he summer night was broken by a burst of hearty laughter from the
whole company; and the old man made the matter little better, when the
laugh had subsided by saying in a very grave manner, "Well, after a' I
think is would be a verra wise-like precaution wi' sic a wee bit body as
her." Time passed on; other settlers located themselves in the vicinity,
and the settlement soon began to wear a prosperous appearance. As soon
as circumstances allowed, a school-house was erected, which, if rude in
structure, answered the purpose very well. For some time the school was
only kept open during the summer and autumn, as the long distance and
deep snows forbade the attendance of young children during the winter
season. They had as yet no public worship, except the Sabbath meetings
before mentioned, which were now held in the schoolhouse for the greater
convenience of the settlers. Mr. Ainslie was a man of much industry; and
although his home was for some years two miles from any neighbour, it
soon wore a pleasing appearance. The most pleasing feature in the scene
was the beautiful stream of water which ran near his dwelling, and after
which he named his farm. In five years from the time when he first
settled in the bush, he exchanged his rude log house for a comfortable
and convenient framed dwelling, with a well-kept garden in front, and
near his house were left standing some fine shade-trees which added much
to the beauty of the place. In process of time, the excellent quality of
the soil in that range of lots attracted others to locate themselves in
the vicinity; and Hazel-Brook farm soon formed the centre of a fast
growing neighbourhood. Two sons and another daughter had been added to
Mr. Ainslie's family during this time; and the birth of the little girl
was an occasion of much joy to all the family. They had never forgotten
"wee Susie," and all the love which they bore to her memory was lavished
upon this second daughter in the family. The elder brothers were anxious
to bestow the name of their lost favourite upon their infant sister, but
the parents objected, having rather a dislike to the practice, so
common, of bestowing upon a child a name that had belonged to the dead;
and so the little girl was named Jennette, after her grandmother, Mrs.
Miller. About this time old Mr. Miller died. He was an old man, "full of
days," having seen nearly eighty years of life. He had ever been a man
of strong constitution and robust health, an