May 27th

Your stories about [ …. ] comes [?] so directly that one is immediately impressed with their self evident truth. I have received Lammermoor “Potiphar Capers” and [ ? ] “Bleak House” is probably on the way. L’Avare came to hand some time ago with Saidas Proto [ ? ]. My poor unfortunate box. I do not know when I will ever see it. It will come rather expensive if they charge double freights upon it. I will write to Mr. Baker and ask him to pay any charges upon it that may be due – when it gets to Benton. To day we had a hail storm and thunderstorm and some rain.

May 26th

I am glad that you were in such good spirits. I hope that they have continued. So you have heard from Miss Taylor. I am very glad that there has been no rupture between you and Miss T. is to be married on the 20th of June, a little bit more than three weeks from now. You must tell her that I wish her all the happiness she deserves and expects. As for him he is not half good enough for her. I have no doubt that my letter in the Globe astonished you as much as it did myself. Don’t be surprised at seeing another there shortly. That letter in the Mail from the Ottawa paper, complaining so bitterly was written by a man on whom no reliance whatever can be placed, a man that would [gr…?] at everything everywhere, and always. That we did work hard, that we did suffer, that we had good cause for complaint – no one for an instant denies or attempts to do so. But it was necessary and unavoidable – and to the lasting credit of the men be it said that they worked most unflinchingly until the last – with the one exception of this man who wrote this letter.

Poor girl – do you get so awfully lonely at times – just think, it is now nearly eleven months since I left you, and I am only after hearing of your loneliness because it is just nine, by the time I get your letter of the 10th month it will perhaps be the 12th or more than the year.

So you enjoy Covernton’s visits. I am glad because Covernton is a fine fellow, and a thorough gentleman. He was very entertaining, was it because he talked a great deal of myself. He is a cute chap that same Covernton.

I must say good night to you here now, and only tell you that I received another letter from you today dated Ap. 26th. You were evidently in the Office when you directed it as the envelop has your Father’s Business card in the corner. Good night and God bless my darling now and forever.

May 25th

The wind has been blowing a perfect hurricane all day. I did not go up the river. I thought it would be useless trying to fish in such a wind. I attended to my duties in the Hospital and then came over to my room and was lying down reading diligently when I heard the bugle sound for ‘Orderly Sergeant’. I wondered what was up, and then hearing some running outside I got up and saw a crowd of men in the middle of the square. I rushed out and found that Glen had come in with a Mail.

I had three letters from your darling self, dated Ap. 5th/7th/9th, 3 from home, one from Covernton and one from Abbott – a variety of papers and some books. I must read them over again before I answer them. So for the present Good night.

Fort McLeod, May 24th, 1875

My dear Lizzie

To day opened clear calm and bright. Just the kind of a day for a cricket match, and exactly what one would wish the Queen’s birthday to be. By ten o’clock the wickets were pitched. I was Captain of the ‘F’ Troop Eleven and Winder of ‘C’ Troop. I won the choice of innings and sent them to the bat. Their side sent out for 27 runs – we then went in and our last wicket went down for 41 0 we then adjourned for dinner, and ‘C’ Troop going to the bat again made 33, a grand total of 60. ‘F’ Troop then put 39 runs. Your humble servant made a duck’s both innings. ‘F’ Troop was victorious however that was the great object of the day and all minor considerations should be overlooked in the presence of that great fact. A baseball match was then [ ? ] and I was solicited to play. We played against nine “citizens” and beat them badly. At first I was skeptical about 9 citizens being around the place but they appeared and were beaten.

A pony race was gotten up and run – but it was only for a short distance and only two ponies entered and did not create much excitement.

If all is well I intend tomorrow to go up the river fishing – to that end I have a horse kept in. It may interest you to know that I have at last given up my hirsute appendage – that is I have shaven my chin. They all tell me that I look very much younger.

May 23rd

To day is Sunday – Church parade as usual. I did not go this morning as I was very busy in the Hospital. After dinner this evening I went out for a short walk but the wind was blowing very hard and very cold, so I soon came home.

It is now about time that we should be getting another Mail. Every day will or ought to have one here. At all events it brings one nearer and how acceptable it will be you know well enough. I must finish this letter now and begin another one tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the Queen’s Birthday and a public holiday. I hope we will be successful in our cricket match. I believe there is some talk of a horse race too – as well as a baseball match. But now I must say good night and pleasant dreams.

I am your own

Barrie

May 22nd

I slept well and sound last night but wakened up about sun rise and from then until 9 o’clock I dozed and dreamed – I thought that you and I were taking a voyage down the Old Man’s River – we began way up in the mountains and came down running rapids, shooting immense waterfalls in hourly danger from the Indians, from wild beasts and from sunken rocks. Finally I got hurt and the boat drifted helplessly along until I gave the paddle to you and from thence all dangers and hardship seemed past – we joined the Belly River, then the Saskatchewan then Lake Winnipeg, our boat growing larger and larger – passing Lake Winnipeg – we came to Superior and down the chain of Lakes to the St. Lawrence and so to the Sea. I thought immense crowds came to the banks and shores to see us pass – wherever we stopped thousands of sick and lame came to be cured – and it was you that healed them and to you were vociferated the thanks and blessings of the thankful crowd. I was lying down in the boat and looking at you so pleased and happy at seeing them look to you for help, and I thought you did not know that it was I that healed them. At last we came to England, and I took my degrees there – still every one seemed to think it was you who took them. Finally I thought I died – and you who had tended me so kindly and carefully died too – we were not buried because we were alone on the broad ocean, but we took wings and flew to the land and lived together on a high and lonely mountain, and taking long flights from there we accomplished a vast deal of good in many ways. And then we both rose to heaven and I was refused admittance – but by your prayers they let me in – and having entered we were exalted high above the other angels. I never seemed now to think that I owed it all to you, but we were happy so “happy for ever and ever ------Was it not a queer dream?

Well to return to facts. Capt. Winder and I left here taking some lunch, at 7.30 a.m. The voyage down the river was delightful it was a warm bright sunshiny day – the trees lining the banks were all so beautiful and green. Quantities of ducks and geese started up from each side of us, but as we were obliged to be down at Fort Kipp as soon as possible and did not know within twenty miles how far it was we did not stop to hunt them. Some of the cut banks presented a most curious conformation in their strata – all in wavy lines – we saw some coal and a great deal of sandstone – in places the prairie 100 or 150 ft. above us had sunk down to the level of the river in huge land slips – the course of the river is very tortuous – in some places very swift rapids – but generally very free from rocks. We stopped at 11 o’clock in a nice little clump of bushes and had our lunch, it was a real picnic. Our lunch however consisted of nothing but some bread and cold bacon and a cup of the river water – we were quite used to both and very hungry too so it tasted very good. We stopped for about an hour, to rest and have a smoke and then proceeded down. A high wind had now sprung up and in some places bothered us by blowing us from one side of the river to the other. In one of the most dangerous places on the river where the channel was narrowed by huge rocks on either side and sunken ones in the middle and the current ran [ ? ] and foaming down like a mill race – the wind was so strong that blowing dead ahead us and we aided by the current and paddling with all our might remained stationary. Gradually we began to descend and at last got down into a sheltered nook and then the stream took us down like a flash. We arrived at Fort Kipp about 2 o’clock, found our horses not yet arrived – they came in about 3 and after feeding them grain and hay – we left at 5 o’clock and arrived at Fort McLeod at 6.30. I rode old Satan, who is now full of life and beginning to get fat he canters beautifully his trot is rather rough. He is a fine old chap. I am going to show him your photograph to see if he will remember all that I have told him.

I had sick parade at eight o’clock last evening after we came in, and then retired early being as you may well imagine very tired.

May 21st

I got back from my trip all safe and sound, and enjoyed myself immensely. I am very tired tonight and will only tell you that in order that you may not feel uneasy. So Good night darling and may your sleep tonight and every night be as sound as I hope mine will be.