Walter Harland | Page 3

laying out the streets. The buildings
were mostly composed of wood; and nearly all were painted a pure
white with green blinds, which gave a very tasteful appearance to the
place. It had its two churches, and three stores, where all articles
necessary to a country trade were sold, from a scythe down to cambric
needles and pearl buttons. There was also an academy, a hotel, one and
two public schools, and I believe I have now mentioned the most

important of the public buildings of Elmwood, as it then was. The cool
and inviting appearance of the village, as well as its facilities for
fishing, boating and other healthful recreations, caused it, in course of
time, to become a favorite summer resort for the dwellers in the large
cities; and for a few weeks, once a year, Elmwood was crowded with
visitors from many distant places, and, as may be readily supposed,
these periodical visits of strangers was something which deeply
interested the simple residents of our village. In looking back to-day
through the long vista of years which separate the past from the present,
the object on which memory is inclined to linger longer is a little brown
house near one end of the village of Elmwood. Kind reader that was the
home of my childhood. There was little in the external appearance of
the house or its surroundings to win admiration from the passer-by, but
it was my home, and to the young home is ever beautiful. Recalled by
memory the old house looks very familiar to-day, with its sloping roof
covered, here and there, with patches of green moss; and the large
square chimney in the centre. Between the house and the street was a
level green, in which were several fine shady trees, and one particular
tree which stood near the centre was what I most loved of every thing
connected with the surroundings of my early home--this tree was of the
species known in Canada as the Silver Fir, and I am certain that every
one familiar with this tree will testify, as to its beauty; they grow to a
large size with very thick and wide-spreading branches, which extend
downward upon the trunk in a circular form, each circle from the top
growing larger, till the lower limbs overshadow a large space of ground
beneath. This tree was my delight in the sunny days of childhood and
early youth, and in summer most of my school-tasks were committed to
memory beneath its friendly shade; and I loved it, in the dreary season
of winter, for the deep green which it retained, amid the general
desolation by which it was surrounded. When left a widow my mother
was poor, so far as worldly riches is considered. My father had once
been in moderately easy circumstances, but the illness which
terminated in his death was long, and the means he had accumulated
gradually slipped away, till, at the period of his death, all my mother
could call her own was the little brown house which sheltered us, and
very thankful was she to find, (when every debt was paid even to the
last fraction) that she still possessed a home for herself and children.

My mother possessed much energy of mind, as well as a cheerful,
hopeful disposition, and, although she sorrowed deeply for her sad loss,
she did not yield to despondency; but endeavored to discharge
faithfully her duty to her children, and to this end she sought
employment, and toiled early and late that she might provide for our
wants, and so far did Providence smile upon her efforts that we were
enabled to live in comfort and respectability. By close industry and
economy she kept me at school from the age of six to thirteen, and
would willingly have allowed me to remain longer, as she considered
my education of the first importance, but during the last year I
remained at school (although only a child of twelve years) I grew
discontented and unhappy, by seeing my mother toiling daily that I
might remain at school. And many a night did I lay awake for hours,
revolving the question in my mind of how I could assist my mother, for
I felt that, young as I was, it was time for me to do something for my
own support. Had circumstances allowed, I would gladly have
remained at school, for I was fond of study; but I believe I inherited a
portion of my mother's energetic disposition, and I felt it my duty to
leave school, and seek some employment whereby I might support
myself, and possibly assist, in a small way, my mother and little sister.
My mother was reluctant to yield her consent that I should leave school,
but when she saw