170 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



" The house was warmed by means of two large 

 stoves, one being for use downstairs, the other up. 

 Wood was burnt in these and a goodly supply was 

 needed to last us through the long, long winter. 



" This fuel was obtained from the woods bordering 

 the bank of the river, and was mostly cut in the 

 summer time, made up into rafts, and floated down 

 the river, to a point not a great way from our house. 

 From the river's bank it was carried up conveniently 

 near to the house and stacked in piles for the winter 

 consumption. 



" All food, such as flour, oatmeal, tea, sugar 

 and every other kind of grocery and kindred sup- 

 plies, had to be obtained from England, and this 

 only once a year, by the annual vessel. At Fort 

 George, however, we never saw this vessel, for our 

 supplies reached us by a smaller craft. 



" Now it is a remarkable fact, and one for which 

 I would never cease to give praise to our covenant- 

 keeping God, that during the whole of our experi- 

 ence at this isolated station, the vessel never failed 

 to reach its destination. 



" At Fort George, in certain more favourable 

 years, we were able to grow a few stunted, diminutive 

 vegetables : we have even grown a few potatoes, 

 though it is not possible to say much about either 

 their size or quality. 



" Turnips, as being more hardy, were our stand- 

 ing crop. Our little daughter, who was born at 



