Fort McLeod, June 5th, 1875

My dear Lizzie

This morning Glen started off in fine style with his four-in-hand team and his wife for Benton – taking with him letters etc. I always feel blue as a Mail is about leaving here – and to day was no exception to the rule.

We had a game of cricket. The Officers and non-commissioned Officers against the men. The men were in high feather and were certain of a great victory. I was captain of the Eleven, but feeling very cross. I was so put out by the refusal of three or four of the sergeants to play, that I said I would have nothing more to do with the match – an expression of ill temper that was amusing no doubt. Jackson then took the management and supplied the places of the disaffected – and the match proceeded. Strange to say – we were successful beating them in both innings.

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

June 2nd

The day before yesterday Denny and I started down the river – the sun was shining bright and a gentle breeze was blowing. But before we got many miles down the river storm clouds began to make their appearance and when about one o’clock we stopped for lunch it rained hard – we were pretty well protected by some brush but still we got very wet. We killed one goose and one duck and found several hawks’ nests two of which we robbed. We got down to Kipp at nine in the evening very wet, very cold and thoroughly tired out. We had great difficulty towards the latter end of the journey in making our way avoiding rocks and shoals – owing to the darkness. At one time I thought we had passed Fort Kipp. The whole of the next day it rained hard and we had to stay at Kipp. The day passed drearily enough – our horses came down for us but owing to the storm we thought it advisable to remain at Kipp the next.

Yesterday [ ? ] we started bright and early and arrived here about half past nine. I found my room in a most dilapidated state. My bedroom was all right except the dressing table which was covered with mud and water. In my sitting room and library, my table was one mass of mud and water. Some books and papers nearly ruined. Fortunately I had a lot of Nations [ ? ] over my books with the writing [ ? …several lines illegible ] effects of the wetting in these sheets.

All the other rooms were pretty nearly as bad – the Hospital on one side suffered but the tarpaulins saved it from much damage. There must have been more than an inch of water on my floor. Today we have had some nice little showers too but I had everything stowed away so nothing more got wet. I must now say good night and good bye again. Your own Barrie

May 31st

Denny and I start this morning.

May 30th

I seem determined to blot this thoroughly [inkmarks showing] – but never mind. It clouded up considerably today and we had some rain in the afternoon.

May 29th

This morning I had my sick parade at the usual time and then went about making preparations for the return match with ‘C’ Troop. About eleven o’clock Capt. Winder having won the toss sent us to the bat. We made 77 runs to which I added the small sum of 4. We beat them in both innings making 103 to their 36. And great was the rejoicing in consequence. It is blowing hard this evening and all things point to a storm and that soon.

Denny and I purpose early on Monday morning going down the river to get some shooting. We will not probably come back until Tuesday evening. I hope that we will have a pleasant and successful time. Good night to you.

May 28th

You do me a great injustice in supposing that I ever ill-treated any young Lady – and jolly Pop – Mitchell the very idea of her submitting to illtreatment even tho’ one dared to think of such a thing. I do remember meeting [ ? ] you with Willie McDougall and was foolish and unjust enough to draw some very bitter [ ? ] absurd and unjust conclusions therefrom.

I am very sorry that you have given up the idea of going South. I wanted so much that you should see my home and become known to Father and the rest. I think the plea of your health and the warm weather is only a pretext of your Father’s. To day I went out in the woods and made a sketch of the Porcupine Hills but I am not at all satisfied with it. After lunch I went and played cricket for a while then came in and looked over your old letters – reading portions of them now and again. By the by – how would you like to have portions of them published in some of the Montana papers. You know they would show off civilized life in Canada and might prove of some benefit to you hereafter !!

I consider the above a very sly dig in your side. But I don’t wish you to take it in earnest. Believe me my darling I am rather glad than otherwise that portions of my letters have been published.