[* What the Canadian settlers call a “Bee” is a neighbourly gathering for any industrious purpose a friendly clubbing of labour, assisted by an abundance of good cheer. ** The cradle is a scythe of larger dimensions than the common hay-scythe, and is both wider in the blade and longer.  A straight piece of wood, called a standard, thirty inches long, is fixed upright; near the end of the snaith, or handle, are four fingers made of wood, the same bend as the scythe, and from six to seven inches apart, directly above the scythe, and fixed firmly into the standard, from which wire braces with nuts and screws to adjust the fingers.  These braces are secured to the fingers about eight inches from the standard.  The other end of the wire is then passed through the snaith and drawn tight by means of a screw-nut.  These machines are very effective, and in the hands of a person who understands their use will cut from two to three acres a-day of either wheat, oats, barley, or rye.]

At eleven o’clock, cakes and pailfuls of tea were served round.  At one, we were summoned by the sound of a tin bugle to dinner, which we found laid out in the barn.  Some long pine-boards resting on tressels served for a table, which almost groaned with the good things of this earth, in the shape of roast lamb and green peas, roast sucking-pig, shoulder of mutton, apple-sauce, and pies, puddings, and preserves in abundance, with plenty of beer and Canadian whiskey.  Our bees proved so industrious, that before six o’clock all Mr. Burke’s hay and rye were finished cutting.  Supper was then served on the same scale of profusion, with the addition of tea.  After supper a variety of games and gymnastics were introduced, various trials of strength, wrestling, running, jumping, putting the stone, throwing the hammer, &c.

About nine o’clock our party broke up, and returned to their respective homes, well pleased with their day’s entertainment, leaving their host perfectly satisfied with their voluntary labour.  One word about bees and their attendant frolic.  I confess I do not like the system.  I acknowledge, that in raising a log-house or barn it is absolutely necessary, especially in the Bush, but the general practice is bad.  Some people can do nothing without a bee, and as the work has to be returned in the same manner, it causes a continual round of dissipation if not of something worse.  I have known several cases of manslaughter arising out of quarrels produced by intoxication at these every-day gatherings.  As population increases, and labour becomes cheaper, of course there will be less occasion for them.

CHAPTER IV.

My marriage. —­ I become A settler on my own account. —­ I purchase
land in Otonabee. —­ Return to Darlington. —­ My first attempt at
driving A span. —­ Active measures to remedy A disaster. —­ Patience of
my father-in-law. —­ My first bear-hunt. —­ Beaver-meadows. —­ Canadian
thunderstorms. —­ Fright of A settler’s family.