OLD MURRAY BAY 



Many of the roads have been improved 

 out of knowledge. The hills on the way 

 to the Grand Fonds, at the Petit and Gros 

 Ruisseau, and in many other places once 

 were really fearsome; bad as they were, 

 people drove more often and farther. 

 Without any complication of golf bridge 

 and other engagements, the weather and 

 the humour of the breakfast table were 

 free to govern the days. Picnics were a 

 means and not an end. You took a meal 

 out of doors because this fell in the better 

 with some plan; it follows that the baskets 

 were filled with stout provender and not 

 windy kickshaws. When the sun w^as 

 shining the choice lay between the river 

 and the road, nor was a little rain allowed 

 to divert a purpose. The two falls on the 

 Fraser, the Trou, St. Irenee, were not be- 

 yond reach of the walking party; or some 

 might contrive it so as to drive one way and 

 walk the other. An Irish 'ride and tie' 

 agreeably relieved the shallow purse; 

 charettes extended the effective radius of 

 legs. 



The boys did their own paddling, por- 

 taging and camp work. Camping it was, 

 in that they pitched a moving tent and did 

 not merely fall back upon other permanent 

 51 



