ays were spent. Twelve years had passed since
we left and many changes had occurred. True, we earned no honors for
the colors, but we were always ready when the alarm sounded, and
returned with an excellent record. We found Colonel Brice a splendid
commanding officer, always ready to help the regiment in any way toward
their comfort and happiness. The colonel was pleased to appoint me
librarian. We had a splendid regimental library, also a garrison
library, where we could draw and exchange books quarterly.

The next three years were spent in this garrison. We were doing duty
with an occasional field day or route march.

In the fall of 1873, my wife, who was a trained nurse and a native of
Halifax, was taken ill with phthisis, and the following summer I was
informed that she could not live. It was her ardent wish to be taken to
her home to die, and although there was promotion before me, I
forfeited the balance of my service toward pension and took my
discharge. In June, 1874, she finished her last earthly journey when we
arrived at her home in Halifax. She died nine days after our arrival.
In the presence of her mother and sister she passed away, loved by all,
and in the hope of a blessed resurrection.

CHAPTER X.

I was awarded one shilling twopence per day pension. Being a civilian
again and relying on my military experience and knowledge of physical
culture, I went to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and spent the
winter with ex-Sergeant Campbell, who was a dear old comrade and is now
a merchant. The following summer I returned to Halifax, and during the
early part of July General Laurie was enlisting recruits for the
provisional battalion at Winnipeg, and deputed me to conduct them to
that city.

Accordingly, on the 3rd of August, 1875, with forty men in charge, we
left en route for Fredericton, N.B., where we added several men to our
contingent and continued our journey. We stayed overnight at the
Franklin House, Bangor, Me. We stopped four hours at Montreal, and next
arrived at Sarnia. We camped a week at Point Edward waiting the lake
steamer. One morning while at drill a stranger approached me, who
turned out to be ex-Private Patrick Sharket, employed as a signal-man
on the G.T.R. He heard my voice in the distance, and he knew it was
"Teddy's," so he told me after. Sharket was a smart and good soldier.
He served in the Crimea, and while the regiment was quartered in
Toronto, 1867, obtained his d