LETTER V. 75 



train, or run through the long months of winter 

 on snow-shoes through the wildest districts as 

 Government postman. I suppose some of my 

 readers will throw up their hands and pity this 

 man, who might have done what the world calls 

 well in the old country ; and the only parson I 

 met who knew him spoke slightingly of the old 

 man because he lived with and kept to the squaw 

 whose children were his children. Those who 

 feel sorry for him may spare their pity, and the 

 parson remember that a marriage may be an 

 honestly performed contract, though not sanc- 

 tioned in his little church ; for old S. is as jolly 

 as a sandboy, would not go back to civilization if 

 he could, and as he has just had a little money 

 left him, will probably end his days in all the 

 comfort he cares for, in a snug ranche up country. 

 Sober as a man need be, kindly and honest, old 

 S. is a gentleman all over, and though some- 

 times a trifle slow and very despondent, so that 

 he and I quarrelled hotly at times, a kinder 

 fellow never handled an axe or smoked a quarter 

 of a pound of tobacco daily. 



As you near the Similkameen River the miles 

 vary in a way perplexing to the last degree. 

 One mile ridden dreamily at a foot's pace is got 

 over in thirteen minutes ; the next, over equally 

 good ground, ridden also at a walk, takes half an 



