he fingers. These braces are secured to
the fingers about eight inches from the standard. The other end of the
wire is then passed through the snaith and drawn tight by means of a
screw-nut. These machines are very effective, and in the hands of a
person who understands their use will cut from two to three acres a-day
of either wheat, oats, barley, or rye.]

At eleven o'clock, cakes and pailfuls of tea were served round. At one,
we were summoned by the sound of a tin bugle to dinner, which we found
laid out in the barn. Some long pine-boards resting on tressels served
for a table, which almost groaned with the good things of this earth,
in the shape of roast lamb and green peas, roast sucking-pig, shoulder
of mutton, apple-sauce, and pies, puddings, and preserves in abundance,
with plenty of beer and Canadian whiskey. Our bees proved so
industrious, that before six o'clock all Mr. Burke's hay and rye were
finished cutting. Supper was then served on the same scale of
profusion, with the addition of tea. After supper a variety of games
and gymnastics were introduced, various trials of strength, wrestling,
running, jumping, putting the stone, throwing the hammer, &c.

About nine o'clock our party broke up, and returned to their respective
homes, well pleased with their day's entertainment, leaving their host
perfectly satisfied with their voluntary labour. One word about bees
and their attendant frolic. I confess I do not like the system. I
acknowledge, that in raising a log-house or barn it is absolutely
necessary, especially in the Bush, but the general practice is bad.
Some people can do nothing without a bee, and as the work has to be
returned in the same manner, it causes a continual round of dissipation
if not of something worse. I have known several cases of manslaughter
arising out of quarrels produced by intoxication at these every-day
gatherings. As population increases, and labour becomes cheaper, of
course there will be less occasion for them.

CHAPTER IV.

MY MARRIAGE. -- I BECOME A SETTLER ON MY OWN ACCOUNT. -- I PURCHASE
LAND IN OTONABEE. -- RETURN TO DARLINGTON. -- MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT
DRIVING A SPAN. -- ACTIVE MEASURES TO REMEDY A DISASTER. -- PATIENCE OF
MY FATHER-IN-LAW. -- MY FIRST BEAR-HUNT. -- BEAVER-MEADOWS. -- CANADIAN
THUNDERSTORMS. -- FRIGHT OF A SETTLER'S FAMILY.

I MUST now say something of myself. During my domestication under my
friend's roof, I became attached to one of his daughters.