHAPTER 24 Father gives us provision, better table th^n in Iowa | one visitor; John A. Brewer comes home, go at the Bla«*smiUi trade, buy the old homestead, go bacA to Iowa a-nd buy land | Johnson Brewer, sr., moves to Bloomfield ^ sell to John Chamber- lain } we move to Bloomfield, wor* at the Carpenter's trade, buy a farm, upon it I still reside. CHAPTER 25 A retrospect of the past, resolutions for the future, social visit to Iowa. CHAPTER 26 A few words of advice from Sarah Ann Derbyshire to her children. LIFE OF JOHN A. BREWER. Chapter I| CflAPTBR lllj Chaptbr V, Cbaptbb Ilf Chaptbr IV, Chaptbb VI, Chaptbr VII. fclNllS on tne I5«atH of JOHN A. BRBWHSB* a ^^ SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY j Oft A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. At the request of my friends, and for the pe- rusal of my children when I am gone, I am prompted to offer a short account to the public, believing that few of my associates have passed through more privations in their outset in life than myself and wife, if they have as many. — Perhaps this httle work may fall in the hands of some who may consider it exaggerated, but it is, nevertheless, true ; the only deficiency being the absence of many Uttle things which time has erased from mv memorv. But findinff that most ^ / 1 li !l i 10 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY; of the leading aiid principal points can be recol- lected by some of the company that accompan- ied me, and being anxious that my children should have as correct an account as possible, I here oflFer a simple and true statement of a jour- ney to Iowa and back again to Canada, with its privations and difficulties. Alexander Derbyshire. \, ^ QK A JOTJBNEY TO THK WEST. 11 CHAPTER II. Birth and parentage. My molher's death. ReaBOHB for going West. John A. and Johnson Brewer go withuf. " Poor thoughtless youths, hut jast emharkcd, To you the prospect's fair ; Be warned by one who sees your peril ! And steer your course with care. " I was born on the twentieth of sixth month, 1825, in the township of Young, county of Leeds and Province of Canada West. My parents' names were Daniel and Mercy Derbyshire. I was the eldest of a family of six children, and my father not being in very affluent circumstan- ces, I was obliged, as I grew to manhood, to de- pend upon my own exertions and economy for a Uvelihood. We Hved near a small village of Leeds called Farmersville, where my fether worked at the Blacksmith trade, which gave me an opportunity of becoming well acqaaiiited with that business, as I worked with him, more or less, from the time I was strong enough until I commenced for myself. When I arrived to -•^ 12 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY; the age of manhood I became attached to a young woman named Sarah Ann Brewer, with whom I was married the twenty-sixth of third month, 1848. She was was an only daughter of John- son and EUza Brewer, both ministers of the So- ciety of Friends, who, through dedicated obedi- ence to their Master's will, are frequently called from home and friends to labor in Gospel lore with those living far remote from them. After our marriage we lived in an old log house near my fath^'s. I worked at the Potash business and Blacksmith trade, which enabled me, after a year and a half, to buy a lot near the village of Farmer«^7ille, containing one acre of ground, with a c vrnfortable house upon it. We moved there, having, through frugality and in- dustry, accumulated many of the httle necessar- ies of life, and considered ourselves not in the worst of circumstances for new beginners ; for at that time and place pride and arrogance had not reached the extent they have at present, al- though their progress was plainly visible to the discerning, without penetrating far into the vis- ta of coming years. We had not lived in our new home over three OB A JOXJUNEY TO THE WEST. 18 months, when the western fever began to rage in Leeds and vicuiity, owing to the many good reports in circulation concerning the Western States of America, and the great advantages agri- culturists there have over those in Canada, the winters being shorter and milder, and land cheap- er and better on the prairies, &c. These rumors created great excitement among the people, so much so that many who were comfortably set- tled and in good circumstances, having every- thing around them that heart or hand could wish for, were soon making every preparation for movmg; and so many of my friends and acquaintances going gave me the fever also. Sarah Ann, however, opposed going and had a very decided choice in staying where we were, and wished me to work away as I had done, feelmg satisfied to let " well enough alone," be- lieving the old adage, " one bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Bat larming had al- ways been my favorite employment, and 1 re- solved to some day possess a farm of my own and thinking this opportunity too good a one to, let pass unimproved, I sold my team, wagon, harne^ss, cattle, &c., to get money to pay our ex- 14 BUFFERINGS OF TH2 NEEDY; penses there, fancying that I should soon work myself into a snug little farm. What beautilul scenery the imagination can pamt, what pleas- ant pictures the fancy will portray, when these are supported by hope and buoyed up by a strong determination ; how often they lead the possessor to behold his fancied pleasures a mere blank! My mother, at this time, was very poorly, she had been confined to the house for about four months with a disease of the heart. Her suffer- ings were very great and she bore them with christian patience and resignation ; she seemed to be daily sinking, and we all knew she could not survive long. She seemed anxious to be releas- ed from her sufferings, and the thoughts of death had no terror as was shown by her calm, quiet manner one day upon the house taking fire, and burning about twelve feet off the roof, and which was with great difficulty extinguished ; although the rest of the household were thrown into the utmost confusion and alarm she was perfectiy calm, merely asking what was the mat- ter, and further than this, she evinced no unea«i- TL'ym nor even expressed a wish to be carried out OK A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 15 of the house, as she was entirely helpless. I have no doubt but she felt that if she should be burned it would be a happy release. She was often heard to implore her heavenly Father to take her in mercy to himself, that her earthly sufferings might cease, and sh#be permitted to enter into the rest prepared for the children of God, of which she had a bright foretaste, often saying that although her outward trials were hard to bear yet all was peace within. She would often break forth in suppUcation to her Divine Master on behalf of her husband and children. She failed very fast, and on the four- teenth of fifth month it was evident her end was drtfmng nigh; we were all summoned around her bedside to behold the parting scene and behold a christian mother's oft repeated wish fulfilled, to behold her bid adieu to all things here below and take her exit from a world of trials and cares to join that blessed number, that innumerable multitude whose robes are washed and made white m the blood of the Lamb. Her funeral took place on first day and was attended by a large concourse of people whose minda se^jned clothed with deep solemnity. 16 BUFFEBINGS OF THE NEEDY; After the last tribute of respect was paid to our departed mother we began to turn our minds towards our intended journey, and make such arrangements as were necessary for our progress in the prospect before us. We according^ packed up what we could in :two large boxes, such as household goods, cloth- iftg, &c. I put up my blacksmith tools in a bar- rel and look them with me, as my trade was my only dependence. We concluded it would be best to keep our lot and not sell it until we knew how we liked the western coiintry ; if we were dissatisfied we would have a home to return i»» and if satisfied I could easily sell it at any time and have the funds remitted to me. Stfeh things as we could not easily take with us we left iu the house, as chairs and cxx^kuig stove- - My father-in-law and mother-in-law, Johnson and EUza Brewer, having a religious concern on their mindB to visit some of the Western States and yearly meetings, were at this time about ready to start on their Grospel mission. They concluded it would be best for their two sons, John A. and Johnson, to go with us, and they^ •j_ 1 • r» II m tuuir journey, would visit Iowa and if they OE A JOUBIiEY TO THK WEST. T? liked the country settle there themselves, and if not they would have the boys return with them to Leeds. m # 18 RUFFEKINOS OF THE NeeDT; CHAPTEE III. Start for Iowa. Kingston. St. Lawrence. Lake of a Thousand Isle». Let fiincy and imagination paint the scene. And we kave a lovely prospect. On the twentietk of fifth month, eighteen h^n- dred and fifty, we started, accompanied by our friends, WiiMain Abels a young man, Benjamm Firman and his family, and my wife's brothers, John A. and Johnson Brewer. We went with a team to BrockviUe, a distance of sixteen mUes^ and never while we Uve will we forget the strange mingling of feehngg that filled onr hearts as we rode along on onr way to Brockville. Al« though we were young and our hearts buoyant with anticipation, yet a sensation of sadness per- vaded our bosAns as the vehicle which contain- ed us rolled heavily away fioaaa our quiet little home, and as it seemed to sink in the distance and recede from our view, we felt that the place of our childhood was near and dear. A remin- iscence of the past rose rapidly before our minds oil k ioUtlNEY TO THE WEST. 1» and with it fceUngs of ple^iire as well as sad, ness ; pleasure, when we thottght of tJie many happy days of youth, the many hours spent m youthful recreation, the school days and school- mates, the wonted groves and frequented dales ; and sadness, when we recollected that we were leaving all these behind ; and still more solemn when we thought of our late bereavement, when we considered that but a few days ago we could behold a mother's countenance, and now she was wrapped m the cold embrace of death.— We al»J remembered father's lonely condition, deprived of the companion of his youth and we leaving so soon alter, all had a tendency to solemnise our thoughts. The little warblers of the grove seemed ahnost conscious of our pen- sive mood, and, as if to cheer our downcast hearts, poured forth their mellow notes m strains of sweet mel^y, giving to the groves and sur- romiding landscafie that pleasantness which we never before realized, making us almost doubt whether the prairie lands were any more pleas- At Brockville I purchased a ticket for Chicar and secured a passage on the Steamer Boff ttu\ 20 State, 8XJFTK^IJSQ& OF THR l^BDT,' B far as Lewiston. As the boat mored out from ihis familiar town and worked her way up the river our attention was drawn to the sur- rounding scenery on the river's banks, and we soon found ourselves in "-the Lake of a Thousand Isles." These Islands are Ox very imaginable shape and appearance, some are scarcely visible, others contain a few rods of soil or rock, and oth- ers cover many acres. The surface of the stream is dotted with them ; their broken outtine pre- sents to the traveller a scene of wood and water whose combination forms a picturesque appear- ance. While among these sometimes we would find ourselves enclosed in a narrow channel with barely room for the vessel to pass between them, then suddenly emerge as if into the mouth of some noble river, then perhaps again rush mto another similar chamiel, until beyond this far fam- ed Lalie. As you approach Kmgston the river becomes narrower. This is a place of consider- able activity, sixty miles from Brockville, finely situated near the spot where old Fort Frontenac once stood, and was formerly the seat of Govern- ment for Canada. The Town Hall, Market, Penitentiary and Asylum are amono- thft bAsi. nl OB A JOUHNeT to the WEST. SI the buildings. It has, also, strong fortifications which give it the appearance of a place of pow- er as well as dignity. From KingbLon we found ourselves rapidly ad- vancing on Lake Ontario, which presents a scene of beauty, yet it is hard lo say in what respect this beauty consists, (the meaning of the word Ontario signilies beauly) there are no lofty hills for the poet to describe, no bold shores to attract his fancy, no scenery around it whose features are striking, yet it is, withal, beautiful. At times the roughness of its waters was very great, the swells rolled high and angry, while between them were deep troughs which appeared as if they would soon swallow up all on the surface. "While the Steamer was ploughing through these waters Sarah Ann went to her trmik to get some provisions, a little Irish boy, an emi- grant,, ran up to the trunk and snatched some food ; not altogether liking the way he took to get it she told him to give it back, choosing rath- er to give him food if he was hungry than have him take such liberty ; his mother immediately interfered and, taking the boy's part, plainly told Jiim to Keep ii. x nese persons nau a v tsi j ii/iitu- ,,r 22 SUFFEKINOS OF THE NeeDT ; # some and repulsive appearance, their rags, lice and dirt denoted the most abject state of filthi- ness. I merely mention this to show the degra- ded state of some of these miserable creatures who go about in the most slovenly manner teach- ing their children to pilfer and deceive. Many of them are bright, intelligent youths whose in- tellectual faculties, if properly trained and relig- iously cultivated, would not only be an honor to their name but the pride and hope of the coun- try and of a succeeding generation, but on the contrary the seeds of vice, degradation and infa- my are sown and cultivated in their tender minds by those who call themselves parents, and they grow up hardened in all species of vice and crime. We reached Lewiston the foUov/ing morning after caUing at the different ports, such as Cape Vincent, Oswego and Rochester. Sarah Ann was, by this time, very sick with the sick-head- ache Having to wait a few hours for the cars I saw her comfortably accommodated and then walked around the town ; I was in sight of Brock's Monument, erected upon the side hill to show to the traveller where that noted General I^i* OR A JOUBNEY TO THE WEST. 23 fell. It is, I should think, about fifty feet high and cost a considerable sum of money. At Lew- iston the Iruit trees were in full bloom and all nature seemed clothed with the most beautiful foUage, vegetation being far more rapid at that place than in Leeds. Benjamin Firman met his father's family and with them spent the feV hours we had to stay \evy sociably. From here we went to the Falls, a distance of seven miles. The first three miles the cars were drawn by horses up a long wind- ing hill which extended a good share of the way. The road was dug along the hillside just wide enough for the cars to go without falhng off. On one side we could behold nothing but the wall of earth or the hillside which was cut down per- pendicularly, on the other we could look down a descent of some two hundred feet as we as- cended the hill ; the descent was thickly wood- ed with tall, thrifty, towering trees, with whose tops we were on a level as we gained the sum- mit of the bank, Vt^hile farther down in the val- ley they were some distance below us. Beyond the Woods lay a beautiful section of the country flof f/avfilA KnrfnoA vprv TTiiioh Tesembles ^■KTr\r\ofk ^2\ S4 suffeeings of the Needy ; the prairies. Ths horse cars used on this hill are different from steam cars ; they resemble them in appear- ance but are smaller and lighter. The luggage Js all placed on the top which often makes it look rather top heavy. Very few persons could nde up this hill and not feel a dizzy sensation upon lookmg down its mde. When we reached the junction at the top of the summit we had to exchange for steam cars which speedily carried m over the other four miles to that beautiful yet majestic cataract, Niagara Falls. /■ - OB A joueney to the West CHAPTEE IV. j^iagara Falls. ^he Niagara Falls are in the Niagara River,^ which is thirty miles long and very deep at it^ efflux from Lake Erie. It runs through a beau*^ tofiil section of country and is allowed to flow at the rate of seven miles an hour. The sublimity of the prospect caused by this mighty mass of water rushing from the great Americaji Lakes to join the Ocean, with so much rapidity^ is strik- ing. Grand and Navy Islands are situated a mile and a half above the main Cataract ; the former bdongs to flie United States and is a fine* iy timbered tract of land ; the latter belongs to the British G-overnment and is inferior in size and fertility. Nearly opposite to this island, at Chippewa^ the WeUand Kiver flows into the Ni- agara, adding a httle more strength to the coiling, foaming .waters of the Kapids which seem to be gathering up all their force for the mighty leap they are about to make. At these islands a dis* 26 SUPFEEINGS OF THfi jJ^eeDY; tant noise is heard of a low rumbling sound, and a column of mist, resembUng a cloud, is seen hovenng over the river, both of which are ac 60toted for as you descend the stream, for in the ^hort distance of a mile the river descends fifty seven feet, causing the water to move with great rapidity oyer shoals and rdtks which are numer- dus m the bed of the river, forming dangerous and fierce rapids over which the boatman, with all his boasted skill, dare not venture, A little below the mouth of the WeUajid Eiver the Ni- agara expands to two miles in breadth and soon alter suddenly contracts into less than a mile — Nearer the Falls the river bends to the east, a^d IS divided by Goat Island, leaving the larger bodyof water on the Canadian shore. From ttiis Island no fall is visible, but the noise grows loud- er and louder as you approach the great Gas- cade. While the traveller is coming down the nver, before reaching the Falls, he can lookback and see the waters in the distance cahn and un- disturbed, but on approaching nearer they begin to display some agitation and this kee^p increks- a^ rT*f It terminates in the mighty precipice. 6oat Island is, perhaps, thirty'or forty rods froia- OR A JOTJIINeY to THb WfiST. 27 the brow of the cUfF and adds much to the beau^* ty, grandeur and sublimity of the scenery ; it is three hundred and thirty yards wide and cpYer» ed witli beautiful vegetaiion. The two chai^r nels meet again between this Island and the Falls and both flow over in one unbroken sheet, calculated to fill the mind with solemnity and awe. The best view of the Falls when we were there was from Table Eock, a large cUfF project- ing over the stream, and on this we stood and looked down on the dread abyss. A part of the Table Rock has since broken away and sunk bcr neath the current below. The mist or spray which rises from the water will fill the mind with admiration, as all the rain-^ bow tints are interspersed in its columns. From the Table Eock we went down to the foot of the Falls. There is a ledge of rocks which leads into a cavern behmd the sheet of fell- ing water. This cavern resembles an arch in appearance ; on the left hand composed of roll- ing and dark waters, and on the right hand rocks ; it is of a considerable size, and nearly shrouded in obscurity, which, with the strong wind blow- ing the water and spray over us, made it by no ■i 28 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY; means a pleasant position, but ratlier 1 diiBcnIt undertaking to enter it. "imcmt lan^lvt'-''^ "^ '^' ^'^^'' ^^0"^ »oat Is- land which IS nigeniously connected to the east- brf/Tul """'"' "^ ' curiously •constructed bridge built by an American, upon which per- Jons can cro^ only a few yards from the crest of the Cataract to the Island. On the western side of his Island ^ piece of timber projects about twe ye feet over the abyss ; on thic yoi can stand jafely and view the waters a. they rush by,.al. ^ourtet'^Y '"" ^"^^^^ -^^ *!--- -^er your feet as if you were about to be precipitated mto the frightful chasm. I know of nothing better calculated to call forth the admiratioTj the traveller than to stand here and watch the wate- as they play along in wild coilt^ tt ow you, formmg themselves in variegated curt mg waves, sometimes white, sometimes '^ aen brightly blending together andmadly^S: ^ along A httle below the Falls the EiveT^ comes mild and gentle and presents its u udai pearance of beauty. The banks are ^TZ VfeU. wooded on each side. In this vicinity may now be seen the Suspen. OR A JOURNEY TO THE "WEST. 29 i diiScuIt Groat la- the east- istructed lich per- B crest of «rn side ts about m stand by,#al- r under ipitated nothing ition of fceh the lion be- d, curl- green, Y rush- rer be- aalap- h and i&pen. sion Bridge ; it was in contemplation when we were there, and has since been carried into effect, and may now be seen towering over the Eiver at a distance of two hundred feet, and ^ length of eigh4; hundred fed;. Some Uttle distance below this is a Whirlpool in the Eiver which takes in ^jjts course every- diing that comes within its reach, carrying them with a quivering, circular motion round and round this singular spot. The rocks are steep on either side and no boat dares to approach it, so that whatever gets into 4;he current above this must there remain until decomposition takes place or it is dashed in pieces by the waiter. Af- ter the waters have made this singular and re- markable circuit they again regain their proper course. Seven miles below the Falls, on the Canadian «ido., are elevated ridges which rise abruptly and suddenly, called Queenston Heights. These are by some supposed to have been the banks of the Eiver, and that in ages past the mighty Cataract was here and that the rocks have broken and worn away to where they now are. At Queens- ton th^ Bivftr hp^nmoc i^Qirincokl/^ n rvr% i tt It 1*> 5 K ^ "trFFErma* OF THE NEia)r ; impossible for vessels to venture anl f ^u «iouth of the Grid E^l ^'^'^'™' "^" *^« Many travellers, in describing Niae-ara P«ll. represent them as two distinr>t fZ.f'"'' ^^'' ed bv Goat UUr.A ^^^^^"^""^ Cataracts separat- feUasIhal' 5- ^^^«^«^i«ited them they C^admn side they talce the name of the Hort^ ???. %,''°..^°"^* ^'""^ ^^^ circular shape !1 It IS possible that at some seasons J,u wien the water is low S tht IT .? ' 5^'^'' M in two distii^ct colmnfc^usttv t^- T position of Goat Uhr^ri 7 ^ T ^ *^® "'*^^" out from it to the S Zs fo' '"^^ 1"^"°^ ridge in time of low wItt ButT? ' .l^"""^^ jHgh, as it was wherwe we^'^^Ii'/it I ^^*- the Spring, it completely coTered S Idft -^ one unbroken mass. The 300^4^"^^^^ thing ^:^i!^^V2i-:^ ''''• «on^^would be felt\poJ ^^\ti^'Z V-rt of Na^re'sgreat majestic work, wSfh^ OR A JOURNEY TO THE WeST. 81 never be truly sketched by the pencil of the Ar- tist ; never described by the pen of the ready writer ; never portrayed by the Poet's imagina- tion ; nor sufficiently extolled by tfie tongue of the Orator. Thousands flock here every year to behold that which has never been fully told them. The gay and the giddy, the high and low, the proud and humble all mingle together at this one great abyss, and I will venture to say that when they behold for themselves they will all unite in the one universal feehng prevalent when here, and acknowledge that all the powers of soul have been drawn forth in contemplation, admiration and adoration, and say, with the thoughtful writer : — The thoughts are strange that eep calleth unto Deep. And what are we That hear the question of that yoico sublime^ (C a (I u i- n >i a| OB A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 41 with the snmmer complamt from the time we first started. We reached Laselle on first day morning and stayed there some time, giving me an opportun- ity of looking around some. I found the cus- toms of the people in this town very different from any I had ever been accustomed to. They paid no regard to the Sabbath, neither did they consider it a day of worship, but on the contrary all the shops were open, the tradesman at his profession and the din of busy hfe prevailed ev- erywhere; trading and merchandizing were carried on with all the interest and activity of week-day life in eastern towns. To me this seemed strange, being something I had never before witnessed. I suppose they were Jews and kept the seventh day of the week as their Sabbath. I paid my fare the rest of the way to Keokuk, on the Mississippi, in the state of Iowa. The water in the Illinois River was so low.that steamers could hot come up to Laselle, and the freight and passengers had to be loaded on a barge and towed down the stream about three quarters of a mile. This was done by tweh 1i: 42 M aUFFEKI.Nas OK THE N£KDY ; robust, athletic looking men who seemed to en- joy the employment very well. They would plunge into the mud and water and wade along smging as happily as if they enjoyed the luxur- ies and pleasant iiresides of a wealthy hfe. They towed the barge up alongside the Steamer, waist deep in water, all goods and passengers were soon transferred to the deck of the Mississippi boat, and I for one began to hope and feel en couraged that our progress would be more speedy when again under the propelhng power of steam. We had gone perhaps three miles when the vessel struck, a sand-bar and ground- ed, where she remained half a'day before they could get her oft! They raised her up by means of two lono- timbers, probably thirty or forty feet in lengtl^ made on purpose lor boats on these rivers and carried by them all for time of need. These spars have pulleys to one end and by means of ropes and pulley attached to a large mast in the centre of the boat, they are raised until they hang pej-pendicularly on the vessel's sides then let down until they strike the bottom of the river, then with ropo.s throuch the pullevs OB A JOURNEY TO TllE WESiT 48 on the end of the spars the bow of the boat is raised up from the bar, and by putting on steam moves off, if the bar be a small one, the first time^ but if grounded on a large bar the boat often has to be raised in this way many times before they are successful. The most of the passengers were unacquaint- ed w^th such scejies and became much alarm- ed, fearing an explosion of the boiler. "Wil- liam Abels was very much excited, he walked up and down the deck while tears rolled down his cheeks in quick succession, feeUng, to all ap- pearance, that he was soon to be launched in- to eternity. Some others seemed to possess the same feelings, while some were very uncon- cerned, and only laughed at the excitement and timidity of the rest. For my part I did not feel alarmed, having faith to believe we would get off safe, which we did. f«i I 44 SUFFERINGS Oir Ttlm NEEDT; CHAPTER VII. Description of a Steamboat on the Mississippi River. Mississippi steamboats ar^ different from sea or lake boats, and are, strictly speaking, river boats which could not live on the rough tem- pestuous sea ; though I have been informed that some of the reckless owners have ventured with them along the coast from Mobile to Galves- ton on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. The hull is built like that of a sea boat but differs materially from the latter in depth of hold ; it is so shallow that there is but little stowage room allowed; and the surface of the main deck is but a few feet above the water hue, and when heavily laden is often but a few inch- es. The machmery is placed upon the deck ; there rests the huge boiler and furnaces, necessarily large because the propelling power is produc- ed by cord wood ; there also most of the freight oil A JOUKNET TO THE WEST. 45 IS stowed. In one part may be seen large piles of cotton bales ; in another many hogsheads of sugar or bags of corn, these often rising to the height of many feet ; also, all trunks and luggage of passengers are piled up on some part of the same, and all deck passengers are stowed around wherever they can find room. These vessels have very little depth of hold so as to allow them to pass over the shoal» which are so common in many parts of the riv- er, particularly when the water is low, there-* fore the lighter the draught the greater the ad» vantage. Above water they "resemble in appearance a two-storey house, painted white, with green lat- ticed windows, or rather doors, thickly set a- long the upper storey and openuig out upon a narrow balcony. The roof is rounded and cov- ered with tarred canvas and contains a range of skyHghts. Towering above these on each side are two enormous black cylinders of sheet iron, each I should think about five or six feet in di- ameter and about forty or fifty feet high. These steam pipes exceed in size anything of the kind I ever saw. 46 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY ; Upon entering the cabin you will find a splen- did Saloon neatly carpeted and furnished, the walls richly gilded, and costly chandehers sus- pended from the ceihng. In front of the Cabin is a large open space which is the continuation of the Cabin Deck projecting forward and supported by pillars rest- ing upon the main deck below. The roof or Hurricane Deck is carried forward to this point and supported by wooden props which forms a cover, over the Cabin Deck, screening this part from sun and rainj^ In warm weather this forms a pleasant place being open in front and* both sides, the travel- ler not only has the advantage of a cool breeze, but also the best view. This part is surround- ed by a low guard rail which renders it quite safe, and is generally the resort of those fond of the obnoxious weed, t(obacco. OR A JOUKNKY TO THE WEST. 47 CHAPTEE VIII. From Lasolle to Kc^oUnk — Hunger — no money — borrow two dollars — buy bread — Sar<.h A.iyi unable to eat — no spoons — a Kubs itute — from Alton to St Louis- J. A. Brewer saws Wood — Deck Passage — Rain — unuom for table bed. Tbe king must with the beggar droop ^ If food from him be taken , The high in mind must humbly stoop When all his hopes are snaken. , tv After I liad paid our fare from Laselle to Keo- kuk all the money I liad left was a two-dollar bill on a broken bank ; this, of course, was of no use to me, as I could not barter it for any amount however small. Hunger was beginning to gnaw on our half emaciated systems, and I had no other means of getting x)ro visions but to bor- row some money, which I did of WilUam Abels, the small sum of two dollars. Wishino-'to make this go as far as^possible I bought notliing on the boat, knowing I could do far better at a gro- cery or provision store. At Alton, which is at the outlet of the Illinois River, I bouo-ht a loaf of ; «'iiitti 48 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY; bread and some sugar. The water in the Miss- issippi River IS muddy; we dipped up some, and after settling it, drained ofi' the elcar, sweet- ened it with sugar, crumbled in the bread, and thus formed a repast which, however hum- ble it may seem to the reader, was eaten by ns with as good a relish, at that time, (Sarah Ann excepted) as are often the choice dainties of the epicure. When this dish was prepared, we found we had no spoons to eat with ; here was a puzzle for a short time, to know what we should use for a substitute ; we were not long in this suspense when the boat stopped a short distance below Alton to take in wood. I went on shore and gathered api^les from some apple- trees near the ruins of an old house ; these were very hard and about an mch and a quarter in diameter. I took them on board, cut them in two and dug out the middle, which formed the bowl of a spoon, and by sticknig a stick in one side, for a handle, formed quite spoons; with these novel substitutes we ate our bread and water out of an old pint basin ; we could not eat of this to satisfy our hunger, but had to be al- lowanced on a basinful twice a day and no j gH 'w a . OK A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 49 xnore ; thankM and pleased to get food in tlm humble manner. Readers! perhaps you smile at this strange and humble dish, and think you could not have eaten, like Sarah Ann, would not have reUshed it ; this I do not doubt, it* presented to you in the midst of plenty, when your larders are flush with provisions cooked and uncooked, when plenty smiles on every hand, and abundance m basket and store surrounds your dwemngs.— But have you ever felt the keen pangs and in- satiate effects of hunger? Have you ever felt the faint, sickening gnawing of a stomach void of food ? Have you ever travelled as strangers in a strange land, without money, without food, wriih those near and dear to you suflering under the same privations ; and worse than these, sick- ness wearing upon their weak and debilitated bodies ? Iflo, then you have felt as we felt and can rather lend the tones of sympathy than scorn- Sarah Ann's health was poor when we left home, and so far from improving, she grew more feeble as we proceeded on our journey ; her spirits seemed almost to forsake her, her xnind was worn upon day and night on account V'^r.tt_..i^».^..i, «•*>■.« •a liVFt-EHlSai OF THE NEEDY; Of Emms health. Many, whou they saw hhn would express their opinion thus : "He won't hve long '•_« They wfll soon lose that child," &c al of which added weight and gloom to he^ despondmg mind, and I have often wondered how she endured so many privations in her fee- ble state of health and kept up. She seldom ate Hnythmg worth mentioning, just barely en- ough to keep her alive. k From Alton to St. Louis John A. Brewer got the employment of sawing Wood for the CcSk ^ Tn f ,^^"^^^^^«^ they gave him provis,' ions left at the table ; the fnst day he brought us a five^uart paOful. On this we had quite a feast all but Sarah Am, she ate o^ a\vr mouthfuls. John brought us provision several times, which we thankfully received, it beinr. more palatable than bread aiid water I had not money enough when I paid our to take deck lare, which made part of our trin very unpleasant, owing to the rain which feU the mght we spent on board, accompanied by a strong wmd. A part of the deck wa. cover- •d over, bemg a continuation of the Hurricane 'jSmttm mMJ. oil A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 51 deck as I have before observed, but the whid blew the rain under so that we were unable to get our couch out of reach of the wet and cold, and had not been long in a 'umbering position when our bed became so thoroughly saturated with water which had run under it as to ren- der it by no means comfortable. IM h'l « r:-ji: £2 8UFFEEINGS OF THE NEEDY; in 11 ill '■ f CAAPTER IX. Bt Loius-pared sliores-needleas journey of 50 miles— and I try to load corri-ChoU-ra-one man dies When daylight began to appear we found ourselves near St. Louis. This is one of the largest and most commercial towns in lie State of Missouri, and will no doubt-in course of time become an immense citj^ It is pleasantly sii^a- ted on the Mississippi severaJ miles below the mouth of the Missomi Eiver, and its situation for Fnr Trade is one of the bes! in the world owing not only to its navigation, but many hunt! mg and trapping parties are fitted oiit there for the West, and consequently a large amount of fur, deerskins and buffalo robes are collected for eastern and foreign markets. Instead of building Wharves as in most plac- es, the shore is paved with stones, which is call- ed a Levee, for over a mile in extent ; the boats TsJ^^T ^f-'' ^"^^"^^^^^^f *^e L«vee. We reach- eel bt. Louis early m the morning and did not ^*fill•■^ Oft A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 5* succeed in getting ashore until ndon, so closely were the many vessels stowed along by each others' sides. We at last succeeded in wedging our way between two, by throwing a cable, on shore which was fastened to an upright post in the Levee, and by means of a windlass turn- ed by hands on the bow, the boat crowded to the landing. We had to change boats here and take another to go back up the river. The vessel upon which we were to return lay s<-*veral rods from us and the only way our boxes could be got there was by fmall boats. The large boxes they loaded very well, but when they were put- ting the barrel of blacksmith tools into the httle barge, its great weight was rather too much for their strength, and it came down with no little force upon the side nearly upsetting the v/hole cargo, men and all, into the river ; however, no damage was done in particular, except the ex- pression of a few heavy oaths, which many of these poor fellows have ready at tongue's end. Of course fliis part of our journey, from Alton to St. Louis and back again, was out of our way, but there being no boat going directly from La- sello to Keokuk we had to nti,sh soil, and may the dav hasten when tlir • 1^ OR A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 65 tafikmasters will no more sway the sceptre iii America's highly favored land. '' Flcct'y locks and black eomplcxioa Cdiinot forfeit Nature's cltiim ; Skin may diffi-r, but affjctiou Dwells in blaek and white the same." The Captam oflered any of the passengers that would assist them in loading twelve and a half cents an hour. William Abels and I thought we would try it. I carried three or four sacks and had to quit ; they were very heavy, each one containing four bushels of shelled corn. No per- son unacquainted with the cUmate could stand it to carry such heavy burdens long, unless they were very strong and athletic, as William Abels. He worked his hour and received the pay. That fatal and much dreaded disease; the Chol- era, was on board. One man died of it. I was unable to learn who he was, where he was go- ing or from whence he came. No person knew him, and none on board exhibited any friendli- ness towards him. If he had any acquaintances on board they forsook him in a dying hour, for, to al) appeara,nce, he died alone and friendless. The passengers were all very much alarmed ou 5« SUFFERINaS OF THE IfEEDY ; account of the contagion and none but two or three approached him. I passed by his berth, he seemed to be m great suffering. Sarah Ann could not stand his repeated sohcitations for a drinli of cold water without administering to hisrehef; he drank freely and seemed refresh- ed, but did not survive long. This disease is one to be dreaded by the lovers of life. Many blooming, healthy persons, who are in the enjoy- ment of vigour and strength are cut down in a few fleeting hours, and hurried into the embrace of the tomb. The death of this poor man has caused me many a solemn thought, not alone at that time, but often since, when many miles from the place where he bade all earthly things adieu, have I turned my mind retrospectively to that solemn scene. No friends to soothe his drooping soul, no mother to watch by his dying bed and administer to his wants, but the cold, unfeeling forms of strangers occasionally pass him by or look at him from a distant part of the vessel with great caution and timidity. Surely " there is a time to be born and a time to die; "for "all are of the dust and all turn to dust again," for " what hath man of all ••MMwiirWMMMMnr ' OR A JOURNEY TO THE WEST 57 his labors and of the vexations of his heart wherein he hath laboured under the Sun ? '* "for all his days are sorrow and his travail grief. " " He is of few days and full of trouble.' " To-day, man lives in pleasure, wealth and piide ; To-morrow, poor, of life itself denied. To-day, lays plans for many years to come ; To-morrow, sinks into the silent tomb. To-day, his food is. dressed in dainty forms ; To-morrow, is himself a feast for worms. To-day, he's clad in gaudy, rich array ; To-morrow, shrouded for a bed of clay." 58 SUFFERINGS OP THE NEfiDY ; CHAPTER X. Land at Keokuk — lose boxes in River — Goods damaged Sarah Ann sick — start on foot to ^^o 30 miles — Sarnh Ann tires ont — stop at a farm Lou h-— John & William Abels go for friends — Ion- ly walk— mourning doves. On the first day of sixth month, 1850, we landed at Keokuk, Iowa, after a journey of twelve days. When the hands were unloading they dropped one of our boxes in the river. At Keokuk the current of the stream is quite swift, the box started off with the current and the crew made no attempt to stop it, but told me "to follow it if I wanted it." It was with some difficulty I persuaded them to pursue it, not until I had plainly told them I should not and the loss would be at then- expense. They thm followed it in a small boat, overtook it about half a mile down the stream and floated it ashore. This was a great damage to us. The goods nearly all spoiled ; they had watersoaked, and then standino- in iJie hot sun nnti] T rmilrl rrn « on A JOURNEY TO TIIK WEST. 59 to my friends and get their assistance, which took about four days, they heated and mildew- ed and nearly all spoiled. The works of the clock all fell to pieces, the glue was so soaked and softened ; the bedding and clothing were mildewe ' he hair came out of the Buffalo robe; th ble, wherever it was glued, came apart, the hinges rusted, spoihng it, &c. These necessary articles, which we had taken so much care to preserve and bring with us for use and comfort, being so needlessly damaged and many of them destroyed, was rather annoyino*. Perhaps some may ask why I did not over- haul the contents of the box and let the things dry. To this I answer : I was a stranger in a strange land, thirty miles from my friends, with- out money, without food for myself or those around me, my wife and child sick, and my- self and brothers-in-law half famished with hun- ger. I was also ignorant of the honesty of the people, and did not wish to open it and spread things out and leave them to dry. And in our sick and suffering conditon it would have been hard indeed to sit down and wait for any such All these combined had a very discour- ix.: 60 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY; aging effect on my mind, and I felt that they were of little consequence compared to some other privations. If I had not lent the before- mentioned ten dollars, I could have hired a team to convey us to our friends, but as it wajs there were no other means but to start on foot. We had gone about two miles when Sarah Ann, from weakness, hunger and fatigue, was unable to go any father. She sat down by the road- .side, weary, disconsolate and discouraged, while I began to look up some place, the residence of jsome person who would allow her to remain under their roof until I could get assistance. I went to a farm house near by and told them our condition, offering the farmer the two-dollar bill on a bad bank, which I still had. I told him it was good for nothing but that it was all I then had ; he accepted it and kindly allowed Barah Ann, Erwin, Johnson and myself to stay there until William Abels and John should go on to Daniel Slack's a cousin of mine, and get •ft. his team to carry us to his place. For the kindness and hospitality of the above mentioned farmer I shall ever feel grateful, and deeply regret liavnig forgotten his name. They •-III U ii'"» *-UIUi" on A JOUHaNfiY TO THE WkST. 61 were Methodists and very kind to us. It is quite a common thing to be refused admittance into many of these iarm hou^jCd on account oi the tide of emigration llowing westward so freely that they become tired of, and hardened to the repeated aohcitations for hospitable relief And maiiy of them absolutely refuse to shelter any person of this class as we afterwards learn- ed by experience, Sarah Ann recovered considerably while at this place, she could both eat and sleep only when disturbed by the babe, and her vigour seemed to be in a measure renewed. We walk- ed out one eveimig a short distance to a piece of woods to while away the hours and spend a short time m viewing and admiring whatever part of natures scenery we might behold. "Whilo slowly walking along in the shades of the grove our attention was suddenly attracted by a pe- culiar low mournful sound which we found to originate from a kind of bird called the mourn- ing dove, so named from the plaintive sadness of its notes. How often the instinctive creation seems to harmonize with the intellectual, and the natural plaintiveness of the one is strangely ^H StJFFEinNGfc^ OF THE nkedy ; congenial to the mental suffering of the other. Lonely and pensively we strayed Beneath the cool and verdant shade, At twilight's hallowed hour. Our thoughts in deep reflection bent, Upon the past in anguish spent, In care and toilsome hours. When hsrk ! as if by magic power, Over our heads in leafy bower, The lovely warbler stood ; She seemed to know our solemn thoughtif, That anxiously our minds were wrought, And joined our pensive mood. Her solemn strains were sweetly sung, Her notes congenial to our own, Adds to the lonely scene *, That loveliness which seems to flow, Through hearts desponding, near to woe, Though desolate they seem. A mourning dove, thou well art called, Thy notes in pity were extolled, In reverential awe ; ' Oh I who could slight thy mournful strain, Or hear thee tarn from thee again, "NVithout a solemn thought. oil A JorUNEY TU THE WEST. «:] CHAPTER XI. At Daniel Slacks — Iowa— j)midc flowors — herds ot Cattle — timber settlements— Builditags— Valley of Mississippi- its advantages — the tide of emigratioH*~Productioii8 of Iowa — fattened cattle. AVe were now in Iowa, the land where many of our friends and acquaintances had sought a home in order to increase their means and pos- session and *' to add field to field and house to house.^^ With our firiend Isaac Benedict who came for us with a team we i^eached the resi- dence of Daniel Slack, with him we stayed one week wliile I looked around for work and a house ; and had some chance through the course of the summer to become pretty well acc|uainted vnth a part of Iowa. The prairies in tlii^^ state are not as lovely as in some others, but a httle roUing or undula- ting, if the reader will allow liis imagination to go with me to the top of some eminence and take a view of the surrounding landscape, he Wui InriU u i;^iicr luuii i-i. mf:- ^^r-ii-rtt- ^1^,%.--. ^* 64 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY,' the country than in any other position in which he can be placed. On a bright clear day in summer he ^Till behold a beautiful and variega* ted scenery as far as the eye can extend. The surface is every where dotted with timber, herds of cattle and settlements. The woods or timber as it is called there, grows in groups sometimes covering many acres, while on all sides around is seen the beautiful prairie grass growing from two to three feet high, thickly aild richly varie- gated with flowers of every shade and colour, which for beauty and fragrance will compare with, if not surpass those cultivated and trained by the careful hand of the gardener. The even- ness 01 this rich carpet of nature is only here and there interrupted by herds of cattle, feeding in droves of perhaps hundreds, with a man or boy. on horseback near them whose* business is to keep them together, each drove by itself and if any show a disposition to stray from the rest the horseman will be seen riding around them and driving them back to the flock. They soon become so habituated to each other that they seldom give the owners any trouble in this res- pect. OK A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 65 Perhaps at no great distance from these may be seen a rude, temporary cabin, the residence of some new settler, with no fence to mark the boundary of his possessions save the tall floating grass. In another place may be seen a large en- closure containing many acres with a good orch- ard, frtiils of all kinds, and a neat> commodious iioust3 ; Viit what will seem sti^nge to Canadians, ho outbuildings. A barn is seldom seen there, the stables 'Are generally rail pens, laid up and C'dVered over^ and through the coldest part of the Winter the openings between the rails are filled with straw to keep out the wind. This is generally the kind of buildings in which their horses are win- tered. Their pig-sty is a building of the same cdnslruction without a cover. But in the build- ing of their houses they display a good deal of taste. A settlement of this description is gen'- erally the residence of an old settler. Agriculturists there do not divide their fajm« in fields, as in most countries. The first year a settler breaks up what land he can for a crop ^d fences it, the next year he breaks up more, and bv moving: the first fence and adding to it 'A/mm.kM ■n»> i in> ,.» ', . ^-wp ^' tt ' ^^ jaiiiw . . . • •• §6 SUFFERINGS OF THfi NEEDY; he encloses both m one lot, and so on nntil ho otlen has from fifty to two hundred>cres m one field. I have seen one field of a hundred and fifty acres, planted with corn, all rank and thrif- ty. Their method of cultivating corn is far eas- ier than that of Canada. They never hoe it, nor use a hoe in the field only to cover it when plant- ing. The ground is very clean and free from w^eds, neither tares nor thistles are seen spring- ing^up to choke the growth of the corn ; as soon as it is grown large enough they enter the field with a horse and cultivator and continue culti- vating it until it attains a size too large to work amongst any more. When it ripens they nevet cut it°as some may su >pose, but drive through the field with a team and wagon, pluck off the ears and leave the stalks for the cattle to pick over. Iowa is but a small part of the great Valley of the Mississippi, which embraces a large ex- tent of territory, watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries. This cftensive tract of lirid; which in size resembles a continent, is not easily feurpassea in richness of soil, variety of produc- fions, and ^eMetal adaiptation to the comfort and 0B 4 JOUBNEY TO THi: WEST- « mipport of civilized man. When we look over that immense region, connected by navigable rivers, and regard the fertility of its soil and the many advantages offered by nature, und com- bine them with the enterprising nature of the moral, energetic and active people who are spreading their increashig milUons over its sur* face, we see a ]^rospect opening to our view, not only of industy and virtue, but of ^rts m^ sciences, which the wildest iancy would not have dared to hope for, fifty years ago. ^ong the states possessing these advantages Iowa i& not the least, The tide of emigration i^ rapidly flowing there *, almost every day may be seen the Emigrants' train, consisting of their large covered wagons loaded with g:oods and fOTiilies, and closely behind are their cattle wearily trudging along to the place of their des- tination. When night appToaches they oamp upon the prairies, where they have abundance of food for horses and cattle ; their large covered wagon serves them far a house in^which they eat and sleep, and in this way they often go many days* journey quite comfortably, taking care i» ^UFl5^RlNa« OF THE NEjflDY 5 provide themselves witihi plenty of provi«on» when they start. The principal productions of Iowa are AYheat, Potatoes, Tobacco ajid Corn ; of the latter an im- mense quantity is raised yearly for the fattening of hogs and cattle, which are raised in great numbers for the eastern and southern marketa. It is not uncommon lor one wealthy farmer to own hundreds of these and from tlieir stock they realise most of their profit. They seldom raise grain for sale to any amount. Through the summer season their cattle and swine ar'e kept on the unbroken prairies, and consequently no expense ; towards fall, as soon as the corn crop is ripe, they begin to feed and fit them for Mar- ket. They generally sell all their stock to drov- ers, who take them by thousands to the eastern or southern markets. 'iTfiBSli im A JOt^RNfiY TO TUB WlB«Y. b^^ CHAPTER XII. Tobaccos-Sorghum — Minerals— Winters — Ravines Uiren •^Snakes. Tobacco is raised in great quantities and forms quite an article of commerce and exportation. The Tobacco worm makes serious ravages in a crop, if not closely watched, it works m the leaf of the plant and would soon destroy it if not taken out, it is often very annoying to tobac- co growers. Sarghum or Sorghum is raised in considerable quantities both for home consumption and ex- portation. The cultivation of the cane is simi- lar to that of corn, and the manufacture of the juice into molasses or sugar is also simple. The juice is pressed from the stallvs by passing them through between eylhiders of a simply construct- ed machine, and is then boiled down into thick syrup, which is not only pleasant but palatable having none of that strong, rank taste which most molasses, from southern marketBy has. 70 «UFFBRINa« OF THE NEEDY i Iowa has rich and extensive coal mines an4 some iron and lead. The winters are short compared with those of Canada, and very mild. They seldom begin to feed their winter stock until the first of twelfth mouth, and often begin to plough for spring crops the* last of second month. Their stock is le(} j.^ Winter on prairie grass cut and stacked after harvest. The surface of the prairies in some places is bjroken by ravines, supposed to have .been caus- ed by water which has at some distant period povered the surface of the country. These ra- vines vary from ten to fifty feet m depth, and also in ]tbe shape of their banks, some are cut down almost perpendicularly through the clay banks, and briars and gooseberries grow in them, others have sloping banks, which spread off, and are under cultivation. In the bottom of i^Q&t of these is a httle rivulet of water. There is something unusual in the formation of the rivers and their banks ; the beds of theni are a hundred feet or more below the level of H^p landscape. Near the edge of the yiver grow tip large thrifty tree^, which rist^ to the heio-ht ^ OB 'A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. n thS surrounding country and no higher; As yoft ascend the bank, which often has a slop* ot ha^- or three quarters of a mile, the trees grow short- er end shorter, and by the time you have gamed the edge of the prairie nothing but hazel brush is found, which m height does not exceed the gi-ass- thus leaving the face of the cb^ntry, to all appearance, smooth tod levfel; while perhaps apart of it is in reality the tops of trfees; The water in these rivers iS Sways muddy; caused by its running over clay beds ta^ wash- ing against the banks, which are also clay; There is a species of snake comition to the prairie, called " Prairie Rattle snake," and an^' er which lives in the woods, called " Timber Ra^ Ue snake." The former kind I have seen; they grow about the length of the Canadian streaked Lake, better known as the " Garter snake but are thicker. A large one is twice as thick as a garter snake and of a brown color. A friend Ld I while crossiflg the prairies caught one and held it fast with a stick and teased it to see ite mode of biting and in what manner it would de- fend itself. It had the power of throwing the tot> part of its head or upper jaw back on its ■72 SUFFERINGS OS THJE KEEDY ; neck, as if it were on hinges ; in this jaw were fangs or hooks, it would draw itself back then spring throw ingf its head forward and striking the stick, at the same time bringing down ite upper jaw with force and depositing a green saliva up6n it at each stroke. This no doubt is the substance wkicli when infused m the flesh of man or beast is so poisonous. I have not the least doubt but the strokes he made with the help of his fangs would have made an incisibii in flesh. We had both been told that hogs were fond of them and would eat them as gieedily as un ear of corn. This statement I now doubt very much, for while we were teasing it, we saw a drove of hogs coming directly towards us, thinking this a good time to try the truth of the assertion and prove it for our own satisfaction, we stunned the reptile so it could not crawl away into the grass and leaving it in the patk where the hogs would pass, stepped a httle one side and watched their movements. The fore- most approached within a few feet, stopped sud- denly, uttered a low squeal, turned out of Uie path and walked around it ; the second did like- wise, and thus the whole drove passed by ; none ''m (m A JOUKNEY TO THE WEOT. T$ showing any disposition to touch it, but all to shun it. I think if we had placed an ear of com in the path the result would have been quite dif- ferent. This snake had six rattles on it. I never saw any of the jtlier kind of the timber rattle^ snake, but have been cold they gp-ow to a much larger size, and are far more to be dreaded^ tihau the former. Neither kind were numerous in tho southern part of Iowa. Another kind called *^ jointed snake" had many singular stories iji^ circulation about it, but this I never Jiad the pleasure of seeing. Another called the " Blue racer," I have seen I once bound up a sheaf of wheat withione in it; they are a harmless inof- fensive but very quick motioned snake, of a bluish colour and quite long and slendej. II I — •iiiilTigl 74 SUFFEEING6 OK TUB NEBUr; CHAPTER XIII. HuntiDg the prairie Chickens — use of a dog — settlers of lowii — Yunkees — Hoosierfs — Buck eyc« — Caiiucka. Hunting the prairie Chickens is a favorite amusement. In shap'j and colour they resemble a partridge but are ahttle larger in size. They live on the prairies and feed on seed of different kinds and grain, occasionally visiting a v^heat or corn field. Their flesh in colour and flavour very much resembles that of the common do- mestic fowl. They go in flocks, ai d are very quick on the w^ing. Early in the morning a ilpc]^ pf these fowls w^ill set up a crowmg or drumming AiVhich sounds like distant thunder, and is often taken for that by new settlers or those unaoquainted with them. but caring Httle about their dress and nothing about possessing gay clothes, fine horses or carriages as in the eastern States and Canada. Only so they have enough to eat and clothing to make them comfortable they seem to be con- l-^ited if their po8«fHssion or money is increamiim oil A ^^ournby to tub WeWS. n Of course there are exceptions to this rule as to all others, but taking them generally speaking^ they have so imbibed each others habits as to become pretty much the same in these respects. Those settlers who are from New York or the New England states are designated from the rest by the sobriquet of Yankees or Bluo- bcUies. Thoso from the state of Indiana are called Hoosiers. Those from Ohio are called Buck-eyes, and those from Canada are termed Canucks. There are also English, Irish, Scotch, Dutch* Norwegians &c. t-^j- •nsmmiMsesmn^^m^miA'ic^iijm, ^ , '.nmm-Ksis^^^^i ^ SUFFEBINOS OF THE NueDT; CHAPTER XIV. At Daniel l^llacks — Oanncla boys — Bine Racer — Old Log Houae— Public square — Salem— one chair — make bedstead — Thttfider Storms. Careworn, fatigued and weary, Engaged in slavish toil; The hourg pass off, though dreary, Upon the western soil. We stayed at Daiiiel Slack's about a we^k Sarah Ann §ewed some for them and they gave her soitte soft soap. Erw in was still sick with ttie same complaint. William Abels, John A; Brewer and myself hired to a farmer by the name of Fisher ; he also hired two more Cana- dians, making in all live Canada boys who werS in his employ at the same tilne. He geeiti^d to place implicit confidence in us, we c<>uld not get him to go into the field to see what we were doing or whether our work w-as done satisfactory to him. His answer generally was when reques* ♦ftr! im OTA mif wifh no a T rtrvi v»^4- ^^^^:3 ^r xi-^ OB A jrOURN TO TliJfi WkStT. T9 Canada boys, I'll i Lk but what you will do the ^qrk right enough " Farmers there wall al- ^^ays ture a Canadian if they can get one, they are considered more faithful, trusty and willing tp work than mpst any other class of people there and understand farming better. While binding oats for Fisher I tied up in a sheaf a snake called a bhie racer, which I mentioned in the preceeding pages ; this was the first rep- tile of this kind I ever sa\v. After looking around for a house I at length found one, a mis- erable old log house situated about a mile frcwn the road out on the prairie, and within seven or eight miles of Salem village ; there we took mx things what few we had, and spent a lew days until I could get a better place. We were now living by ourselves after being tossed aud c^t around by being homeless for nearly four w^ks inchiding the time spent in our journey, and glad were we to think w^e were once more by ourselves, notwithstanding the miserable tene- ment in which we lived. The first meal we ate in this house was very plam and humble, consisting of nothing whatever but cakes made ot tiour ana w^ater niixeu luiu uus^^k^ i^x » j..j^^^ pan by the fire without salt, soda or shortening, and for sauce we had gooseberries which we picked in the timber near the prairies, stewed W^ithout sugar. This house was alive with mice if I may use the term ; they had possession first, and therefore were the lawful owners or occupants. We did not stay there long, I soon got another house in the -village of Salem, and with Daniel Slack's ox team we moved there. In the centre of almost all the western townSj^ which are regularly laid out, 13 a pubhc square, ooutaining an acre or more of gr :<—. ^W M—— IWll IIIIIWIIIII l»HI'l» H ■UFFKKIA-GS OP THE WEKDrj CHAPTER XV. eet-srne woo,n«n» ,fi:. ^ ^^ ^"'' Circumstances— La colt, tt'rar-iXTtr<;»"ir''" *" •'""—over. * My first work after laoving to Salem was to ge firewood, I fortunately got the opportunity of cutting some to the halves, Johnson mA I bor^ rowed a team ai«i went to tin* timber to work It was an exces^re warm day and we nearly melted onrselres and team, the perspiration flowed freely and when the horses were stand- mgqxmHj in the shade the drops of sweat would trickle down their bodies and drop ofF- ther». seemed to be not a breath of air stirring 'in the woods, making the hot beaming rays of the sun fall upon us with more farce than if we were out on the prairie. My firewood obtained, I had to get some flour ais I was enabled to do by plowing a few day« for a man who piad me the money, Flour was Y ; although he needed the help very much. He told me I need not expect to work much that season that I must be naturalized to the climate, and be very careful about drinking freely of cold water when warm, as many die there from so doing when they are overheated. OB A JOURNeT to the WEST. 89 CHAPTER XVI. Discourajjed— John A. helps us — ^rets winrlows — trade my wauh i'ora stove—cKgs— ^o to Isaac Bunedict — watcrmel- ons— fruit. " Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse iu his ways, though he he rich." Proverbs XXVIl. 6. I becam:^ very much discouraged there being so many things wiiich we actually stood in need of, and no way to get them but by work and this I could not do enough of to begin to supj^ort us, Sarah Ann's health was still poor^ Erwin was no better oi his complaint, all combined had a tendency often to depress my spirits. If I had been accustomed to the climat(^ so i could work or if I had had the worth of my property tvhich I left ni Leeds I would have had no difficulty ill getting along comfortably ; and when a man is once started in that country he can earn his living and accumulate wealth with far more ease and in less time than he could in Canada. John helped us some ^th his \rages, he became M ilU>FlRINaS OF THE NEEDY; i^iimi^ SO ashamed of our old house without wfaidows that he bought some and put them iii, I traded my watch for a small tookmg stove. We had to part with a number of our things in order to get provisions and other things which we needed ind had to have. Eggs were very cheap,only four cents a dozen; inost farmers keep a large number of fowls, and fe"ed them well and get many eggs. One day I brought some home thinking we would have quite a feast, Sarah Ann cooked them nicely and taking them to the table accidentally caught her toe against one of the pieces of the puncheon floor and fell, throwmg the soft cooked eggs against the side of the house and upon the door where they drained down in golden stripes to the floor ; thus our anticipated repast was quick- ly yet to me amusingly ended. She felt cast down on account of the misfortune, but I could not re* frain from laughing at the movement. About this time we received a pressing invi» tation to go to Isaac Benedict's which we accep- ted, this was about the only place Sarah Ann weni while we were in Salem. They treated fis with watermelons which for size and rkdr. OR A JOURNEY TO THE \TEST. ©f ness of flavour I have never seen any thuig pf the kind to compare. We helped them to eai one which weighed twenty one pounds. Almost all kinds of fruit are easily cultivated i'l Iowa, grapes all kinds, peaches, plums, pears, apples, currents, gooseberries &c. &c., They have a greater variety and better qual- ity of these different kinds than in Canada owing to the stronger soil and warmer clin^ate. I have seen large thrifty hops growing wild in the woods or timber as it is called there. There is also a Idnd pf apple which grows spontaneous they arc of a small size but are gathered and used by the poorer class who have^ no orchards of their own. 1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I l^m 12.5 ■^ 1^ III 2.2 12.0 Its lAO 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" — ^ — ^ ■5 '?,. ^ ^ ^.^* ■^ Photographic Sciaices Corporation 23 VtcST mAiN ST"ee:T WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)873-4503 N'^ ^V ^ \^ ^^ 6^ rv 'ib^ I m SrrFVESINCJ* OF TltE KEEDY ; CHAPTEE XVII. 0et a letter from home — want to go bnck to Leeds — Sarab Ann unwilling— <;on8ents — makes preptvrations for starting. ^s cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a hr pountry. Fioverbs XXV. 25. A few days after we were to our friend Isaac Benedicts I received a letter from my father in Farmersville. He gave a statement of the abun* dance of everything in the shape of potatoes* vegetables, houey, fruits &c, which he had, also good crops and high prices in general; with m^ny pleas^ntsce^es they were enjoying and closed by urging me to return oflfering to share with me in his abundance of provision if I would come back. This had a tendency to make me look homeward, when I considered that in my father's house was plenty and to spare and we were almost sufferinjj with hunger. I^began to think I could do better among my friew4» and old acquaintances and in my own elrm^ and talk^ at times pretty strong aSwt pit X journbt to the vte^t. B% sorting, but Sarah Ann rather opposed me, she was unwilling after suftering so much while going, to star^ on a journey equally as trying if not more so, in so short a time utter ; she had drank of the bitter dregs of poverty and would rather than encounter the same privations again 38tay whexe she was. The more I thought of it the stronger grew any resolution to return and findhig 1 would not be satisfied without, she consented and I began to make the necessary arrangements for a joui'uej we thought we knew something about, but time taught us we did not A:now all about it if I had retoaaincd where I was until the weather be- gan to get cooler and instead of coming back to Canada wrote for my lather to sell my place, there and remit the money to me; I have no doubt but I should have been there ixt the pre* sent time ; but I suppose I was homesic/i; and had miade up my mind to go and go I must. I sold the stove, dishes, gun and several other small articles for the money which widi the help of the ten doll^^rs I had lent to Benjamin Firman when going and which I expected to jget when I TC!»/'^ed Chicago I thought I had me^ne suifr 1 > «Sp^^ ^ oient to pay my own and SarajgVnn's expense* home, John kad saved enough of his wages to pay his and Johnson's fare through. We again packed our boxes and made pre- parations for leaving Salem, although we did not kvpw then as we] should ever^again see this pleasant village (or town as it is now) agaitt we had not that painful sensation in our. "bo- som which we had on Ipjm'ng Farmersvflfe Our httle boy was dwindled away to a mere skeleton and did not look much like startinir on so long a jouniey, . SLges pre- did see ibo- aere •ting "T tijt^ rm MissiriAippi-— -Laseile — Rain, Canal breaks unload — - BridgQtj, GJB.nHl breaks — go to Chicago on foot — wadf-^l Ilfinoig. ^ la iiintk laojonth 1850 we started for Canada Eaving the <50mi)any of Sophia Slack, wife of iHeiiry Slack; they had emigrated to the wes- tern states fix>m Canada and not doing as well as lie anticipated concluded to leave her there and go oii to California. She did not like the country Mud was lonesome and very anxibus to get back 'JKB^nghicr friends. She had one child about me same age of olirs, and sick with the same '^raplaint: r frieiids carried us and out goods out to Whiie going we could see the Mor- iMii Temple at Nawvoo on the other side of the river. We were some distance from it but could plainly see it was a building of a stately «pppearance, and built of stone, It was in immi- tatioh of Solomon's Temple ; and stood ^twelve 96 StiFfEllLvoS OF THE NEEDY; n oxen cut out of the solid rock, six on each side with their heads and necks out. It was four storeys high w t'l aplain roof and contained neith* er steeple or tower. The windows were broken and shattered which showed the effects of the enraged mob who had left it a ruin. We saw the window in the upper story from which Joe Smith their leader was shot by one of the infuri- ated mob. The people of Illinois left them unmolested for a time until their plundenngs and impositions become so frequent and numerous they could indure it no longer. They call themselves the Lord's people and proclaim in the language of DaT-d that " The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world and they ihat dwell therein." On this ground they claimed every thing as theirs which they choose to possess. They did not hesitate in ta/dng anything however valuable 'either boldly or by plunder and stealth. The property of all the members is cast in to one com- mon treasury and all considered as common stocA and the more valuables they gain by plunde!!^ the mori^ that treasury is increased. Oil A journeV to the west. 91 The inliabitants of the state became so enrag- ed and exasperated on beholding so much of their property grasped from their hands and no way of recovering it but by force ; and also en- raged at the repeated treacheries and impositions practised by Joe Smith, in order to confirm to the world that he was the " True Prophet of the Lord," that they could endure it no longer, although their city, Nawvoo was neatly laid out on an inchned plain, on the eastern shore of the Mississippi Eiver where they had expended a great amount of money. The temple was a little farther up the plain on a slight eminence near the suburbs of the city, and was by them intended for their city and emporium. But the people of the state raised a strong and infuriated mob whom they with all their num- bers were not able to withstand. They had be- come fully determined to drive them from the state and kept up that resolution until they suc- ceeded and now scarcely a Morman is to be found this side of their grand retreat in Utah. At Keokuk we took the boat for Lasalle on the Illinois liiver, and bade adieu for a while to Iowa. There Mas considerable opp<*>rition »8 SUFFfilllXas OF THE nebdy; between the steamers going down the Mississippi they run on strife. The firemen would dip the sticks of cord wood into barrels of tar and throw them into the furnace, causing- the thick black smoke to rush furiously from the pipes, and the flames to shoot back from the furnace presenting 9. scene almost frightful. In many places along the river the banks are bold and of hard clay ; the vessels had many stopping places where there were no wharves, they would run up close to the bank, throw out 9, plank and the passengers would rush off or on 9fS the c^e might be; the mail bag was thrown on shore and as 'quickly returned, all without entirely stopping the vessel. "VYe were but a short time going down the river. The water was high at this time, so the boats could run up the Illinois Eiver as far as Lasalle, which w^e reached in the afternoon of the next day, where w^e had to wait until midnight for the canal boat. It was a cold, chilly, raining afternoon and iiighi After our goods were unloaded on the bank of the river, we left them and went into a private house out of the wet and cold and staid until night ; they could not keep us all night OK A. JOUKNeY to Tilt; WkST. na and would not grant ns the privilego of sleep- ing on the floor, as we had bedding of our own to make us comfortable, so we went back to our boxes, and John and I started to look for lodg- ing, leaving the women and Johnson sitting in the rain. Of course there were public houses but I had not the means to spare and as we had our bedding with us, we thought surely we could find persons who would allow us to lie on the floor, but we found many, very many who turned us away with a cold and blunt refusal and it was not rntil about ten o'clock that we succeeded in finding a dwelhng whose inmates granted this privilege to the women and John- son. We hastened back finding them, very wet and cold sitting on the bank, each one bent over her sick child trying to keep the little suflerers dry and warm, for it was still raining. We took enough bedding from oar boxes to miake them comlbrtable and went with them to the house where they remained until morning. John and I went again to the river and remained by our goods until midnight when the canal boat arriv- ed w^here it remained until morning. AVe took X)ur luggage on board and with some more quilt» m P 100 (i:- J' SIFFKKIXGS OF THE .S'liiiDY ; wrapped ovirselves up for the remainder^'of the night. The next mornnig we got the women and children on board safely and the boat bound for Cliieago, we began to hope for better success, as hope it is said never dies ; but with us it was disappointed ibr we had travelled but half a day wh^en w^e came to a break in the canal caused by the high water. All the boats had now to unload their cargo and we with the rest were set ashore about two miles from a small town? where the company had carriages and coaches in waitnig, to convey passengers and freight to this town. We got our goods, and the women, on one waggon, their seats were very high be- nig up on the boxes ■; the roads rough, and many dangerous shiice-ways cut through them by the water which had over-flowed the road. While crossing one of these Sophia Slack w^as thrown from her seat and badJy hurt, she was taken up for dead, but after a little consciousness was res- tored, and she rode on to the town^ where w^e were detained half a day, waiting ibr the freight to be conveyed f ;om the pi ice where it was left on shore, to the other boat. 1 cannot recollect the name of this town, I »! ■!•■■ OR A jmniNEY TO thk west. 10 1 ^ *ocured some medicino thoro for Sox^liia vSlack^ whe was considembiy injured but soon re- covered. Once loaded on board a^'ain, nothin<:2: iurthot obs ructed our passage until within sixteen miles oi CJhicago. By this time the water had raised so high it was impossible for the boat to pas^ under the bridges aud the word came from to- wards Chicago that the Canal had broken away. We were now in a worse position than before, to remain oa the boat upon expenses until the Canal was repaired I could not think of doing for I Inld not the money to spare, moreover they might be at least a week in repairing it, and I thought Sarah Ann was not able to go to Chicago on foot and for a time did not know what course to pursue, but she concluded to try to walk ; we therefore left our goods on board and Sophia Slack also, she was unable to travel with us on account of the injury sustained by the fail, and started for Chicago. The main road we were in» formed was so ov^erilowed that the water would run into the wag'oil boxes, on this account we had to go some distance out of our way to get around it. "We travelled until night over five or liBiii I' 102 «UKFKULVs'GS OF THE JS'EEDY; ti CHAPTER XIX. ^%'T.Z^rv ^•°"''«" "'"-•'• Nichol's-E. Firman's- «d\^co° '"'"' "°''"' ^"^ '"■" "'■ '° ^'^' recover- A friend we find whose ample store ' Is freely shared hy sick and poor May God his bounty bless. Chicago is a very stirring ambitious and' en- terprising city. WeleftSaralaAnn ata board- ing house and Johnson, John and I went to see about the cars, and then spent a few hours in looking around the town, and did not get back until about three o'clock in the afternoon. We found Sarah Ann had spent the time very lonely indeed during our absence, she did not expect to be gone but a few minutes, and had become so excited about our long absence that she was ready to starf out to look for us when we re- turned. We tool; the cars ;md ^vont to Cottage Hill (|( MwMHAHIiltaaa OR A JUUnXEY TO THE WEST. 105 where a friend of ours lived named John Nich- ols, with him we spent four days and then went on to Benjamin Fenian's a distance of twelve miles and walked the other six on the car track. We stayed at Firman's one day and two nights ; he had no money for me and I had to return w^ithout it. I now felt rather straightened in my circumstances, we were a long way from home and a small amount of money in my pos- session to take us through so long a journey, Benjamin Firman told us, if we had to wait long for the Canal to be rebuilt to stop at John Ni- chols, and he would pay him for our board. We walked from Fireman's back to Cottage Hill on the railroad. We stopped on our road and took tea with a former acquaintance of mine, w^ho worked at my father's when young before her marriage, her maiden name was' Elizabeth Canada ; her present name I cannot remember. She appeared very glad to see us, and we were also pleased to see her, or any oth-, er Ibrmer acquaintance at tliat time. To even meet with a person from C'anada seemed liivc me-ting a brother or sister, Elizabeth gave Ervvin some Cherries to eat, which irritated his i06 ' n SUFFEEINGS OF THK NEEDY ; complaint and he was taken worse in a very short time, and before we reached John Nichols he was very bad, nothing but fresh blood passed his bowels. The symptoms were alarming all that night and the next day until about noon. That night we gave up all hopes of his recovery we had previous to this hoped that he would get better although he was reduced to a mere skele- ton and had been very sick many times. But now all hopes fled and we felt that we must lay our darling child beneath the clods of the wes- tern vallev. With what hopeless anxious hearts we bent over the little sufferer none but parents can tell, who have passec' fhrough the same trials. You gentle readers who have spent hours of anguish and deep solicitude over the dying form of a be- loved oifspring, who have watched with aching hearts, the little innocent sufl^rer as it struo-o-led with life, who have caught every motion and tone with feehngs of earnest desire to comfort and relieve, and if it were possible to bear the pain yourselves ;— You only can know how we felt and sympathize with our feelino-s for through the livelong night it seemed as if every 111 0« A JOURNEY TO THE WEST 107 ( breath was the last and once he appeared en* tirely gone. That night we wept the bitter tears of sorrow and bereavement, for strangers as we were, in a strange land and our only child about leaving us, as we thought, and entering the spirit world called forth the scalding tear. But Providence who is ever kind and sees not as man sees had decreed it otherwise. When morning arrived and he was still alive we be- gan again to hope, I went seven miles across the prairie on foot to a Physician for medicine for him, which we gave liim, and in about two hours after the symptoms appeared more favour- able and it was soon evident there was a change for the better ; he began to recover and at the expiration of three days we ventured to again resume our journey with him although he was very weak and feeble. And now my son, thou art fast approaching the age of manhood. Sixteen years, have thus quickly rolled over thy head and mine, thou Will soon enter upon the stage of action if life is spared thee, from which I shall at the longest in a few fleeting year takes my exit. Q'hou wilt .soon enter into a world of selfishness and deceit, I 1 I 108 SUFyEKL\(;t5 OF THE NEEOY of toils and cares ; although the gilded \vith splendor and ness, yet in the enjoyment of them th achuig void which scenes may be dazzle with bricht- ere is an can only be filled by the presence of the love of God. When in maturer years thou wilt glance over these pages think of the many davs and hours c f deep sohcitude and of anxious "care we have spent on thy behalf, the reality of which thcu canst never fully appreciate unless like us thou art placed m the same condition. I wf "'t"*^^« J^^'^i"^ ^vcre years, of suffering, but thy hie was mercifully preserved by the hand ot Him who is too wise to err, too good to be miknid. He had an allwise design in prolono-. mg thy life, and for His mercies canst thou fnhy repay Him ? No my dear son ? a hTe of dedicated obedience and unreserved submission to His will, will rep.y thy God for all His bene- hts 1 hou mayest not now fully appreciate this bu I believe the time will come, when thou wilt be able, and Oh ! mayest thou be willing to let thy light so shine before men that they seeing thy good works, will have cause to glorl^ ^7 their Father Avhich is in Heaven. " Kemcm- jy be )right- is an y the J over urs cf have thcu thou ■ling, ■ tbo to be ono'- thou feof jsion >e]ir- this hou ling hey lori- OR A JOUKNIY TO THE WEST. 109 ber now thy Greater in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, or the years draw nigh, when thou ehalt say, I have no pleasure in them.' Yes my son, while thy mind is young and tender and susceptible of good impressions be wise and firm in thy choice, and come to the good resolution to " Let others do as they may as for thee and thy house they A^dll serve the Lord." Thus thou wilt not only be a comfort and support to our dechning years, but serve as a gentle monitor to thy dear brothers and sisters. The weapon of thy warfare, the word of the spirit will enable thee to press thy way through the turmoils of hfe, and to stand firm in the front of the Battle, till Satan and his host \yith all their ghttermg array, will fall back and let thee pass unmolested hito the peace prepared for the children ot God. 110 8UF •TkRIXGS of the NEEDY; CHAPTER XX. "^ and rjol *h " •T'''r ^"T" *° set provisioBs-Johu and I go t<» the .nty to see about otir Jfoods—Havstack KambHnT .Ij, .""J ^°'"''-fiddliag and dancing- l^amonng—grcy headed veterans. "While at John Nichol,s after Erwin began to recover, I chopped wood for a widow woman near by named Pbebe Herrington and got pro- visions to take with us on our journey. This woman afterwards moved to Canada and she and my father were married. It wiU be re- membered that my own mother died about a week before we started for the West I Httle thought when working for her that she would ever be my stepmother. But time works many changes. •' I was anxious to get home and not knowing whether the Canal was repaired so the boate could come to Chicago with our boxes or not ffohn and I thought best to go and see • we left '« tjaasK?'*! •p OR A JOXJKNeY to the WfisT. Ill — John itack — 8 on to icing — an to >nian : pro- This she ^ .re- >ut a little ould lany niig oats not, Mi S irah Ann and Johnson at NichoFs and went on foot, when near the city night was coming on, and we again tried as we had done many times before, though not in this place to get into some person's house but they all refused us the floor and we concluded we should have to spend the night in some hay which was cut and put up along the road, we thought of carry- ing some of the haycocks together and so make ourselves a couch for the night ; but this when we considered a little we dare not do, on account of the rattlesnakes which we had been informed were numerous there. We walked along a Uttle distance and discovered a large haystack to this we went and found it to be old hay cut the year before and in this we thought there w^ould be no danger of snakes ; there were holes eaten in the side by the cattle, we pulled out more hay and made the place large enough for both of us to He in, and in this berth we spent the night but did not sleep much on account of the barking of a large dog, at a house near by, which he kept up all night at intervals and several times we thought he was coming to us, he seemed aware there were stragglers not far off. 1 1-2 aVFVEUlSas OF THE NEKDr ; The next morning at break ofday we crawled Sm r""r'"f '"''"^° ^"'^^^ ^'^-t came i^^^r'^ then taking a circular course a large tavern when we saw it by daylight. After gettmg something to eat at a grocery we proceeded to see about our boxes and found they had arrived safeiy. Our next businessT^ that I should be very cautious, and buy a ticket at the lowest possible rate for aU the mtty John and I had between us was but twXe dollars^ a„d four of u« on the Western side of Lake Michigan wishing to go pretty weU to the ^^tern part of Upper Canada, with two kr^e boxes and a barrei to pay freight on. DoubtM and dismal as the prospect lodged I set mv 1^ to wo k , ^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ -t mysd^ toi me, at this time there was great strife and ' competition between vessels on fte Lat and ;t; et;r "" """• ^'''^ -kingthenees saiy enquiries concerning the Cars and steamers I found I could go the cheapest by water and *R A JOtTRN-KT TO THR WE?'f. US succeeded in getting a ticket for four of us and our luggage from Chicngo to Bullklo, bv way of Mackinaw a distance of eleven hundred miles for the small sum often dollars, on the stt u ner " Empire State." We then returned to John Nxchol's and the next morning took the ears for Chicago, and when once there soon found our way on the abo^-^ montioned steamer, and star- ted on the northern route through the straits feophia Slack had gone on to Canada and we saw no more of her for some time after ; her child died in a few weeks after she arrived.' In course of time her husband returned from Cali- fornia and they are now living in the County of Perth C. W. The first place wo called at after startin«- on Lake Michigan was Milwaukee. At M^cld- naw I saw the largest salmon that I ever beheld it was brought to the boat on a wheelbarrow and as they wheeled it along the tail dragged on the ground, this may seem almost incredible or too extraordinary and improbabla to admit of belief but It IS true, there were many others who saw It besides myself. Oa the wharf at Milwaukee were some old f 114 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY J acquaintances from Canada who appeared as glad to see us as we were to see them, and en- joyed the time we were there m social conver- sation. The first night we spent oi. "* lard was one of some confusion to us until about midnight : there was fiddling and dancing in one part, and the card table surrounded by old grey head- ed veterans and the unwary y©uths in anoth- er ; youths whose all perhaps was staked at that infamous game, I say all, for it is not wealth alone that is lost in this bewitching game but many a noble, promising joutti, the pride and joy of his parents, and the hope of society ha» been totally wrecked both soul and body, by being drawn into the gambler's snares. The snbtle artfiil adept will coil as it were around the Toinconscioiis and trusting man until he has him wholly hi his power^ and then game after game robs him of his treasure, and he thus ex- asperated rushes headlong into the sinks of de- gradation, ruin and disgrace. Many times through intemperance resorted to in his last days, dies a miserable and hopeless death. This work may fall into the hands of some who ^' OR A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 115 ^ "Stand on a dangerous precii)ice, who would fall over the brmk into utter ruin by one more sUght mistep, \f so, be advised to retrace all for- mer steps and reform, venture no more on the edge of the precipice, retreat from it. Never be tempted under any consideration to again approach the dread abyss for if once thy frail bark is overbalanced, great and irreparable will be thy loss. I llfi SLTFKHUVGB (>K THE VEEDT ; CHAPTER XXL All quiet— Boat U'«is— Sarah Ann gets up — no Fatisfaction —6 feet Gf water in hold—out of sightof land-— meditatioii — Straits of Mackinaw. At about twelve o'clock this company retired for the night leaving a little quiet on board ex- cept the usual clattering of steamers, Sarah Ann was up about one o'clock with the b;ibe, every thing scorned so uimsually quiet she felt impres- sed with the feeling that semething was wrong, and went upstairs ; ilie engineer sat in his room reading in the bible ; she felt that this w-as a signal of something wrong ibr he was a rough man ; and enquired if " any thing was the mat- ter ;" ho answered no, and told her she had bet- ter go back down stairs ; he spoke calmly and unconcerned ; but this did not satisfy her, she stepped along and looked down into the hold* and saw all hands busily eng^aged, the shavings OH .V JOURNEY TO THE WEST, 117 were flying but not a word spokoii aloud ; she then went back to the cabm. Next morning- wo learned that the vessel had sprung a leak and it wa? with groat difliculty they succeeded in stopping it, The engineer told us when Sarah Ann was up there was thon six feet of water in the hold and he was afraid if he told her what was the matter, she would , alarm the rest of the passengers. This morning we were out of sight of land, nothing but the blue and broad expanse of wa- ter coidd be seen on either side. It was very still and the waters calm ; I went on deck as the first beams of the rising sun were visible in the eastern horizon. The beauty of his rays \ reflected in the smooth and glassy surface of the broad expansive lake, the grandeur and great- ness mingled with the .solemnity which seem to shroud the scene, called forth all the ];)owers of raLcditation and praise and I was led to consider the weakness and nothnigness of man and his w^orks compared with the mighty works of jiature's GckI. J ii ih 118 SUFFERINGS OF THE NfiEDY; There we were on a fabric fashioned and formed by man riding oyer the far extended ele- ment of four hundred miles in length and 100 in breadth, and all feehng a degree of safety and and security, when at the same time He who spake all things into existence could have in a moment summoned us all before his tribunal. The language of my soul was with one formerly '* What is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou visitest him ?" " Great and marvelous are thy works and thy ways past finding out." How much we find to admire and adore in beauties of creation ; when the soul is led by the gentle spirit of the Lord and filled with a portion of His love, it can truly and sincerely glorify and praise the wisdom and beauty it beholds in the works of His holy hand. We passed through the straits of Mackinaw on the following night and I had not the plea- sure of beholding that scenery. The village of Mackinaw is situated on the eastern side of the Straits on an Island of the same name. It is a military post of the United States oonimande4 on A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 119 by a fort on a lofty bluff. Below this is the vil- lage near the shore consisting of many wooden houses, and Indian Tents. The red men assem- ble there once a year to receive the government annuitv from the United States. i m }!» 1 ti 120 SUFl-'EUINGS OF THK N';eDV J V : I CHArXER XXII. Lake Huron District — Kiver St. Clair— Lake St. Clair Detroit — Lak(^ Erir — harbors — Navigation — advautageg. From Mackinaw wo sailed in a soiitherlv di- rection through Lake Huron which is about threo hundred miles in length. The western or American shore does not present as line a por- tion of countrjr as the eastern or Canadian. The old Huron District is a very fertile and well watered tract of land. Greographer« think that at no very distant period it has been overflow- ed with Water. There are ridges of gravel and stone rolled together ni the water till rounded, running from South west to North east, showing that the waters have passed off and ]eft the land dry- Th t i V^if SUFFERINGS OF THE NEK'Dr ;' time a more terrific thunder storm, I never saw,- flash after flash succeeded by cracklmg peals of thunder rent the air and it seemed as if the very- elements were contending for superiority. The lightning struck in three different places in the city, but no person got injured that we heard of. I liave often noticed how m,an with all his boasted skill and would be importance settles down in quiet at the approach of a thun- der storm ; when the elements arise in glory to their maker and utter forth their reverberant and doleful^ yet mighty sounds of praise, man is hushed ; his original greatness sinks into noth- ingness in his own estimation and he feels of himself that he can do nothinsr. IIow often the stout hearted who (if we judge from appearance) would confront even death itself without a fear, who would rush madly into the very face of danger and death, and who would risk Ufe and property if necessary in some great and hazordous undertaking that their natnesF might sound loudly in the annals oi' time, how often these quell down in silence with all the pallor of fear depicted on their countenances ^t the approach of a storm whose lightnmgs play around them as if to mock their timidity. oil A JOURNEY TO THE WDST. 127 From Toronto we proceeded down the Lake calling at the intermediate ports which all pre- sented active and progressive scenery. We soon found ourselves entering the lliver St. Lawrence over whose waters we sailed a little more than three months before with somewhat different feeling from those we experienced upon enterinu' them ao-ain. The Lake of a Thousand Isles,, the swiftly flowing current, the banks of the river, and above all the familiar town of Brockville soon appeared in view, where were iriends and neighbors who carried usjto the resi- dence of our friend Philip Wings ; his wife Phebc was a kind and excellent nurse and under her care and attention Sarah Ann and Erwin both recovered a good deal. They staid tuere two or three weeks and I began to get things together to keep house with again. How natural aud pleasant did this place look I our quiet little home, although the door wa^i hid from view by the thrifty overgrown weeds which had been unmolested and undisturbed until they had attained a height which exceeded that of myself, yet there was that pleasautu^»&-^ ■ n 128 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY ; about this familiar spot, which had not designa- * ted any we had seen for the past season. After mowing- away the weeds I entered tho house, there stood the stove and the chairs as we left them, ready to 2/;elcome us back. OR A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 12a iigna- i tho rs as CHAPTEE XXIV. Father gives us provisions — better tabic than ia Iowa — one visitor — John A. Brewer came home — goat the btacksmith trade — buy the old homestead — go back to Iowa and buy land — Johnson B ewer Senr. moves to Bloomfield — Sell to John Chamberluin— we move to Bloomfield — work at the Carpenter's trade— buy a farm, upon it I still reside. Father, according as he wrote, gave us quite a start towards Uving again ; a waggon load of potatoes, some honey, meat, flour &c. And when we went to keeping house we were pre- pared to spread such a table as we had not been able to do while in the wesc ; for we never had meat or potatoes when there, but for one meal. And such delicacies as milk, butter, tea, sugar, fruit or garden vegetables of any kind never decked our table. The reader will very natur- ally ask what we lived on ; simply warm cakes mixed up with cold water and a httle salt and baked in a frying pan, and West India Molasses, and once in a while some eggs, which as I have before stated vvere very cheap. 130 SUFFERINGS OF THE KeeDY 1 was away from liomo a good deal of the me and then of courso I fared well enouffh,but Sarah Ann Avas unw^illing to leave home and therefore seldom ato anything but the above. She never had but one visitor while in Salem which pleased her well, for she was very un- willhig any person should know our reduced circumstances, and would often say to me "if any person should come here what in the world would I iix lor them to eat." But now this fear did not trouble her, she was willing to go and receive company. About a month after we were settled in our home who should walk in one day but John A. Brewer whom we left at Butlalo. It was difficult to tell which was the most pleased,he or Sarah Ann. His father and mother })enig from home he stayed with us until the next spring in fourth month when they returned. Having brought my blacksmith tools home \A'ith me I concluded to go at my old trade and worked a^Yay at that and making potash for four years, and then bought the old homestead of father, and he went to Brqckville and started himself in the grocery business. Father had had considerable bad lu. ck oil A JOUUNKY TO THE WEST. 131 . of tho igh,biit 10 and above. Salem ay un- educed me "if world . ir, she About [Q who Jrewer mlt to : 1 Ann. ne he fourth [•ought eluded at that then J went 'ocery lluck and lost a good deal of his prox^erty and had been obliged to sell a i^avt of his farm previous to this time. Two years after buying the old homestead I left my family at home and went back to Iowa and bought eighty acres of land which I still own, thinking I would some day move there again, as I am sensible it possesses advantages which Leeds never can. I also thought and was advised to buy believing it would be a profita- ble investment. My Father-in-law, Johnson Brewer Senr. sold his lot in Leeds and moved to Bloomiield, Prince Edward County, 0. AY. The following fall af- ter I bought land in Iowa, I sold out in Farmers- ville to John Chamberlain; we lived in the house until the next third month ; not being able to persuade Sarah Ann to again go to the west to live, we moved to Bloomiield also, she prefering a residence near her parents. The first year in I'rince Edward I worked with my cousm Daniel Derbyshire at the Car- penter's trade and then bought me a farm upon which I still reside. Although we have passed through many try- 132 SUFFErJNGS OF THE NEEDY; hig scenes and witnessed many privations, we are now, through the mercies and blessings of God, in good comiortable circumstances, and I hope to learn therewith to be conteni;. William Abels,of whom mention is made sever- al times in the foregoing part of this narrative staid in Iowa until the next year and then re- turned to Canada. In the spring of 1853 he went as companion with Johnson Brewer Senr. to the State of Ohio on a religious visit and form- ed an acquaintance with a smart and amiable woman whom he afterwards married. They moved to Canada for a time and then went to the Northern part of Iowa and settled, where they are still hving. My step-mother has passed from time into eternity. In the spring of 1863 she was called from works to rewards. She died in Grreenbush, eight miles from Farmersville. My' father is stiU Uving but very infirm,he has had^two para- lytic strokes and in all probability will not sur- vive long. A few more rolUng seasons wiU carry his frail bark into the eternal world. ^His hoary head loudly proclaims that he^has nearly descended^the hill of time. He is now living on A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 133 with me a part of the time, and with his son and daughter the rest part. He is unable to walk around much, only a very short distance, and cannot wait on himself but little. 134 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY ; CHAPTER XXV. A retrospect of the i^ast — Kosolatlous for the future — Socia 1 visit to Iowa. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts ; and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him ; and to our G-cd, for he will abun- dantly pardon. Isaiah LV. 7. Notwithstanding the yariou:'^ scenes which we have encountered and the different vicissitudes Oi life we have j3tissed through, we are still per- mitted to bo sojourners on the Lord's footstool. "When we take a retrospective view of our lives we can behold nothing profitable or useful in them, although we have never been so neglect- ful and regardless of the "one thing needful" as to wholly lose sight of the blessed principles of Divine Truth. Yet through unfaithfulness and disobedience we Ii^yq witnessed many dark and forlorn seasons a: xi have known the liorht of His Holy Coun" Luaice to be withdrawn. on A jouhney to the \yEST. 135 and feel that Ave were indeed " on Mount Gilboa where was neither dew nor rain nor fields of offering." We also have to acknowledge 'that too much of our unworthy lives has been spent in vain, that many of the golden moments have been squandered in worldly and sinful pursuits ; that our attention has been +00 easily turned to thmgs of earth, and that there has not been that dedicated obedience and Vv^ ate' ling unto prayer that there should be, to withstand the deceitful- ness of sin. There can be no true devotion to Grod till s olHshness, that root of man's depravity and the throne of Satan is overthrown ; till man no longer is his own idol ; till he is no more desirous to give to himself that place and ]30sition which G-od alone has a right -to possess. But when the soul through prayer and godly sorrow, through repentance not to be repented of, has gained this groat victory over Satan and his host, and brought all his attributes into subjec- tion, then in sincerity and praise can the soul look up to Grod in true and humble devotion. "When this becomes our blessed experience sure- ly old things have x>assed away and all things be- come new, and aU of God. Anew song is put into our niouih.c\cn the song of praise. 136 SUFFEllINGS OF THE NEEDY; I Man it is said is as ^prone to evil as the sparks to fly upward." The things of earth often affect the earthly nature in him, and through unwatchfulness he is suffered to be overtaken by the enemy, and perhaps for a season carried into captivity, but God in his infinite mercy leaves hixn not here ; he willeth not the death of any but that all should return repent and live ; turn unto him and he v^ill have mercy, he vs^ill restore our former peace and enable us to again joy and rejoice in the God of our Salvation. Oh ! the need,the great need of always being on the watchtower. " If the goodman of the house had known what time the thief would come he would have watched." So it is now with the children of men, if they knew when they were to be overtaken by the enemy,they would surely watch more fervently and prayerfully that their faith fail not in the day of battle. But I doubt not but these things are suffered to entangle us to try our faith, and to refine us through fiery trials. And now while we are in the middle walks of life, and a young and tender family growing up around us to watch our movements and catch each accent that falls from our lips, we OR X JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 1B7 are desirous, and have through Divine assistance endeavored of late, to more fully devote ourselves to the service of God. AVe are endeavorin<>* to live christian lives and set an example of piety before our children, that they seeing our good works may have cause to glorify their father in Heaven, although we may often err and fall intc the paths of disobedience yet we humbly hop e and fervently pray that oar faith fail not and that through, the mercies of Grod and the merits of his well beloved Son Jesus Christ who " came into the world to save sinners, of whom" we often feel " we are the chief," that we may be enabled to hold out unto the end and at last be permitted to enter " the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem, which needeth not the light of the sun neither of the moon, for the glory of God and the lamb are the light thereof." And when the solemn enquiry is made " what hast thou done with the precious Lambs committed to thy charge," that we may be able to render an ac- count which is well pleasing in the sight of God. And now gentle readers, and dear Children our narrative is about ended, and I hope you 138 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY; will feel enough interorsted in the plain and sim- ple manner in which it is related to rfve it a careful perusal, and in order to appreciate as much as possil)le our positions I hope you have endeavored to fancy yourselves with us and as eye witnesses to the circumstances which will have a tendency to make a stronger impression on your mind.i than reading it merely as a tale that is told witnout any authenticity. The truth of this statement can be vouched for ; and I charitably hope will gain a sufficient share of your interest to call forth a recommendation to others, I may also state that in summer of 1864 we again visited Iowa but hi a more agreeable and pleasant manner than in the spring of 1850. We left our femily at home and with the speed of steam soon reached the place of destination and visited our friends there. I made encpiries for Jonathan Townsend, feehng it my duty to recompense him for his kindness to us while livhig there, but found he had gone to a brighter and better world to meet his reward which is far better than the paltry renainerations of this vale of tears. OU A JOTJRNEY TO THE WEST. 139 Many of our friends were missing, some had temoyed farther A\ e^>t or South, and a number had been called away by death. The ToAvn of Salem is beautifully laid out and much improved, as is also the surrounding country. There was considerable agitation manifested concerning the Guerrillas a\1io it was reported were on their way there, but this Vv'as only a rumour and soon died away. Johnson Brewer Junr. is hying with his par- ents at Bloomlield and is a Carpenter by trade. ■MK Pit I 140 SUFFEEINOS OF THE NeeDT ; CPIAPTER XXVI. "* Cli'ild.r.i"''' ^"^ ""^"'^ f'""» Sarali Ann Dorbyslui-c to ). cr Dear Children: — When some of you are capa- ble of reading these few hnes the hand that writes them may be mouldering in the dust, but if the Lord should be pleased to prolong my hfe, I hope it will be my delight to instruct you m his fear, and to cultivate in j^our infant hearts reverence and gratitude to your Creator. Dear Children love the Bible, read it >vith attention and pray that God will enlighten your under- standings that you may know and approve of the glorious truths which that precious book contains; althougli mountains of opposition may arise before the view of your minds, and troubles may assail you on every hand, yet if you put j'our trust in God He will make a way for you • . • OB A JOURNEY TO THE WEST 141 where there and often appears to be no way you will find great encouragement hi reading the Holy Scriptures. May your minds be turned oftener than the morning towards heaven and heavenly things, and not look too much on the vanities of this world, for surely to a devoted christian it seems like vanity. Read and you will find where Jesus Christ was crucified, he gave his hfe a sacrifice for ^ ou my dear children if you only believe in him. Oh ! reject him not but give up yourselves a willing sacrifice to his service and you will find his ways to be ways of pleasant- ness and all his path peace, a peace which the world knows nothing of, which it can neither give nor take away ; then dear children when you are brought upon a sick bed you will reahze the worth of Christ as a Saviour, when pain takes possession of every nerve and paleness changes the fallen visage, to be able to say " I know that my Eedeemer Uveth" is surely a great attainment. And may strength be afibrded you to submit your necks to the yoke of Christ, let him direct your steps in all things, look unto him as a little child does to its temporal parents \ 142 SUFFERINGS OF THE NEEDY; for help and instruction and as yon are faithful on your part, the Lord ay ill not fail to pour into your souls the "oil and the wine " of his Kingdom which will give you strength to per- severe in well doing and the power of improv- ing your Lords mo^iey, that " when he cometh he will receive his own with usuryf And "you, adorning let it not be the plaiting of the hair, the' wearing of gold or putthig on of apparel, but a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God a pearl of great price. Thus dear Child- ren yoai may grow up as helps one unto ano- ther in the great cause and be strength and or- naments to the society in which you belong, and be an honour to your profession. And also be careful in the choice of your associates, choose for your company not only those who have re- fined morals, but who reverence, fear and love G-od. And above all try to adopt the language of the Apostle, "I have fought the ^rood fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished my course, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge shaU give me in that day, and not mo only but to all those that love his appearing." OR A JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 148 And now clear Children ])e willing to accept thirl short advice as a tribut*) of a mother's love, and treasure it np in your hearts that the earnest and heartfelt prayer of her who feels dee];)ly for your welfare in Zion may bo answered. In the bonds of parental and Christian love, I remain your ilother, SAEAII ANN DEllBYSHIRE. AN ACCOUNT O 9 THE LIFE OF JUHN A. BREWER, SON OF JOHNSON AND ELIZA BREWER^ WHO DIED AT POUT PAYTA, (0 N T HE OOA.ST OF PERU. IM SOUTH AMERICA, in the year 1858 UNDER THE CARE OP THE AMtRiUAN i^ U IN O v# U flHUHliHI i ■ LIFE OF JOHN A. BREWER. CHAPTEE I. « Forgive tliou blessed the tributary tear, That mourns thy exit from a world like this, Forgive the wish that wouM have kept thee here And stayed thy progress to the seat of bliss. ' No more confined to darksome realms of night, ^0 more a tenant wrapped in mortal clay. Now sliould we rather hail thy glorious flight And trace thy progress to the realms cf day." John A. Brewer was the oldest son of John son and Eliza Brewer. He was born at King ston, County of Frontenac C. W. on 28th of eleyenth month 1833. His juvenile years were perhaps no more remarkable than some other young persons, although of considerable interest to the serious minded. He possessed a Idnd, afTectionate and amiable mtm * I.IFE OF JOHN A. BREWER. disposition, which rendered his daily walke in hie more orderly and circnmspect than many yonng persons, and endeared him to his associates ni a very peculiar and aflectionate manner He was naturally of a lively and cheerful temper- ment and endowed with the faculty of makin- hunself agreeable and beloved by old as well a» young He also at a very early age was thought- ful and rehgiously inclined, leaving behind him m the minds of his friends many expressions as wtil as acts which showed not only his rever- ' ence for the moral, virtuous and religious, but that the fear ofthe Lord was truly and deeply impressed on his young mind. Very early in youtli. whenever any circum- stances occured which rendered parental cor- rection necessary, he ever manifested a great deal of tenderness and contrition, and would olten say through sobs and tears " I want'to bo a good boy." Often when he and his brother and sister were gathered around their parents to receive words of instruction and tender coun- sel, the tears would be seen silently rollin«r down his cheeks. A moremsceptible and tender mnid or a more obedient son i% seldom found 5 ll'o^•t^^ tlins blessed. ,«, 8 WFE OF JOHN A. BReWeR. i!i!! CIIAPTEli II. Tins young man possessed an unusual amonut of ambition and resolution, no matter how dark or despairing ilungs miditlook around him he never gave up to discooragements but his spirits seemed to be always buoyed up by a strong resohition of purpose seasoned with grace He never was idle, but always busilv engacred m some useful pursuit. His ambitions disposi- tion overbalanced his physical strength, and by over exertions and excitement he,' injured his spine when hi his twelfth or thii-- teenth year, while assisting a neighbour in get- ting m a load of hay before an approachiu"- storm. After they had the load on the waggon the axletree brolie and they were obliged to° get another waggon and while pitching the lo^ad Irom one to the other and hiting hard he felt something give way in his batl'\uid side. From this injury he never recovered. LIFE OF JOHN A. BREVVeU. 9 by His parents seeing he would never be able to endure hard work gave hinl the advantaged of an education, that he might be qualitled for other stations of usefulness besides that of a tradesman or mechanic. His lather was a car- pe^^^er and mechanic and thought of nistructing lijm. In the same employment,but after receiving txiis injury he never was able to do much but hght work, he however gained a sufficient knowledsce of the trade and being naturally m- srenious as to be of much use to hun afterwards^ as the sequel will show. His parents as has been observed in the fore- going narrative were frequently gone from home on religious visits ; and John's unwearied industry, care and frugality was a great help and advantage to them in gaining a hvelihood. His parents care in temporal things seemed to be his care, their concern of mind his concern, their joy his dehght ; he shared in their feeling in ahnost every thing in a very unusual and re- markable manner for one so young m years, so much so as to endear him in the strongest possi- ble manner to their hearts and to command the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Sure- mi 10 LIFE OF JOHN A. IIREWEP.. ly if there is a hvnig on eiirth on whom the hosts of Heaven will look, and smile, it is an honest, upnoht, filial and devoted youth, whose heart is iilled with everythino- good, noble and .'generous and whose soul is iilled to overflowing -with the love of (i od. Another su})ject which is well worthy of re- mark is his strong temperance principles. Very few of maturer years, ever had the subject more at heart, or were more thoroughly estabhshed in the principles of temperance than this amia- ble man. Ho aiw^ays felt in duty bound to bear a strong and hiithful testhnony against the op- posite vice intemperance m ^vord : and he deep- ly felt that it was the sin and shame of the land, that the vast amount of talents and virtue,* character and life that are wrecked on this fatal sinful vice was incalculable, that the many and noble men which have fallen a prey to his grasp, the homes which are made desolate and the inmates tossed on the hands of want and disgrace was shameful, all, when considered by Inm, only roused him to a more firm resolution to touch not, taste not, handle not. And a short time before he went away he told his mother WT'i i mim ii w iWM ii ^'"•""-■'-"^ ^.-J*lrtH'*K*»*.- , LIFE OF JOHN A. BHeWEH. 11 that he had never drank a drop of hc|Uor, of any- kind, and did not know vrhat it tasted Uke. He was also very particular about the compa- ny he kept, he would never when quite small associate with wicked or inofane children, he seemed always to manifest a disposition and de- portment beyond any tiling' low or mean, and his nature was such that it grieved him to see any wicked or xoroihgate boys engaged in sinful en- tertainments, ho could not enjoy himself with them and therefore would shun their company. But in the company of the steady, serious and rehgious and particularly the aged, he took great dehght and would listen to their subject of con- versation with deex) interest. His mind Vv^as very early impressed with re- hgious experience which he maintained through his life while among us and from letters received m his absence we doubt not but they remained with him until the day of his death. Although his parting from all things here below was in a southern clime, we have no doul^t but that same Grod who visited his tender mind in childhood was with him in the valley and shadow of death, enabling him to pass through fearing no evil, and 12 LIFE OF JOHN A. BReWeB. we trust he could say in his expiring moments, " Thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff com- lort me," LIFW OF JOHN A. BREWER. 13 I* CHAPTER III. This young man,tlie reader will remember, be- fore he had attained the age of seventeen stiirted with US for the west, and was associated with all the trials and privations which we had to under- go, both going to and returning from Iowa, un- til we reached Buffalo, where we through want of money to defray exi)8nses were obliged to leave him to get home the best way he could. Previous to our going to Iowa he had com- paratively gamed his health, his back had be- come a good deal stronger and he was able to perform considerable labour and worked with his father in the shop more or less ; his parents fondly hoped he would regain his strength as he grew up. I have mentioned before, the reasons of his go- ing west with us, and also while there of his en- gaging with a man named Boyle to work in a grist mill, where he remained through the sum- Wlrtl* iniv^4-ll •»wr/-» r»ll Y»'^'^«T»«''» /X"! "•■»"• i- H /"v roll JL. Aiv^ VV KJXJEk. 14 LIFE OF JOHN A. imi:\VER. 'in this establishment was no doubt to heavy for • him ; he complained alter leaving there, more than formerly of his side mid back. His spinal column was slightly curved and from this time onward while ho remained with us this curve increased gradually as his health decreased. From Bufililo he walked to Lewiston. He af- terwards told us how keenly he felt his position when left alone pennyless and friendless know- ing of no alternative but to trudge along in the direction of home, without a friend or acquain- tance near; and the buffeting of the needy, he had already to sensibly felt, but yet while there was life there was hope and as he never gave up to disx)air under any circumstances, he pro- secuted his journey with a degTce of cheerfulness. At Lewaston he sold his knife and with the proceeds got his dinner ; he then went to the boat and made a bargain w4th the mate to work his passage to the Canadian shore, by telling him his condition and that he wished to get home. He felt that he was comparatively fortunate to get this opportunity, but when the purser came around he learned a different story. John /nformedhim of the bargain with the mate, but LIFE 6F JOHN A. BREWER. 15 he appeared to disbelieve him telling him " as ■ smart a looking young man as ho was, would not be so far from home without money," and demanded his coat, which was a good one and worth three times the amount of the fare. John being young and easily disconcerted, j)nJled off his coat and gave it to him. No doubt the pur- ser thought he had money and. would redeem it before they reached Toronto. He was now without a coat, his clothes were x>ackod away with ours in the boxes and had gone on home, he had plenty of good clothes but had nothing with him. At Toronto he went on out of the town, night coming on he tried hard to get lodgmg in a private house but could not, the people appear- ed to be afraid of him, no doubt from his sino^u- lar appearance : he had no coat and was bare- footed ; his feet had become so sore and bhstered Irom walking that he was unable to wear his shoes. In this suspicious garb, on a rainy night, entering houses and begging for lodging, ]ione were willing to shelter him,and thus he travelled until about eleven o'clock, w^hen he called at a CN W^ oil C l-\ <-i fU T TT vdiere they allowed h J -. Lllii UO CI ry 16 LIFE OF JOHN A. BKEWEK. and warm but would not keep him until morn- ing, although he told them he did not ask for a bed, but if they would allow him to he on the lloor out of the storm ; this they refused to do. He travelled on a short distance and came to some cordwood piled along the roadside ; think- ing it useless to try any more for shelter he be- gan to draw out sticks of wood near the bottom until he had made a hole large enough to crawl into and under this singulor cover and in this strange berth, he spent the remainder of the night, without coat or covering, save the cold chilly damp air. Upon this same night his father w^oke from his midnight slumbers with an inexpressible feeling of regard an J. tenderness, mingled > with intense anxiety for his son, although he at the time knew not bu.t we were comfortably set- tled in Iowa, and had not been apprized of our prospects of leaving there ; but his feelings on this night for John he informed me could never be described, it seemed to him he must arise and go to his sons relief, and could hardly refrain from starting at a midnight hour, although at the tiriic he knew not where to go, or where we were. LIFE OF JOHN A. BKEWEE. 17 i-i ^\ morn- : for a on the to do, me to think- lie be- lottom crawl ft this [)f the cold from ssible with fc the '' set- ^ our ;s on leycr arise drain ;h at e we Early the next morning John started on en- quiring for w^ork, one man gave him a job of sphtting rails ; he had not had either supper or breakfast and being natural v slender and not very athletic, found this work entirely too labor- ious, and weak as he then was from hunger and fatigue he did not \v ork long, the timber was very tough and he left the wedge drove into the log irom which he was not able to extricate it, and went on enquirmg for work at every house. He was at length employed by a widow woman, for two days to dig potatoes, she gave him twenty five cents a day. Not wanting him long-er herself, she directed him to an EngUsh gentleman named Hibbard who hired him for four days to gather fruit. He seemed to have gained the confidence and esteem of this man and his family in a very particular manner, for at the expiration of the four days he engaged him for one month as overseer of his orchard, which shows a very particular confidence repo- sed in him during so short acquaintance, espe- cially when we consider that he had a number of other servants in his employment, wiio had been with him some time, and that John was ligtttiimiiW'lJMmftiir' «iM W>i*a»KB»llwlWWj|ii \ ' if IS LIFE Of JOHN A. BReWeH. also a particular favourite of the family ; Hub- bard's daughters would frequently ask him to go to church with them, he always excused him- self on account of his dress but they were un- willing to hear this and repeatedly oiaTered him their brother's clothes to wear if he w^ould ac- cept them, but these oflfers he always dechned. Hibbard had but one son, and he had left home through dissatisfaction of some kind and none of the family knew any thing about him or what had become of him, they felt deeply grieved on account of his leaving home so mysteriously and made a great deal of enquiry about him but had never been able to learn anything respecting him. At the expiration of a month, this gentleman insisted on John's staying longer and oflered him all the advantages of a son if he w^ould re- main with him, as he never expected to sea his own son again. But he could not feel Uke do- ing this, his wages which he had earned he thoug'jut would take him home and therefore de- clined Hibbard's kind offers, and left ; not how- ever without repeated solicitations on iheir part to call on them again if he ever came that way. n fl LIFE OF JOHN A. BKEWEK. 19 They gave him an Engiish Jacket that had for- merly belonged to their son, made of corduroy with black velvet sleeves, this answered very well in the place of a coat. In this costume he took the boat for Brock' ville and as he approached this old familiar town he felt he was so different, with his dirty clothes (for his had not been washed, having no change with him) and corduroy jacket, from what it was the previous spring that he felt ashamed to have any person see him, therefore from Brock- ville to Farmers ville he went through wood and across field and kept out of sight of the road lest any persons would see him and recognize him. H! :imm-rmmm riiiimmriifH i:j-i-MiiiiWtiiliiiS r"ini"i '""liT 20 i.IFE 01- JOHN A. BREWER. CHAPTER IV. It was difficult to say which was the most pleased he or Sarah Ann when he arrived. She had spent many anxions hours on his account and had heard nothing from him since we left him at Buffalo, but her suspense was now ended. He stayed with us through the winter and work- ed with me at the blacksmith trade until in fourth month when his parents Johnson and EUza Brewer returned from their religious visit after an absence of eleven months. Through the summer he worked with Andrew Lambie at the Carpenter's trade and his back affected him so it was plainly to be seen he must let hard work alone. The following winter he went to school and prepared himself for entering a store which he did the next sprnig. He attained the situa- tion of Clerk in the store of Arza Parish in Far- mersville. He felt now that he was starting on the stage of Hfe and took a more thorough and Established stand in the cause of Temperance i LiyK OF JOHN A. BEeWER. 21 *i than before, if possible, which he faithfully main- tained. 1 may here remark that previous to this time during the winter he worked with me at the blacksmith business, he with others was talking about different subjects when John referred to his journey to the west, and coming from BulBfa- lo home, working for Hibbard and his giving him the Enghsh jacket which he then had on &c., when one of the company, a stranger to him stepped up and said, "I thoughtjl knewthat jacket," " it was once mine." This was an opening for further conversation he seemed very much pleased to hear so directly from his parents, for it was Hibbard's son who thus spoke. Finding John knew how he had left the pa- ternal roof they entered into a long conversation. He talked freely but was resolved never to re- turn, John expostulated with him and endea- vored to pursuade him to go back, told him how deeply he had grieved his parents and the anx- iety they felt on his account and pleaded with him to go back and grieve them no more. But he thought he had been w^ronged by them and I r^ . { « Sli ' '2i LIFE OF JOHN A. BReWeK. showed no disposition to ever return. Jolin then tried to pursuade him to write at least and let know where he was, but this he did not want them to know. After a long conversation, they parted with but Uttle satisfaction to John. Young Hibbard was employed as hostler at a Hotel in Farmersville, but 1 think under a ficti- tious name. He did not stay there long after this interview and whether he ever returned home I am unable to say, he did not however during the next eighteen months. John felt it no more than his duty to write to Hibbard and tell him of the interview with his son ; he did so and received an answer expres. sing a great deal of satisfaction m hearing from him and thanks for John's manifested interest in taking the trouble to inform them. While clerk in Arza Parish's store he received another letter from Hibbard stating his lost son had not yet returned, and strongly invited him to come and live with him offering to do b v him as he would if he were his own son. John did not feel free to accept his kmd invi- tation and wrote back informing him of his situa- tion and diclining his offer. LIFE OF JOHN A. BREWEE. 28 He remained with Arza Parish one year. Thinking he could do better in the grocery busi- ness he sold a lot which his lather gave him in Farmersville and set up a grocery, in this busi- ness he remained about six months and sold out his stock on hand and went as clerk in Ehza- beth Wright's Crockery store in Belleville, Has- tings Co. C.W. . The work there was was too heavy, that is Ufting crates of crockery and heavy ware he in- jured his back seriously and his health other- w^ays was poor. While there in answer to one of the many letters he received from his mother he wrote as foUoWS :— BelleviUe, Nov. 1st, 1856. My Dear Motheu :— I am still in Belleville and I hope living as I should. God still bolds out his hand towards me a sinner, but I often fear he will draw his benevolence to a close because I have not hearkened more unto Him, but I intend to serve him as much as lays in my power- Dear Mother thou wrote to me cencerning reading novels, I assure thee, need not be any way uneasy about that because it is something I do not . We arc very strict about the construction of our characters &c. farewell. 1 -main thy -'''^''^^"^^o^"-^, bKE^ER. I I i i 24 LIFE OF JOHN A. BReWeR. He continued to fail and was obliged to resign his clerkship. He employed physicians in Belle- ville but it appears from the following letter they were doiug him no good. * Eight Month, 2 1st, 1856. Dear Parents : — I am about starting for Buffalo to try what can be done for my sido and back. There is a celebrated Dr Lewis in Buffalo I think can cure it, I have doctored with those Belleville men sometime and am getting worse every day. Everv day I exist I feel worse, when I get in Buffalo I will write and inform you of all the success. Farewell in that love that never fadeth. JOHN A. BREWER. His parents did not feel satisfied to have him go to Buffalo, but encouraged and recommended him to go to Kingston for medical advice, accor- ding to their wishes he gave up the former and went to Kingston and consulted Dr Sampson, he recommended him to take a voyage on the salt water. He next went to Ur Langtree who gave him considerable encouragement, and under his treatment his general health greatly improved, but his back was no better. It was so weak and lame that he con M wifh rJiffinnUTrcfrQifrVif I «. -W t-i A ^' y V,- T,i %xi-i i -J - - - fSTl LIFE OF JOHN A. BREWER. 25 up or some of the time walk about. He could not endure the thought oi' being idle and there- fore was anxious to go to New York and try the Saratoga Springs there. His father strongly- advised him to remain under Dr Langtree's treat- ment, but his back gaining none he become very- anxious to go to New York, and accordingly star- ted but did not go to the springs as he intended but went on to the city. The Phvsician there advised him the same as Dr Sampson to try a sea voyage, as he mformed his parents by a letter. He also stated that he had the offer of a situation as Book-keeper at forty dollars per month and that there was also a way open for him to go to sea, but he had not decided then, which he should do. In the same letter he says, : — " I have my health a good deal better than when I was at Kingston. I intend to keep the best Company while here, it needs a great care to keep out of profane company. Do not givj yourselves any uneasiness about me, I shall try and be a good boy, I intend while in this worhl to live in the the fear of God, so when I come to die I may enjoy his bles- sings, even life forever more. If I die in New York or in Canada it matters not so that we all meet ou. God iu Ue? ven mimmmmm 'ft' Pi 20 LIFE OF JOHN A. BREWER. Farewell, In that loveJthnL is only felt between riivents anil Children. JOHN A. BiiEWER. No. 80 East Breadway N. Y". In two days after writing the former letter he wrote again that he had decided on going to sea and was going as Ship-Carpenter on a WhaUng vessel. i "**. Ll^E OV JOHN A. BBEWEK. 27 CHAPTER V. Being so anxious to regain his health and so strongly recommended to try a voyage on the salt water, he londly hoped it would restore him ; he would thereby regain his health. He saw the Captain of the ship Courier in New York, he went to New Bedford in Massachusetts, and on the fourth of tenth month 1856 this vessel sailed out from New Bedford, which bore our dear brother away from us to end his earthly pilgri- mage on the Southern Seas. His parents were very much concerned about him, and when this intelligence reached them, we all had solemn forebodings that we had par- ted on earth to meet no more. None of us felt the separation so keenly as his parents, who had watched over his feeble health with intense anx- iety for his recovery, who had spent sleepless hours consulting about his welfare and medita- i^^^(Y mi his r^mirliti'^ii whn poiild uever feel con- I! ?l LIFJC OF JOHN A. BRKWfiR. tented unless they heard frequently from him when away from home. But now, they felt that they must wait in suspense for months perhaps for years before any tidings could reach them concerning him; and I'urthermore they knew too w^ell the effect his labour would have upon him and this only added to their gloom ; but knowing their son's determination to do right, and do all tilings for the best was a great conso- lation and enabled them more freely to resign "^im into the hands of Best Wisdom and meekly and prayerfully await the result. Time rolled heavily along, weeks and months passed away but no word or letter arrived to calm their fears until in sixth month 1858 when the ioUowing satiisfactory and welcome letter come to his parents. Ship Courier, Port Tricaliiiana, S. A. March 25th, 1858. Dear Parents : — With pen in hand I thought I would write you a few lines just to inform you that my health is some better than when I left you. I stopped in New Bedford, I was bound ^or sea to roam the blue waters of the Atlantic and Pacific. I shipped on board the Sliip Courier, we sailed on the fourth of October 1856. After being ou*; some time I found that the Captain and t.:~ iiis Wife were friends of mine. The captain has thrc Ln E OF JOHN A. BKeWER. 20 who belong/-) to the Friends Society, he told in*? (hoy were speakers in the meeting. 1 showed tbein my dear niother'n likeness. I have to do ^the Carpenter work on board the ship. I will now inform you of my journey. After we bid farewell to New Bedford we set all sails ; the fust ni^lit I could not sleep but very little on account of the ship rolling so heavy. I was sea sici^ for one day and thought myself very lucky indeed for getting off so well. \\ e were out some three weeks when we arrived at Cape De Verde Islands ; we went ashore and bought a quantity of Oranges and Limes and two or three small pigs. From there we took our way to ths line' after we w.-re there some days, the man at the mast head cries out, » there she blows" our^Captain on the quarter deck, says "where away,' " three points off or.r lee bow and about two miles off," The Captain asked him what it was, he replied "a sperm whale.'' Captain cries " get your boats ready." We lowered them down and got fast to two small whales, brought them along side, cut them in, and stowed them in on deck ; after we tried them out we stowed them down in the hold. We then bent our course to Cape Horn that awful stormy place. We had some heavy storms off the cape, so we had to take in all sails r.nd have the ship to under fore storestorm staysail, and close reef topsails. Many a time has she rolled so that her bulwarks would go entirely under water. When you would go along the deck the first thing you would go down in the lee scuppers. After leaving Cape Horn we made our way io St. Carlus,that was our first port in South America. I found plenty of Spanish there, bout, but I undcrBtand some qi 4 VfcCfc 4 1 #K tt-V < .n^« T 1 1 :iii »"'•■" •- 'f! 80 LIFE OF JOHN A. BREWER. the lingo at present, I will give you some of it when I g«t home if ever I do. We bad liberty for three days in port and then had to load our wood and water and bought about 200 bushels of potatoes. We had a good supply for our cruise, that is six months from the time we come out of port until we go in again. Our ships crew consists of first and second mate, third and fourth mate, three boat steerers, men that strike the whale, Cooper and carpenter, Blacksmith and sailors making in all thirty three men besides the Cap- tain and his wife and little boy. After we left Si. Carlus we had the good luck to take whaleg enough to make us five hundred barrels, we want two thou- aand before we return home, it may take some two years more. I should have wrote to you before but 1 have not had the opportunity. But I intend for the future to write often and you must do the same, you know it is hard work for me to write on board the ship when she is rolling to and fro. We are at present on the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Chili; we have been cruising along the coast of Peru and will return there soon. The Spanish on this side of land have some very peculiar ways, there are some veiy respecta- ble people and some very much the opposite. Dear Parents you must not worry yourselves about me, tell my Brother Johnson that I would very mucii. like to see him, I hope he will take good care of number one. I am here on the wide sea to stop I cannot tell how long, but it will be as short as possible, I suppose yon wonder many times at my conduct, no doubt of it, but for the future my trust shall be in my God who knows all things ^e knows my heart and every thought, I feel to praise him LIFE OF JOHN A, BUHWfiU. 81 I g«t n port about 'or our of port st and s, men kgiuith J Cap* whaleg ► thou- y years ve not write 1 work rolling )ast of :u and )f land specta- it n:e, mucft lumber i\ how se yon bnt for [ things se him for what he has done for mc, he has saved me from many dangers. I want Alexander and Sarah Ann to be sure and write, also Johnson. Dear Parents do not delay in writing to me *vho loves you, whose min*l is ever thinking of yott. Be sure and write every six months and I will do ,the same. 1 cannot get letters oftener than every six months when the vessel comes into port, tor we are out on the sea captur- ing the monster wliale. If you were to sec one you would be surprised to think of three or four men killing one so easy. I will try and give you a description of a sperm whale. He is about eighty feet long, his under jaw is about eighteen feet in length, we generally use it for canes, they have in this jaw, fifty large teeth^ these teeth are about eight inches long, I think perhaps if they were to bite at a gmall object it would be of little use. They very often como in contact with the boat when they do you cannot call it a boat any longer, for they chew it all to pieces, the crew have to jump into the water and swim for another boat if there is one in sight, if not they h ive to lie in the water until a boat comes to their relief, some times they lay eight or ten hours and get pretty well chilled through by that time, I have not been over board yet, nor none of our crew. We have four boats on the cranes and two spare ones. This whale lives principally on a fish called squid they are very large and tender, the whale gets very fat. His. Wubber is eighteen inches thick all good solid fab or rather e-il. A whale of this description will make one hundred » and twenty barrels of oil. I cannot tell you much more about the whale now, when I return I will be ablo t$> givfe you more information about these monster*. 'LIFE OF JOHN A. BKEWEB. I have visited the Island where Robinson Crusoe lived, I did not see the cave, but we expect to go there soon to get 8ome wood and Peaches. I expect it will be qwite a curiosity There are a great many goats on the Island. P S.— I am :vashing to day, I have to wash my clothes in chamber-lye and rinse them in salt water, I get them pretty clean. I have to make my own bed, and live in the steerage and eat in thv^ cabin. Our clothes are principally woolen Blue shirts and sometimes red ones, I cannot say much more about clothing. We have pleasant weather at present so we carry all sails. Remember and write as soon as thig comes to hand, do not delay one moment and give me all the news, please give my love to all my relatives and friends, my dear brother and sister and biother-in-law, I love you you all tenderly, and long to clasp you to m> bosom and plant a kiss on each forehead. Nothing but a good long letter from all, be sure and write. Direct your letters to JOHN A BREWER. Payta, Peru, South America. Ship Courier. in care of Captain Hillmaii. MFE OF JOHN A. BBBWEO. 33 lived, L to get iriosity thes in pretty teerage woolen h more tent 80 IS this all the riends, TQ you tu and d long bers to nca. n CHAPTER VL This letter gave us unspeakable satisfaction to know he was yet alive and we could not but feel hopeful that he might yet return, although this hope was accompanied with a doubt. He said very littie about liis health and nothing about his back, but it is evident his gen- eral health had improved after going to sea or he could not have done ths carpenter work on board. But it would seem that th^re was a doubt in his mind concerning the probabiUty of returning, for when speaking of tki Spanish Lang:iage he says, " I will give 70 a some of it when I leturn if ever I do." N o doubt he plainly ^aw he was failmg, and at times felt that he would never again behold his native land and the dear familiar fiaices whom he longed to greet, that ere the vessel had completed her tedious voyage he should be num- bered no more with livmg. But his unusually cheerful disposition was a great stimulus to hig ■>■ ^ fl r 'Jill :if t Hi U WFH OF JOHN JL BREWEK. mind, and no doubt had a tendency on sea m well as land to enervate and arouse his spirits amd check all gloomy and disponding thoughts. He would also refrain from writing anythino- which he thought woald gii^e his parents any uneasiness. But the former presentiments res- ted on OUT minds which we could only leave for time to fathom. We all wrote to him and for- warded as directed, desirmg him to write every particular about his health, but to these we never received any reply. The first six montRsroHed away and no letter, the next six months come and went but no tidings until nearly three more years had passed away. At each successive disappointment hope sank lower and lower and we began to be apprehen- Bive that the vessel might be lost, for we felt if John was still hving and unable to write his re- gard for his parents would cause him to get some person to write for him and let them know the reason ofhissiIence„ In fifth month 1861 a way opened by which we could learn whether the owner of the Courier knew anything about her whereaboute. In con- rarsation we learned that a friend of ours, Levi tr-v LIFE OF JOHK A. BBB'WEll. m rr-v Vamey of Bloomfield had an acquaintance in New Bedford and we thought through this chan- nel we might gain some information and reques* ted him to wirite, and ajs a reply received tike £al- lowing- New Bedford, €th Mouth, 26tb, I8«L LEVI VAENEY, EBSPEcrED Friend : — Thy letter of the 14th inBt. came to hand during my absence to yearly Meeting. Th« ownerti of the Courier cannot give any information in rela- tion to John A. Brewer, since sailing from home. The ship is expected within the sxext thirty days. On her arrival I will make due enquiries, learn all particulars and wrlto thMi A^ain. Respectfully thy friend, CHARLES R.TUCKER. ' To Levi Varney, Bloomfield. With such anxiety as parents only can feel for their child, and we for a lost brother did we all wait for the homeward bound vessel to land at New Bedford, that our suspense might be lightened and we know the dreaded reality. In seventh jmonth L. Yamey received the fol- iowing. New Bedford, Yth Month, 16tli, 1861. Rbspbctbd FaiBND : — When I acknowledged thy letter of th« Hiih of last month, I stated that uiviu the arriral of ihw 39 LIFE OF JOHN A. CHeWeE, ShipCourier I would give such information as I miglit ob- tain in relation to John A. Brewer, Carpenter of said ship. The ship has come in andi hare had an intejrview with Cap- tain Coffin who I find is well spoken of. He informs me that John A. was a nice jroung man, but appeared out of health from the early part of the voyage, was apparently coDsiimptive,and by a difficulty in his 8pine,he became much bowed over. On the ships arrival at Payta South Ameiica near the line in tenth month 1858, he was too feeble to con„ tinue the voyage and was discharged and left in the care of the American Consul at that place. Captain Coffin states that he settled with him at that time and paid him a small Mnonnt it being the balance due. The ship had not been successful and his earnings were proportionately small. He subsequently learned that the said John A. Brewer died on the thirteenth day after he was landed at that place. The above is what information I have been able to obtain. 1 may state for the informatien of his family that seam'ea when discharged sick at Payta, have had very good care ex. tended to them for a foreign Port, Respectfully thy fricBsI," * CHARLES R. TUCKER. Our solemn forebodings proved 'tnt too true, his long continued silence was the silence ojf death. -Our dear brother had passed that bourne from whence no traveller returns ; while we poor frail mortals were hopefully looking for ^ime message of love from him. Who can describe those parents' feelings wh^n igllt of)* .id ship* ith Cap- >rms me out of )arently le much ^meiica to con„ care of t states a small 5t been small, er died place, )taiD. seamen »re ex- true, ce of )urne 5 we LIFE OF JOi'IN A. BREWEn. 87 g for news entered their quiet dwelling and they knew that h© whom they dearly loved, over whom they had watched in childhood, and in- structed his infant heart in prayer, over whom they had spent many sleepiest; nights ot* anxiety and days oi mental exercise lor his weliare, to. know he was no more. That the cold un- leelmg hand of death had claimed this beloved offspring for his victim. Oh! what w^ere that mother's feeling when she reflected that her darling son was gone, that- fihe could never again behold his smiliLg ccuu tenance, or hear the gentle tones of filial love drop from his lips, that she could never again greet that familiar lace fraught with cheerful- ness and pleasantness. How solemn the thou^'ht ! How heart ren- ding the feeUng! gone, gone, from sublunary pleasures, never more to meet on this side of the grave, gone from all that is near and dear on earth to try the realities of eternity, "When she remembered that he had laid his weary and alihcted body down on ai far distant ishore, and closed his eyes in death with none but strangers to be)7ol<] biin, none but strangers I mMm 1 1 iiilllHiililillM HHHIiii M 88 LIFE OF JOHN A. BKEWETt. to prepare for the last solemn rites, the tears would rise unbidden and gujsh from their Ibun- tains to relieve her almost brcakinG: heart. She felt that his death bed however carefully it might have been watched by the thoughtful stranger, could not have been so gently smoothed as by a mother's hand, his suHerings never so carefully alleviated, or his wants so readily administered unto as if the watchful and attentive mother had been by his bedside to aid and assist. That Father too, felt that his hopes were blighted, that the family circle was broken, that one link of the chain was gone never to be re- placed. That that son who had been the pride of the past and the hope of the future was gone to return no more. Those iDarents shed the bitter, the scalding tears which those oiilv can shed who are bereav- ed who have had to consign aflectionate friends to their mother earth. But "' dust thou ait, and unto dust thou shalt return." Feeling that strengthening inlluence of Him in whom they trusted, and who has promised to be present in " six troubles and in the seventh to not leave or forsake thee" felt \vil- LIFE OF JUllN A. BREWeU. 89 5 tears ' Ibun- She ; might ranger, s by a refiilly istered er had were 11, that be re- pride 5 gone raiding )ereav- Iriends I shalt luence 10 has iiid in lilt \vil- liiig to kiss the rod that smites and bow in hum- ble subjection to him " who doth not afflict wil- lingly nor grieve the children of men" but lor their good. Knowing at the same time how thiir d3ar sou mu.'it havj ^^eanud lor those he loved, i'or the dear iainiiiar parental laces, when leit to the cold unieeiing charge of strangers to breath away his life, perfectly con- scious that his end was approaching, that he w^ould soon enter the sx:)irit world to try the real- ities of a never ending eternity. • His tender feelings must have been deeply wrought upon at this solemn time when he read our letters, when he perused the closely written sheets from his parent's hands, where they held forth the language of encouragement and counsel to persevere in well doing and live a life of consistent christian piety, that he might enjoy the full blessings of God. They little thought when they thus addressed him it was for a dying hour, that it was to be a comiort and consolation to ussist in waiting his spirit to the regions of bliss. But so it was. Best Wisdom had decreed it, and in this way onlv could thev comfort or console him. lipis ■M 1:1 mm 40 LIF'E OF JOHN A. BReWeK. CHAPTER VII. Eliza Brewer feeling anxious to know more of the particulars concerning her son wrote to the Captain for all the particular information he could give and he wrote her the followino*. New Budfoid, Aug. loth 1861. To Mrs. Eliza Brewer:— Yours of the 25th of July reached toe yesterday, and I take the fir^t opportunity of answering your anxious inquiries. In the first place I must inform yon that your dear son endeared himself to us in a measure that is not common. You ask how Ions? he was unable to perform duty while on board ship? So I jrive you. u full account which I think will be more satisfactory. Your son slipped as Carpenter, and perhaps vou do not know, but I do, that his capacity on ship board brings him in contact with the Captain much more than would be the case if he were a sailor, and being somewhat feeble and of an agreeable mind we soon become much intorested in him. He be^-an to fail when about one year from home but did not give up for quite a number of months, and think it was only three or four months that he was unfit for duty. Ht- was not confined to his bed while on board, and he expressed to me that he should never reach home again. nore of to the e could 861. reached iswering tear son ;ommon. irhile on ink will ter, and icity on n much d being become out one imher of I that he vhile on r reach LIFE OF JOHN A. BReVVEE. 41 At the time that I landed him he received a letter from you which gave him great satisfaction. The Consul whoso care I placed him in was Fayette M. Ilingold, Port of Pavta coast of Pern. In one year after I landed him I called there and made all the enquiries 1 could concMuing him I found he lived about two weeks after he landed. His trouble was in the spine and towards the last part of his life an abscess formed and broke in his back. Whilst on board the ship he suffered but little pain. He often spoke of his home, and was very proud of his mother^s ambrotype which he showed us, and after his death I tried to recover but with out success. Knowing that he would want what little wages was due I paid h.m all that was his due which was but little as 4e had been quite unfortunate up to the time of his leaving BelievinK I have answered all enquiries to the beet of ujy knowledge I will close. ^ ^ Mrs Coffin joins me in much respect. P. VV. COFFIN. late tuaster of Ship Courier We have never been able to receive any fur- therinformation respecting his death ; but know- ing his fervent desire while among u^ to live a christian hfe and walk humbly in the paths of duty; and believing this same ardent desire re- mained with him until his close ; we doubt n<^t he has been gathered into the Heavenly o-arn as a shock of Com fully ripe, and is now "eni ^ h i f f IMAGE EVALUATEON TEST TARGET (MT-3) i.O USk 1 2.8 ^ m I.I lU ■ 40 2.5 1.8 /. fe 5^ 4by m^ u.. & %' fA 1.25 1.4 J4 ^ 6" - — ► "1^ % 7] .l-!_ rtlUlOgl'dpllKJ Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^cV 1 v gs '^ °««^>. '^..^ '