house before we were witnesses of so many examples of the purest benevolence, exhibited by Mr. S—–­ and his amiable family, that it was impossible to regard them with any feeling but that of warm regard and esteem.  S—–­ was, in truth, a noble-hearted fellow.  Whatever he did seemed so much a matter of habit, that the idea of selfish design or ostentation was utterly excluded from the mind.  I could relate several instances of the disinterested benevolence of this kind-hearted tavern-keeper.  I shall just mention one, which came under my own observation while I lived near C—–.

I had frequently met a young Englishman, of the name of M—–­, at Mr. S—–­’s tavern.  His easy and elegant manners, and whole deportment, showed that he had habitually lived in what is called the best society.  He had emigrated to Canada with 3,000 or 4,000 pounds, had bought horses, run races, entertained many of the wealthy people of Toronto, or York, as it was then called, and had done a number of other exceedingly foolish things.  Of course his money was soon absorbed by the thirsty Canadians, and he became deeply involved in debt.  M—–­ had spent a great deal of money at S—–­’s tavern, and owed him 70 or 80 pounds.  At length he was arrested for debt by some other party, was sent to the district gaol, which was nearly two miles from C—–­, and was compelled at first to subsist on the gaol allowance.  What greatly aggravated the misfortunes of poor M—–­, a man without suspicion or guile, was a bitter disappointment in another quarter.  He had an uncle in England, who was very rich, and who intended to leave him all his property.  Some kind friend, to whom M—–­ had confided his expectations, wrote to England, informing the old man of his nephew’s extravagance and hopes.  The uncle there-upon cast him off, and left his property, when he died, to another relative.

As soon as the kind-hearted tavern-keeper heard of the poor fellow’s imprisonment, he immediately went to see him, and, though he had not the slightest hope of ever being paid one farthing of his claim, Mr. S—–­, for many months that poor M—–­ lay in gaol, continued to send him an excellent dinner every day from his tavern, to which he always added a bottle of wine; for as Mr. S—–­ remarked, “Poor M—–­, I guess, is accustomed to live well.”

As soon as Mr. S—–­ found that we did not belong to that class of people who fancy they exalt themselves by insulting others, there were no bounds to the obligingness of his disposition.  As I had informed him that I wished to buy a cleared farm near Lake Ontario, he drove me out every day in all directions, and wherever he thought farms were to be had cheap.

Before proceeding further in my account of the inhabitants, I shall endeavour to give the reader some idea of the appearance of the village and the surrounding country.  Of course, from the existence of a boundless forest, only partially cleared, there is a great sameness and uniformity in Canadian scenery.