Chapter 53.
We arrived in Binscarth about one in the morning, but we still had ten miles to drive. Graham had brought a democrat for the passengers and a wagon for the luggage. Our way led through the woods, and I can still feel in fancy the still crisp night air and the many mosquitoes buzzing around us. It was a long drive over rough roads, but we arrived at last and had a warm welcome from Aunt Bessie. What a supper she had ready for us, and her three children slipped down one by one to make our acquaintance. Carew was nearly as old as Christopher and a bigger child, Carrie a very pretty little creature of three and Henry the baby the same age as Helen but could not yet walk.
What a month of it we had with all the small children. Graham put a team of horses and a wagon at our disposal and we had many long drives. The country had changed a great deal since my long sojourn there. People had built good comfortable houses, fields were fenced off, and there was no longer the feeling as of universal brotherhood which we had so enjoyed.
We visited Shellmouth and stayed a night with Mrs. Boulton and one with our old friend Mrs. Denmark. Mrs. Gilly had passed away and also Major Boulton and I missed them. The children were all growing up. Nellie was a tall girl of eighteen, with great masses of beautiful golden brown hair. The place had never developed into a town, as the railway had gone by a different route, but a few people lived quiet and peaceable lives in that lovely and lonely spot.
Another time we visited Shell River, Bessie’s old home, and went over a large flour mill. Then there was Willie Heath to be seen. He had married a rich wife and they had a very comfortable house and a good farm. The mosquitoes were very bad and I had little sleep with Helen. They did not seem to molest my brother’s children.
The great occupation for everybody who had a spare hour was making Stilton cheese. Washing tubs full of milk were made into curd and this was cut in small pieces and packed in a mold. It was very nice cheese but my brother did not make a fortune out of it; I do not know that he made anything.
But the month soon went and we started for home at as early an hour as we had arrived four weeks before. It was a long day from 3 a.m. till 7 p.m. when we reached Winnipeg. Our kind friend Mrs. Daupe met us and we had a meal in the station and then continued our journey. We did not have a “compartment” going back and it was a long, hot journey.
I waited a few days in Toronto with our friends the Sydneys and then we once more turned our faces towards Port Hope. After a few days at home we went out once more to Mrs. Meadow’s farm for a peaceful six weeks. What a rest to mind and body those summers at Mrs. Meadows’ farm were. I look back on them with pleasure and regret. Mrs. Meadows has gone to her rest now. She lived to an old age and when I last saw her could not remember me, but she was a good woman and a faithful friend and I look back at the peaceful weeks we spent at her house with the greatest pleasure.