Canada for Gentlemen | Page 6

writing in a very rambling sort of way, but that
is a fault inseparable from having to write at odd times. We are living
here for about a dollar a day each, not at all bad, with three good big
meals included, still it's spending money instead of making it, so I hope
it won't last long. It's not such a bad beginning, though, when you come
to think of it, we've only had two clear days in the country, and Henry
is in a very fair way to be settled at a really good farm. Apart from
business, the drive this afternoon was delightful, the country in places
quite equal to any in Devonshire, though always with something wild
looking about it. In some parts of the road it looked just exactly like
England, so long as we did not look too far away. Upon the hills, etc.,

there is always a lot of pine-wood and stuff which does not look
English, but it's all pretty; I believe you would like it immensely.
Sherbrooke itself is a jolly little town, though I believe here it is
considered a good big one, and a place of some importance. I think I
shall have to bring this to an end now; I don't know exactly when the
mail leaves Montreal, and I don't want to miss it through not being
ready, so if I have time to add anything more it will take the form of a
postcript. I don't know the least what address to give, our movements
are so uncertain. Couldn't father write to Roland Stanley and ask him to
forward the letters to us? I think, if he seems the right sort of chap, I
will ask him about this when I see him, at any rate I can let him know
when we leave, where we are going to, and then if any of you should
have sent a letter to him he will know where to forward it to. Give my
love to the Father, and Old Daddy and Muriel, and everybody else,
And believe me,
Your loving Son. J. SETON COCKBURN.
P.S. Friday.--Must post this this morning, so must look sharp. Roland
Stanley was away on a fishing expedition. We saw his daughter. She
said her father would probably be home on Friday or Saturday, so we
decided to lie in wait for him in diggings, and to call again on Monday.
I had no idea his place was so far away from
Montreal--six-and-a-quarter miles by rail including the Victoria Bridge,
which puts a lot on to the fare, and a good two miles by road. His name
was not in the Directory, so we had to find this place by asking for it
when we got to St. Lamberts. Charles Holloway also was out when we
called--at his office I believe--so we are going down to the city to look
for him this morning. We also called on Mrs. Fenton, but she was out,
so we gave in and jacked it up for the day, as by that time it was nearly
six o'clock. We had a fearful bother in finding them, as there were no
numbers on the introductions, and there are about 1000 houses in
Sherbrooke Street. The diggings we have got into will do very well for
the time. We have taken them for a week at $5 each, board and lodging,
which I think is about as cheap as we can get them anywhere in
Montreal. Our address is 60, Aylmer Street, but it's not a bit of use
writing to us here, as we should be gone long before the letter reached
us. I don't suppose we shall be here much more than a week. I will
write more fully what we are doing by next mail.

J. S. C.
I am not sure if I have got the leads which I got for my ink pencil. If
they are in the right hand top drawer of your writing table, will you
send them when you send my goggles?
Have not done anything about money yet for want of advice. It's no use
sending letters to Roland Stanley, he's too far away from Montreal. He
must wait till we get more settled. Please remember me to everybody,
particularly the Miss Bruces.

60, Aylmer Street, Montreal,
_September 9th_, 1884.
My Dear Mother,
This letter is following pretty close on the heels of the other one. and
for this reason: I can't find any letter of introduction to Dr. A. Howel or
to Mrs. A. Howel, or any instructions as to calling without an
introduction in the epitome of my letters which father gave me. I can't
have lost it. You put them all up in a bundle, and I never saw