PREFACE.

THIS little book consists of letters written from America by a young emigrant, giving an account of the first two years of his life, with a short introduction by his parents, with whose permission they are published. They are printed exactly as they were written, except that a few details, which could have no interest for the outside reader, are omitted, and that a name is occasionally changed. If the chance of their being useful to other young Englishmen, who may be thinking of following a like career, is not a valid pretext for their publication, I can only plead in excuse an uncle's partiality.

C. H. E.

ETON, October, 1882.

INTRODUCTION.

"DEAR MOTHER,

"I thought I had written you the last letter from England, but I was mistaken. I have not dared to read your letter all through; I will read it when I am safely in the steamer. I write to tell you something which I am sure you will like to hear. I went to see poor dear Aunt May's grave. . . . I am glad I went, it will do me good. Uncle Charlie and Aunt Mabel have offered father a return ticket in two years. I hope you will go to Eton for a thorough rest, after such hard work, and hope that I, on the contrary, after so much rest, am going to really hard work.

"Good-bye, my loving mother.

"From your very affectionate son."

Such were the last words written in England from a boy leaving a happy home to seek a livelihood in the far West. He was then eighteen years old, and the plan that had been roughly sketched out for him before leaving was, that he should go straight to the Agricultural College, Guelph, and stay there about a year, then proceed to Manitoba, hiring himself out to a farmer, with a view to taking a Government grant of land, and with the understanding that when he had proved himself worthy of the trust, money would be sent out, enabling him to start in whatever way he thought best. On the voyage he had the good fortune to make friends, whose kindness then, and throughout his sojourn in Ontario, went far to make him forget the painfulness of separation from home ties, and the strangeness of the new life. Their house was always open to him, and the sense of their exceeding kindness will always be treasured up by himself, as well as by his parents, with the sincerest gratitude.

HILLINGTON RECTORY,

August 20, 1882.