liminary. I think Bob will like the Collegewell fed, well roomed, and always warm. Tell me as soon as you can what steamer he intends starting by. I wish you could see my head ; I had every morsel of hair clipped with a machine to the sixth of an inch, to keep my head clean in harvest. Looking-glasses are an unknown luxury in a farm, and there is just a tin bowl out of doors to wash in. Every second day I get into the wash-tub in the barn. There are three things which, above all others, the hired man cannot understand-night-gown, tooth-brush, and prayers. The Canadian Jack is as good as his master, and it is rather a takedown to family pride to see, at every word, that the men don't see I was ever a bit better than they see me now (in fact, I don't know whether I ever was). "I tell ye what; some o' the fellows up town (shopkeepers) is pretty stylish ; they'd never even look at the likes of you and and me, Ted." Love to all,

The Farm, August 15th.—I am sorry to say I have been rather irregular with my letters lately; my excuse is work. I have just finished my first thrashing. I was carrying grain with another man-about the hardest work of the lot, since the grain comes out quick enough to keep two sacks continually going. I am really now beginning to take a decided interest in farming, as there is at least one feature in it which you know I like-change, a great variety of things to do and attend to. I am keeping my diary very carefully. I am told since I have been here on the farm, notwithstanding the diet and early hours, I am looking much better than I have since I have been in Canada. In fact, I may say that these two months of simple labouring life, like a plough-boy in England, will have been amongst the happiest and most undisturbed in my nineteen and a half years' residence in the world. By-the-bye, I must tell you of a peculiar thing which takes place.

When I have been out at work, and come in to meals, my face and arms are covered with salt; in other words, my perspiration is so impregnated with the salt of the meat, etc., that I eat, that, when it evaporates, the salt is left, and it presents a most peculiar appearance. The thermometer, two days running, was 102° in the shade, with a strong wind blowing which seemed as if it had come from a furnace. It is what the Canadians call a "wet-shirt day." Love to all.

Here ends the two months' self-imposed probation with the kindly old Scotch farmera rough trial, almost too much for his strength, but one leaving behind it valuable experiences. He now returned to Eastwood, received and helped to settle his younger brother at College, and then started for the far West. The letters will tell under what circumstances.

TO HIS MOTHER.

Eastwood, October 6th.-I have been intending to write for some time but have put off writing each day, waiting for further particulars. A little time ago, I got an offer of board for work in Beaconsfield, Manitoba. I have just accepted the offer willingly, for the following reason. I shall have the whole winter to judge what a new country is really like. I am sorry to leave Bob, . who is in moderate spirits, but doing his best to get me to stop till spring. Of course it will be rather rough work out there. Only the other fellow and myself in the house, so we shall take turns by weeks, in cooking, housekeeping, etc. But I am impatient to start. One thousand five hundred miles on my journey will be a good start for the north-west. I hope I shall have enough money for the journey. Bob and I go to Guelph to-morrow. He is the most amusing fellow I ever met. My movements are as

follows: Guelph, Friday to Monday; Eastwood, Monday to Thursday; Toronto, Thursday to Monday; journey to Manitoba, Monday 17th till Thursday 20th. I have taken on myself the responsibility of going without your and father's sanction, hoping that you will not be annoyed on account of the short notice which I must necessarily give you, only knowing it myself in the last few days. "There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, if taken at its rise, leads on to fortune." I don't know exactly if it is a safe maxim to trade on, but in this case it seems to be a good one. Bob has already planned out his future career, but, like myself, he has forgotten that there are two or three impediments of an objectionable nature in his way. He seems to have made friends with several nice people in the steamer-an easy task with him, since he is so light-hearted and gay; so I have no fears, as regards leaving him alone in Canada, though I am very sorry.

F

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