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Page 6
"Never mind that," said Paddy, "I'll spake."
The old gentleman immediately returned to the house, and entering by a
back door, was snugly seated in his arm-chair, book in hand, when the
two Hibernians were admitted.
"Well, my boys, what is your business with me?"
"We would be wanting a few praties, if your Riverence could spare
them."
"Aha! you are from Ireland, I perceive. Irishmen very fond of
potatoes! Well, my boys, I have a few remaining, and you shall have
some if you belong to St. Patrick."
"Faith, and it is all as your honour says; we are Irishmen, and we
belong to St. Patrick."
The old gentleman ordered Joseph to supply them with the "blessed
root," without any further parley. Then addressing the speaker in a
voice of assumed choler, exclaimed:--
"You are a great raskail! does your religion teach you to tell lies?
You are Protestant both of you. However, if you do not belong to St.
Patrick, you belong to the King of England, and I give my potatoes for
his sake. But you must never try to impose upon an old priest again,
or you may not come so well off."
CHAPTER III.
ON SERVICE--LAKE OF TWO MOUNTAINS--OPPOSITION--INDIANS--AMUSEMENTS AT
THE POSTS.
I arrived at Montreal about the beginning of May, and soon learnt that
I was appointed to the post at Lake of Two Mountains. The Montreal
department was headed at that time by Mr. Thane, a man of rather
eccentric character, but possessed of a heart that glowed with the
best feelings of humanity. I was allowed to amuse myself a few days in
town, having directions however to call at the office every day, in
case my services should be required. The period of departure at length
arrived. I was one evening accosted by Mr. Thane in these terms:--"I
say, youngster, you have been trifling away your time long enough
here; you must hold yourself ready to embark for your destination
to-morrow morning at five o'clock precisely. If you delay one moment,
you shall have cause to remember it." Such positive injunctions were
not disregarded by me. I was of course ready at the time appointed,
and after all the hurry, had the honour of breakfasting with my
commander before departing; but the woful and disheartening accounts
of the hardships and privations I was to suffer in the country to
which I was to proceed, fairly spoiled my appetite. I was told that my
only lodging was to be a tent, my only food Indian corn, _when I could
get it_; and many other _comforts_ were enumerated with the view of
producing a certain effect, which my countenance no doubt betrayed,
whilst he chuckled with the greatest delight at the success of his
jokes. I took leave, and found myself that evening at the Lake of Two
Mountains. On my arrival, a large building was pointed out to me as
the Company's establishment, to which I soon found admittance, and
was, to my great surprise, ushered into a large well furnished
apartment. Tea had just been served, with a variety of substantial
accompaniments, to which I felt heartily disposed to do ample justice,
after my day's abstinence. This was very different entertainment from
what I had been led to expect in the morning; would it had been my lot
to be always so agreeably deceived!
The village of the Lake of Two Mountains is inhabited by two distinct
tribes of the aborigines--viz. the Iroquois and the Algonquins; the
latter are a tribe of the Sauteux nation, or Ojibbeway, and live
principally by the chase. The former cultivate the soil, and engage as
voyageurs, or in any other capacity that may yield them the means of
subsistence. They are a very hardy industrious race; but neither the
habits of civilized life, nor the influence of the Christian religion,
appear to have mitigated, in any material degree, the ferocity that
characterized their pagan ancestors. Although they do not pay great
deference to the laws of God, they are sufficiently aware of the
consequences of violating the laws of man, and comport themselves
accordingly.
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