Down the River to the Sea

t fond good-bye to the Falls? I'm afraid y

aceable against the clear blue sky, with a wistful regret in her soft gray eyes-regret at parting from that wonderful revelation of the sublime which had so powerfully impressed her imagination, and which,

en or "common" stretching away to the wide blue lake, on which the Iroquois used to hold an annual encampment to receive their yearly gifts and allowances. To the right of the road, just above the river, Mrs. Sandford pointed out the grassy mound and bit of massive masonry, which is all that is left of old Fort George, with its eventful history, and a little further on the tower of Fort Mississauga, built after the final retreat of the American troops in 1813, out of the ruins of the original town, burned by the American soldiers on a dreary December day. No traces of these old conflicts can now be seen, being long since smoothed over by the gentle yet strong hand of time, and a beneficent Nature. Just opposite them, across the broad blue-green river, which has now lost all traces of its turbulent passion, and subsided into a most peaceful and easy-going stream, they could see the white walls of the American Fort Niagara, which had exchanged so many rounds of cannonade with its opposite neighbor. May, fresh fro

at her cousin had at last to confess himself mistaken on several important points. The argument lasted until they found themselves on board the Cibola, getting up her steam to carry them from Niagara and its glories. While Mrs. Sandford had been dilating on the attractions of Niagara-on-the-Lake as a de

w well I remember stumbling over the name at school in my geography lessons, and rea

"Who would have thought a great poet woul

ake!" he exclaimed again, inhaling the fresh, bracing breeze, and surveying with delight the turquoise-blue expanse of water, whose horizon-line blended softly with a pale azure sky, banked here and t

vid remembrance of it in that aspect. "I've been on it when even good sailors at sea have had t

ronto?" asked Hugh, with some anxiety, for he was

ould like us all to give them a day, at least, en route. And my plan is, that we take the lake steamer to Port Hope, which we reach in a lovely hour,-just in the gloaming, as Flora would say. We can all stay with the Armstrongs, for they have a good large house and some of the family are away; and we can have some very pretty drives about Port Hope next day. And then, the following morning, we can take the train, and g

d Flora at once. "What a schemer you are, to be sure," contin

sweet, rosy, good-humored countenance,-they made a pleasant picture. How much better Hugh seemed already, and how much he seemed to depend on Kate! May was much addicted to weaving little romances for the people about her,-often on very slender foundation,-and she ha

int cloud of mist that represented so much to her inward eye. Indeed they had all begun to look onward for Toronto, and could dimly trace the l

asion for it. It was a sort of occupation, and she had relinquished, for the time, the sedative of her knitting. While she was thus busied

gh. I suppose it's better than nothing, for at least they get the fresh lake breezes; but no one who has seen our beautiful 'Thousand Island

, I suppose," said Hugh. "

een the point where the roving bands of Indians and the French traders used to meet in the old French time. At first it was only a little st

overnor Simcoe made it the first capital, instead of Niagara, which was

gh. "But they went back to

ldings here, and the Vice-Regal residence, which the 'Queen City' would not think good enough now for a school building. At the time when it was made the capital, the woods clothed the shore down to the water's edge, and there were only

presented a small fortune to them, and it has taken a good wh

my day. Now, make haste and get your traps together, for we'll be at the dock in two minutes. L

een enjoying; and they were all tired enough with their early start to enjoy a siesta before their luncheon, which was also much appreciated in its turn. The afternoon was to be devoted to seeing Toronto, and a large double hack was soon at the door, in which the whole party ensconc

thoroughfare of Yonge Street, and, after a few blocks, left the region of shops and turned aside into the cool shadiness of Jarvis and Sherbourne Streets, with their handsome residences, surrounded by well-kept grounds; and so up to the rural quiet of Bloor Street. They crossed the fine bridge over the ravine at Rosedale, and admired the picturesque bits of scenery lying about that romantic spot. Then, after following Bloor Street into the new section of the city that has grown up

here the graceful library building was beginning to show its beauty of design. "It is really wond

e. But I can imagine what a catastrophe it must have been at the time. It made quite a sensation, even among us students in Edinburgh. Though, apart from the associations, I'm afraid some

he improved taste of this ag

chman, at that, if I am

training. But look at this fine gateway. Fortunately it was not injured by t

a stray professor, well known to Mrs. Sandford, who insisted on looking up the janitor, and personally conducting them through the interior of the building, which the tourists were very anxious to see, and which Hug

millionaire to give us a Canadian

d Hugh, as they exchanged a cordial adieu, Hugh promising in return

rd the story of the Fenian émeute that caused so much temporary excitement, and they looked with respectful sympathy at the monument so justly raised to these gallant young men, as true patriots as if the field on which they fell had been one of the

the Old Fort near the Exhibition buildings, and the various great institutions of Toronto along its line. The old red brick building of Upper Canada College,-one of the oldest grammar schools in Canada; the handsome front of Trinity College, farther on, in its beautiful park, the grounds and buildings of which Hugh would fain have stopped to explore; the great gloomy-looking, high-walled inclosure of the Lunatic Asylum, with its saddening associations; and then, sti

ccent; "I would rather have one of the plainest little rooms, in a wee, real home, than t

say myself, that I don't care much for doing things by wholesale, so I for one could never b

d Mrs. Sandford. "It's getting to be an o

der faileth, giving place to new, only

the spot when it first became a British settlement. And the cool lake breeze was most refreshing after the heat of the July day, and sent them back to the hotel, reinforced for dinner, after which they were not disposed to do more than sit quietly on

er companions with some pride, the various educational appliances of that center of the public school education of the province, the handsome, and even luxurious lecture-rooms, class-rooms, library, and last, but not least, the spacious and delightful Kindergarten, a paradise of infantine education, which was Kate's especial delight, and which to Hugh and Flora was a charming novelty in "school-keeping." After that they continued their walk in

ture" for so many Torontonians. Very soon, as the steamer ploughed her way through the blue lake, calm as a millpond, Toronto had become invisible, and the high land of Scarboro Heights rose to the left, while to the right the blue horizon line again reminded the travelers of the sea. Presently, there arose the fresh, bracing afternoon breeze, most grateful to th

it is calm like this, but it's dangerous at best on these great lakes wher

sad. But, Hugh, how would you like to 'paddle your own canoe' all the way down f

ry such an experiment in these day

is wife and little girl, paddled down the whole way to the St. Lawrence one summer, just for

did it take th

's events, for future edification. Of course, they stopped over night at some p

'the brave days of old,' they had not any of these conven

all sorts of weather," said May. "It makes one shudder to th

the more expeditious way, where there

ke what there is along Lake Superior or Lake Huron. But still, if you were to keep close along shore, the

e paddler," in

elong, which has its 'meets' every summer, at some pleasant spot, with good boating. They have all sorts of exercises, races, canoe-gymnastics, prize contests, and a splendid time generally. And ladies belong to it as well as men. This year it is to be held at one of the 'Thousand Islands'; a

lights were clustering about this wonderful expedition, and that she should suddenly awake to find it all a dream; and Cinderel

d sky meeting at the horizon line, all around them, save for a blue strip of shore to their lef

o, should have sent out water-casks for the frigates here, as you were telling me. It is hard to realize that this great blue expa

t an additional charm, and Flora McNab appealed to her brother whether it were not more like one of their old-country towns, than any they had yet seen. On the pier were a number of strollers, who had come out to catch the evening breeze, or to see the arrival of the daily boat; and, among them, Kate's quick eye easily recognized Nellie Armstrong and her brother, who gave them all a warm welcome, and speedily packed them into a dog-cart and a light-covered carriage, in which they were driven through the shady, sloping streets to th

at the door, the mists were rolling gently up the sides of the hills, giving to the charming landscape just the touch of poetry that could best enhance its charm.

cotch view," said Flora. "Not what on

ome of the early French and Indian wars. There was an old Sulpician Mission at the Indian village on the very site of Port Hope-a mission whose director was the Abbé Fénelon, the

e 'Télémaque?

dians, was trying to teach the Catechism and the Lord's Prayer to the little Indian children, and enduring among the fierce Sen

ssions," said Hugh. "They seem to b

s. By the way, there is a pretty waterfall thereabout, named after this Abbé Fénelon, and the whole country is full of associations, not only with those

ed Hugh. "I've seen the expression be

of those first settlers of Canada who were driven to take refuge here at the time of the American revolution, because they would not give up their

at many did so, but did not know that th

s in her book, 'Roughing it in the Bush,' were endured in this section of the country. I must try to get the book for you to read. You know she was a

ame neighborhood; and not far from either dwelt the magician Megissogwon, who, 'guarded by the black pitch-water, sends fever from the marshes,' as, indeed, many a pale-face victim of fever

'old unhappy things and battles l

and Flora together. "On such a lovely evening, we don't

r twilight,-more than ready for the substantial repast which awaited them, notwithstanding the luncheon they had enjoyed on the way,-Hugh eagerly set to work thereafter, to devour, in addition, all the scraps of information which Mr. Armstrong hunted up for him among the historical works in his library. But his attention was somewhat distracted by the songs which Nellie and Flora and May were singing, s

boat, like a bi

the sail

lad who was bo

hills t

s of the other, "The Bonnie, Bonnie Banks of Loch-Lo

high road, an' I'l

in Scotlan

, never see my

bonnie banks

aving his books and coming to join the group at the piano. "It's always the same t

ar struck into life the latent possibilities of pa

t at Old Orchard last summer, with whom you used to have so many arguments about

aid Kate; "bu

was making, and he asked most particularly for you. I really believe h

uld do anything of the kind. It would be qui

eturned Nellie. "He made most particula

sed to hear that he took any such trou

referred to!" retorted Nellie, rather mischievously. "I only wond

"I noticed the name of Winthrop in the register

ghtened color. "You would have enjoyed meeting him, Hugh. He would have given you the Am

s to give me?" asked Hugh, as the

adian Boat-song,'" sa

. Give Hugh something that has more of a native flavor about it. Sing him one or two of those Frenc

so silly," o

t? And Hugh can enjoy a little nonsense to a pretty air, as well as anybody, I'm

r is so simple, you must all of you join in the choru

-Canadian airs, which have come down from the old times of voyageurs and trappers-and the who

ule roulant,-en r

half-serious love ditty, the r

ngtemps qu

e ne t'o

eleven o'clock, and time for the travelers to s

he could see very well that Jack Armstrong had fallen a victim to the fresh, rosy-cheeked, blue-eyed Flora, and, accordingly, was not surpri

said Jack, who was too fond of puns. "

ké, as this Port of Good Hope was fir

wo hours through a fertile farming country, leaving the train at Belleville, where they were to spend the remainder of the day. Taking an early luncheon, they devoted the rest of the afternoon and evening to pleasant drives about the picturesque vicinity of the pretty little city, which, Mrs. Sandford said, was first named Belleville in honor of Arabella, the wife of an early governor. That it deserved the added "e" no one doubted, for all admired its fine situation at the head of the noble Bay of Quinte, with two rapid rivers, the Trent and the Moira, running through the t

rs are in these latter days. But, all the same, it was a noble thing to do-to follow

at any rate, never thought that the American 'rebels' would succeed; and when they did, of course, with feeling running so high, they couldn't ex

d Mrs. Sandford, who had some traditions of the kind in her own family. "

ard for the people who were driven from their homes. But you see, if they had not had to le

narrow and mistaken policy of the American leaders at

putting aside this pre-historic period, it was here that Champlain, on his way to his mistaken raid on the Iroquois, which was the beginning of so much strife and trouble, had joined his savage allies in an Indian "Chevy Chase"-in which, by mishap, he wounded one of his dusky friends. But these old stories have long ago been forgotten, in the interest of mines-gold and iron-which, found in the vicinity, have, as usual, somewhat deteriorated the region to which they have given

press, where,

ght and conquer

races, gone like

eternal hunting

ntlet of thei

eft to tell th

ire us with su

spectres pass

ertain moonlig

rne where darkne

wrapped in my

ft the mantl

nder over hal

of thought, but

uld like to see more of that p

Saguenay' as we go along. And I daresay you can get the book in Kingston-he

lies flashed in and out of the woods with unusual brilliancy, affo

carcely get rid of the feeling tha

. "Only now and then, for some reason best known to th

hip-poor-will!" exc

r listening attentively. "That is o

e it," said May. "It is very hard to get a good

once more rattling over city streets. And then, after a substantial tea, they

question they found it hard to decide. Returning down this long reach Hugh was seized with a desire to see the "Lake of the Mountain," on the high table-land above the bay, of which he had often heard. And Kate, who considered nothing impossible, actually persuaded the obliging captain to keep the boat at the landing below it for half an hour, in order to give them time for a hurried visit. Mrs. Sandford, of course, graciously declined the climb, but the others hastened up the steep ascent, where a mill-race came rushing down the height, amid a lush growth of ferns that grew luxuriously among the dark, wet rocks, between which they picked their way. But, once at the top, what a glorious view! Right below their feet stretched the lovely reach-widening out into the broad bay at the

r of the former "lords of the soil," whose "totem," a crane, seemed to be appropriately keeping guard over the spot; then at the various villages and townships;-at Deseronto, a busy little lumbering place, named after an Indian chief, whose formidable name signifies "Thunder and Lightning;"-at a forsaken-looking little "Bath," with its ambitious name, and at a long succession of "towns," or rather townships, named, by the overflowing enthusiasm of the U. E. Loyalists, after the numerous olive branches of old George the Third. There is Ernestown and Adolphustown, and Ameliasburg and Marysburgh; and there is Amherst Island, named, like Picton, after