vellers met with a joyous welcome from the friends who had
been long anxiously looking for their arrival. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were
overjoyed to meet again their daughter from whom they had been so long
separated by the deep roll of the ocean; and almost their first enquiry
was for the "wee lassie," who when they left Scotland was less than a
twelve month old. Mr. Ainslie was unable to reply, and looked toward his
wife as if beseeching her to answer to their enquiry. She understood the
mute appeal, and composing herself by a strong effort said: "My dear
father an' mither, a great grief has o'erta'en us sin' we left hame',
an' our hearts are well-nigh broken; we buried wee Susie in the caul
waters o' the ocean." She endeavoured to relate to them the particulars
of the child's death; but her feelings overcame her, and for some
moments they could only weep together. When Mr. Miller was able to
command his voice he said, "God is good, my children, an' overrules a'
things for our good, let us bow before Him in prayer;" and when they
rose from their knees, they felt calmed and comforted, by the soothing
influence of prayer. With the two boys, Geordie and Willie, fatigue soon
got the better of their joy at meeting with their friends, and they were
soon enjoying the sound sleep of healthful childhood; but with the elder
members of the family, so much was there to hear and to tell that the
hour was very late when they separated to seek repose. Mr. Ainslie
decided upon purchasing a lot of land, lying some two miles north of
the farm occupied by Mr. Miller. Although it was covered with a dense
forest, its location pleased him, and the soil was excellent, and he
looked forward to the time when he might there provide a pleasant home.
They arrived at R. on the first of July. There were beside Mr. Miller
but three other families in the settlement; but they were all very kind
to the newly arrived strangers, and they assisted Mr. Ainslie in various
ways while he effected a small clearing upon his newly purchased farm.
They also lent him a willing hand in the erection of a small log house,
to which he removed his family in the fall, Mrs. Ainslie and the
children having remained with her parents during the summer; and kind as
their friends had been, they were truly glad when they found themselves
again settled in a home of their own, however humble. They were people
of devoted piety, and they did not neglect to erect the family altar the
fir