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The object is to give a picture of life — the outer life as affected by that visitation, and the inner current of daily thought, emotion, and feeling. I make no apology for the prominence of self, as I trust that the best interests of those committed to me, their advancement, tem- poral and spiritual, are the one subject around which my waking thoughts revolve. All was hastily com- piled from the rough notes taken at the time, during the few days which preceded my departure for Moose. The manuscript was then committed to a sister's hand, to mature and complete. But as the diocese stands already so much indebted to a female pen for the interest excited in its favour at home, I need not hesitate to acknowledge a similar obli- gation now. As one has already become our histo- rian, why should not another carry on the record ? To these two must I not add a third, of whom we must ever think with gratitude — the benefactress who has so munificently founded the Mission of Islington, for which I am about to start ? D. K. St. Andrew's, Red River, June 14, 1852. 1; IK li 'I t' WHOSE LAND THK RIVEUS HAVK SPOILED. ISAIAH XWU. 2. TERRA FERAX, DUM TKRRA FUJT, SED TEMPORE IN ILLO PARS MARIS, ET LATUS 8UDITARUM CAMPUS AQUARUM. OVID. Metam. I ■ ( NOTES, kc. This little sketch does not profess to be a narrative of the late Hood as a whole, bnt of its effects in that part of which I am the centre. Its effects were very different in diflerent places : they varied almost with every reach of the river, and accordinii; to the level of the bank at each spot. It was perhaps the most disastrous among the Canadians, around and above the Upper Fort ; h was very severe in the Upper and Middle Church Districts ; it aflected a good deal the lower part of the Assiniboine ; while the upper part of the district of St. James on that river, and those of St. Andrew's and the Indian Settlement, were almost untouched. My own suffering was greater from my having so much on my hands, and so many around me. Some have even called our buildings a village ; and schools and households numbering sixty to pro- vide for daily might almost be so termed. There was my own house, with the Collegiate School, B 1 ffl m NOTKS OF Tin: ILOOI) / where all were boarders, chiefly from a distance ; a little below us, tlic lari^^' house of St. Cross, a similar establishment for younjLj ladies; jieross the creek, over which I had lately thrown a loiiy brid^^e, was the farm-yard, stables, &c., and the parochial day-school attached to the Uppi'r Church, at the further end of which some of mv own servants lived. This i,rave a lar^^e amount of care and anxiety. I had my own scholars and pupils to think of, aiul the youni,' ladies, with their valued and excellent instructress, Mrs. Mills. l\Iy own bouse was a very old one, and there was a f^eneral impression that it could hardly stand. It consists of two win<;s and a central hall, with kitchens ])rojccting behind. This made it impossible for us to remain through- out in the house : as the waters rose, the conunu- nication was cut off, and the upper rooms of the two wings became like two separate islands. The only part thus habitable ^vas the large store-loft over the kitchen, a new building raised by myself the summer before last. Here we weathered it, my senior scholar and .)ne pupil remaining there nearly the whole time, my poor servant, until his unfor- tunate death, and the llev. W. II. Taylor, Mr. G. Pridham, master of th.e colleiijiate school, and my- self, relieving each other by turns. AT Tin: hi:d kivi:ii. To this present anxiety was added much thought for the future; the necessity, apparently urgent, of giving u]) one or other of the schools, and even, it niiiilit he, of chanixinij: our home. To tliese schools I had fondly looked, and the Cjueslion, How .shall I give them up? was aj)Minful one to answer. The month had clouded the future; ;tnd tui the follow- \niilence and moile of lile mi'dit he entirely diilerent. All other things, too, >eemed changed: (Jod had in a manner touched the heait, from which the pulses vihrated in every direction : not a Mission which would not suH'er in >ome mea- sure; scarcely a family in which it would not make some alteration. And it was nece>sarv to ;m range every ])liin without delay, as all letters nuist>>he wi'itten hefore the dr'parture of the spring hoats, our mails throughout the count) y. The thought sometimes crossed mv mind, Have I attempted too much, and is God on that account cliecking and chastening ? Douhtless, had i at- tempted less, my pain at the present moment would have heen smaller. Had I not ventured on the academy, with a view to the gradual establishment of a colleiriate school —had I not afterwards made the purchase of St. Cross, with a view to raise, at the same time, female education in the country - had we been merely as j^ private family — we might I i 1 NOTi:s ui' rm: i lood I!,'; I I li.ivo reinaiiiod in a sinjrlo (Iwcllin*^ tlirou^diout, and sullrit'd conipaiativply little. I)Ut I trust the motive was, not srekin<»" jjjrcat things lor oneself, but the desire to do ijood to raise tlie voun'f ol' hoth sexes intellectuallv and niorallv, while en- ^•ai^'ed in the higher work of spreatling the j^ospel throusih tlie land. 'I'he prospect of hein'4 ohii^^ed to i^ive uj) what was thus undertaken in faith and prayer. wa> pain- ful to c()nten)})late. To Ljive up tiie hall was in itself to break ihrouizh nianv i)lcasanl associations. This was the scene of our ha])))}- Sabbath-evening services, attended often by large numbers, and ioruiiiin" a little churcii — " the church in our house." lJ(^re the daily })rayers, the daily praises, ascended; and 1 rejoiced in hearinn; the well-tranied voices .fth ol the young, wnoni I regar( (led as my c hild ren. N\"hat foretastes of heaven many such Sabbath evenings gave ! what thankfulness, what thoughts of distant iriends, alwavs si)eciallv remembered in ur pravers that night 1 ly Ol r o give up tne sc th 'hool room nivo lv(^l scarce less. There, how many a i)leasant hour iiad been spent ! how unich pleasant study of the gospels and the epistles had I enjoyed in the de))th and fulness of the original, " comparing spiritual things ith b])iritual," and seeking: from each verse and w AT Tifi: II 1. 1) iu\ i:k. 5 word to extract sonio liidchMi ore. Mucli .ulvance- iiicnt had been made in every l)raiich of study, as the late exaniiiiatioti had testihed. In tlie chissics, one liad studied vvitli me tlie whole of the ethics of Aristotle, never before perhaps perused in Ku- ])ert's Land; several had read in Herodotus of Cyrus and Babylon; aiul just as the; Ccdanuty approached we had entered on Thucydides, and, in the introduction of the philosophical historian, had discovered many a parallel to our own conilition. Were not the early inhabitants of (ireece in some jneasure like ourscdves, when it is said, '* They readily moved from spot to spot, each tiiinking to i(ain anywhere the necessary means of subsistence;" and when it is added, " that, on account of such migrations, they did not in other respects increase and imj)rove ?" We had just been reading of the siege of IMata^a, and the engines brought to beai- upon its walls, when we were ourselves assailed by a power which no human skill could enable us to resist. We were reading of the plague at Athens, when we were obliged to give up, and ourselves to realize something of the despondency therein de- scribed—the neglect and disregard of all things compared with life. To this study of the classics had been joined that of the modern languages. Four could read tlie Lli! ! ! il II ': C NOTES OF THE FLOOD gospels in Italian, the greater part of the school could do so in French., and my senior scholar could read, in Luther's own translation, the German of the gos})el of St. John. Combininf]^ thus the ancient wit I) the modern tongues, and those of modern Europe with the two leading dialects of our own land, we recited at our last examination a psalm in tlie original Hebrew, and the Lord's Prayer in eight dilfcrent languages, including that of the English version. My hope has been throughout, that, by training several to an acquaintance with the grannnars of many diiferent languages, they may at some future day be able to analyze more clearly the framework and structure of the Lidian tongues, from a deeper insight into the principles of comparative grammar. Nor was the severer training of mathematics neglected, to which, indeed, the youth of the coun- try seem naturally more partial. In this branch, Euclid, and the whole of algebra and trigono- metry, are thoroughly known ; and some progress has been made in the elements of the differential calculus. To give up such studies, which often withdrew my mind from passing trials, would be a bitter grief — to give up the hope of founding a collegiate school and college. I was glad, however, that I AT THE RED RIVER. E)i had not yet raised any more extensive buildings ; that I had not ap})lied the noble grant of the Chris- tian-Knowledge Society, ])erore expending which It would now be an obvious duty to consider whether a more eligible site mi'dit not be found. Or to give up the female school, now scarcely formed a year, where hal)its of attention and study seemed to be advancing — where the characters of those who are, under God, to have the training of the next generation will be moulded -this would be an alternative no less disu-essing. All these were trials, and one or other course was pressed upon me, according to the feelings of those with whom 1 conversed. Many friends would have had me spare myself the toil which this involved, and urged upon me how little scope there wa.. in the land for the developement of the higher branches which were taught ; but my object was to labour for all, and to scatter the seeds of know- ledge, trusting that a wider field might, in the pro- vidence of God, be opened up at some future day. Above all, it seemed hardly possible that I could cany out my intended visit to Moose; at least, how could I dare to think or speak of a distant journey, when none knew at what point the waters might stop, or what amount of destruction they might produce. I had perhaps calculated too n'\ Li i^™ I m iHfil II 'I, 1 ii'H\ 8 NOTES OF THE FLOOD much on tlie future ; but this is in a manner ne- cessary, where opportunities of communication are so limited. If I am to visit a distant spot in sum- mer, I must give notice of my intention by the winter packet, that the necessary arrangements may be made. Now all seemed suspended, and I could only wait in silence, and commit the uncer- tainty of the future to Him who is the sovereign Disposer of all events. That the outline here given is a melancholy one, any may judge : it seemed as if wave upon wave of trouble followed, for a time, in rapid succession. That it was sadder far to behold, is certain. In- deed, I could have wished that all throughout the settlement could have witnessed it, in order to learn the lesson and gain the improvement. I could have wished this, but for the pain they must have felt: this I could not desire for them, any more than the Apostle could wish for others his bonds, when desiring that they might be even as himself. It is as a dream in looking at it, and will be more so when the grass grows and the corn waves where now the billows are swelling. Any one might have been deceived by a look from my own windows. Instead of the plain and prairie, there was the wide sea as far as the eye could reach, and here and there a pile of wood, adding to the illu- AT THE RED RIVER. 9 sion, appeared exactly as if some distant sail were visible on the liorizon. But it is God's will, and in due time the way will be made plain. Having chosen as my motto, " In Thy light shall we see light," even in darkness and gloom I must cling to it, and, when the cloud is over the path, pray for grace to " see the bright light which is in the cloud." Ajml 25 : Sunday — The ice having partially broken up, rendered it unsafe to cross the river. A few, however, came over in the morning ; more to the afternoon service. Large masses of ice passed (luring the evening and the following day. The water had risen much, even before the ice gave way, and continued doing so during the week, there being no outlet for it as yet towards the lake : the rise was sometimes a foot, or a foot and a half, in twenty-four hours. The winter had been unusually fine until the end of February ; but through the whole of March a great deal of snow had fallen, which seemed sufficiently to account for tiie present rise. il/a?/ 2'. Sunday — By this time the prospect became alarming. I determined, in consequence, to give notice of a day of prayer and humiliation, and preached in the morning from Amos ix. 5, 6 : U' 'jl il ,!;i!i i f 3 I 10 NOTl-S OF THE FLOOD ** The Lord God of liosts is He thiit touchetli tlie land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn : and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of r^^rypt. It is He that buildeth His stories in the heaven, and hath founded His troop in the earth ; He that calleth for the waters of the sea, and pour- cth them out upon the face of the earth : The Lord is His name." We derived some comfort, at the conclusion, from the cheering and consolatory pro- mises of the last three versos of tiiis chapter and prophecy. In the afternoon our subject was Acts xxvii. 44 : '' The rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land :" St. PauFs dan- ger and deliverance, and the blessed consequences thereof. The evening was placid and calm, and every breast was still filled with hope. Ala?/ ij — These expectations were encouraged by the very slight rise during the night ; but from 10 A.M. till 2 P.M. the waters gained so fast as to lead to very painful forebodings. Some houses opposite to us are already abandoned, their inmates tenting on the little knolls behind. We hear of one settler taking a bateau * right through his Appendix, No. I. AT THE RED RIVER. 11 house ; another with a boat at his door, ready to carry off his goods: [ saw tliis myself, during my walk, at one house on a low point near us. From the Fort we hear that more than fifty deserted houses may be seen. The owners of some, wholly reckless of the future, and regarding their return to them as uncertain, have in some cases offered them for sale, and some have changed hands in this way for 30^. or 2/. The brightest and most un- clouded full moon : strange to look upon it, and reflect of how many diversified trials it may have been the witness during its course I How little absent friends know through what we are passing ! To ourselves it seems marvellous. Since the melt- ing of the snow, the weather has been remarkably- fine, wdth strong drying winds ; so that, with the sky bright overhead, and the ground firm and dry under our feet, the approacli of evil in such a form seems almost beyond belief. May 4 — Rode up to the Fort : the sight very- distressing. The bridges are all giving way, on whicli nearly 600/. had been expended by the Council last summer. Saw Major Caldwell and Mr. Black, and made application to the latter for a boat to remove my family and property, should it be rendered necessary. On starting, I had asked my servant if he wanted any thing. He said, "Only . '! t H ■ i I* )'j ^ hi u NOTKS OF THE FLOOD powder and shot if we have to go to the Mountain." This showed at once the subject uppermost in the minds of all, and proved that it was now necessary to look the coming evil in the face. Mat/ 5This was the day appointed for our public humiliation. The service was nearly the same as on May 2(>, 1850: then it was a distant evil, now, one near and innninent. The chief addi- tion was that of proper Lessons, Amos ix. and St. Luke xvii. The proper Psalms were, xxix., li., and xciii. The additional Prayers were, that for fair weather, with the substitution " a plague of floods and waters," and one of those to be used in storms at sea, slightly altered to suit the case,* with the last two in the Commination Service. The usual chants were read, not sung. A goodly number pre- sent, and all solemn and attentive. The Hymns sung on the occasion were — (lod is our refuge, tried and proved Amid a stormy world : We will not fear, though earth be moved, And hills in ocean hurled. The waves may roar, the mountains shake — Our comforts shall not cease : The Lord His saints Avill not forsake. The Lord will give us peace. &c. • Appendix, No. IL AT THE RED RIVER. i« With the foUowinir- My times of sorrow and of joy, Great (Jod, are in Thine liiind ; My choicest comforts come from Tliee, And go at Thy command. If Thou slioukl'st take them all away. Ycjt would I not repine : Before they were jjossessed by me They were entirely Thine. Nor would I drop a murni'ring wonl Though the whole world were gone ; But seek enduring hapi)ine3S In Thee, and Thee alone. Here perfect bliss can ne'er be found ; The honey 's mixed with gall : 'Midst changing scenes and dying friends Be Thou my all in all. And also — 'Tis my happiness below. Not to live without the cross ; But the Saviour's power to know, Sanctifying every loss. Trials must and will befall ; But with humble faith to see Love inscribed ui)on them all. This is happiness to me. !; U i*'' (. 14 NOTES OF THE FLOOD God in Israel sows tho soeds OfufHiotion, pain, and ^oil : Thcisic sprinuc up and choke the weeds Which would else o'erspread tiie soil. Trials make the proniit-e sweet ; Trials i^Wo new lil'e to prayer ; Tj'ials bring me to Ills feet, Lay m(} low, and keep me there. These are from a collection of hymns \vhich I found in use on my arrival here, and I had some- limes tlujUL^ht of changing it lor anotiier ; but I was struck with the number of liynnis in it applicable to our peculiar circumstances at this season. I then preached from .ieremiah x. If) : " Woe is me for my hiu't ! my wound is grievous : but I said, 'i'ruly this is a grief, and 1 nuist bear it." I. On the nature of the afiliction — as Sudden, Stealthy, AVithout remedy, and, Reaching far into the future. II. The Scriptural examples most applicable to our case, those of Noah and Job. III. The sins wliich may have brought it upon us — Copying the heathen, see v. I, 2 — Pride and independence of spirit — Want of gratitude for many privileges — Evil speaking, and a tendency to take up mere leports — The system of advances, and running into debt — and, Carelessness in time of plenty. AT THE RED RIVER. 15 Closing with the (lucstions — 1. Whjit shall he the end ? — Good, if we ini])rovc it ;i right. ^. What shall be the fruits ?— Patience, and the peaceable fruits of righteousness. .'3. What the way to secure this ?— Earnest and eilectual prayer. We did not again assemble, as there was so )nuch necessary to be done : indeed, I told them that, as the observance of the day was only of human appointment, they need not feel it binding on their conscience to abstain from all labour (ku'ing the rest of the day, after we h.ad joined in supplication to God to avert the impending judg- ment. I cnuld not })ut revert in thought to the services of the same day two years before : it was the day of my first Confirmation in the country, in this same Church. Notice was given during ser- vice, that any who chose might lodge wheat in the gallery of the Church for safety : thirty bushels were brought immediately after. Many besides deposited the articles they most valued with our- selves, as, clocks, saws, seed, ike. One individual brought as much as a hundred bushels of grain, of different kinds, for storage. All seemed strength- ened by the service, and prepared to endure what might be before them. The remark of one was, \t I !■. 'Mi ■■I r I ' i. IG NOTES OF THE FLOOD tliJit lie would not leave tlic settleineiit, even though the llootl should recur often ; for, if ;i judgment for his sins, they would be sure to find him out whcre- ever he was. In this way sonic may he left around us, though I fear the issue may ho a pjir- tial dispersion of this part of the settlement. About 4 P.M. Governor Colvile passed down in a birch-rind canoe, borne rapidly along the stream. His cheerfulness was animating to us all, and it was some encouragement to hear that the Stone- Fort was still forty feet above the water. lie pressed us to go down, but I preferred remaining at this end, more amid my people. My books were this afternoon carried over to St. Cross, which, being a newer house, was thought safer; the folios of St. Augustine, presented to me by the Hector and Fellows of Exeter C'ollege, Oxford, having thus an unexpected removal. The task was cheer- fully undertaken by the young ladies, with the as- sistance of some of my own pupils. It was well that no time was lost, as the water had spread itself between the two houses before morning. The evening was calm, and the rise from 10 a.m. to 8 P.M. was barely three inches : for a time it ap- peared almost stationary. Towards night heavy rain commenced, the first since the breaking up of the ice : if it bring warm weather it may do good. AT THE RKD RIVEH. 17 IS cheer- () An old Indian, who often works about the house, HviniT on the opposite side, bof^gcd permission to tent on tlic ^^round, having moved to no purpose from knoll to knoll across. May () — The rain has cleared the air. Another Indian family take refuge near us. Four tents, with the cattle and little property around, now on the ground. A stirring scene to behold the cattle brought from the opposite side. A boat came t take away Mrs. Mills and her young ladies : a few also went from my own school : the relief was great to find but ten pupils remaining. Busy piling cordwood: the men occupied stacking some un- thrashed wheat on the roof of one of the out- buildings. The cheerfulness of the children seems only to increase with the bustle : my youngest little boy on the top of the wheat stack, full of joy, and without thought for the future, imagined that we were only breaking up for the holidays. The work of dismantling proceeds in the house : all the ser- vants most willing and active. The chief features of a meteorological character which we noticed were, a halo or large circle round the sun, and the fleecy, feathery clouds commonly called, I believe, by sailors, mares' tails : these were observed for about a fortnight. The chief sounds were the croaking of the frogs and the piling of the c 18 NOTES OF Tin: FLOOD I i wood, as all were trying to secure tliat most essen- tial article, and, on the rafts so formed, to save carts, cariolcs, sleighs, and any otlicr property. May 7 — A morning of more wintry aspect. Six- teen hundredweight of Hour, j);irt of the collection at the Upper Church for the Mission at Fairford, lodged in the gallery of the church. Horses of the Company pass down, sent for security to the Stone Fort. They were seen fording and swiinniing the creeks, now swollen to rivers. In every direction there arc processions of cattle, horses, and carts, going to the Little Mountain : the creaking sound of the wheels is melancholy to hear. One stahle drifts down the river. Mrs. Taylor, who had been our inmate for nearly two years, left in a cart to take possession of their unfinished parsonage-house, and to prepare it, as far as might be, in case we should be obliged to leave our own for higher ground. The patriarch of our congregation, Mr. J. S pence, takes refuge with us : he had seen the previous flood, and had then been kindly sheltered on the same ground, in a part of the buildings which existed in those days, by the Rev. D. T. Jones. I could do but little for him ; but, placing him by a comfortable stove, set him to read *' Luther's Life " and " Adam's Private Thoughts," when he soon for- got all without. Mr. Cockran arrived late in the AT THE RED RIVER. 19 evening, and, by liis appearance, cheered U3 all. It astonished us to hear that seed was sown at the Indian Settlement. We agreed to undertake to- irether the Mission farm at St. Andrew's, for it seemed doubtful whether wheat could be raised on my own land this year. He was still full of hope that the waters would not rise to a flood, as before. May 8— Mr. Cockran returns home, after visiting the Upper Fort. During the forenoon a little snow and sleet fell. This was the birthday of our old guest, who was to-day 85 years old. More of the pupils leave: engaged in removing wheat f^om the granary, at the door of which the water was now washing. All these were to me unusual employ- ments, but all had now to take to active work, and turn every moment to account. I could not but think of David and the threshing-floor of Araunuh, the Jebusite, and offer up the prayer, " Stay now thine hand." In viewing and handling the grain more closely, I could not but feel that poetry spoke not in vain, in more senses than one, of the golden corn and golden harvest. As regarded the future subsistence of all in the settlement, here was the true gold, that which gold could not purchase, more valuable to us than the mines of California. The evening calm and beautiful : water still rising. To our surprise, a large boat was seen passing between c 2 "I 1'^ tl \ % 1 ! 20 NOTES OF THE FLOOD US and St. Cross, and we found it was to bring the people over to service next morning. The tents were visible on the Little Mountain, where the pen- sioners, and many of the settlers, were already en- camped. The aurora borealis was brilliant at night, like a semicircular arch of tailed comets. May 9 : Sunday — Awoke by the sweet singing of the birds : a most gorgeo is day, with bright sun and strong south wind. We had heard over night that the water was stationary at Pembina; but the great rise in the night dispelled such a pleasing idea. Many had hoped to defer the re- moval of their cattle till after the day of rest, but were forced to go off at once. I was myself obliged to give orders for my own cattle to be taken up to the higher banks of the Assiniboine, as the inter- vening ground was being fast covered. 1 prepared for service, but with a heavy heart. The pathway to the church was open, but only just so : the water had entered one corner of the churchyard, and, had the service been three hours later, we could not have gone over dry shod. The gathering of the congregation was very different from usual : some came over their corn-fields in the large boat, Et ducunt remos illic, ubi nuper ararant j others were ferried across the creek, where my bridge was many feet under water. I expected but ' i: AT THE RED RIVER. ,^1 very few, but they gradually filled in, until we numbered more than a hundred. One of the Psalms for the day of the month was Luther's, the 4Gth ; and for the second lesson came St. Matthew vii., the closing image of which, from the Re- deemer's own lips, with the buildings floating around, admitted of application to all. We sar:g — Wait, my soul, tliy Maker's will ; Tumultuous passions all be still ; Nor let a murm'rine sate within the ark." Sinners, see the ark prepared ; Haste to enter while there's room : Tliough the Lord His arm has bared, Mercy still retards your doom. Seek Him while there yet is hope, Ere the day of grace be post. Lest in wrath He give you up, And this call should prove your last. I then preached from Nuhum i. 7 : " The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble ; and He knoweth them that trust in Him ;" dwelling chiefly on the goodness of God, and His tender care of His people in trouble. I gave out that there would be no service in the afternoon, and that, if any looked for direction to satisfy their con- science, I thought a reference to St. Matthew xii. 11. would prove that they were justified in rescuinf* their cattle, and the means of life, even on the Lord's-day. My own cattle were, on this principle, removed out of danger during the hours of service. Coming out, I spoke to some wno had the use of a boat, and offered them a sovereign if they would rescue the family and cattle of one man, who was I Pi ■■■»! :; •i' 1' } If i Hi , ■ \ ■ ! I 'I 24 NOTES OF THE FLOOD now surrounded on the spot to whicii he had Hed for retuge on the other side of the river. They immediately manned tlie boat with a large crew, and with some dilliculty crossed the rapid current, and in about two hours brought them oif. The little child, one of them told me, was asleep on some hay, with the water nearly around it. They are now safely tented on the ground. 6 clock. — The greater portion of those in church in the morning have now moved out, and have gone, in a long line of carts, to the Mountain, with their cattle. My own servants have returned from Mr. Taylor's, where they left the cattle. The strength of the south wind is bringing down a prodigious volume of water. Our own family-prayers in the evening were diilbrent from aforetime. Our num- bers were reduced, and few could join us ; yet the precious lesson occurred, Romans viii. — especially its closing verses, how full of comfort, " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribu- lation ... or famine," ike. The most melancholy sight of the day had been, when those tented on my ground moved off, and passed over the swollen water to the north of the church. All walked right through the stream, men and women up to their waist : the cattle were swum over, and the carts with great difficulty got through. Others were AT THE REL' RIVER. or i «ii housed by us for the night. The party from Port- age-la-Prairie, who liad come in for seed, left, as they could not be sure of crossing with their laden carts in the morning. It was thus a day of much sccularity, but I hope not unnecessarily so. In rescuing the cattle one felt the luxury of doing good, for which alone life is worth living. Another (lay, and our dwelling will be touched with the waters. We had perhaps shared in the feeling, which all seemed in turn to experience, that it might yet stop ere it reached ourselves ; but all around were suffering, and why should we expect to escape ? We had, directly after service, removed the hangings, cushions, &c., from the church, which it now seemed likely the water would enter. There had been to-day a peculiar noise, like the sound of many waters, such as one may imagine the first distant sound of Niagara : it was the pour- ing of the water over the plains. One told me he heard it commence in the morning : it was not the usual rush of the river, but the sound as of a water- fall ; and we often heard it afterwards in places where the body of water, coming over the plains, rushed down from a higher level. None could tell whence all the water came. Some, as in the former iiood, said that the waters of the Missouri were ! I I .il! ! ••i, ' I 2G NOTES or THE FLOOD coming down upon us ;* others, that it was the breaking up of the Red Lake, or the melting of the snow at the Turtle ]\Iountain. This was undoubted, that the Red River opened for itself fresh channels into the Assiniboine above the junction, so that from Pembina to our settlement was one broad lake. And it came down upon us — as an Indian, I believe, first expressed it — like a race-horse. Mai/ 10 — Another beautiful morning, but the rise in the night greater than any previous one. The water was now in the granary and store, and I was some time standing in the water, which had got into the ice-cellar, endeavouring to rescue some barrels of salted meat, which we had deferred doing on Saturday evening. Through the energy of those around me we succeeded in doing this, though the cold was intense. The provision was invaluable to us, as it constituted our summer stock, and main dependence during the warm weather. The loss of the ice, though in our climate a great luxury, and essential for the preservation of all fresh provisions, was, under the circumstances, scarcely felt or thought of. This day the boat, which we expected for the H ! * i 'Missionary Register" for December 18*2G, p. 635. '■ii it AT THE RED RIVER. 27 little boys, arrived about 11 a.m., with Mr. Black, the officer in charge oi the Upper Fort, and Mrs. Black, who kindly came to see us. They were dis- tressed at finding us so surrounded with the waters. Their accounts were most painful. The barn of Emilien, the largest farmer among the Canadians, had floated away : they reported also the loss of many other houses, carried down by the current, A little time was lost in collecting our pigs, poultry, &c., for transportation ; and then the boat went off, taking my three dear little boys, and their invaluable nurse, to their spot of refuge on the higher ground of St. James's, to enjoy the kindness and attention of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor. The water gained upon us all day. One of my servants brought tidings from Mr. Taylor of a rise of the Assiniboine of five inches and a half during the night. Another servant I sent down with the horses to the Rapids, to com- mence the ploughing of the Mission farm there. A poor Frenchman called on me, begging for a little relief: his house had been swept away, and, besides this, he was left without a bateau : he was houseless, and spoke of his seven children with tears in his eyes, but added, " C'est le bon Dieu qui afHige*' — a lesson of patience to all. The evening was bright and beautiful, the sunset brilliant, and the whole sky without a cloud. Yet I It " Ww "i I hMit ....».v..„r,.«.-^:^-,-?^ I ■ ! i' I ii : 1 1 1 t: 'i ■ 1 i -s : i,li ^8 NOTES OF THE FLOOD vcr^etation and death how near ! All was starting from its long winter, and springing into life, only to be swept over by the deadening tide. The maple- trees, now in full leaf, only served to make the de- solation more palpable. There was the rich green foliage above, and the waste of waters all beneath. We ascended the high raft of wood, to take a pro- spect around. How desolate ! not a creature visible to the eye, save one neighbour, with his wife, on the top of their raft. Boats, too, were seen in unusual places, still carrying cattle over. On de- scending from the raft, and walking to the front of the house, I saw from the platform what I thought to be a full sail, beyond the church-yard, on what was the mainland. Those about me laughed at the idea, till I forced them to look again, when the boat sailed round, and approached the house, as a car- riage might have done in summer. Wonderful as the look of the river is, more wonderful is the ex- panse of water towards the plains : it is indeed Coelum undiquo, et imdique pontus. The water this evening gained our platform, and washed the walls of the house : whether they may bear the shock is known only to our gracious Father, who guides and checks all by His sovereign will. All necessary preparations had been made 1^ 11 AT THE RED RIVER. during the day, by unhinging and removing the doors of the lower rooms, to allow free current for the waters. The furniture was either carried up stairs, or the heavier articles piled piece upon piece, so as to prevent their knocking about. In doing this, we had to attend to the two houses and school-buildings ; and, as all around had now left, it was impossible to get any assistance. My sister and I now took up our quarters in the upper part of one wing of the house. Ma?/ 11 — Lovely bright morning: rose before five, and had superintended the measuring of thirty bushels of wheat before six, for seed at the Rapids; also Indian corn and potatoes, to go by the boat which had arrived the previous evening. The rise in the night rather less : the platform was now floating : no water as yet in the house. My gar- den, the last dry spot, was now under water, and the churchyard, the seed-plot for eternity, was also covered. The surface of the water was beautifully calm, and the sun very powerful. Looking at the vegetation bursting forth on all sides, one could almost imagine that it would still outstrip and defy the progress of the waters. We prepared to send off the boat : our aged guest, too infirm to endure further hardship, was sent down by it to safe quarters below. Seed, plough, and harrows. i; jii !^^ Mil I? I I li 1 1 •I I «1 1 1 i \ } ) { H , 30 NOTES OF THE FLOOD with the remainder of my young pupils, were also sent olY. While thus occupied, the Governor and Mrs. Colvilc, with Mrs. Mills, called, and were much shocked at the changed ai)pearance of all around. They wished to send boats to take of! pro})erty, but this I felt to be scarcely possible, as I had so much belonging to others in the house, nor was there time to pack sufficiently for a re- moval. I was content to leave all above, in the hope that a gracious God would preserve the dwell- ing, at least the upper part of it. Busy through the whole day in a thousand different ways, often in the water up to my knees, as all around the platforms were giving way, and afforded no se- cure footing. Friends can scarcely imagine our unspeakable gratitude at finding that no water had entered any of the rooms : the fiood was still with- out, only in the cellars. Every stove in either house was now taken to pieces and carried up stairs : this, from their number and the weight of the iron, was in itself no inconsiderable labour. Heard with pain of Mr. Chapman : wished much to send to him, but could not. li; was now " every family apart." It was painful to think how little one could do for others — how unavailing was the deepest sympathy. Heard also from Mr. Taylor. In his new unplastered dwelling twenty-seven were AT THE RI.I) RIVER. 31 sheltered the previous night. Wli.it a privilege thus to be enabled to do good at a time of such wide-spread distress ! My sister is cheerful and collected as ever, with the waters gaining inch by inch : here is moral courage and Christian heroism. One servant with mo, who is deserving of all praise; the others, scattered with the cattle and the plough- ing. My senior scholar returned to-day, and re- mains, with one of the elder pupils : this is our whole stair, with Mr. G. IVidham — few enough to overlook both houses. May 12 — Awoke at two in the morning, and went over the house, thankful to find that all was still dry. Slept till half-past four, and got up, having had a refreshing dream in the interval of the waters falling at Pembina ; but awoke to find it only a pleasing vision. The water had now entered the hall, and was trickling into the sitting-rooms — a sad and heartrending spectacle. Let any at home pic- ture to themselves their doors unhung, their grates removed (their only equivalent to our stove), their furniture piled to the ceiling in their rooms, or carried up stairs, and the water entering by the sides, oozing from under the boards, and secretly creeping along till it covers the flooring. The main door in the porch would no longer open, from the rising of the hall floor, and it had to be forciblv taken off. 32 NOTES OF TIIK rLOOI) The mornin;,' brouLtlit us :i little misclianco, try- ing to ]);iti(MK'e, thouf,'h soon got over. My ))ox, ^vitll the dioeesan registers and my j)rivatc papers, had hccn sent to the other house, and left in a room uhieh it was not thought the water would reach so soon. It was found, however, an inch or two in the water, which had contrived to enter the tin sail', and damage a few of the pa})ers. They were soon effectunlly dried, by the kind services of those about me. ^^'e had prayers as usual before breakfast, only a little band of six: sung good Bishoj) Ken's ]\Iorning Hymn, with hut little between us and the water. Read as our portion Job i. May God give us a measure of his patience ! A birch-rind canoe arrived from Mr. Cockran, with two Indians, father and son, to remain with us for any emergency, and to carry us off if necessary. I went over with them to the church, and found the water had entered. It was a melancholy sight to look down from the gallery ; and as I vin^ed the churchyard lying under water, I thought what could be done in case of death. There had been two funerals the day before at St. Andrew's : what could I do if death occurred in the Upper Settle- ment ? The rise of the night had been very great, and the wind was strong from the south-east. This caused a violent current against the house, AT THE RED RIVER. which we could liardly stem on our return from llie church. As wo crossed, the strong' shd) fence to the side o^' the house was giving way in hirgu spaces. I listened for some time, not knowing whence the noise came: there was first the cracking sound, as the hands which coiniected the pickets were wrenched asunder, and then a loud splash, as they fell into the water. As I turned to see what it was, one of the Indians sail, " Muskowichewun nippee" — the water is very strong glancing signi- ficantly in the right direction. This morning a great numher of birds . some of a kind which neither my servant nor any around me knew — like a canary, but larger, and with tnore black on the wings. Swallows had been seen, for the first time, the day before. Afterwards, the birds not so numerous ; probably unable to find their usual food. My own poor dog, "Watch," the only animal near, seemed to languish, wandering about the house in search of dry footing, and whining piteously. The weather still as bright over head as the brightest May-day in England. Heard from the party above : all well and happy : received let- ters from the two eldest little boys, busy in their new employments, and finding pleasure in all. The Rev. J. Hunter came kindly from below to offer any assistance. Mr. Taylor arrived, also, in D •■ t 1 i ; i 1 1 ■■» 1 1 .1 I H i' 34 NOTES OF THE FLOOD the evening, from above: both much afFtctcd with the distressing sight and changed aspect of our dwelling. Their sympathy was cheering. The canoe which brought Mr. 1 aylor down had taken up Mr. Pridham. The continuance in such a scene was felt to be trying to the health and spirits, and we determined to relieve each other at intervals. I consented to accept Mr. Taylor's offer, and to leave, for a short time, on the morrow, while he remained to guard. That night there was a fearful thunder- storm, with much vivid lightning, and a high wind ; but we were four of us together in one room, and felt it comparatively little. My sister was in the adjoining room. If the water increase, this part of the house would be no longer accessible : this, of itself, would be a reason for seeking a change. Read Job ii. for our evening portion. March 13 — After a most tempestuous night a bright morning : the wind falling, but still conside- rable. The rise much as before : not one dry spot left below : no resting-place for the sole of the foot. We had prayers in the kitchen, standing in the water three inches deep. What devastation this one night must have made ! If we felt somewhat alarmed, what must it have been for those exposed to the severity of the weather ! We thought much of women and children driven from their homes, and AT THE RED RIVER. ted witli t of our g. The ad taken 1 a scene rits, and ;rvals. I to leave, remained thunder- ^h wind ; )om, and ls in the is part of : this, of change. night a conside- dry spot the foot, he water )ne night alarmed, 1 to the Tfiiich of nes, and even, in many cases, without tents to shelter them. Wonderful, how God sustains ! We were more cheerful throughout than any could imagine. It is only the meeting with friends, and their beholding one in changed apparel (barefoot, like David of old), and in a sadly altered home, that at all affected me : to all feelings about the loss and destruction of property one is comparatively callous. The nearest resemblance to our condition might be found in a prolonged shipwreck, in which the waters are fast gaining on the vessel, and one knows not what to rescue and save, or whether the ship itself will hold out to the end. There was even the rocking sensation, as one passed over the float- ing platforms, or watched the swell of the current through the house. At other times one compared our position to that of a fortress under siege ; the lines of the enemy approaching nearer and nearer, until but one solitary spot was left from which to look down. When I spoke, however, of this, my sister said hers would ever be David's choice— to fall into the hands of God, and not into those of men. I n looking from without, and especially when viewing the settlement after the waters had begun to retire, it was exactly as if a fire had raged : every house looked a mere shell, the doors and windovv'-sashes taken off, and the chimneys fallen in through the D,'i ! ^ irf « I i ;i S6 NOTKS OF THE FLOOD roof, with the barns and out-houses often in ruins around. Mr. Hunter left, having given much valuable aid: he and Mr. Taylor had taken off the window- sashes of both houses. He promised also to return the next day, with a large boat, to take off what could be /"emoved of our property. It is grateful to hear of dry land below ; but should the water continue to rise and sweep down the plains, Mr. Hunter fears that it may come upon them from behind, and that they may feel it eventually at the llapids. My sister consented to go above, as then the party remaining could all be together in the kitchen loft. I was to accompany her for a day or two, to see the little ones, and enjoy a little change. I had also arranged to have service, if possible, oti Sunday at the Little Mountain. The water was now knee-deep in the house, and, sitting still up stairs, the sound was like the dashing of the waves on the shore. All that was possible having now been etiected, we felt our situation more depressing than when actively employed. A boat from the Upper Fort called : it waii laking down Mrs. Caldwell and family, Mrs. Pelly, and others, to remain a*; the Stone Fort till the waters subside. They were to have taken in our piano, and that of Mrs. Mills, but the waves were AT THE RED RIVER. I ( (I ii [} 1 in ruins running too high for them to stop long, and the boat was taking in water. None of the party left the boat, and my sister could only speak to them from her upper room windjw. We were to have fjone up to St. James's directly after, but the men deemed it too rough for the canoe, so we waited till morning. May 14 — Rose at hall-past four : the weather still stormy. The men however said, " Keche nootin, mahgah kwiusketin " — it blows hard, but it is fair. We started soon after five. My sister was brought in a wooden bateau from the foot of the stairs through the hall and kitchen, and then got into the birch-rind canoe. It was very cold, and the paddles sometimes splashed the water over us ; yet we could not but notice the dexterity of the Indian.s in the use of the paddle, and the variety of evolu- tions they performed with it. Sometimes it was the quick, huiried paddle; at other times the i^entlest touch breaking the wave ; again, they seemed to steady the canoe by merely drawing their paddle slowly through the water. Sometimes they cried out, " Pahkwon "—it is shoal — and then they struck it down to the bottom, so as partially to raise the canoe. We went right over the fields — nearly the line of our usual land road — to avoid the strong current and long bends of the river. The it(, t M i i I p. J 38 NOTES OF THE FLOOD chief danger was from the fencings which had divided the farms. These consist of two upright posts at certain intervals, between which cross poles are fixed: these latter were, for the most part, now washed away ; but whenever we crossed where they had been, the man at the bow of the canoe felt his way very carefully with the paddle, as coming upon one of these concealed under the water would have damaged their frail bark. They always carry pitch with them to repair any injury ; and it is the last thing before starting to examine the canoe, and see that all the seams are tight. They seldom venture far out in these, generally coasting along the lakes, where they may put to shore in case of storm or accident. But now there was no dry land on which they could have taken up the canoe for repair, had such been necessary, while there was more risk of injury than in open water. After a hard paddle we reached our refuge at Mr. Taylor's, where many came out to welcome us. 1 believe we looked rather shivering and w^eather- beaten; but a warm in the house soon refreshed us, and not less a walk on dry ground. The sensation was like that of treading on the earth after a stormy passage. It seemed weeks since I had really had a walk, and I felt unwilling to remain in the house. AT THE RED RIVER. 39 \i i After dinner I rode up to the encampment on the Little Mountain, where I saw Captain Hill and the pensioners. Found Mr. Black and Dr. Cowan there also, who confirmed the good tidings of a diminished rise. The pensioners had been so delighted to hear that it had only risen two inches during the night, that they had chaired the bearers of the good news on the spot. I saw other parishioners wiio were tented near, and announced, to their joy, the Sunday service. On my way back, visited the other tents nearer the river, chiefly those from the lower part of the Assiniboine district. How for- tunate that Mr. Taylor had so far finished his house : it thus afforded a most seasonable refuge. As they have thus commenced by being blessings to many, may they continue to be so, leading many to the true city of refuge prepared for sinners. Nothing could exceed the kindness of their welcome. Here, all was activity and bustle : how different from the death-like stagnation below ! On our way up we had seen but one individual : here were canoes, and carts, and cattle, and many moving about. But I found that, go where I might, some call of business would find me out. Soon after my arrival the schoolmaster from Portage la Prairie, and with him the Indian chief and his boys who had been at school there, paid me a visit. 1.^ f i i ' ■I ii.ii I ■I 10 NOTES OF THE FLOOD Ma?j 15 — The cold of the previous day had almost prepared us to expect the snow and sleet which fell this morning, and continued for some hours : a most wintry aspect for the middle of May. Nearly thirty had slept under the roof, females and children being taken in from the tents around: on one occasion as many as thirty-five. We were anxious to send the canoe for Mr. Taylor, but it was too rough till the afternoon, when the weather moderated, and the river resumed a placid appearance. An evident decrease in the rise of the water : a great mercy, for had it continued at the same rate, a very few days must have driven us from our present refuge ; and tents were being prepared in the expectation that we would yet have to pitch out. Mr. Taylor arrived in the even- ing, and reported one boat-load of our property taken down to the Rapids : the boat to return on Monday for more, should the rise still continue. Pre^^-^red my sermon for next day: how changed from former Sabbaths ! Mcif/ 16: Sunday — A fine cold morning. After breakfast proceeded on horseback to the Little Mountain, and found that Captain Hill had made the necessary preparations, and selected a spot sheltered, as much as possible, from the north wind. The situation and the whole assemblage AT THE RED RIVE II. 41 were picture^quo in the extreme, and I wish I could have had a sketch of the scene. Around were about four-and-twenty military tents with the ord- nance mark, tipped with red. Before me was a table covered with a scarlet cariole cloth, by which I stood for service. The congregation formed in a semicircle around, consisting of pensioners, their families, and other settlers: about 100 in all. I preached from Genesis xix. 27 — Abraham looking down on the cities of the plain. This seemed no unsuitable subject, as within a step or two we could command the prospect of the upper part of the settlement devastated by the swelling tide. I considered, I. Abraham as a patten, of intercessory prayer and faith. II. The destruction of the guilty cities. And then applied the subject by contrasting Lot and his wife, the one taken and the other left. I alluded also, in closing, to the churchyard, and those who had seen the previous flood, whose bodies now lay there covered with the waters. A few survived to see a second flood. I spoke of the two servants of God who, under similar circum- stances in 1826, had preached but a little distance below us to the large encampment* — the one taken * The late Rev. D. T. Jones and the Rev. W. Cockran. ( ; '1. m III I 'I I ; • i: fl f 'I 1 ' )l , ■If 4.2 NOTES OF THE FLOOD hence, the other still spared in full vigour and stren^ith. Encouraged them to look onwards through their trials in faith and patience, and u])- wards to that heaven to which we were all Fast hastenin'T. I enjoyed the service extremely, and found, much to my joy, that many of my people were there from Sturgeon Creek, and some of my own pupils, so that we formed a good choir. We had our usual chaunts, and very beautiful was the melody of Spollbrth's To J)cnm under the open canopy of heaven. Left the spot filled with gratitude, and found that Mr. Taylor had enjoyed as fully his service with an attentive congrefjation at his own house. Very laudable was the desire manifested to be present, some having arrived soon after eight in the morning, although the service was not to begin till half-past ten. It was held within the house, some being in each of the four rooms. From the unfinished state of the house, the parti- tions not being yet plastered, Mr. Taylor, who took his place in the entrance hall, was perfectly audible to all. It was for the time our nave and transepts. It afforded a curious proof of the simi- larity of the expedients from necessity resorted to in colonial dioceses, to find, a few weeks after, in the journal of the Bishop of Quebec, that he had it gour and onwards 3, and up- e all fast ind, much here from r)upils, so our usual lelody of anopy of tude, and fully his ; his own lanifested \er eight s not to thin the rooms, he parti- or, who perfectly lave and ;he sinii- orted to after, in he had AT THE RED RIVER. 43 preached exactly in a similar way in his late visita- tion tour.* In the evening there was service again in the house at five o'clock. After Mr. Taylor had read prayers, I preached from Genesis viii. 10, 11 — the dove sent forth from the ark. This led me to con- template the patriarchal sabhath, the messenger sent forth by Noah, and the gracious answer of God. As we stood by the spot where God seemed to have stayed the flood, I took occasion to observe that, as Noah raised an altar for a thank-offering to God, so there seemed a peculiar propriety in the consecration of this spot to God, which has twice been the Zoar of the settlement : surely, then, ;i fit place for the future church ; and of it we in a manner took possession this day, which might be regarded as the sabbath of first-fruits — of consecra- tion to the living God. So richly had God blessed us through the day ! Had any one told me that I could have so enjoyed a Sabbath when banished from my own home, and cut off from God's house, 1 could not have believed it: so truj is it that wherever His people worship, God fulfils to them His gracious promise — *' I will be to them a little sanctuary." * Appendix, No. III. i' ' i;|i )i i fii i ^ 1 44 NOTDS OF THE FLOOD J\f<()/\'7 -I Started early in the canoe to visit my own house. In passinir the Fort Ciiilcd to soe the Major and Mr. l'»hick. At tlie Fort ^ate the current was terrific, and we entered with diiK- culty. Instead of the usual l)ustle of May — the most active month of the year — all was desolate: boats were within the? quadrangle, and one taking in cargo from tlie upper windows of the store. Breakfasted with Major Caldwell, after which the rapidity of the current soon carried me to my own house. But here melancholy tidings awaited me, as if wave upon wave of trouble were breaking over me. I heard that my faithful servant had left on Saturday evening, soon after Mr. Taylor had quitted the house, to visit his wife. As he started when it was dark and stormy, all alone in a wooden bateau, and had not since been heard of, there seemed great reason to fear the worst. I deter- mined to start instantly to see his wife, twelve miles down tlie river, and if I should not find him there to break the sad tidings to her. I had read the day before, in the Epistle, that the essence of true religion is " to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction ;" but I had little idea then that the first duty of the morrow would be to break to a young widow the tidings of her husband's death. I sailed down in much anxiety of mind, the waves AT Tlir RED uivr.R. 45 beinfr like a sea, and succceiled in reaching the Middle Churcli. Here I found Mr. Hunter and liis hrother-in-hiw, one of my scholars, with a large i)oat at the very door of the church, haviug come up to remove more of my i)ro|)crty. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman were living in the gallery of the church : the tower seemed almost to rock with the wind. Here Mr. Chapman had had service the previous (lay, with a congregation of five in the morning and three in the afternoon. I tried to persuatle them to leave, and Mr. Hunter would have taken them down, but they declined doing so. Finding that my men pronounced it too rough to proceed fur- ther, I got into the larger boat to go up with Mr. Hunter, who kindly undertook to act as my substi- tute, and visit the widow on his return. Here one ray of hope for a moment appeared. I thought of (questioning his crew what members of that family had been at St. Andrew's church the day before. One of them replied, " Your servant was there;" but with another question all hope vanished, and I found he meant the wife. On leaving the church tower, the boat went through the churchyard-gate, and for some distance kept its course over the plains ; but on getting into the current of the river the tide was so strong against us that we made but little head : and after trying for some time to stem li i: i! h II I j 1(] ^oT^:s or tiik flood it, to little purpose, I ur^^cd Mr. Hunter to return, and hailed my canoe, into which I jumped, and *^()\ up in safety, throujifh (jod's Ijlessint^. 'I'hc waves were so high as almost to threaten to swallow us up. At times we were nearly drivin«jr af^ainst the houses, or upon hidden fences ; but the dexterity of the men was admirable, and I felt thr()ui!:!i()ut full confidence. We looked around eagerly, in every direction, and tried often to raise a shout, in case ray poor servant might be anywhere on a raft, or in a barn, but all in vain. 1 had spoken the day be- fore of the water washing over many wlio had seen the last flood. How little did 1 know that the tide then covered the remains of one who had been the mainsi)riug of the house, not only In my own time, but for six years before my arrival in the country. The report of one of the congregation, which he had mentioned to many on the Mountain, seemed now to be too true, who said that during the night of Saturday he had heard the moaning as of a man far spent. He had tried to rouse the two by his side, but in the dark no effectual relief could be rendered, and the sound soon died away. Soon after I reached home Mr. Cockran arrived. Singularly enough, he had by the way seen the widow, unconscious of her bereavement. This confirmed our worst apprehensions, and made the AT THE IU:D KIVER. 17 to return, I, and yui he waves vallow Us aiiist the xtcrity of lioiit full in every t, in case •atr, or in ; day be- liad seen that the had been my own d in the rcgation, ountain, it during aning as the two ief coukl r arrived. een the Tiiis lade the crrtainty almost beyond a doubt. Was it not strange, too, that he brouglit tidings of another death— that of the only chihl of the younger In- dian in my canoe? The chihl had died aiul been connnitted to the earth without the father's pre- sence. It was ailecting to see him hide liis face in his hands, and weep in bitterness of soul. lie seemed to be comforted when I asked liim whether it was not far better that the child should rest with God than remain in a world so full of sorrow. This would be a sufficient contradiction to the imetic fancy which has termed the Indian "the stoic of the woods, the man without a tear." IJe may not feel keenly much which aifects us, but towards his family his heart is as warm as that of Mie white man, and his grief under bereavement is over- whelming ; and not having our consolation, he often gives way, and sinks entirely under it. Of a father's love I had here sufficient proof: and of a mother's who couM doubt, who sees the cradle, and the clothes of the babe which she has lost, carried about by her long after in unavailing sorrow ? Our evening, though a sad one, was cheered by much social converse. We were a large party — thirteen in all — several being storm-stayed, and obliged to pass the night with us. We sang to- gether in our " upper room," and offered up our ll I ■ ' !l s 1 ' 1 • 'I t f< 1 i' f. <; 48 NOTES OF THK FLOOD united prayers, after which Mr. Cockran gave us many tales of the former flood, and the earher days of the settlement. Thus the night passed away, and we lay down to rest ; but I could not sleep, my mind continually revcriing to one so long a worshipper with us, and so suddenly taken away. Mai/ 18 — We arose betimes, and Mr. Cockran soon started on his way down, determined to take Mrs. Chapman and her baby from their watch- tower to the Indian settlement. The ni^iht had been very tempestuous, which had, as we after- wards found, made her more willing to leave. They had even put out a signal of distress early in the morning, that those in the adjoining windmill might, according to agreement, zoizm to take thein oif; but they had fared but little better, and would themselves have taken refuge in the church, but felt it unsafe to cross. In this v. ay the signal was unheeded, and on Mr. Cockran's arrival he found little need to use much persuabion. A boat came to take some provisions and seed for our use above; but little, comparatively, could be done while the waves were so high, and the house so deep in water and diflicult to pass through. The heavy porch of oak had floated oil', and the boat was now moored close by the front door. Near it was a bedstead, which had been borne SI ii gave us rlier days ed away, lot sleep, o long a 11 away. Cockran d to take ;r watch- light had we after- to leave. s early in windnail! ake them nd w^ould jrch, but glial was he found uid seed ly, could he house through, and the )rit door, n borne AT THE RED RIVEK. ii) thither on the waters, from whence we knew not, and all around was wreck of every description : each hour brought down fresh spoil — Anna virum tabiJoeque ct Troia gaza per iindas. A large granary, full of wheat, had been driven by the current into the creek, and grounded on our lawn. I went up in the boat, having given my In- dians permission to go down, owing tu the death of the child. After a hard pull, we arrived in safety, but all were sadly afflicted at the loss of our valued and trusty cook. The rest of the day was spent in realizing the delight of being on dry land, and en- joying all the pleasures which the unwearied kind- ness of our friends could afford. I was much af- fected, at evening prayers, in seeing part of my iiousehold assembled around me, and thinking ;J' him who had always delighted to join, with heart and voice, in our family service. Ma?/ 19— A bright and milder morning, with a westerly wind : water stationary, and very calm. Two men started, to endeavour to find the body near the spot where the sounds were heard— I fear, upon a hopeless search.. I had brought up rny poor dog the day before in the boat. It appeared to revive a Httle after being brought on dry laud, but died iluring the night. E u i I! i ,50 NOIES OF THE FLOOD i n Vi[ . .ll : ii^ All was energy around: one seemed to have passed to another atmosphere. Ploiiohing was going on on both L..des of the river. In a walk before breakfast, saw the seed being dommitted to the ground ; while on the other side of the road the wheat was already up. Seven ploughs were at work in one field, and five or six in another, those whose land was dry feeling the necessity of culti- vating on a larger scale. The children were en- gaged in clearing and preparing the little garden around the parsonage. In the forenoon the cap- tain paid us a visit, and 1 was much pleased with his account of the attention of the men. After ser- vice they were grouped together, talking of what they had heard : Roman Catholics and Protestants joined. Strolled out after he left. The violets and buttercups, raspberry and strawberry blossoms, were grateful to the eye. Returning for dinner, I was agreeably surprised at finding Mr. Chapman had arrived. He had come over in a cart with a friend from the Stony Mountain. He gave us a lively description of the perils of Monday night. Soon after his wife had left with Mr. Cockran he had quitted the church for the hill, where many of his people are assembled. Each of our congrega- tions and the Presbyterians have now their own clergyman ; all, with the exception of those at the tl le AT THE RED RiVEk. 51 I' ! little hill on the opposite side of the river, called (generally Mr. Bird's hill, which is more dillicult to reach. In the afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Black came up in a canoe, chiefly to inform us of the express, which was to leave for Canada at the end of the month. The intercourse of the day was thus very refreshing, and the extreme ends of the settlement seemed brought together. Mr. Chapman's account of the losses in his own district was very appalling. The houses of two brothers had been entirely swept away, with their barns and wheat ; while along a considerable space on the other side of the river there was not one house left stau'ling. Others had placed their ploughs and stoves for safety upon rafts, and these floating off, all was lo'it. The mills, too, are re- ported to be much disabled, and uidikely to be at work for some time. Where artisans are few, this and the loss of a forge involves serious in- convenience, in the evening, the men returned from a vain search after the body. They report that the water is certainly nov/ at a stand, to say the least; and, singularly enough, it is the very day on which in lS26 it began to decline. But for my recent loss, what joyful tidings I During the day there was the burial of an Indian woman I had been on Monday, who died of dropsy. She was E .^ C) ii CI' I i fir lit f \ r r 1 4. (■ 1 '•■ 1 1 1 t f ', NOTES OF Tin: FLOOD buried without a cofTm, \vr;i])pcd merely in a blan- ket, with a hiiiX at the head tor a pillow, containinfr tlie articles she had used : a builido robe was laid benealh. No wonls were uttered, nor expressions of wailinijj, but in the eveniuijf there was the usual druuiniinu'. This was on the ground which I in- tended to ollbr to enclose with a ience, ii" the In- dians tlieniselves should be williuLi; : it almost ail- joins that lixed on for the church and school ot St. .lames. () that they might be (juickened by (iod's good Spirit! 1 lelt the |>ain of being able int of view. to do less for them, in a te mporal poi n than usual. It was with irrief that I was now obliiied to deny them that which hitherto I had given freely and without stint; })ahkwazhegun — Hour — being their invariable demand. Those also who brought any article tor sale always rc(juested to be ])aid i food rather than money. Ma// 'iO — ^Vandered out into the wood with my little boys: it was the birthday of the \oungest, six years old. He said, as we walked, " It does not seem like other birthdays : for below I know all the })»^ople, while here all are strange.*' He said his little presents were not to be given him till he returned home, as he called the old house, now al- most a wreck. This, too, is Ascension Day: how ditlerent from the last! On that day 1 had full AT THE RKI) RIVKIl. a blan- itaiiiinir rds laid rcssions 10 usual li 1 iu- tlic III- lost ad- hodl of iK'd by iii*' abl(^ L)t' \\C\V, oblincd n tieely — beiuu" r()Uhall come in lik(^ a flooil, the Spirit of (ho L(^rd shall lift up a standard against him." There was a better coniireijation, owinir to the beantv of the day, and the service beini^ more generally known : be- fwcen 2,j() and »3()0 ])resent. The day was intensely hot. Mr. Taylor suflered much from the sun beat- "'^g on his head. I prepared for service at the house. The day being warmer than last Sunday, planks were arranged in front of the house, and a fable in tlie porch formed the desk and pulpit. A tew, who feared the exposure of sitting out, were accommodated within. ]\Iy robes were, oi' course, dispensed wqth on these occasions. This the ne- cessities of colonial work often recpiire, as has been noticed in tlie journals of my brethren of New Zea- land and Cape Town. A temporary rude bell (a metal basin used for the purpose) summoned the confrregation. After prayers I preached from 1 Chron. xxi. 15, "And God sent an angel unto Jenisnlem to destroy it : and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and He repented Ilim of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand." From which I considered, I. The offer made to David, and liis wise choice. II. The secret method of the divine procedure, the agency of the destroying angel and Satan. :!' i ) 't ■5 .it il i. i 1 f>0 NOTTS OF THE ILOni) III. The evil stayed by the hand and word of (lod alone. During' the serviees, besides I)od(h'id<,'e's well- known hymn — • Thine t'lirtlily siil.baths, Lord, wc love ! we sang the beautiful hymn — Come, Thoti mijj^lity King of kings, Hiso witli hoiding in Thy wings ; IJaro Thine nrin and ride on Idgh, Glorious in Thy nnijesty ! Thou hast mercy still in store, E'en for India's coral shore: Afric's sable sons shall know Thou hast mercy to bestow. North and south, and east and west, All are waiting to be blest ; Come and bless them. Prince of peace, Give their fettered souls release. Thus shall earth's extended frame Swell the trophies of Thy name; And redeemed souls confess, " Jesus is our righteousness." During service Mr. T. Cockran and P. Jacobs arrived, though I did not perceive till the close that they had joined our congregation. With the former I had afterwards some conversation, and arranged AT Till) 11 ED ItlVKli. Gl iTLjarclin;^ his cxc'iininatioii for orders on Wcclnes- il;iy and Tliursday. All these plans juid been broken in upon by the dispersion, and had now to bet'ornied hastily, as the time iuhnitti-d not. of delay. We had the evening seryice, as usual. Many came down from the Mountain. ^Ir. Taylor read prayers, and I preached from Psalm xxiv. 7, 8 : "Lift up your heads, () ye i^ates ; and be ye lift up, ye eyerlasting doors ; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory ^ The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle." On the subject of the day, the Ascension : I. The nature of the heaven which the Sayiour re-enters : it is within the everlasting gates. JL The challenge and question from within. IlL The answer — " The Lord strong and iiiifjlity," &c. In speaking of the everlasting gates, there was the ready and obvious contrast — the tent, a transi- tory dwelling; the house, to which one attached the idea of security, scarcely more enduring, as their rioating dwellings now testified, and *" the solid earth itself " crumbling away in large masses on the banks. Tlie evening chants were sung; the cllect pleas- ing by the river-side. One could almost imagine the stream of song passing from spot to spot, almost h '. ' ) NOTES OF THE FLOOD audible from ridge to ridge. From the river, it a.scended to the Little Mountain; thence to the bluirs beyond where tlie Presbyterians worshipped; and from them o^ ards to the Stony Mountain, where Mr. Chapman and a portion of his flock were. Nor was it far for thought to travel from them tc St. Andrew's and the Indian Settlement, the two congregations still worshipping in the house of God, and swollen in numbers by many who had fled thither from al)ove. Had to arrange in thi evening for the departure of the Islington canuc next morning: glad that they had had the oppoi- tunity of \' orshipping with us. Aid'/ 'il My sister and I started for the StoiK Fort at six a.m. It was necessary to see the (iiover- nor and Mrs. Mills, on business connected with tin continuance of the schools. Breakfasted with }da- jor Caldwell in passing. Ciianged for a larger canoe at the Upper Fort, and proceeded onwards. Called at my own house, from which we were three canoes in convoy. As it turned out, ours was the oidy one which escaped damage from the current. The day was very tine, nearly as warm as the {)receding. It was like delicious lake scenery at home, b;it for the want of background. What we here call hills, the Little and Stony Mountain, are but very gentle eminences, of a few ! undred feet, scarcely visible AT THE RED RIVER. 63 r ( le river, it ICC to the Drshipped; Mountain, [lock were. m thcni i( t, the two liouse of I who had ge ill tliL' ;ton canoe he oppor- the StoiK ;he (lover- 1 with tiiL with Ma- rger canoe Is. Called 'ee canoes ; ojilv one The day ecli^L^ It ;it for the :ail hills, :)ry gentle ]\y visible .13 heights, though all felt their value on this occa- sion. Strange sights met u'jr eyes as we ^ roceeded. Some of the bridges we saw fonr miles beiow their former locality, and on the opposite side of the liver. The railing round some of the graves of the Lpper Church had also been carried down as tar. A barn had been tied to a strong tree, to secure it, I)ut It eventually floated olF. The houses, many of them standing up to the eaves in water, showed less the destructive effects of the water upon them than some weeks after, when the waters hnd retired. At all the points where the trees had caught the drift- wood it was collected in great quantities, and upon It was a motley assemblage of wheels, hay-carts, tables, doors, chairs, &c. The delight was great to reach the first spot where the banks were visible, at Park's Creek, half wav between the Middle Church and the Rapids. Here the current, from being confined within narrower limits, became more impetuous, and we had been strongly advised to proceed by land: but not being timid on the water, and having confidence in the skill of our three men, we jire- ierred going on to the Rapids, merely stopping to pay one sad visit to the widow of our poor servant. The sight of us, of course, renewed her grief: tlie httle babe was in her arms, wholly unconscious of :; ■; I, 64 NOTES OF THE FLOOD its loss. At St. Andrew's we called to see Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, and from that drove our own horse down to the Lower Fort. This was the first drive we had had since the cariolcs were in use over the ice. n Here we found a changed scene. The Fort has been improved with nuich taste by Governor and Mrs. Colvile, and it befran to wear much more ot an iMiglish as])cct : the annuals were above ground. and the lawn smooth and green. Its chief recom- mendation in our eyes, under the circumstances, was, that it still stood on a high bank, thirty fcei above the river. The fishing was going on vigo- rously. We watched Indians taking tlie gold-eyes with a scoop, something like a shrimp net with ,i long handle. With it they caught a single fish, now and then three or four times in succession : at other times, they brought up as many as two or three at once. These the Indian threw over his head, and tliey were immediately killed by his wife, who sat higher up on the bank. They had, in this way. caught oOO in one day. A few sturgeon had been taken in the small creek at the side of the Fort. The rapidity of the current ahnost made one giddy to look at it : it was running at the rate of eight or ten miles an hour. Had some conversation with the Governor and Mrs. Mills about the sciiools. My AT THE RED RIVER. 61 ee Mr. and own horse first drive 1 use over e Fort has venior and 3h more ot ve i^roinKl. lief reconi- unistances. thirty fcei c^ on vigo- gold-eyes net with ,i e fish, now 1 : at other )r three at head, and e, who sat this way. had been rthe Fort. one giddy of eiglit or n with the )ols. M\ fear was to collect a larger number than could be supported, in case of scarcity during the approach- ing winter, but the Governor, anxious that tlie female school should continue, as so great a benefit to the country, kindly offered, on the part of the Company, to supply it with provisions for the next year at the usual prices : and, being relieved from this part of my responsibility, I hope to be able to continue also the other, the collegiate school. Maf/ 25 — Started early to breakfast with Mr. Hunter. There I had many to see, and much business to transact. The canoe for Islington was jiere, and I had to send them on. As ^Ir. Hunter was now preparing to leave, I arranged to occupy tiie parsonage house with my family as a temporary home, and had to see some workmen and order some necess-iry repairs. We passed upward to Park's Creek in the Governor's carriage, the current, which had brought us down quickly, being too rapid to stem. There the canoe met us, and, to avoid the stream, the men lifted it up over the bank where the water was shallow ; and we kept in the lake which now covered the plains. Here, looking inland, w'e could see only water : the river was hid- den from us by the belt of trees and houses, which had a strange effect "standing in the water and out of the water." The breadth of the whole expanse il It! ! i •\ ' u l W' I \ h f GG NOTES OF THE FLOOD of water was supposed to be, in some places, twelve miles — this instead of our usual narrow river! It was as beautiful as the preceding day : over the still water on the plains more hot and scorching. The boundary of earth, or rather the water, and the heavens scarcely visible, and every thing was doubled in the reflection beneath. Called at the house : while there all changed, as in a moment : a sudden squall came on, and the waves were at once raised with the north wind. Being in our favour, we could drive before it ; but it made our passage very different to the Upper Fort, where they were anxiously looking out for us, doubting if we could venture through the gale. We were glad of tea with Mr. and Mrs. Black, having travelled right on without dinner. When we started again, the wind was not quite so violent, though its effect on the water remained ; but we found we were scarcely expected home that night. We were rather pleased to find the canoe almost ground in crossing one point over which we had been used to go freely, proving that the water was shallower. Higher up we saw a greater change, even since the previous morning, the dry land on the banks beginning to appear. Surgit humus crescunt loca decresceiitibus undis. Wc had enjoyed our expedition much, and by a :es, twelve iver ! It over the scorching, r, and the liing was led at the loment: a re at once lY favour, r passage they were we coukl lad of tea 1 right on the wind ct on the scarcely r pleased ssing one i>-o freely, ligher up previous uning to iiulis. and by a AT THE RED RIVER. G7 strange coincidence, as we stepped ashore just be- low the parsonage, the Rev. A. Cowley stepped out of his boat just above, not twenty yards from us. He had come down the river, with Charles Pratt, the catechist from Fort Pelly, having visited Shoal River, Fort Pelly, and Beaver Creek. He had hurried in, anxious to see me before my departure for Moose. I had much to hear — of his journey, and the condition of the Indians in those quarters, and we talked over these and his own Station till .i late hour. Ma?/ 2() — Went down to the house in the morn- ing : gratified to find only twenty inches of water, instead of forty, in our rooms. The deposit of nuul under the water made our movements more diflicult, especially across the hall, where, in addition to i)e- ing slippery, the floor had started, and now sloped considerably. Found much wood drifted into many of the rooms : in one case, a piece of cord wood had inserted itself into a drawer, which the water had forced open. It seemed like a recur- rence of the plagues of Egypt, as the frogs had entered our chambers with the water — i^o pleasant sight to behold. Brought up Mr. Thomas Cockran, that he might undergo his examination. Ilis Hither, who had formerly, as chaplain, presented the can- didates for ordination, had, from motives of deli- f2 I 68 NOTES OF THE FLOOD '.,1 cacy, expressed a wish that this might devolve on another in the case of his son ; and I therefore asked Mr. Taylor to take his place, and be pre- sent at the examination, whicli, from the small numbers I have hitherto had, I can conduct more myself than is possible in such cases at home. The first paper was one in the afternoon on Church His- tory : a second in the evening on the Articles. I was engaged during the time in preparing letters to England, for the express canoe l)y Canada. \Vc did not lose much by being confined to in-door em- ployments, as there was thunder and slight rain during the afternoon. May 27 — The birth-day of my eldest boy, now ten years old. In looking back, how much of vicis- situde in the path by which God has led me. He wa^ born at a period of grief, in the interval be- tween the death and burial of my mother, and I learnt the tidini^s of his birth leaning over her coffin. And now he himself, at an early age, is left without a mother's care. How long a jieriod the ten years! how large a portion of his life ! how much larger of mine, for time surely is relative, and to be mea- sured by its bearings and relations, rather than by its span. In consequence of the day, we had pro- mised the children a little enjoyment, and had en- gaged a boat to take us up past Sturgeon Creek, AT THE RED RIVER. (jO d spot I had myself wi^^lied to visit, and sec the settlers now spreading beyond it. Set Mr. T. Cock- ran to his work : left with him a paper on the Evidences, and another on the Old and New Tes- taments, with three texts, on one of which he was to sketch the outline of a sermon. Abundance of employment for the day. But the weather, after all, proving uncertain, the boat did not come, so we had a quiet morning for correspondence and paper work. There was, however, only a little refreshing rain and a fine evening, when I took a gallop up to the Little Mountain : had tea with Mr. and Mrs. Logan, and from them obtained, what I had much the pleasing word, " Pahstayoo" — it is dry — as the Indian looked down the hatchway to the floor beneath. After morning prayers, I read a portion of one of the tracts translated by Dr. O'Mcara. This Charles I'ratt eon>idered the best translation of any he had seen in the Chippcway or Saulteaux tongue. I went over to the church, entering still by the window, and found that the pul{)it and reading- desk had now regained their proper position. I very soon left, wishing to })re})are for the ser- vices of the Sunday, and to have a portion of the day for (piiet and retirement. It was to me a day of solemn recollection, the anniversary of my own consecration three years before; this, in itself, a longer period than many ])ishops have been per- mitted to labour — longer than thatof llebcr, longer than that of his two successors at Calcutta. May the fourth year, though commencing in trial, be one of peculiar devotedness and more abundant bless- ing! It was also our election day, and generally observed with full service, as a kind of commemo- ration day. Robert M' Donald was elected scholar, the fifth so chosen, though witliout tbe usual for- malities. He is one whom I hope, ere long, to admit to holy orders, having been witli me now for two years. We have, as yet, no calendar — no fasti of the college. It is but a wild plant in a strange iii i \ I '' !i 1f ^ i? if I 74 NOTES OF Tin: i'LOOIJ soil : l)ut this little record may be read by sonic, and in it the names of tliose who have ah'cady re- ceived the little distinction for scholarsiiip which we can bestow, may appear.* Wrote in the evening to the Archbishop of Can- terbury, with a short notice of our present situa- tion. I was especially reminded, on this day, of him who hjid not only consecrated me, but also admitted me both to deacons' and priests' orders. Often do I think of the parting words of that good and humble-minded man. When the Bishop of Victoria and I were bidding him farewell on the evening as of this day, when I expressed our thanks for his good opinion of us. His (iraco replied," We are rather indebted to you, for those who are will- ing to go out to foreign labour strengthen our hands." May it ever prove so! I had taken a short meditative walk, occupied with these and many such thoughts, when on my return my second little boy ran to meet me, to an- nounce the arrival of English letters. I could scarcely believe it, but the large packet of letters was not the less welcome. It was a chance oppor- tunity from Lake Superior. The most grateful in- telligence, accidentally mentioned in a private letter, * Appendix No. IV. ( AT T»n RED RIVER. iK) by sonic, ilrc.'itly rc- liip which )p of Can- sent feitna- lis day, of » but also its' orders, that good [bishop of '11 on the )ur thanks lied/* We ) are will- jthen our occupied n on my \Cf to an- 1 could of letters ce oppor- ateful in- ate letter, was the announcement of a grant from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel for a Clergyman at York Factory. The news reached on an auspi- cious day : every fresh labourer in prospect lightens our heart. Having read and spoken of Dr. O'Meara in the morning, it was strange to receive a long and interesting letter from him, bearing on his Indian translations, promising to send me copies of his Prayer Book and translation of the Gospels. He mentions that the Christian-Knowledge Society have authorised him to send me any that may be required for our work. The Fort Pelly boat passed down during the day, with Mr. Buchanan, the gen- tleman in charge there, and his family. May 30 : Jlliit-siinday — A morning of very heavy rain. It was doubtful for some time whether I could start for service ; but the rain gradually less- ened, and I determined to make the attempt, and, arriving at the Little Hill, I found that they hardly expected to see me : I therefore waited until all could be assembled. We had a goodly little band, considering the weather: it was as though the clouds were suspended ov^v our heads — as if we could almost feel the drops, and yet God was pre- venting them from descending. I had nearly, during the week, selected as my text, " They were all bap- tized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea:" ii ' '■'$ I i!'' 76 NOTES OF THE FLOOD il *i : i this would havp been almost literally our case, with the cloud in which we seemed to be enveloped. \ felt much the whole service, the Whit.5unday Psalms and Lessons. I was grateful when the prayers were over without rain, when we joined, under the open heaven, in the noble Psalm, the 21th — ''The si)acious earth is all the Lord's, The Lord's l.',er fulness is." Still more grateful for being able to continue to the end, and to preach from Exodus xxiv. 12: " Come up to me into the mount, and be there." This was especially the Sabbath of the Mount — the giving of the law from Sinai. It appeared as if we might naturally seek to learn, on the mount, some of those thinc^s which Moses learned on Sinai. We con- templated thus — 1. The glory of the Lord, as seen by Moses on the mount. • IL The holiness of God, as taught him there in the law. IIL The change effected in him by his sojourn there. In the application, we noticed — L That all by the mount were not necessarily improved : witness Israel's sin at this time. 2. The similar change which ought to mark the believer : 2 Chron. iii. 18. ' case, with eloped. I lay Psalms le prayers under the nue to the : '' Come This was 3 giving of we might e of those ^Ve con- \Ioses on « 1 there in s sojourn .^cessarily mark the AT THE RED RIVER, i i 3. That we are not to rest amid the terrors ot Sinai, but pass, as on this day, to Zion's hill, and pray for the outpouring of that Spirit by which alone we can fulfil God's holy law. In tliC course of the sermon we had incidentally glanced at otijcr occasions on which the glory of God shone on the mount, as in our blessed Saviour's sermon on the mount, and in His transfiguration on one mount and ascension from another. Rode home, without a drop of rain : left Robert M'Donald to teach the Sunday-school, and found Mr. Taylor assembling his. Prepared for evening service. Preached from Ezckiel xxxvi. 55, JJ(); "Then will 1 sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean : from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you : and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." Before entering on the subject, adverted to the pre- cious promises which follow the text, as not un- suitable to our peculiar position, and then consi- dered the Holy Spirit in His emblems and in His power : in the ibrmer, as water, fire, and oil ; under the latter, as softening, teaching, comforting, and making man the temple of God. IVIr. and Mrs. Black joined us for evening ser- H ' i i! t ' 'I ■ II ■: i i H f I ! f; '8 NOTES OF THE ILOOD vice. During it one or two canoes passed, and all stopped their paddles to listen to the music. I stood on the door-step while preacliing ; and pro- nouncing the final blessing, I felt sorry that these Sundays were over — peculiar Sundays in their trials, bul very peculiar, also, in their comforts. This day a sixth service had been added; Mr. Cowley having taken, at my request, the Little Hill across the river, which w'e had not yet been able to over- take. In the afternoon Mr. Chapman, not know- ing of his arrival, was there also, so they were able to give two services; and Mr. Cowley had one in the tent of Mr. Pritchard, who for many years had been debarred by infirmity from attendance on public worship. It was his account of the Hood of IS2G which we had read before leaving England, little ima";ininfT th iJ we should ever witness similar scenes. He is stiii cheerful and contented under the second, although he has lost much : his active family have ploughed and sown largely near th<' Hill, while their own land was under water. Diffe- rent were the contrivarices for desk and pulpit, as we afterw^ards found, in each spot: for Mr. Chap- man, a screen of boughs like a little arbour was placed by his flock, while Mr. Cowley was under the shekel of a tent, from which he addressed the people. The day closed with bright sunshine. AT THE RED RIVER. 79 May 31 — The closing day of another month, in the language of the country 'he flower-month ; to-morrow, the commencement of the heart-herry, or strawberry month. I finished my letters for the express, and re-perused those I had received. The greatest pain in the letters was to write to Mr. Horden, giving up my visit to Moose. 1 had heard from him, and the tidini:rs had made me more than ever anxious to go, but I feared our present circum- stances might make it necessary for me to remain here, where so many were in trouble and looking to me : if tilings brighten, 1 may yet go. I And many of my people are inclined to move higher up. This will alter the settlement, and make it more dillicult to supply them with tlie means of grace. Spent some time in looking over the Ojibway Gram- mar of Barraga, Roman-Catholic priest, published at Detroit, which I had just received. Its great merit is the abundance of examples of familiar phrases: something of this sort is wanted in Cree. Perused the minutes of the conference of North- American Bishops at (Quebec, in September last: much pleased with their tone of moderation and practical wisdom. Felt how entirely 1 am cut ofl' from my brethren : no notice could be sent me of the meeting, from distance: the other bishops of '>,'. I ! S t' ■■£■ V \ p r ^]! M 80 NOTES OF THE FLOOD the North-American dioceses are all within a 11 w days or hours of each other. Jinie 1 — llode up to the Mountain, to ])id lare- well. Found R. j\PDonald busy teaching about thirty boys and girls. Was pleased to meet, on my way, many of the pensioners returning : they are accommodating each other : some who cannot sow on their own, sowing on their neighbours' ground. A few are leaving the settlement: three families go by the United States, two afterwards by the ship: forty of the remainder have signed a petition to be removed to some other part of Her Majesty's do- minions : their chief motives are fear of a scarcity in winter, and the feeling that their prospects for themselves and their children are blighted by the Hood. Through the whole of the afternoon, canoes were passing down laden with property to be re- placed in their houses. Wrote to Bishop Kemper and some clergymen in Wisconsin : they were ex- pecting me to visit them in autumn, to be present at the consecration of a church lately erected at Stillwater : much as I should have enjoyed this, it was manifestly impracticable. If I go in any direc- tion it must be towards Moose, but I trust the com- munion between the two churches may now become ciofc^: and c!oser. hin a iVw bid farc- ng about let, on ray they are Liinot sow i' grouiicl. imilies qo the ship: tion to be jesty's do- a scarcity >spects for ed by the t)n, canoes to be re- ive rape r were ex- )e present rected at ed this, it any direc- t the com- w become AT THE RED RIVEK. SI Perused many of the newspapers received from Canada, especially the English news in them. Struck by new features in the church at home — the self-adaptation and pliancy manifested in many quarters at the same time.* The complaint has often been made of the unbending character of the church of England : now she seems to exhibit .'i very different spirit. Perhaps something of tliis concession at an earlier period might have pre- vented some of the separations which took place, as that of Wesley. Surely there is a large amount oi" energy and vitality through the whole body at present. Beaver-Creek boats passed down to-day. Mr. Pridham arrived in the evening, by whom I received accounts from the Indian settlement. Heard of the sacrament there on Whit-sunday : 106 cumiuu- nicants. I was glad also to receive a letter i.om my senior scholar, of which I cannot forbear (juoting the commencement.f June 2 — Rode up to Sturgeon Creek, to see those there before leaving : a pretty spot, and large * I moan the willingness to modify and shorten tlie .ser- vices, so as to meet the necessities of the times und condi- Tion of the people, as seen at Leeds and Birmingham — und. 1 may add, at (Quebec t Appendix, No. V. 1 i fl ii j I ! 1. I 11 1 ;-) • 1! f*l 82 NOTES OF THE FLOOD m fncampmcnt. Many were out: all busy preparini; for tlie de])arture of the boats, the fepiales makiu'^ the mocassins for their relatives, for the York trip. Conversed with many, and found that very few, either of our own people or the Cana(li;ins, are likely to leave the settlement. I'he freedom from taxes, and the power of readil} ;:^aining good w^age^, and raising a sufliciency for a family, are great in- ducements to remain. Mv move down below, I find, creates a little alarm : those of the Ilapids are hoping to keep me there permanently, and those around my own dwelling begin to fear that I am tioinix to abandon them. To be with all is mani- festly imp. >sible, however one might wish it. Walked with the children to several tents and houses in the afternoon. Saw one young man ap{)areiuly in decline: calm and resigned, and able to feel en- joyment from reading. Jutu; r^J — Started from St. James's early with my family : left our kind friends with regret. Stopped at the house, now all dry within ; but one can scarcely describe the desolation without. The garden had been a source of great enjoyment to us: its produce very delightful after our long winter, and the ilowers which we had seen blooming at home seemed a link connecting us with distant friends, and days gone by. Some crocus and snow-drop rcpannp; making ork trip, cry i'ow, ;ins, arc oui from (I wage^, great iu- hclow, I L])itls arc \d those lat I am is maiii- wish It. d houses parent ly feel en- wit h my Stopped scarcely den had produce and the it home i'riends, o\v-dro}) AT THE RED RIVER. 8.J hulhs, whicli we had out from Enghnid hist autunni, were just a])pearing ahove ground when the waters rose : they were, I believe, the first ever grown in Rupert's Land, and would thus have been Midsum- mer flowers, had they not been destroyed. One which we had in bloom in the house, in winter, was exhibited as a curiosity to all my pu[)ils, who had never seen any thing of the kind before. ^^ e had taken ])leasure in saving seeds of various kinds, and giving them to many of the people around u.n, thinking that flowers have a humanizing etlect on the mind ; but now our garden, without a fence, was covered with a thick slimy mud, and all hope of cultivation this year gone. The water, when at its height, had overtopped the sun-dial which stands in the centre; yet, strange to sav, when more sub- stantial fabrics were swept away, a slight-looking arbour, and a t' iangle of poles placed for the hop- vines to twine upon, rem.uned standing. We had a quick run down : the land is fast re- appearing. The chief fear now is the slip of the bank : many lionises are supported and propped u{), lest the earth should launch forward and carry tliem away. Reached the parsonage at St. An- drew's about Hve, and Mr. Hunter called to deli- ver lip his charge of tlie house. I shall now have lived in every parsonage-house in the country, 1^' G ^ 84 NOTi.s or 'I in; flood «^xc('pt at the Middle Church und Lac-la-Konfjc, and ihink it tends to promote acquaintance with th( people, and keep up good teelincr. \ do not mean to aflirm that my removals durincj ihe late season have heen upon princi})le or voluntary, though, under (iod, [ trust they may he attended with a "ood cirect. The oidv distress of the dav was to find that my letters had not heen forwarded to I'Lngland: they reached the Stone Fort two hours after the express canoe had departed. At a time oftrouhle, when friends will hear of a Hood and not have a sinfile line from ourselves, this gave us no little uneasiness. Mr. (.'owlev came down with us tr> he present at the ordination: he had man\ associations connected witli the house : he had lived in it with many different occupants ; here, too, his eldest ^on was horn. J/me 1 - Our things having heen packed and re- moved so hastily, we had nmch to do in finding what we wanted, and arranging all for our teni- pnvHrv home, and ])reparin£c all necessarv for Sun- day. It has heen ray lot in life to move often : years ago my old master * pronounced us a migra- tory family. Should his eyes chance to fall on these pages, he may find his words were almost * The \e;i. John Williams, Archdeacou of Curdigaii. ^ AT THF, lU'.D RIVHR. ongc, and with the not mean te season , tlioiigh, d with a IV was to ardccl to wo hours At a time Hood and [S gave us own with I ad many lie had its : here. \ and re- 1 findins our teui- for Sun- ve often : a migra- ) fall OH c almost nii^'iiM. prophetical : yet to be obliged to move from a Hood never })erhaps entered into his miiid, as it certainl} never did into my ow)i. I was throughout the day much occupied with the Dual pre})arati(ni of the ordination sermon for Sunday. June'} — This nvorning we were surprised by Major Caldwell's arrival : his first visit down during the flood. Tlie day was somewhat stormy, but he was anxious to be present at the services of Sun- day, and the meeting of the Corresponding Com- mittee of the (Tmrch Missionary Society, fixed for Monday, lie passed on to join his fauiily at the Stone Fort. Towards evening several arrived, and remained our guests for the night. I had luckily finished my preparation the evening before, as a se- vere headache incapacitated me for work , and forced me to lie down great part of the afternoon. This is. fortunately, with me a rare occurrence, and happens only at distant intervals, after any great anxiety of mind. June (3 : Trinity Sunday - The gathering for the ordination commenced at an early hour. Mr. Taylor arrived from the Assiniboine at half-past six, having started at three, and travelled a distance of more than twenty-five miles. He had intended coming the previous evening, but his men thought it too stormy. Mr. Chapman was not long behind t:t L ■ I I \J\ 1) I I SG NOTES OF THE FLOOI) him, and soon aftrr tlio family-party from the In- dian Settlement by land. Mr. J^lack, as Registrar, arrived some time before service, in order that the necessary snbscriptions might ))e made before him. ( )ne large ])oat brought down a considerable nnm- ber from the I })per Church. The morning \va< ini})ropitious and showery, l)ul we had, notwith- standing, an overflowing congregation. The morn- ing ))rayers were read by the Kev. J. Hunter, after whicli I preached from l*salin cxxvi. 5, i): ''They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeih forth and weepetli, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing hi> sheaves witb him." The whole l^salni seemed beau- tifully descriptive of the affliction through whicli W(> had passed, and the tide of sorrow rolled back l)y (lod, and also to admit of an easy reference to the peculiar solennuty of the day. In considering the words, I noticed — I. The prominent feature of the Missionary his- tory of our day—that we are now in the second period. This exemplified in the case of Tinnevelly, with the Devasagayams ; in Madras, Rhenius, father and son ; in the diocese of Calcutta, Wilkinson, father and sons ; in the city of Calcutta, John Henry Fratt, son of one of the founders of the Church Missionary Society; and, at home, in the Parent s / ■' AT Tin: Ki:n rivkk. h: c omniiltcc enii, til •r IC soil Ot ailOtlUM", SlKl'( OUMIJ'' lo liis fat li(M''s work. In the Ncw-ZoahiiHl Mission, I had clianccd to notice that the first application of the vencral)le Afarsdcn lor ministers there was made in the year IS I 1, the very year of my birth : while I am now called, in the providence of Ciod, to preach and to plant the t, thus markiiif;' strikinuly a generation. And now lere, ISO. lath d l)el ler and son Deiorc our eyes- thc son the child of the iirst delu^ie, and now to be sent n^ i I'orth into the liord's vineyard with the second. The iirst ])eri()d in (jur own case may be IVoni 18Ji() to 18.")(), from the arrival ot\Mr. West to the delivery, perhaps, of my iirst chari^e ; the second may run from IS.V) to 1880, for those who may live to sec it. i\Iay v/e not be Ibund degenerate, or inte- rior to those of the iirst period, ami then I have little to fear. Two there w-ere present in the congregation, and a third closely treadinu on their age, who had nearly seen three such generations; yet how unusual such patriarchal years. But in whatever period, II. The ministry is a seed, a sowing of the word, and the text speaks of the peculiar hh ^sedness of sowing in tears. It was so in the case of Kliot, of Biainerd, and of Martyn. It was so, ascending . IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // // ^ A. :s • 1.0 I.I 1.25 u lii 1112.2 u I. ^ 2.0 1.8 U 1 1.6 I V] '-a -^%^ ^•v ^ ^■9 / '^ > >^ '^ y Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.V. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^1 \ \\ .V 6^ '^ <^^ '•b &J 1^ <\ . 6^ 88 NOTES OF THE FLOOD i % !i' f higher, in the case of St. Paul — Philippians iii. 18 ; Acts XX. 19, 31. Higher still, above all human example, was not the ministry of Christ such, "who first shed tears over Jerusalem, and then His blood?"* If purchased by the Redeemer's tears, may not the proclamation of the message be often watered with tears ? tears because of the wicked ; tears because of the afflictions laid on us ; tears because of the heaven and hell which may hang upon our words ? The early ministers of our own land have, to my certain knowledge, thus sown in tears : their ser- mons have cost them tears ; their prayers have cost them tears ; their longing for a deeper gratitude, a more earnest faith in those to whom they were sent. Many may call this weakness, but it would appear to be the secret of strength, carrying with it the divine blessing, the fulfilment of the promise of the text, and the very bond of union with that Saviour who was Himself "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." III. The time not far distant when such shall reap in joy. How lovely the figure ! The parent, scarcely able to spare the seed-corn, taking it from his children, from their tears, yet committing it to the ground, and reaping, in the end, an abundant 1 * George Herbert. IS iii. 18 ; 11 human ch, " who 5 blood?"* ly not the ered with s because ise of the r words ? ve, to my their ser- have cost atitude, a i^ere sent. Id appear ith it the se of the t Saviour ;quainted ich shall e parent, g it from ting it to ibundant AT THE RED RIVER. 81 harvest.* So with the spiritual sower : any present trial may be endured, with the glorious harvest in view. What a glorious prospect ! instead of " the seed-basket" (margin) the full sheaf; instead of the little one, a thousand. The application was directed, 1. To him about to be ordained. Sow, my beloved brother, sow : in the morning sow thy seed ; sow beside all waters. Sow deep, sow diligently, sow prayerfully, sow tenderly, and with tears. Preach, as one not of our own commu- nion has said, '* with the zeal of a friend, with the energy of a father, but with the exuberant affection of a mother." Sow, and may God bless His word, that it may pass from your lips to the hearts of many. Though a solitary candidate, many are this day being ordained with thee, many have prayed for thee this week.f These poor northern lands may even now be coming up in remembrance before God. From a spot much further north, one has been taken to England, and is now under training, it may be, for * Scott, in loco. Often luid we heard Mr. Cuckran describe the privations they endured after the former Hood, in order to save the seed, when grain was scarce, in tlie infant days of the settlement. t Appendix, No. VI. I" I 00 NOTES OF THE FLOOD usefulness as a herald of salvation to his country- men. How marvellous, if the search for those we fear dead should thus prove the means of awaken- ing the spiritually dead among his ice-bound coun- trymen.* 2. To all besides, not ministers alone. Sow, it may be in aflliction and in tears ; but when would your ministers say they learnt most of God ? When do they preach most effec- tually? It is when fresh from scenes of trial, recent bereavement, or personal sorrow. And thus, when you receive the word in much affliction, is it not often with joy in the Holy Ghost? Scripture is especially formed for those in grief. As the great philosopher of modern times has said, "If we listen to David's harp, we shall have as many hearse-like harmonies as carols ; and the pencil of inspiration hath more laboured to describe the afflictions of Job, than the felicities of Solomon."t .']. Let us all think of the harvest. The day will try our work : it will test your faith. In tears now, in joy then. Blessed are they that mourn now, for they shall share in the everlasting harvest ofjoy. The Litany then followed, after which Mr. * Appendix, No. VII. t Lord Bacon. AT THE RED RIVER. 91 is country- r those we of awaken- 3und couii- tears ; but ley learnt nost efFec- rial, recent hus, wlien , is it not :ripture is 3 the great f we listen learse-like inspiration lictions of The day In tears lat mourn ig harvest hich Mr. Bacon. Cowley read the Ante-Communion Service, Mr. Cockran taking the Epistle. His son, Mr. Thomas Cockran, h.a. of Durham, was then presented by Mr. Taylor, and, when the oath of supremacy hail been administered by Mr. BUick, was, after the usual (picstions, solennily admitted to the order of deacon. He then, according to the prescribed order, read the gospel, after which we enjoyed together a happy communion— a communion of die churches, as many were with us from the Tpper and Middle Churches, necessarily closed this day. All the six clergymen, including the one newly ordained, assisted in the distribution of the sacred elements, those partaking being, in all, 2.50. A large party remained with us, to partake of some refreshment and await the evening service. As no unsuitable sequel lo the sermon, and as bearing, in some measure, on the occasion which had brought us together, I took the opportunity of reading to those gathered around my table, and especially to him just sent forth, the following beautiful lines from Mrs. Sigourney's poem on the Ordination — " A noble field is thine — The soul ! the soul ! That is thy province — that mysterious thing Which hath no limit from the walls of sense, No chill from hoary time : with pale decay li I 1 92 NOTES OF THE FLOOD No fcllowsliip ; but shall stand forth unclmngod, Unscathed, amid the resurrection fires, To bear its boundless lot of good or ill. And dost thou take autiiority to aid This j)ilgrim-esscnce to a throne in heaven Among the glorious harpers, and the ranks Of radiant seraphim and cherubim ? Thy business is with that which cannot die — Whose subtle thought the untravelled universe Spans on swift wing ; from slumbering ages sweei)s Their buried treasures ; scans the vault of heaven ; Poises the orbs of light ; points boldly out Their trackless pathway through the blue expanse ; Foils the red comet in its flaming speed ; And aims to read the secrets of its God. Yet thou, a son of clay, art privileged To make thy Saviour's image brighter still In this majestic soul ! Give God the praise That thou art counted worthy, and lay down Thy life in dust. Bethink thee of its loss : For He whose sighs on Olivet, whose pangs On Calvary, best speak its priceless worth, Saith that it may be lost. Should one of those lost soul.- Amid its tossings, utter forth thy name, As one who might have plucked it from the pit, Thou man of God ! v/ould there not be a burst Of tears in heaven ? Oh, live the life of prayer — The life of faith in the meek Son of God — i ) ill anijod, v^erse es sweeps fieaven ; expanse ; vn e lost souls, epit, urst er— AT THE RED IllVEK. 9S Tlio life of tireless labour for His sake ! So may the Angel of the Covenant bring Thee to tliy home in bliss, with many a gem To glow for ever in thy Master's crown." We re-assembled at half-past four. Although tlie rain had increased, the congregation was as large as before. I had asked the Rev. Thomas Cockran to read prayers, in order that he might at once commence his work. The sermon, a farewell one, was preached by the Rev. J. Hunter, who was now leaving the flock among whom he had laboured diligently for eight months, during the absence of their own pastor, the Rev. R. James. The text wa:« ii Cor. xiii. 11:'* Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace ; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." It was an earnest and faithful reca- pitulation of what he had pressed upon them in liis teaching, with an affectionate commendation of them to the blessing and guidance of God. Thus ended a happy day, in which our only grief was, that many who had far to go would sutler tVom the heavv rain which had now set in and continued all the evening. May God's good Spirit water all that has been spoken and heard! How blessed such seasons of refreshment and Christian intercourse ; such meetings by the way, to talk of I t f)l NOTES OF THE FLOOD , ( the lovin<(-kindness of God. Our three senior Missionaries had never before all met, and now they assisted together at our communion, with others whom God had brought to share the burden and heat of the day. June 7 — ^This was the morning fixed for the meeting of the Corresj)onding Connnittee, while Messrs. Cowley and Hunter were on the spot. We met, accordingly, at ten o'clock, when Major Cald- well, long a member of the Parent Committee, joined us. IVIr. Cockran was prevented doing so by the very wet drive he had had the previous evenin^r. Our chief business was to hear from Mr. Cowley some details of his late Missionary circuit, and to bid Mr. Hunter farewell. The chief posts visited by Mr. Cowley had been Berens River, Shoal River, and I'ort Pelly. At the two former, schools might be established, with a hope of about thirty children at each, for about 80/. a year; but we felt unable to stretch further without authority from home. It was in vain we heard from Mr. Cowley how important it was to seize an opportunity while the Indian seemed willing : the insuperable bar- rier was, the want of means. Should the appeal reach the heart of any reader of these pages, how gladly would 1 receive the help which would enable me to send teachers to these spots ! In the !f t AT THE IU:n RIVER. rce senior and now lion, with he burden d for the tee, while spot. We ajor Cald- oniniittee, oing so by s eveninrity from r. Cowley lity wliile able bar- !ie appeal ;e pages, ch wouhl ! In the case of Fort Pelly, the })rovision is already made ; and we oidy await that withcjut which all labour is in vain — the blessing and favour of (iod. Charles Pratt we dcternnned to send back thither; and the liev. C. llillycr having expressed his desire to be engaged there, was apj)ointed to the charge of the Mission, in the prosecution of which he will, for the first winter, move about with the Indians, as the most effectual means of gaining access to them, and spreading among the largest number some knowledge of salvation. We then com- mended Mr. Hunter to the blessing of God, and urged him to carry on, as energetically as })ossible, the subordinate stations of Moose Lake and the Nepowewin, in addition to his own more settled and definite charge at Cumberland. The meeting was cordial and harmonious. Soon after we had dined together I started off' by canoe for my own house, to see Mr. Pridham once more before leaving for England. We had said good-bye when I came down on Thursday; but it was like ships speaking at sea, and 1 felt it to be scarcely a farewell, and a very poor acknowledgment of his kind services while among us for nearly two years. 1 went u}) therefore, at some personal inconvenience, as he was to start for Pembina early the next morning. The chief feature which I noticed as novel was the ! 9G NOTtS or IHE FLOOD Is < ; I : i\ V I I ( pyraniids of chiy in front of the houses, as thr people were shovelling out the mud left within from their chinnieys havin^^ given way, and fallen in. The stove pi[)e often protruded through the 'li tl window, where tney were uryuig ana au'ing tnen di th louses, lement, We were late in reaching the Upper Set- but on Lfettintr near the 1 louse, we were so overjoyed at the sight of the stubble-fields, which appeared dry to the eye, that we determined to try the land and make a short cut across. We soon repented of our rashness, finding at each step that we sank deep in the treacherous mud. Around tiie house itself the water had subsided much, and the ground was comparatively dry. The short re- mainder of the evening was spent with Mr. Prid- ham in talking over his intended journey to St. l^eter's by waggon, and his route through the United States. Jniie 8 — Rose very early to see Mr. Pridham off. The morning was very stormy, but with a fair wind for carrying him on. Took another survey of the church, which is now being cleaned out. Fears had often been entertained regarding the stability of the building ; but now that it has weathered this flood, little apprehension need be felt as to its safety. Noticed some graves which had fallen in from the pressure of the water. I arranged to AT THE IIEI> RIVKl , o: cs, as i\w left within and fallen iroiigh the irinenned. The promise of a new laboutei at Moose revives my desire to go thither ; but still the claims upon me are many at the present mo- ment, and I almost shrink from the responsibility of leaving under such circumstances. I await, however, the arrival of the canoe, now daily and hourly expected, for further letters. Ju)ie 10 — Roused at four o'clock by L'Espe- rance's brigade. A young man, who was going out to jNIr. Hunt, wished to say good bye. I could only call him to my bedside and bid him farewell, not wishing to keep the boats. It was a lovely day, moie like summer, and many boats were I' 102 NOTES OF THE FLOOD i' passing by every half hour : nearly thirty passed during the day. It was thus an exciting day, for many in them brought messages, or called at the bank on business. Two of my own pupils took their departure, who are likely to pass over the Rocky Mountains, to rejoin their family there. Heard, this evening, that the canoe which the Hudson's-Bay Company had placed at my disposal had arrived at the mouth of the river. This fanned the flame, and kindled afresh my longing to be upon my Missionary tour. Indeed, I almost plead guilty to the universal Indian feeling, which, when lakes and rivers open in spring, causes a restless desire to be upon the waters. True, we had had rather too much of the canoe over our plains. But as the summer is our only season for distant tra- vel, and years glide quickly on, 1 was unwilling to disarrange a plan once formed, lest the wished- for opportunity might never return. The " Irene" came down at night, having taken in her stores above. All the men were at prayers : though al- most entirely a native crew they are a fine body of men, as respectable in appearance as any crew out of the river. Their manner at prayers was de- votional and attentive. June 1 1 — Availed myself of Mr. Cowley's boat, and started with him to visit the Indian settlement, ordering my horse to meet me there in the evening. in AT THE RED RIVER. 10;^ M irty passed ng day, for tiled at the upils took s over the nily there, which the ly disposal his fanned :ing to be nost plead lich, when a restless had had ins. But istant tra- unwilliiiff e wished- > " Irene " ler stores hough al- ine body any crew s was de- y's boat, ttlement, evening. We were detained some time at the Stone Fort, as the crew of the boat had to make their purchases at the shop. I was astonished at the case and accuracy with which they transacted their busi- ness : they asked the prices of each article, and handed the exact sum over the counter. Some had brought in a considerable number of skins with them, for which they received according to the customary tariff; and I was glad to observe that they all laid out the money so acquired on useful articles. They had the money paid them for the trip to lay out in the same way. Indeed, I felt convinced of two things : that the boat has already proved a gain to Mr. Cowley's station — it has made three trips to the Red River, and the money which he had before paid to others for the transportation of his goods is thus circulated among his own people — and also, that the use of money, instead of the system of barter, is beneficial to the Indian, in raising his character, giving him self-respect, and leading eventually to habits of economy. We at last sailed down with a fair wind, which made Mr. Cowley anxious to proceed on his voyage with little delay. Two windmills now meet the eye on approaching the church below, no slight token of activity among the Indians. One is the property of the Church Missionary Society, the other has l\' II * .'i I- W ^ U i i r 104. NOTES OF THE FLOOD been started by themselves. I saw, with great plea- sure, my own pupils, under Mr. T. Cockran, with whom I feel confidence in leaving them for a time, until I can make arrangements for removing them nearer myself. Left at half-past six, and reached home soon after sunset. Jutie 12 — My slumbers were agreeably broken in upon, at six in the morning, by the servant bring- ing in the packet box. From what he told me, the canoe must have arrived only an hour or two after my leaving the Indian settlement. While dressing I could not abstain from opening several letters, to examine their contents : all filled me with grati- tude. I do not remember one week in which I ever received the same amount of good tidings, bearing on the advancement of the work committed to me. One great cause of joy was the confirma- tion of the tidings of the appointment of the Rev. E. A. Watkins to Moose Fort, James's Bay. This will tend to strengthen the Mission in the eastern part of the diocese. I received, at the same time, Mr. Horden's journal of his labours in that quarter during the winter. He will no longer be single- handed : in the mouth of two witnesses every word will be established. How strong this twofold cord! Togo forth, as of old, two and two, preaching the glad tidings ; and, even when separated, to have a brc of Sh om i H 11' [reat plea- cran, with br a time, zing them 1 reached y broken mt bring- d me, the two after I dressing letters, to ith grati- which I tidings, )mmitted ;onfirma- the Kev. y. This ; eastern Tie time, quarter 3 single- ry word Id cord ! ling the > have a AT THE RED RIVER. 105 brotlier within reach to look to for advice in case of difficulty or trial. But the question now is, Shall I go ? They can do without me, from having one in full orders there; but can I, by a visit, strengthen their hands, and ought I to make the sacrifice ? I need not now take with me a clergy- man from this j)lace, hoping to find one on the spot to assist, if I should wish to ordain there. I can leave the duty, therefore, more fully supplied here. I must, too, visit Islington during the autumn ; and, by prolonging my absence, I could effect the two objects, and visit Moose at the same time. My sister does not hold me back, although much might be urged to detain me at this time. In which di- rection, then, is the path of duty? I received kind letters from the Bishops of Lon- don and Quebec, and a beautiful and heart-stirring letter from the Venerable Dr. Macbride, of Mag- dalen Hall, Oxford.* From Sir George Simpson, at La Chine, I had a kind assurance that he had given orders for every possible accommodation to be given me at the Company's posts on the way to Moose. These, w^ith many other public and pri- vate letters, formed a large budget, together with a supply of Ojibway Prayer Books from Dr. O'Meara. * Appendix, No. VIII. 'I Hi.' ' .' Mi': \ 'It: I ') fi 1' ii : lOG NOTES OF THE FLOOD Heard soon after, with regret, that Governor and Mrs. Colvile are likely to leave the country. We feel indebted to them for much personal kindness ; and the settlement in general will, we are sure, feel the loss. The Governor is about to start for the Council at Norway House, and then only re- turns to take Mrs. Colvile through Canada. I had just finished my annual letter to the Council, con- taining a summary of ecclesiastical matters in the diocese. This report marks the flight of time, and the increasing number of stations occupied through- out the country : that of the present year is, on the whole, satisfactory. In the evening I rode down to the Lower Fort, as the only opportunity I might have of bidding the Governor farewell, as I may probably have left before his return from Norway House. The last boat for York passed down : the men were all joining in one of their Canadian songs, and the effect was cheerful and pleasing to the ear. At the close of an eventful day, I read a portion of Mr. Horden's journal, and have not read one of a more interesting character while in the country. It gives a favourable impression of his fitness for the work in which he is engaged— of his discretion and wisdom in dealing with the Indian character. June \S: Sunday — The excitement of the previous Sunday had prevented our noticing, so ) ; » AT THE RED RIVER. 107 much as we did to-day, the home sound of the hells of St. Andrew's, the only chime amongst our churches. To-day I was alone for duty ; indeed, it has been a rare exception, for the last year, when I have had any one officiating with me. In the morning I accordingly read prayers, and preached from Rev. iii. 21 ; on the subject of the Trinity, which we could not dwell upon the previous Sun- day, owing to the special services of the day. I contemplated, therefore, this morning — I. The Spirit's message to the churches. II. The Father's exaltation of the Son to the mediatorial throne. III. The Saviour's promise of a like exaltation to His people. This message, like all the others, very striking ; showing that there are the good and evil mingled in every church — showing that there are those who overcome in each. There is something, too, to my own mind impressive in the abrupt form in which the original Greek runs. It is as if the conqueror were addressed, and called forth, " Where is the victor ? to him will I give." Between ser\'ces went to the Sunday-school: taught the senior class for a short time. In the afternoon, preached on the Gospel — the parable of the rich man and Lazarus — \ II !; 'i I ;} I 1/ ) \l I, [■ : i ' ' H i If I :f , y i ii; 108 NOTES OF THE FLOOD I. The description ofhcaven,as Abr.ihanis])Osoni. II. Of hell, as beyond the impassable gnlf. III. The regrets that may fill the bosoms of the lost. IV. The small importance of earthly distinc- tions in the prospect of eternity. After service, remained to hear the choir sing some of their sacred nmsic : this they do from note, and enter into and enjoy it much. It was a lovely, calm evening, and from the bank the church looked beautiful from every position, with the bright sun- set playing on the spin\ With this Sabbath eveninfj I would close this little oketch, as the employments of each day are now beginning to fall into something of their usual routine. Next Sunday, if God permit, I shall re- open the Upper Church, which has been closed for five weeks, and preach from the words, " We have thought of (Prayer Book, " We have waited for") Thy loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of Thy temple :" Psalm xlviii. 9. In the afternoon I shall take the service at the Fort, preaching from the words, " Whose land the rivers have spoiled :" Isaiah xviii. 2. Whether we take the passage as in the authorized translation, or, with Gesenius and Henderson, render, *' Whose land the rivers AT THE RED RIVEK. lOf) am's bosom, e gnlt*. bosoms of lily distinc- I choir Sim ) from note, as a lovely, irch looked bright sun- [ close this ch day are their usual I shall re- leen closed }rds, " We lave waited le midst of ifternoon I :hing from e spoiled :" passage as Gesenius the rivers divide," how strikingly applicable they appear to this country. In the former sense, the Mississippi and other large rivers of this continent, as well as our own, frequently cause devastation ; and the extent of water surface in this land prevents much the progress of agriculture, and checks advance- ment in many ways. This view may fill tlic mind with despondency, especially in the retrospect of the past season. But, in the latter sense, it affords much encouragement. The river and the lake, as means of communication, are the source of the wealth and prosperity of the mighty states to the south, and the pathway is thereby opened for the more rapid propagation of the gospel. And here also, intersected as the land is by rivers, they may effect their gracious purpose in the economy of God, carrying " the swift messengers " — the light canoe, like " the vessels of bulrushes " in the chap- ter — to the foot of the Rocky Mountains, or to the borders of the Arctic Seas. On the following Sunday 1 hope to return and preach once more at St. Andrew's, taking, as our subject, the Redeemer's words and pattern, " I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities aiso, for therefore am I sent :" St. Luke iv. 4»j. Early on the Monday morning, the 28th, I intend (d.v.), to start for ^loose. ^\ 110 NOTES OF THE FLOOD fl r ^i It fe'i i t To enumerate all the reasons wliicli have influ- enced my final decision, would here be out of place. Many may have been gathered from what has been said, as somethinjij of the bias of my own inclination lias almost invohnitarily dro})|)ed from me as I pro- ceeded. By declining to go, I may disappoint many, and disarrange much which the providence of God seems to have ])repared for me. By going, I may endure a little more temi)orary anxiety on account of the state of things left behind, and cause a beloved lamily and household somewhat more toil and labour. My mind seems lightened, and my conscience easier, since 1 have taken my deter- mination. ]\Iay the God who has graciously deli- vered from the flood, guide and protect me still on the water, the river, the lake, and the rapid, and bless me, as heretofore, in my going out and my coming in !* If it be asked, What are the effects of the flood, compared with that which occurred six and twenty years ago ? the answer would certainly be. The loss is very much greater. There is now much more property accumulated in the settlement, and there has, consequently, been a larger amount destroyed. * The Bishop's account of his visit to INIooso is printed in the " Church Missionary Intellii^encer" for Dec. 1852. — Ed. AT TIIL RED RIVER. Ill One estimates his loss at JCJOO, another at £300: these arc examples of tliosc of the better class. There is, too, a hir^e extent of injury, a heavy ex- pense incurred, which it is impossible to state ; and which will only be fully known when the houses are re-inhabited, and things which have been lost or damaged have to be replaced. It is not, how- ever, these larger losses which are the most touch- ing and affecting: it is the little dwelling, raised with difliculty, to be a reliige in declining years : it is the dwelling and its furniture where these were the all, swept off by the flood — these, perhaps, with the little stock of grain which was fondly looked to for the support of a family. When these have all been swallowed up, who shall estimate the loss ? It may appear little when the articles are valued; but when it is really the loss of all that they had, even all their living, the loss to the individual is as great as the hundreds of the rich. Many such cases are already known, and for them the heart bleeds. They may go to the lake to endeavour to procure a supply of fish, but where will be the shelter for the winter, where the accustomed com- fort of home during its long and bitter nights ? Taking it, however, in another light, and asking, How will the flood be generally felt? and the a.i- swer is very diilerent. The distress will, we think, i!i t u\ I : I' ii I 111 I ,1 l\2 NOTTS OF TiiF, rroof) 1)0 small compared willi that on iIjp former occa- sion Much has been taken, bnt mucii uioil' has been left. \\c arise iVom the ilood in a very difle- rent condilion from before The settlement was then in its infancy; there were but few cattle; a single boat is said to have transported all in the Middle District in one forenoon. Now, eacii settler of a better stamp has a lar^^e stock of cattle : the one whose record of the (irst flood we had read at home, had then but one cow; he has now, after all his losses in other ways, fifty or sixty head of cattle. Before, too, there was but little f:^rain, and the pres- sure of want was felt even while the waters were rising. Their dependence throughout was on the scanty supply of lish, or what might be procured by the gun. Now, there is a large amount of grain in private hands, and, even with the deduction of the land which is this year rendered useless, a far larger number of acres under cultivation. In this light it is comparatively less severe: the whole of the cultivated land was then under water : nearly all the houses were carried otf by it. It was, as many have called it, a cleaner sweep ; but there were then few houses or farms below the Middle Church, or on the Assiniboine above the Upper Fort. The districts of the Rapids and Indian set- tlement were still in the wildness of nature. )rincr occa- 1 inoiu has I vfry (lifle- lenicnt was !W cattle ; ,1 all in the each settler le : the one ad at home, fter all his d of cattle, lid the pres- ,vaters were was on the e procured mt of grain ?duction of pcless, a far n. In this whole of cr : nearly It was, as but there he Middle the Upper Indian set- re. AT THE KED KIVER. 11.3 Thou'^'h there is, therefore, greater sufTerinfr and loss, there is greater elasticity and power to bear, and larger means to meet it. All this may be attributed to the progress of ci- vilization, and the advancement of the people, in the interval. Of this, a single visit to any of the encampments might have afforded sufficient proof. Instead of the bare, unfurnished tent, there was one supplied with every necessary, and generally with the stove to afford its warmth, with a large stock of domestic cattle feeding around. There was cooking, baking, and churning going on. Boat after boit was required to carry off the property ; whereas be- fore, nearly all might have been carried on their jiersons. The return, too, seems more hopeful. Before, a large number left, of those unattached to the soil, without any tie to the country. In the in- terval, a large population has sprung up, who are by birth bound to the land, and look to it as their home. Many are so connected that they feel it impossible to leave. Their family ties are here, the family branches are spread over the land, and root themselves in its very soil. Now to this we look as the strength and sinew of the country : a popula- tion contented and happy I had almost said proud of their land. The increased facilities of inter- course are also adding to this gradual improvement, I iir NOTES OF THE FLOOD ( ; .♦ ( : To be brought more before the eves of others will inevitably have a beneficial tendency. The Hood of 18.52 will occupy a far larger space in the public mind than that of 18'2G. Instead of a few solitary settlers, unknown and almost forgotten by their fellow men, they arc now parts of a mighty system, linked more closely by sympathy and interest to other lands. Other causes, too, operate to prevent the disper- sion of which, at the commencement, we expressed n fear. The threatening of war on the borders, and the duty exacted on the frontier, have withheld sonic from passing to the south. The Crees, the Saulteaux, and the Stone Indians are said to be encamped in 700 tents on the Great Plains, five days' journey from the settlement, prepared for war with the Sioux. If these and other causes combine to check any sudden removals, to which the im- pulse of present feeling might have led, may we not ho])e that, as things resume more of their wonted appearance, the very inclination to migrate may be no longer felt? None are so sensible of the advan- tages they enjoy here, as those who know the suf- ferings experienced by the agricultural population at home. The dream is thus passing away — for to what else than a dream can we compare it i To tread AT THE RED RIVER. 115 Others will The flood the public evv solitary n by their ity system, interest to the disper- expressed e borders, 'e withheld Crees, th( said to be Plains, five 'ed for war 3S combine h the im- nay we not nr Avonted ite may be the advan- w the suf- population )r to what To tread the very floors over which you have passed in a bateau — to behold the walls of your sitting-rooms, and notice that so high the waters prevailed — to think of nights passed in one's dwelling, when the waves were lashing througli beneath with a wintry sound — to worship in a church into which the floods have entered — these are unusual things, and may seem to some to savour of dream-land ; but they are stern realities with us. To pass, too, along the river, and see the water- marks on the trees many feet over head ; a fencing- pole lodged across the branches, or the tufts of hay and straw left by the current at its height ; to see a land-slip from the bank, and houses formerly liir from the river now on its very brink — many of them so dangerously near to the slippery margin, as to require to be removed further back — these are abiding marks of that which we ourselves might almost, after a time, have disbelieved. And even these things, perhaps, would scarcely suffice to con- vince one who only saw the river at its usual level. But confidence revives ; and the same Hand which has smitten is also supplying our need. Fish is becoming more abundant, and in many places the fishing-rods are thickly hung along the banks, and the canoe passes over the nets. What assist- a ce is in our power will be rendered i'> many, to i2 < \( 11 ( 1 . ■1 i \ I. \ 1 i . j '■' i i j ' ■ { i 1 ^ ( ■- 1 r' !i f 116 NOTES OF THE FLOOD AT THE RED RIVER. enable them to raise, not perhaps a house, for the material cannot be so quickly procured, but some temporary hut or building, before the severity of the winter sets in. Relief must be promptly rendered, and we would meanwhile do what we can, relying on the sympathy which may be felt at home in such a cause. All seem now glad to return to their homes, naked and bare though they be outside, and much spoilt and defaced within. The schools will ere long be re-opened. A part of the buildings which have stood a second flood will require considerable repair, but the whole will, we hope, be in order by my return the beginning of October, and the busy work proceed as before — the toil of the mind and the body — man's appointed preparation for heaven. The melody of former times may be renewed; and, if I should be brought to my home again in safety by the hand of God ; if I should be permitted to take my accustomed seat in that hall where our daily worship is held ; there will be behind me the same engraving as before, that from the original of Andrea Sacchi, of Noah rearing his altar of thank- oflfering, when saved from the waters of the flood. It has hung there almost unnoticed by us for years: it will now be a memorial of the past never to be forgotten. ( in ) APPENDIX. W No. I- The use of the words boat, bateau, and canoe may cause some confusion. A boat is like tliose at home, about thirty feet long, and is rowed by eight or ten men. A bateau is merely the trunk of a tree hollowed out, paddled by one or two ; while the canoe is of birch-rind, so light that it is carried across points of land bv one or two men. The two former are always called bv the Indian, "Mistikoo Chemahn," a wooden canoe. The canoes, according to their size, are termed — north canoes, the largest ; half-sized canoe, in which my trip to Moose will be made ; and the smallest, the Indian canoe, in one of which we passed up and down at the time of the flood. Mi I: ! i No. II. The prayer, as used, is here subjoined — O most powerful and glorious Lord God, at whose command the waters arise and pass over the earth, so as to overflow it, we Thy creatures, but miserable sin- i i!' A ! • 118 APPENDIX. ners, do in tliis our great distress cry unto Thee for help : save, Lord, or else we perish. We confess that when we have been safe, and seen all things quiet and plentiful about us, we have forgotten Thee our God, and refined to hear the still voice of Thy word, and to obey Thy commandments : but now we see how terrible x'hou art in all Thy works of wonder, and the great God to be feared above all: and therefore we adore Thy divine majesty, acknowledging Thy power, and imploring Thy goodness. We ai"e a little flock, far removed from the habitations of our fellow-men ; and very dependent are we on Thy fatherly hand, O our God. Help us then. Lord, in this our hour of need, and save us for Thy mercy's sake in Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen. No. in. The following: extract is from the Church News- pai)er — '' On the 29th of January, at a place nine or ten miles from Melbourne village, u])on the borders of Ely, a congregation, to the number of about fifty per- sons, met in a decent frame house, the dwelling of an Irish farmer of the name of Armstrong, which afforded a convenience from its unfinished state ; for although they were in three different rooms, and the staircase was occupied besides, the bishop was audible to all. APPENDIX. 119 ► Thee for )nfess that quiet and God, and id to obey w terrible the great we adore )vver, and flock, far nen; and id, O our ' of need, irist. Thy 1 News- e or ten rders of ifty per- n