50 
THE LADIES ’ FLORAL CABINET. 
denser than ever. At the moment of its rising, we 
caught sight of a steam yacht just beyond us in 
one of the narrow channels, anchored there for the 
shooting and fishing. At that quiet, early hour of the 
morning, it seemed almost a phantom vessel, so mo¬ 
tionless, so silent was it, looming up mysteriously 
through the mist. It was still bitterly cold, but 
anxiety and restlessness, since it was necessary to reach 
the Canadian shore by six, in order to connect with 
the Montreal steamer, kept many of the passengers on 
deck. We were all on the alert, ready with suggestions 
and advice to the Captain, who was also pilot, and, un¬ 
fortunately for us, owner of the craft, hence his great 
care; add to this that he was a Canadian, and the pros¬ 
pect of our reaching Montreal that day grew more and 
more doubtful. 
At last, goaded on by the passengers, the Captain 
promised to make a trial, and took the wheel with that 
intent, when one of the numerous advisers suggested 
the difficulty of starting while still under anchor. The 
Captain laughed the suggestion to scorn, but a fact it 
was, nevertheless, and much tugging and singing were 
requisite before we were again in motion, when sud¬ 
denly, thump—and we were aground. Then ensued 
much confusion; Captain stamping round, uttering 
maledictions and declaring he would never again take 
the advice of any one; passengers hurrying forward as 
though glances and wishes would again float us; and to 
add to the melee, the pigs squealed, groaned and fell 
over one another. Well! there we were, a fixture for 
some time to come. A common misfortune bound all 
together, and talking and joking became general. 
Strange to say, there was no grumbling, though all 
were greatly disappointed, many greatly inconvenienced 
by the delay. 
In the distance we heard shortly the paddle-wheels of 
the large steamer upon which we had hoped to sail 
down to Montreal. It passed by on the far side of the 
river, probably in sunshine, while we, exasperated be¬ 
yond measure, waited in the mist. From some of the 
numerous islands around us, where large parties were 
encamped, came the sound of barking dogs, and voices 
muffled by passing through the mist. 
At length came also, the odors of breakfast—how 
grateful and yet how tantalizing to those who for 
hours had not tasted of food! Thus passed the morn¬ 
ing, within hearing but out of sight of everything 
arouud us. We would remain on deck until fairly 
driven below by the cold; then we would find waimth 
by sitting on the boiler, and so prepare ourselves for 
a fresh venture on deck to watch the progress of events. 
At last the fog began slowly to shift, and the Captain 
volunteered to land his passengers on a neighboring 
island, urged thereto, we imagine, not so much by their 
wishes and to provide for their comfort, as to procure a 
good breakfast for himself. That* at least was the con¬ 
clusion to which we arrived a few moments later. 
But we were aground, and it was necessary to get off; 
so long poles were procured, the male passengers urged 
to man them, while those not so engaged were driven 
hither and thither, now to weigh down one side, now to 
lighten it. After much pushing, much shouting, much 
giving of contradictory orders—for certainly “a little 
knowledge is a dangerous thing,” and who so tenacious 
of his rights and authority as he who possesses the 
power, accompanied by the above knowledge, — we were 
again afloat, and steamed slowly to a little island that 
grew more and more distinct as we approached. At 
last we set foot on Canadian soil, and with joyous steps 
hurried toward a plain, unpainted hotel, hoping to find 
at least some breakfast there. That we found possible, 
but dirty and untidy rooms, unkempt, shoeless and stock¬ 
ingless maids, and bad odors, destroyed the appetites of 
the more squeamish, so but a small portion of the fam¬ 
ished company were able to muster up sufficient courage 
to break their long fast. The remainder gathered in an 
upper room, a small, ill-furnished parlor, where was 
that which is indigenous to every country hotel, viz.: 
the melodeon, which on being put into requisition, 
wheezed and groaned, as one of the party fought and 
worked over it, until breath and energy being ex¬ 
hausted, the instrument was finally allowed to remain 
silent; particularly, as at that moment the sun burst 
out, completely dissolving the mist. It was a beautiful 
sight. On every side, islands, some large and thickly 
wooded, others with large clearings, where could be 
caught here and there the gleam of white tents; some 
so small as to be of little use, save for the pasture of 
cattle, which we could see in the distance wandering 
around their domain or standing knee-deep in the water. 
Here and there we could see what looked like mere beds 
of rushes and river-grass, yet in reality was solid 
ground. The sun bursting out thus late in the day, 
seemed suddenly to invest everything with unusual life 
and activity. We could see here and there the white 
smoke, and hear the report of the gun of some sports¬ 
man who had been merely waiting for the light to enter 
upon his amusement. 
Now and again, a bird, startled from its nest, rose from 
the reeds. Sometimes it was the canvas-back, fit morsel 
for the epicure. Sometimes a large bird with huge 
wings spreading far out from its-body. In the distance, 
between the islands, we could catch the gleam of white 
houses, where we were informed was the Canadian 
shore. More attractive than the beauty of the sunlight, 
than the picturesque scenery, was the deep, deep color 
of the waters of the St. Lawrence, suggestive of warmth 
and depth, yet clear and transparent. 
In looking back upou the channel through which 
we had come from the smaller river, we could see 
plainly marked those waters so different from the 
larger stream. For a long distance the one ran out into 
the other, both refusing to commingle, till suddenly the 
one was seized and engulfed. A lusty call summoned 
Captain and passengers, and we steamed joyfully out 
into the bright sunlight. Shortly we met our consort- 
boat, and thereto was transferred the greater number 
of our fellow-travelers, to return to the point from 
which they had started a few hours before, most of 
them to remain there until the starting of the next boat, 
for strange as it may seem, there are but two days in 
the week upon which this perilous journey can be under¬ 
taken. 
Parting with our companions, we started with a re¬ 
duced company for our objective point on the further 
shore—through and across one of those beautiful river 
lakes, where every moment new and beautiful scenery 
called forth repeated bursts of admiration. 
Before long we came in sight of the place which had 
been our bourne of intense longing for six long hours. 
In a foreign country there is so much that is strange, 
so much that we expect to find that is unfamiliar, that 
