and $10 to boot, twenty times over if I had liked, but I wished to look round and take notice of every bit of farming I can pick up. If you are your own master, and are in a hurry to start, you can learn more by taking a plough, and doing a little broad-cast just as you like. I don't spend a cent out in the country except the $16 a month for board and washing, and the travelling expenses when it is necessary, to see cattle with Smith, and buy and sell, and see how bargains are worked, which is good practice. My friend and I are going to take a log hut with us for the winter, and we are going to do everything ourselves, cooking and all. The Smiths go to England, and there will be nobody up here. We shall do as much lumber-hauling and sawing as possible, and keep our eyes open: so I hope this $16 a month won't go on after October. At present I am a little short of cash, from my confounded extravagance in town. I had to stop a month

in Toronto before I came, and that was $22 for board at once. That is why I am in such a hurry to get to the north-west, to show you that I can do something besides continually writing for money. It makes me mad to think of it: £4 a month till October, and then £2 till April, and then I hope I shall be safely launching myself into the stream of money-making. I keep a close diary now of every cent I spend, what I do, and what letters I write; and the contents of my letters in an abbreviated form, in another book. If anybody happens to ask what would be a suitable present for me to start with to the north-west, a breech-loading gun, or a box of tools for heavy carpentering, would come in remarkably handy. It is now 2.30, and I have to be up at six, pick the stones off three fields, mark those which are too big with stakes, to prevent the reapers being broken in harvest, and I don't know how much more work. So good-night.

TO HIS MOTHER.

Eastwood, May 31, 1881.-I have written to ask a man whether he can find me any employment at Portage. If he can, I shall go up there; but I shall want money-it will cost me by emigrant train £6. He would probably give me my board, and about $12 a month to start with. It is a six days' journey by express from here. If he can't take me, I shall hire myself out to some farmer (labour is scarce), and I shall get about $10 a month and board I hope, but there is a great prejudice against English gentlemen-they are generally lazy and proud, and do little work. I am at present without a cent; I have just spent my last for a stamp for this letter, and by the time I get an answer to this I shall owe two months' board. I think now it was a mistake coming here, as I am afraid I must offend Mr. Smith by having come at all if I leave so soon. As

for writing articles for a newspaper, after a hard day's work it is almost impossible to concentrate enough energy (especially of the brain) to write essays; and you know, dear mother, I have not enough stuff in me to write articles for papers or periodicals. From continued intercourse with the working class, I find it hard enough to speak the Queen's English, I will let you know directly I get an answer from Portage. The mosquitoes make life a torture here at times; they have bitten me till I am twice my ordinary size, on face, arms, and neck; but they go away in the middle of June, I am told, and I certainly fervently hope they do. You must excuse the dulness of my letter, but I have had a hard day's work and am very tired. We have at present over 150 head of cattle on the farm, and I have to draw water out of the wells, in the different fields, and fill the troughs morning, noon, and night. We ship thirty-nine head of the finest three-part

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bred cows you ever saw to Winnipeg on Thursday and I shall be glad when they are goneit will be a load off my mind, because I have to remember every beast, so as to know which are to fill the contract and which stop. We are having a terrible drought, 88° to 98° in the shade, and no rain for three weeks; almost unheard of, as this is the season we depend on for rain. Grass drying up, instead of growing for hay. Fall wheat pretty good, but grain sown since winter utterly dried up, not sprouting at all. Love to all.

TO HIS FATHER.

Woodstock, July 7, 1881.-Came here July 4. In defiance of telegram and letter I am now on a farm. I have left Eastwood for two months, since I think I shall be able to get a better idea of farming, in the most important season of the year, by being in a regular farm. In a monetary point of view there is not much difference, but