ry, Mr.
Cooper.'

"He concurred in the object of the Association; and briefly adverted
to the fact that the Rev. Mr. Cridge and himself had, a year ago,
contemplated a similar institution.

"John Wright, Esq., seconded the motion.

"Col. Moody having retired from the chair, it was filled by J. T.
Pidwell, Esq., when the Rev. Dr. Evans moved 'That the thanks of the
meeting be presented to Col. Moody for the very able manner in which
he had occupied the Chair.'

"Seconded by the Rev. Mr. Clarke, and passed with applause.

"Col. Moody then briefly replied that he came here from England with
the sole object of promoting the best interests of the country, and
in aiding in the promotion of the objects of this Association he was
but performing his duty.

"All the speakers were repeatedly applauded; and all the resolutions
passed by acclamation.

"The Doxology having been sung, the Rev. E. Cridge pronounced a
benediction, when the meeting dispersed, highly gratified with the
organization of the First Young Men's Christian Association of
Victoria, Vancouver Island."

[Illustration: Sir Richard McBride.]

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE LATE MR. T. GEIGER.

About thirty-five years ago, maybe a little more, it was a fine
bright summer afternoon and rather warm. The sun beat down on the
awnings on the east side of Government Street. It was the custom then
for all stores to have wooden awnings with a kind of drop curtain
awning which rolled up and down, and on the summer afternoons it was
sure to be down. But to proceed; when all these drop curtains were
down the sidewalk was enclosed from one end of the street to the
other. Before I proceed to say anything more about these awnings and
sidewalks, I will have to admit that our city was not the Victoria of
to-day, and I am sure I shall hardly be credited if I assert that a
cannon might have been fired down the centre of Government Street,
and chances taken of not striking anyone. I mean that a time could
have been chosen when it could have been done with perfect safety. On
any of these quiet afternoons, a sudden uproar might have been heard
of a flock of geese alighting from a distance on Government Street to
feed on the sides of the streets on the grass that grew there. As
they passed up the street they chattered away, likely discussing the
quiet times which permitted them to make a feeding ground of the
chief business street of the city. During the time the geese are
ch