CANADIAN LONGITUDES. 461 



to the Cure and begged a stone, when with that politeness peculiar to 

 the French Canadians he placed every thing that he had at my dis- 

 posal ; availing myself therefore of his kind liberality, I took two, and 

 had them carted to the Barrack Square. Previously to my going 

 in quest of a stone I had spoken to a carpenter, who on my return had 

 the stuff cut out ready to board in the transit instrument. The stones 

 were firmly placed, and the telegraph wire by the support of only 

 two posts was brought to the Observatory, and all was ready to take 

 advantage of the fine weather to make preliminary observations, 

 requisite for getting the instrument into the meridian. I then made 

 up my mind to return home and rest uatil sunset, when I would again 

 return for my night work. On leaving the Barrack Square, to my 

 great dismay I saw that two palings of the fence were pulled down, 

 leaving a space sufficiently large for a boy to get through. I looked 

 upon it in the same manner that a person in taking a house would 

 look at a rat hole in a cupboard, but as all was quiet and not a leaf 

 stirring, my fears quickly subsided. A little before sunset I left my 

 friend's house for the Observatory ; it was a lovely evening ; the twit- 

 tering of swallows took me back to other climes and other days ; and 

 as it was rather early I sauntered along with my thoughts wholly 

 absorbed in this world and not in others, when a sound came floating 

 on the air that quickly dispelled my reveries. It was the noise of 

 boys at play. I then was sensibly made aware of the fact that there 

 were boys in and about Three Rivers — Tes, — and when I came in 

 sight of the Barrack Square I saw it full of boys playing cricket — 

 my feelings might possibly be imagined but they could not be de- 

 scribed. I came amongst them just at that part of the game, when 

 they had cried " over." Some boys were taking up their positions by 

 jumping like a frog over the backs of all who came in their way, 

 others by rolling like a carriage wheel into the place assigned to 

 them. Kingston and all its annoyances came now to my mind, but 

 I observed that they were a different sort of boy from that of King- 

 ston. The type of the latter may be considered as short, deep chested, 

 yellow hair, blue eyes, one of which was always winking at a com- 

 panion, face much freckled, voice loud and shrill, accompanied by a 

 habit of putting the thumb to the nose when spoken to. The type 

 of the former may be considered as tall, dark hair, hazel eye, musical 

 voice, with a habit of paying attention when spoken to. I went up 

 to them and explained the delicate nature of the instruments that 



VOL. IV. GG 



