e case may be before long, those lakes and rivers
along which we travelled on our journey from Lake Superior to the Red
River are made navigable for steamers, this country will become the
great highway to British Columbia, to China, Japan, and the
wide-spreading shores and isles of the Pacific. With a line of
settlements established across it, the journey may easily be performed,
and some day, Harry, you and I will run over, and we will pay a visit to
the very scenes which I have been describing to you; but instead of
roving savages, murdering and scalping in every direction, living by
hunting and fishing, I hope that we may find the Indians settled down as
Christian men, and persevering cultivators of the soil which Providence
will compel to yield a rich return for their labour. You will wish to
know more of your uncle Malcolm's and my proceedings. We soon became
acquainted with the good clergyman I have mentioned, and after a time he
suggested to us that, as our education was far from perfect, it would be
wise if we recommenced our studies. This we did, and though we
continued to help Sam Dawes in his farm labours even more efficiently
than before, so steady was our application when engaged with our books
under our kind tutor, that we made considerable progress in our studies.
For three years or more lived on very happily, with nothing, to change
our course of life, when we received notice from England that a relation
of our father's especially wished us to return. On consulting our
friend the clergyman, he strongly recommended us to accept the
invitation offered us. As we expected speedily to return we left Sam
Dawes in charge of the farm, though he was almost heart-broken at
parting from us. He would, indeed, never have consented to remain had
he not believed that it was for our interest to do so. On reaching
England great was our surprise to find that our relative intended to
leave us his property. On ascertaining our attainments in knowledge, he
insisted on our both going to the university. Your uncle Malcolm took
high honours, and entered into holy orders. I became, as was our
relative, a merchant, and without allowing business to absorb me, I have
considerably increased the small portion he left me. Your uncle Malcolm
and I have constantly talked of going over to visit Sam Dawes, but
circumstances have prevented us. We long ago made over the farm to him,
and he has greatly increased and improved it.