Fort McLeod, June 15th, 1875

My darling Lizzie,

I will go on answering a few thoughts in your letter of May 3rd etseq. before I tell you what has been going on to day. I left off about John coming to Canada – if he does get him acquainted with Frank Darling. I think they would like one another. So you are going to lose Saida. If you went home with her you would not lose her so quickly and so to the heat - & the climate. Athens is as healthy a place as you could find in Canada. During the summer the average temperature I could bet is less than that of Toronto. You know Athens is in a very hilly country near the southernmost spur of the Blue ridge mountains. The nights are nearly always cool and pleasant & people do not go gallivanting about the streets in the full glare of the hot sun. I wonder what subject you will take up to study. Suppose you try mathematics. Your Father would be delighted to help you in so far as Algebra was concerned. The late rains have caused the river to rise very high. The bridge that we took so much trouble to build – is in danger of being washed away, the middle pier has already sunk about a foot – the water comes with fearful force against it. The North Peagan Indians have been over the cut bank across the river all the morning – we expect the Kootanies in every day. I received the pleasant news to day that Baker is going in tomorrow to Benton and will take in a mail – so this goes off tonight. I do not know who wrote ‘Rain in the Heart’. Cissy Stotesbury could perhaps tell you – she sent the piece cut from a newspaper to Aunt Ellen in Savannah. I do not recollect if it had the author’s name attached or not. Of course it is written from that line of Longfellow’s ‘Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark & dreary’.

I certainly had a cold – but I was not afraid of any of my medicines – but I thought that it would get well of itself – which it did and saved me making some of my faces. Your last letter tho’ very dilapidated in appearance was all right on the inside – and none had fallen out. I cannot help drawing a conclusion from your letter. What is to become of me – if when you are happy you tease & when angry scold me? Dear me what a life to lead. Tell Jack that I have received some of the ‘Practictioners’ and also some numbers of the Canadian Monthly. I expect they have come from his thoughtful mind also and am sincerely thankful. The publication of my letters has been quite sufficient to break down a paper-mill – well how weighty they must have been. Indeed poor darling I do feel so sorry for your cold. I am glad you took some ‘hotstuff’ for it – you should have taken it after getting into bed and then piled the blankets over you. I should like to have dropped in upon you during the Spree.

I am glad to learn from the later pages of your letter that your cold succumbed so easily – although it no doubt caused you great annoyance & trouble at the time. So poor Mr. Crawford is dead. I see by the papers that Mr. Brown will not accept the Lt. Gov.ship but it has been conferred upon the Hon. D.A.M. McD. Will he be any more acceptable to you than the Hon. G.B. ? I have been endeavoring to write while an excessively voluble old Half-breed named Munroe about 80 years old with very gray hair and one eye whose lower lid is turned outwards red & glowering – he talks a mixture of French & English and uses all the gesticulations of the Indian. He is talking of the Native medicines. How he does rattle on. Were I not trying to write to you I should be pleased to hear & listen to him. I must close this now. I really can’t get rid of this old chief & cannot possibly write with him taking. I shall however before this goes write a little more.

Well I am glad to say that the old chap has gone. But it is getting very late and I must send this off. Give my love to all at home and with the best love of my heart from your own

Barrie

Fort McLeod, June 4th, '75

My dear Lizzie

A mail is to go out from here tomorrow. How I would like to go with it. I am afraid that I am very blue tonight. I think I always get blue when a mail is about leaving – but I must not think of the blues just now – for you, by the time this reaches Toronto, may be thinking of Miss Annie Taylor’s wedding. Dear Liz, I wish it were you and I, that were about to be tied together for life – for more than life, for Eternity. Do you ever think of it? I do often and often. I consider that in very truth you and I are now so nearly and so closely united in heart and mind and soul, that tho’ our bodies should never be united, still our soul-binding would last thro’ time and Eternity. Even now separated as we are by vast tracts of wild desolate country – we are yet one – and should one of us be called away – the other would remain faithful and true until such time as Our Father saw fit to place us together again.

But my own darling, I am getting gloomy again. Forgive me – and let us talk of something else. Say anything you would like me to say to Annie Taylor on the 20th and I will become responsible for it. Why did she not choose the 21st of June, she would then have had a longer day?

Things around the Camp have been going on pretty much the same as ever. The arrival of a large camp of halfbreeds a day or two ago caused an influx of visitors to the Fort, but as they are camped across the river some seven miles away, and the river is rising daily we have not seen a great deal of them. A second smaller party came down to day. One among them called Munroe had been highly recommended as an Interpreter and was taken on the strength of the Force. I have not yet visited their camp – they live in wigwams – most of the men can talk English but I believe none of the women. I have only seen one of the latter and she was sick – a horrible abscess if nothing worse in the breast. I think it comes from a blow – and her husband I think is the one who struck the blow – I do not know – but I think he maltreats her – she had a black eye and several bruises on her as of a recent beating – but I asked nothing only observed, but if I find out any truth in my surmises I shall do my level best to get Mr. Alons (his name) into trouble.

And now my darling I must say good night, and for the present goodbye. I am quite well and have been. The only change is my smooth chin and fierce (?) moustache. Keep your spirits up Old Girl – our 20th of June will come round in good time and then - [ ? ]

With unalterable love I am
Ever your own
Barrie

I enclose you a little flower I found in a most lonely desolate spot all by itself – no other green thing within some distance of it. It was bright and doing well and apparently happy tho’ all alone like

Your
Barrie

Mar. 17th

The 17th of "Ould Ireland." Long may she wave. I got up this morning, and it was pretty cold, in fact we might say very cold. I suppose it thawed in Toronto[,] it usually does. I intend going put + trying a shot at the sun. Do not think darling from that expression that I have taken leave of my senses, I merely intend to say that I am going to try and take the sun's altitude to find the time. I must now go to breakfast. You will see by this that I did not get up very early.

I could not after all let the night pass without saying at least good night. The day passed very quietly, everyone wearing in their hat or button hole a sprig of green, plucked from the logs wherewith our houses are built, which have sprouted and thrown out innumerable little green branches. Good night.

Feb 14th

Alas the day has passed without the looked for letters. The end of the week will doubtless bring them. This morning after breakfast I lanced old Frank’s leg he bore it without moving a muscle and has had marked relief from it. He is quite happy now. The day has been very fine tho’ a little cold. The back bone of the winter is pretty well broken. I have had a good many Indians in my room today, some to talk and some to sketch + others because I could not help them coming in. One was a very fine looking fellow over six feet tall + broad + sinewy, he was very much pleased with my sketch of him + promised to bring me a buffalo robe for it, not because I gave it to him but because he felt flattered. At first I had no intention of giving it to him but afterward I did, and he went away excessively pleased. This evening after dinner while we were sitting around the Mess fire, we heard a great noise of the Indians + going out found they were having a dance at Conrad’s. We went to see them but such a crowd went in that they could not dance + they all went off in a huff. I expect that you were quietly in church just then. I wonder what you are doing now, 10 o’clock? It must be about 12 in Toronto, so I suppose you are sleeping soundly. Dear Dear Lizzie, I do so want to see you again. I am getting awfully tired out here by myself. I wish I could bring you out here, but that would hardly be fair. Anyway, it is useless to wish impossibilities, so that is our end of it. The Mail will tell me something about you + make you feel nearer. Good night.

Feb. 2nd

Crozier got away this afternoon about 1.30 he expects to be away about two or three weeks. The square was a scene of busy confusion all morning, men choosing horses, + then endeavouring to catch them, saddling + getting their provisions etc on a small toboggan. The day is pretty cold but will probably not remain so for long as a South West Wind is blowing. The mail which was redistributed to the men has revived again + tomorrow another trial is to be made to get it off. Let us hope this time with more success. Allen is now singing as loud as he can bawl, not 3 feet from my left ear + making the nights hideous with harsh discords, without exception he has a harsh whistle + unmusical a voice as any one I have ever heard. The great beauty of it is that he imagines it is superb + that he has a fine tenor voice. However he has his good points and is going to take the mail tomorrow morning over to Stand Off where it is to be taken to Benton by some teams going in from thence. So we will say no more about his singing – perhaps he is only happy that his letters are going in, and I am sure we can overlook any little boisterous outburst. That blot is owing to my writing with a new pen. “J”, Is that not Sallie’s favourite pen? I + it at first did not hold the ink consequently it *ran* down on the paper + I put the blotting paper over it which I think did not mend matters much. Just think it is only a month since I heard from you last, and I have been groaning + whining because I have not heard sooner, and for nearly six months I heard not a word. I suppose the difference is to be accounted for in the fact that I have now more time to think over the matter, + perhaps like the tiger after once tasting blood is athirst for more. At all events I am anxious awaiting the arrival of another mail + letters from you.

I am sorry to say my tooth began aching again to day, but only for a short time. Poor Denny has been suffering from a bad toothache, which I have managed to relieve but he refuses to have his tooth extracted it is a front tooth + perhaps his looks would be considerably damaged. I am very much afraid that I will not be able to go to Canada on any leave of absence, as every day I find something more for me to do or something that will act to keep me here continually. But as none of us know what disposition will be made of the Force next Summer, so none of us know where we will be or what we will be doing. It may be that we may all go to Fort Garry or Pelly. But in any case I think I am booked for Fort Macleod until I leave the Police. Do you recollect what Jack + Mannie were going to do? Come out next summer + take dinner! What a blessing the sight of a well known face associated with Canada would be, not only to myself but to every member of the Force. What is Mannie doing now. Has he started a practice in town, or has he gotten a practiceship anywhere? You will perhaps be glad to know that Brooks my patient about whom I was so anxious is now much better. Next Sunday, if all goes as well as it has, I expect him to set off. I am going to cross this letter although I have not yet heard from you whether you like them crossed but I have not a great deal of time to write much more and expect to finish this very soon. I wonder what you have been doing with yourself this past month I wonder if you have gone home with Saida[?]. I suppose not. There is only one way ever to get you then and that is to take you there myself and so Mother will never know Lizzie Beaty but by hearsay. Do you think that it is possible for this to reach you on Valentine’s day. Possible but not probable. 4 days to Benton + 11 to Toronto. The 17th. However near enough to be a Valentine.

The days are now rapidly lengthening and the Sun is daily becoming more and more powerful, so that the middle of the day is now quite comfortable. It won’t be long before they are warm. How pleasant that will be. And when they do get warm, I shall often take our Sunday evening walk, which the excessive cold caused as to discontinue. I used to so enjoy them. I was then by myself and yet not alone, everything I saw spoke of you, and all sounds shaped themselves into words spoken from you, and I always came back with a sense of comfort and rest from those after tea walks.

Do you remember or rather will you ever forget the pleasant times we used to have on Sunday evenings. Oh, dear. And now the Mail is about closing and I must hurry to say God bless you. Remember me to all, + also to Auntie Taylor is you visit her or see her.

Times up. Believe me Lizzie as ever

Your own Barrie

Jany. 22nd

This morning the usual round which I now endeavour to spin out until 12 o’clock. I did not take any lunch to day, and do not approve of the plan, it appears to make the day almost endless. They are long enough as it is. This evening after dinner, we had our second Mess Meeting + I requested to continue to act as Secretary. I hurried in after the meeting to have a talk with you. For I feel so very lonely tonight that I scarce know what to do. How strange that one cannot remain satisfied. When I heard of this appointment I thought, here is a big chance. I can save all my money for 3 years + then come home + take my Lizzie at once + start a private practice. 3 years, I thought is not long and will soon pass, I will be lonely at times, but will get over it. And so I will. I know that you too are lonely at times, and my telling you that I also am, will not tend give you much comfort. But you know I am telling you everything that comes in to my head, + if at times I seem to complain, believe me, my darling, it is not to make you feel uneasy, or wretched but only is a sort of safety valve. How often I think of you, think of you in every conceivable act + place. Try and imagine your thoughts at all hours of the day, twice a day at all events, we both speak not to, but of, each other to a Third Person. Does He not know our thoughts and answer our prayers? Does he not Guide us and guard us in all danger + distress? And in his own good time will He not bring us together again? And that meeting solong hoped for, prayed for, will it not at the last make up for all this weary waiting? Then why should I complain or think of complaining.

I am wondering where our next meeting will be. I picture myself in Toronto, your house on Jarvis Street, the long outside veranda, the little ante room, the inside hall and then yourself. Will it be a surprise? No, I think not. Do you recollect surprising me once, on your return from St. Kitts. I was at the hat rack, I noticed a strange look upon your mother’s face + father’s countenance betrayed some secret + then you rushed down the winding stairs. Will it be in the summer or winter? I don’t know, I rather think in the Early Fall. How many things you will have to show me + what number less questions will you have to answer + to ask. Oh dear, I wish I had a cap like some of the old fairy stories something to put on my head and wish to be in a place, + the carpet would rise + bear me swiftly there. Would it not be nice? Just think, I need only be here about 4 hours of the 24! The rest I could pass with you!

“If wishes were horses then Beggars might ride” The days for all their seeming length swiftly merge themselves into weeks + the weeks into months. Who would ever think that I have been here for more than three months.

Jany. 8th.

Last night the thermometer at -36º! Since the first of this month the thermometer has been below zero all the time, with the exception of one day when I was 11º above. The wind has changed to day + is blowing from the West. I hope it will continue so for a time, for then we are likely to have fine moderate weather. This morning, I did not get up until 9.30, no one wakened me and I slept on quite unconscious that the Sick bugle had sounded – Ferland however came over to see me + wakened me. I could not think what made me sleep so soundly, until just a few moments ago, I laid it down to a walk I took yesterday, with Welch + my gun – we went about 8 miles after deer – but were unfortunate, both of us fell into the river. I got my beautiful proboscis frozen + we saw no deer. My nose is not going to drop off, don’t be afraid of that, it was only slightly touched with frost on the left side near the point. I dare say it will peel. At present it looks fat + is as shiny as the traditional Ethiopian’s Hell, + red as a grog [?] blossom. It is an edifying spectacle, I assure you. It feels as tho’ somebody has been unsuccessfully trying to wrench it off. Mother always had a horror of my nose freezing + falling off, she always used to caution me about my nose.

Col. McLeod told us to night that a mail would probably leave for Benton the day after tomorrow. “Probably” means if it is not too cold. When will you get this? It seems an age since I began to write it + yet I can hardly believe that it is only 11 days ago. How impatiently I am waiting for another letter from you. The last I received was from St. Catherine’s – you told me the next would be from Toronto. I do so want to hear again from you. What a horrid man Mr. Beaty must be – to go and turn you away from your little curch hall. I hope that you will like the room under the Temperance Hall. It will be a little longer walk for you on Sundays. You must tell me all about how the thing ended and what Mr. Beaty intends doing. Will any one remain at the old building? What about that little building on Pembroke Street, did you not tell me that that was one of your churches? Does it belong to your uncle too? Do you remember the evening we passed it? Going up to the gardens? I found the programme of that evening in the inside of that black hard hat I used to wear, I had thrown the hat away, an Indian got it + was wearing it, but before the Indian got it I found this programme, this was way down at the Old Wives Creek. How many happy recollections that brought back. Brookhouse Bowler, “Let me like a soldier fall”, Don Cesar de Bezan, Maritana[?].

The walk home, the pleasant evening after. Ah, when shall we ever again have such a fun joyous happy peaceful time. Do you recollect asking me which proverb I thought would come true – “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” or the other one, which I will not even write? Well, do you find any trouble – in your case, in telling which one is likely to be true? I do not, I never had any – I never will have any trouble about such a question.

The wind is whistling outside in the most dismal manner, but it is from the right quarter. The wind too finds many a crack + hole in our mud plastered walls, + away from the stove makes it pretty cold. I am going, as soon as the weather permits, to get a window put in my bedroom, and then I intend having the ceiling covered with a heavy awning cloth, + line the walls with factory cotton. This will keep some of the wind out and make the place to much brighter than it does at present. I have not yet taken a sketch of the interior of the fort for you, but must get one to send off by this mail. I must leave you for tonight as I want to finish a letter to Mannie, or rather add something to an already finished letter, so good night.

Saturday, Dec. 19th

Good morning Liz. How do you feel this bright sunny morning. No worse for the snow? Last evening it began snowing about 7 o’clock and continued for a few hours about 6 inches of snow has fallen. I was up pretty late last night reading some anatomy. So this morning I did not get up until nearly nine o’clock breakfast was ready but just as I sat down the ‘Sick Call’ went and I had to go to the Hospital. This occupied me about an hour – then I came back finished my breakfast. After breakfast I had a smoke then took a bath. Now I am writing to you. To return to your letters. So Father wrote to you did he? He did not say anything about it to me in his letter I received since I have been here. I am very glad that he did write to you. I am so very sorry to hear of dear Aunt Lou’s illness. If you could only known her and the history of her hard life, you would pity her more & love her still more. So you have been to Chicago. I suppose I will learn all about it some time or other. I sincerely hope that you will soon be able to make up the lost pounds of flesh. Try and guess how much I weigh. I was weighed the other day and balanced the scales at 153 lbs!!! I think that 160 will be reached before I reach Toronto. The enormous weight ought to show you that I am and have been in good health. I will tell you if I am not well – even as I expect you to tell me. say the right thing to Miss (I beg pardon) Mrs. Bethure for me – will you be so kind? Does Miss Wright know that you have my phiz for her? I promised her one, but if she does not want it I know Fergie would be glad to get it. So do as you think best old woman. There goes the dinner bugle – and I will have to stop. I am going down to Kanonsis this afternoon to see my man. I went down after dinner and took my carbine along thinking to come home through the bush on the farther side of the river and perhaps get a shot at a deer. I found Brooks about the same. Examined another man’s eyes & this made it so late that it was too dark to hope for a shot on our way home. I got back just in time for tea. We had Buffalo steak & bacon for tea, with the concomitant bread and tea. I eat heartily and had a smoke. Then played a game of chess with Jackson who after a hard fought game beat me. I then set to work to finish a sketch of the Fort which I took some time ago. And now I am with you. I intend sending this sketch to you – the long building prominent in the front is the officer’s quarters. The windows in the corners are in the room next to mine, the stove pipe coming thro’ the roof on the front side is from our room & comes out very nearly over the foot of my bed. Speaking of beds reminds me that I only got the bed since I came into Quarters. The little building to the left, with the chimney is the guard room & is on the same line as the officers Qus. The Row of buildings on the right behind the tent are the ‘C’ or ‘F’ Troop Barrack Rooms those behind are the stables in the corner that can’t be seen in the sketch is the Hospital. The ground plan I will draw on the back of the sketch. I cannot give you exactly the dimensions of everything just now as I have partly disremembered them. The following is a plan of ‘C’ Troop Offrs Qrs. Of course things are not in proportion in the annexed diagram but it will give you an idea of how we are arranged in the tent, I mean house. One good thing is that we need not go outside to get into the Mess Room – we go thro’ the kitchen into the Mess Room – also the door looking in upon the Quadraugh is closed up for the winter. It is now getting very late old woman & I am getting sleepy so good night. The wind is blowing a ‘howler’ tonight.

Fort MacLeod [ctd.]

Oct. 27th. Last night was bitterly cold altho’ a beautiful still moonlight night – at 9 o’clock the mercury was 3 degrees below zero & at 3 a.m. 10º below – at 7 o’clock this morning with the bright sun it had only risen to 32º. My eyes but it made a fellow’s fingers tough. For all the cold the building operations were proceeded with & will now go on only to be interrupted by a fierce storm later in the Fall. The great trouble out here now is to obtain hay for the horses. No one here expected to have much to do with such a mixture of horses – consequently cut us hay except for their own use – what hay could be cut after our arrival was cut but that has amounted to almost nothing. I expect that a portion of our stock will have to go to Sioux River in Montana for the ensuing winter. A patient has just interrupted me – a half breed woman and child – her baby is only a few weeks old possibly six and as it is her first she thinks every time he cries he is extremely ill. Our consultation was lengthy and most ludicrous. I would gravely state the various symptoms in the child that I saw & calmly ask for more – she would then chatter away in Indian poly-syllables. I would then politely request her to repeat what she said – Chatter Chatter Chatter. I would at that give a sage hum of assent and tell the woman with a most sagacious face that I thought she was making a great ass of herself that the child was perfectly well but as I could not satisfy her in any other was I would give her something. I made up four little powders of sugar and went through all the motions of mixing in a spoon and taking it & then shut my eyes pretending to sleep to show that each powder was to be given at bedtime – she chattered volubly her thanks or whatever it was and departed all smiles. Once before I gave her some alum – a large handful for curing some skins at the same time. I looked at the baby & she imagined this alum was for the baby & was going to chuck this huge lump into the little things throat. If she tried that game this time she can’t hurt the child anyhow.

I had another case [of] a woman whos arm had been shot at the elbow but her husband was along & explained matters altho’ her case was plain about him. Did I tell you of the capture of a gang of whiskey traders with a portion of their alcohol? Shortly after we arrived here a couple of Indians reported that an outfit had gone up Old Man’s River to trade whiskey – so a body of 10 men & an officer were mounted & went after them – they were found with all their available goods & chattels packed up & moving off – they were all brought back & their alcohol poured out their Buffalo Robes confiscated & themselves fined. One of their number is a negro named Bond – accused of murdering a number of Indians and who is also suspected of murdering a family in Chatham Ontario some time ago. The others have paid their fines or had them paid & have gone – no one could be found to pay the poor devil’s fine and he has had to remain in the guard tent ever since and probably will for some time. This spell of cold weather can scarcely have been agreeable to him.

What is the news with you? How is everyone in Toronto? Does Sallie still keep up her drawing? Tell me everything you know hear or see. Tell me of yourself your outgoings & your evenings at home. I am starving to hear from you. A wagon is going into Ft. Benton tomorrow or the day after & will take in this letter & I hope it will bring some out. I should not be at all surprised if the wagon should carry this negro Bond to Ft. Benton & take him on thence to Ft. Garry for his trial – or it may only be for letters or only to carry the men’s baggage who go to Sun River to herd the horses. Six months more and communication will be free with Benton – and everything will be bright and green but until then – we can expect nothing but the bleak winter with storm and slush – a south wind always brings the latter – more snow fell during the storm than we had supposed on the level prairie it was more than six inches deep & drifted in places so deep that it was with difficulty a horse could wade through it. However we have a stove now & can put up with the lesser inconveniences of crowding things into an extremely limited space. There will soon be a second opportunity of sending a mail of which I will avail myself at present I will say goodbye as I wish to write home and let them know how I am getting along. I will not close this until the last moment in order to have the last word with you and give you that latest reliable information from the Great NorthWest Territories.

St. Mary’s River, October 9th 1874

My dear Lizzie

I wrote to you from Fort Benton giving you some slight idea of the course we had travelled the hardships we had undergone the sufferings we had endured or rather that the horses endured we most fortunately have nothing to complain of at times no water & perhaps short of flour occasionally. The men were sometimes left with short rations [&] grumbled of course. Some people will grumble in any case. The Buffalo have supplied us with meat – our pork rations have run out for some time but the Buffalo have supplied us with beefsteaks & roasts in profusion. On our way to Fort Benton we saw some few Buffalo perhaps 6000 would cover the number, but since leaving there within the past few days – for miles and miles as far as we could see on a level plain the ground was black from the enormous bulls close to us the tiniest speck in the far distance[;] for nearly two days we have been passing through the herd. The advance guard of the force has to stop every now & then to allow a body of buffalo pass in front of them otherwise they would rush through the train and overturn it. Since leaving Benton I have had a case of surgery on hand – one of the men had a portion of his finger blown off by the explosion of a gun. I will have to amputate the finger – my first operation. I hope & have every reason to believe tht it will turn out well, fortunately for him it is only the first joint not much to call an operation, but it is just as well to begin in little things and so go on to greater. My things in Fort Edmonton are likely to remain there until next summer. They will be fully 300 miles from us here and the worn out condition of our horses the lateness of the season with all prevent our even making an attempt to communicate with Edmonton. We expect to build quarters & stables for the winter. I will have a Hospital and will I hope be able to make the sick comfortable. Poor fellows it is pretty hard on them to be on a lengthened trip like this & to have such poor comforts. We expect to have quite a settlement up here. A man from Benton is going to build a trading post just near us – there are several settlers there already. Half breeds will congregate around us and I should not be surprised but what the Hudson’s Bay Company also start a post. The married officers & men are talking of bringing up their wives & children. These with the Indians will make the nucleus of quite a city. The country they say is excellent, the climate admirable since we have approached this St. Mary’s River the grass & vegetation has been improving – in the river bottoms – quite luxuriant. The climate must be wonderful – here we are in the middle of October and the weather fine & clear at noon quite hot – of course the nights are cool. We are liable to occasional storms – but they say this fine weather will continue until late in November. The winter does not regularly set in until January. They travel on wheels nearly all winter. What do you think of such a country? How would you like to live in it for a while?

To day on our march we saw the evidences of Western hate[sic] Frontier crime and its speedy punishment – the body of an Indian lying along the road exposed to the weather the gaze of every passer by shot through the head & left, no thought of burial. We suppose he had been trying to get horses and was caught & that was the end of it. I have enjoyed the most thorough good health ever since I came out upon the prairie. I am feeling stronger than I ever did in my life. I do not know how much I weigh now but I expect not a great deal more than when I left Toronto. The large meat diet is not productive of much fat. I am sorry now that I did not get weighed in Benton. I might easily have done so. Did I tell you how well we are treated at Benton? Mr. Baker of the firm Baker & Conrad – insisted on our stopping at his place as long as we were in Benton and he fed us most royally – treating us in the most hospitable manner. I said to Major MacLeod that these could not be Yankees and as we afterwards found out Mr. Baker was from Missouri and the Conrads, old confederate soldiers from Virginia. So my prejudice did not carry me too far in that case. And my darling how are you? Oh if you only knew how I long for a letter from you I believe I would do any thing in the world no matter how bad only to get one line from you. I fancy all kinds of things have happened to you surrounded as you are by all this traummels of civilization how many accidents from which we are free could easily assail you. Amidst all my thoughts tho’ you must readily believe finds no place there – it never enters my head to believe or to think that you can be anything else than my own Lizzie. It would seem so strange if you did the bare possible of such a thing never crosses my mind – it would not be like you. As for me you know my feelings to well to think that I ever would grow cold to you and besides I have no temptation and even if I have I would still look up to you[,] my own darling. Has To day on our march we saw the evidences of Western hate Frontier crime and its speedy punishment – the body of an Indian lying along the road exposed to the weather the gaze of every passer by shot through the head & left, no thought of burial. We suppose he had been trying to get horses and was caught & that was the end of it. I have enjoyed the most thorough good health ever since I came out upon the prairie. I am feeling stronger than I ever did in my life. I do not know how much I weigh now but I expect not a great deal more than when I left Toronto. The large meat diet is not productive of much fat. I am sorry now that I did not get weighed in Benton. I might easily have done so. Did I tell you how well we are treated at Benton? Mr. Baker of the firm Baker & Conrad – insisted on our stopping at his place as long as we were in Benton and he fed us most royally – treating us in the most hospitable manner. I said to Major MacLeod that these could not be Yankees and as we afterwards found out Mr. Baker was from Missouri and the Conrads, old confederate soldiers from Virginia. So my prejudice did not carry me too far in that case. And my darling how are you? Oh if you only knew how I long for a letter from you I believe I would do any thing in the world no matter how bad only to get one line from you. I fancy all kinds of things have happened to you surrounded as you are by all this traummels of civilization how many accidents from which we are free could easily assail you. Amidst all my thoughts tho’ you must readily believe finds no place there – it never enters my head to believe or to think that you can be anything else than my own Lizzie. It would seem so strange if you did the bare possible of such a thing never crosses my mind – it would not be like you. As for me you know my feelings to well to think that I ever would grow cold to you and besides I have no temptation and even if I have I would still look up to you my own darling. Has Annie Taylor paid you her visit yet. Remember me most kindly to her when you write if she is not in Toronto now – give my kind regards to the Camerons and to all who care to inquire after me. I wrote to Ned Armom while at Benton. Do you ever see him. Paper is scarce here in camp and all my nice paper reposing in Edmonton. Give my love to the Stotesburgs and till then I will write when we get settled in winter quarters. I will have to close this with this sheet. By the time we get of Fort up paper will be more abundant. Take care of yourself my dear and when I hear from you let me hear of a bright happy time. Goodbye from your own

Barrie