IS8 THE SQUATTERS OF LABRADOR. 



the part of a blue-stocking. Understanding that I knew something of the 

 fine arts, she pointed to several of the vile prints hung on the bare walls, 

 which she said were elegant Italian pictures, and continued her enco- 

 miums upon them, assuring me that she had purchased them from an 

 Italian, who had come there with a trunk full of them. She had paid a 

 shilUng Sterling for each, frame included ! I could give no answer to 

 the good lady on this subject, but I felt glad to find that she possessed a 

 feeling heart. One of her children had caught a siskin, and was tor- 

 menting the poor bird, when she rose from her seat, took the httle flut- 

 tering thing from the boy, kissed it, and gently launched it into the air. 

 This made me quite forget the tattle about the fine arts. 



Some excellent milk was poured out for us in clean glasses. It was 

 a pleasing sight, for not a cow had we yet seen in the country. The 

 lady turned the conversation on music, and asked if I played on any in- 

 strument. I answered that I did, but very indifferently. Her forte, she 

 said, was music, of which she was indeed immoderately fond. Her instru- 

 ment had been sent to Europe to be repaired, but would return that sea- 

 son, when the whole of her children would again perform many beautiful 

 airs, for in fact any body could use it with ease, as when she or the chil- 

 dren felt fatigued, the servant played on it for them. Rather surprised 

 at the extraordinary powers of this family of musicians, I asked what sort 

 of an instrument it was, when she described it as follows : — " Gentlemen, 

 my instrument is large, longer than broad, and stands on four legs, like 

 a table. At one end is a crooked handle, by turning which round, either 

 fast or slow, I do assure you we make most excellent music." The lips 

 of my young friends and companions instantly curled, but a glance from 

 me as instantly recomposed their features. Telling the fair one that it 

 must be a hand-organ she used, she laughingly said, " Ah, that is it ; it 

 is a hand-organ, but I had forgot the name, and for the life of me could 

 not recollect it." 



The husband had gone out to work, and was in the harbour caulking 

 an old schooner. He dined with me on board the Ripley, and proved to 

 be also an excellent fellow. Like his brother-in-law, he had seen much 

 of the world, having sailed nearly round it ; and, although no scholar, like 

 him, too, he was disgusted vdth it. He held his land on the same footing 

 as his neighbours, caught seals without number, lived comfortably and 

 happily, visited his father-in-law and the scholar, by the aid of his dogs, 

 of which he kept a great pack, bartered or sold his commodities, as his 



