BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. XXV 



bridge was the rough trunk of a fallen tree. The heavy dew 

 had made it wet and slippery, and in crossing my head turned 

 dizzy and I slipped, wetting my feet, thereby adding one 

 more to my other discomforts. Beyond the stream the forest 

 opened out into a wide grassy plain, and the lights from a 

 few scattered houses told us we were on the site of the now 

 populous city of Peterborough. 



" ' Now, mistress, and yer honor,' said our little guide, 

 'here is the Government House, an' I cannot show ye any 

 furder bekase I don't know any of the town beyant, but I'll 

 call up Mr. Roseberry, an' shure he'll guide ye to the hotel.' 



" Mr Roseberry's man obeyed the summons, and appearing 

 in a wonderful deshabille, directed us to Mr. McFadden's 

 hotel, which, if not shut up, would afford us a night's 

 lodging. Hurrying down the steep hill we found the house 

 still open, but only to learn that there was no room, every 

 available space being occupied by a recent influx of newly- 

 arrived emigrants. This seemed the crowning misfortune to 

 a disastrous day. We inquired how far we were from Mr. 

 Stewart's — friends to whom we had brought letters from 

 Montreal — and were told his house was a long two miles off. 

 We then asked for Mr. Strickland's, only to receive the reply 

 that he lived a day's journey farther on. It seemed as if 

 there would be no alternative but a lodging under the stars, 

 when a woman's kindly hand was laid on my arm, and I was 

 led into the house by the mistress of the little inn. Mrs. 

 McFadden had been listening to our inquiries, and the names 

 Stewart and Strickland attracting her attention, had induced 

 her to make an effort on our behalf. The kind woman put 

 me in a chair by the blazing log fire, and giving directions to 

 a stout Irish girl to bring some warm water and attend to 

 my wet feet, she mixed a hot drink and insisted upon my 

 taking it. The warmth was most grateful, and while I was 

 being' thus cared for I could look about me. 



"Truly the scene was a novel one. The light from the 



