PENNSYLVANIAN SMITH HAMILTON. 49 



I espied a light, which acted as a guiding star through 

 the darkness. It shone from the quiet friendly dwell- 

 ing of a Pennsylvanian smith, who had settled in the 

 state of New York, and who, with benevolent hospi- 

 tality, fed the hungry, and prepared a warm bed for 

 the tired. I learned from him, and from other farmers, 

 that Canada was a fine country, that the forests there 

 were full of game, but that sportsmen were often 

 hard beset by bears and wolves. 



I took but little time to consider my route, and on 

 the 1st November, a steamer from Lewiston, a small 

 town on the Niagara river, carried me over to Toronto, 

 where I remained the night, and started next morning 

 by another steamer for Hamilton. 



Hamilton is a pretty little town on Lake Ontario in 

 Canada, and although only a short distance from the 

 frontier of the United States, a great difference is per- 

 ceptible as well in general appearance as in trifles. 

 Most of the settlers in Canada consist of English, Scots, 

 or Irish, who all keep to their national habits. I twisted 

 my ankle at Hamilton, which laid me under the dis- 

 agreeable necessity of remaining there till the morning 

 of Saturday the 4th, when, recovered and joyful, I again 

 sallied for the woods, pitying the poor people who 

 were obliged to live in towns. From Hamilton I pro- 

 ceeded to Dundas, also on the Ontario, and from thence 

 took a northerly direction towards Preston, turning 

 aside, two miles short of the town, to visit New Hope, 

 where dwelt, as I was told, an old German sportsman. 

 I arrived safe and sound at New Hope on Sunday 

 afternoon, and inquired for the abode of the old Ger- 

 man, which I reached about dusk. He was not at 

 5 



