— 69 



throws on the habits of those in good position, o The 

 French Canadians long retained their ancient gaiety, 

 and in a modern times those whose memory takes them 

 back a few T years may recollect snch trips, although not 

 made on the same scale. 



I append a memorandum from one whom I am 

 certain, can only state what is true, which shows that 

 the custom prevailed to within half a century back. 

 Canada has changed since those days in many respects. 



"One bright frosty day in January, 1843, a party of 

 young people between ages of eighteen and twenty-two, 

 most of them connected, started in sleighs to Chateau- 

 Eicher, about 15 miles below Quebec, to visit a near 

 relation, the seigneur of the place. He was a widower, 

 left with a large familly of sons and daughters, who 

 were all present, the elder sons having come from 

 different parts of the province to attend. The brother 

 of the seigneur assisted him in receiving his guests ; 

 he had aided in bringing up his seven sons, for the 

 mother had died at the age of thirty-six, leaving him 

 with ten children, and he had never again married. 



" On our arrival we took off our winter wraps and 

 prepared ourselves for dinner. We had the good appetite 

 of -youth, sharpened by the wintry air of our two hours' 

 drive. After warming ourselves at the large stove, we 

 were ushered into the dining hall, in which was spread 

 a long table, covered with viands of all kinds. Pig in 

 all shapes was served up, as Porc-frais, boudins, 

 sausage, in fact, in every form to be imagined. We did 

 ample justice to the good things. Tea and coffee followed, 

 and dinner being over, we put on our wraps again, and 

 started on a snow-shoe tramp across the fields and over 

 the cliffs; we also toboganned down the hill. The 

 weather continued bright, and we enjoyed the glorious 

 sunset, remaining out until after five o'clock, when we 

 returned to the house, and arranged ourselves for tea, 

 which was as plentiful as the dinner, and we all enjoyed 

 it as well. We adjourned to a large drawing-room, where 



