I come down to Toronto, I sometimes go about in a Norfolk jacket, without waistcoat or greatcoat. I don't know why, but I cannot write a letter to-day. I don't feel quite so well as usual. I suppose it is being so far from home at Christmas. I see in the newspapers that the weather in England is beautiful in a warm point of view. Now, mother dear, I must say good-night, and write another letter when I feel in a better mood. I think the examinations must have knocked me up a little. I hope you all had as merry a Christmas as possible.

TO HIS MOTHER.

Sunday, January 2, 1881. 336, King Street, Toronto: -I see you have sent my letters to Trinity College. I am going to stay there next week. Whilst I am at Guelph College it is impossible to be self-supporting, for the simple reason the pay we get for working full hours (and I always do work full hours) does not

cover board and washing, which comes to $2 80 cents per week. Remember that if the authorities get so much as an inkling that Bob is thinking of farming in Iowa, they will fire him out before he has been there a day, Iowa being in the United States. The other day the Agricultural lecturer asked one of the fellows to describe how he should proceed on taking up land? "Well! when I get down to Minnesota I shall first do so and so." Lecturer: "Well, the sooner you do it the better: you can go and pack up your trunks now, and a team shall be ready to take you to the station, for the eleven train." They lent him money to get home, and sent him away at once. I had to kiss the Bible, and swear an oath, and sign a document, I was going to remain four years in Canada after leaving the College, when I sent in my request for admission. It is the dearest wish of my heart to be self-supporting, and my Irish friend and I have often spoken together about going

to Manitoba in April. There are a great many things I have been obliged to buy the boots for dirty work, the overalls, moccasins, etc., and many books to enlighten my mind on farming, draining, hedging, etc. So, if you have no objection, I should like to begin my struggle in April. I do not call the College life at all disagreeable. Hard work I like: besides, one is not bound to work at the College; but I think if you were to ask the foreman, he would tell you I always work hard and appear to like it. Do you remember that day in the hay? I had a feeble sort of idea I was working then. The fellows often hear me begin to laugh in the middle of work; I tell them it is my own thoughts: it is really because I am thinking about that day, that feeble imagination. Thank you for the things you sent. I will write to grandmamma next week, and give her an account of my gaieties, which will be more amusing to her than my farm

labours. I went to four dances last week, and am going to five this; I don't dance, so I engage the ladies to sit the dances out-a very common proceeding here. I am lucky, and my cards for next week's dances are full. It is very cold here, on account of the winds; and I have never repented having given $9 for a fur cap, since I should have had no ears by this time, if I had not had one. They have a curious custom here of calling on New Year's day: all the ladies stop at home, the table spread with delicacies of the season, and wine, tea, and coffee. Then all the gentlemen call, and say, "Happy New Year. Weather cold. Good-bye." Good-bye." I know some who have called on as many as 130 different families, between II a.m. and 6 p.m., driving from one house to another.

TO HIS FATHER.

Fanuary 26th, Guelph.-I got your letter last night. Thank you very much for it. I can't

get a definite answer yet, about Bob's admittance to the College. Though I should like to see him very much, I think it would perhaps be better to wait till October. He will be nearly seventeen. His three years' course will take him up to twenty. The lectures are decidedly hard work to get up properly, and if he is going in for stock-raising he must get up all his lectures well, both in theory and practice. It is only six months more or less, and if mother thinks he had better begin at once, I am sure I can manage it, though there are many applications. I have been given a return pass to Chicago, 450 miles from Toronto. I think I

shall take advantage of it at Easter, since board on the train is nearly as cheap as anywhere else, and very nice besides; and when one gets an opportunity of going to one of the most flourishing towns on the continent by merely paying one's board, it ought not be missed; besides, I want to try and find something for myself.