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AWAY IN THE WILDERNESS.
125
cheerfulness. But the presence of Mr. Wilson did
much to comfort her. Gradually time softened
the pang and healed the wound.
$ * Hi H: Hi
And now, little remains to be told. Winter
passed away and spring came, and when the
rivers and lakes were sufficiently free from ice, the
brigade of boats left Fort Erie, laden with furs,
for the sea-coast.
On arriving at Lake Winnipeg, Jasper obtained
a small canoe, and, placing his wife and Heywood
in the middle of it, he and Arrowhead took the
paddles, seated themselves in the bow and stem,
and guided their frail bark through many hun¬
dreds of miles of wilderness—over many a rough
portage, across many a beautiful lake, and up
many a roaring torrent, until, finally, they arrived
in Canada.
Here Jasper settled. His farm prospered—his
family increased. Sturdy boys, in course of time,
ploughed the land and blooming daughters tended
the dairy. Yet Jasper Derry did not cease to toil
He was one of those men who feel that they were
made to work, and that much happiness flows from
working. He often used to say that if it was
God’s will, he would “ like to die in harness.”
Jasper’s only weakness was the pipe. It stuck
to him and he stuck to it to the last. Marie, in