Lanark Society Settlers Letter Number 5
Signed by “Pioneer”
Having given you a brief account of our progress in the pioneer state, I will now give you a few more items without regard to the time of the occurrence. As necessity is the mother of invention a good opportunity was now afforded in our case for its development. A neighbor of ours having no coat to wear went to a tailor with a piece of cloth to have one made. He asked the tailor what he would charge. The tailor stated he would make him the coat for $4. He felt mad and told him he neither would nor could give him any such amount – that he would take it home and wear it in plaid fashion. However, after thinking it over he thought he might make it himself. He had an old black coat and so he went to work and ripped it down as far as possible to take a pattern and cut it out adding a few modern improvements. In place of the swallow tail he brought it right round in front, sewed both coats neatly together again and then he boasted of his independence.
Another of my acquaintances was badly off for pants. He had a blanket he thought he could spare. He spread the blanket on the floor, lay down on top of it, and spread his legs at the proper angle. He then brought it round his body and round his legs and then caused another party to cut it a piece out between his legs commencing at the feet in the shape of a ‘V’ and terminating at his body. The pattern now being taken all he had to do was to sew them up the insides of his legs and then added a few buttons up the front and a broad hem around the waist the pants were completed. You may think this a little exaggerated but as I have seen the old gentleman in the pants many a time I think it is about correct.
I had another experience that I think I may mention. As big backlogs were a necessity in our shanties one gentleman thought it might be superceded by one made of clay which would not require to be replaced every morning. So he got to work and made his clay backlog and after drying it in the sun, got it into position, put on a good fire, but alas, it began to crack badly. Not willing to be beaten, he made some iron hoops and in driving them on to tighten it up it all went to pieces. My informant was an eye witness. He told me the gentleman looked very sad at his failure while he could scarcely suppress laughing. So you see it is true what Burns said “the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agee”.
In the early days of the settlement as good crops of corn were grown, the husking bees were all the go. Coming into the house in the evening the first thing that attracted your attention was the great pile of corn on the floor almost covered with young lads and lassies to do the work and enjoy the fun; the song and story went round and the joy was almost boundless. In the meantime, the good wife of the house was busy along with an assistant or two preparing the evening supper which consisted of a pail full or two of well pared potatoes which after being well boiled and pulverized with a beetle, a quart or two of milk and a chunk of butter were thrown in, the spurtal was then applied to thoroughly incorporate the mess. Corn being finished, the pot was then placed on a table in the middle of the floor and as many as could stand round it were furnished with a spoon and a bowl of milk, then after all were satisfied with the potatoes they were then served round with a well buttered scone which finished up the rustic food. Supper being over everything was turned round to make room for the dance. As there was no artificial music in those days the natural organ had to supply the want so those that had the best tuned equipment were pressed into service. As there was nothing very systematic in the dance in those days but all being willing to do their best, it was a case of the more blunders the more fun. After enjoying the dance for a couple of hours or so according to the Scottish custom they all formed into a ring, at the same time singing a lively chorus while each one kissed the partner of his choice. This was called the parting kiss. Then great torches were kindled to light them through the woods when like Burns’ two dogs
Each took off their several way
Resolved to meet another day.
Pope says:
Lo! The poor Indian whose untutored mile
Sees God in the clouds and hears Him in the wind
I endorse the sentiment as we are no doubt trespassers on their soil. When we first came to Dalhousie the Indians were quite numerous as many as 15 to 20 families went up the river every fall to their different hunting grounds. When they first made their appearance we were a little afraid but as they were remarkably civil we soon were all right. They only wanted to trade with us, mitts, venison, and skins on reasonable terms for potatoes, corn and flour all of which was quite acceptable to us and quite a trade was carried off for a number of years quite satisfactory to both. I am happy to inform you that the settlers always treated them honestly and justly with only one exception and I am quite satisfied that if the Indians had been treated by the whites on this continent on sound Christian principles as the great William Penn treated them there need not have been a drop of blood shed on their account but as they were ever dealt with on the principle that they might fight, nothing else could be expected. But alas! The familiar bark canoe has long since ceased to float on the placid waters of Dalhousie Lake and nothing remains but the relics of pottery, arrow heads, etc., to tell of what had been.
About the year 1833 as the young families had grown up to
men and women, emigration became a necessity.
Some went to the state of
Since the introduction of municipal government we have been fairly prosperous, our schools and roads and bridges all made and maintained by our own moneys by direct taxation excepting the school and agricultural grants and $80 we got from the government when we first built the bridge at the foot of the Dalhousie Lake about fifty years ago. So you see if Dalton McCarthy’s estimate is correct of that for every $10 of dutiable goods we purchase we have to pay $20 we must be very profitable.
But I must draw to a close and will only add that the
descendents of the Society Settlers are scattered all over the continent of