was in that fine colony of Old England across
the Atlantic Ocean, called Canada, and in a newly opened district of its
north-west part between the great river Ottawa and Lake Ontario.

Old and young were all at work. There were some women and children of
the party. The women were busy in front of some rough huts which had
been built Indian fashion, something like gipsy tents in England, and
covered with large sheets of birch-bark. They were soon made, with a
ridge pole, supported by cross-sticks ten feet long. Other thin poles
were placed sloping against the ridge pole, and then the birch-bark was
put on. The bark comes off the trees in lengths of eight or more feet,
and two and three wide.

By the side of the huts casks of provisions, pork, flour, tea, sugar,
and such-like things, and household goods, were piled up, covered over
with bark or bits of canvas. In front of each hut was a fire, at which
some of the women were busy, while others were dressing or looking after
the younger children.

"Breakfast ready, breakfast ready," cried out the women one after the
other, as they placed ready for their husbands and sons savoury dishes
of pork, or beef, and fish, with hot cakes of wheaten flour or
Indian-corn, baked in the ashes, to be washed down with good tea,
sweetened with maple sugar. Of milk and butter of course there was
none. The men soon came in, and sat down on the trunks of trees rolled
near for the purpose, with appetites sharpened by their morning's work.

With one of the families we have most to do. The father, Michael Hale,
was a broad-shouldered, fair-haired, blue-eyed man, with a kind, honest
look in his face. Following him came his three stout sons, Rob, David,
and Small Tony, as he was called, and small he was as to height, but he
was broad and strong, and so active that he did as much work as any of
the rest. He was such a merry happy little chap, with such a comical
face, so full of fun, that he was a favourite everywhere.

Two men also sat down to breakfast whom Michael had hired to help him
clear his ground.

Mrs Hale had two stout girls well able to help her, and three smaller
children to look after, while her eldest girl, Susan, had gone out to
service, and was getting good wages.

"Well, Martha, I hope that we shall have a house ready for you and the
little ones in a few days in case rain should come on. We've got stuff
enough to build it with," said Michael, pointing to the hug