Twenty-five years of Canadian life : With a study of Bible prophecy

Introduction

I am reminded by many things of having made a promise, to the effect that I would at some time give to the public a further history of myself and God’s dealings with me and mine ; but how or where to begin is a question ?

A boy who had a large apple given to him wished to divide it into five pieces ; but how was this to be done ? “I could cut it through the middle,” he said* “ and divide it into four or six pieces, but five equal parts is a puzzle.”

I feel somewhat like that boy. I could begin, as it were, at the beginning, and give an account of things I have seen or done as they come to my mind, and this perhaps would be rather amusing, but it would not satisfy me. Canada to-day, with all its civilization, is not the same as it was thirty years ago. Movement is so rapid; science is making such gigantic strides; men are trying to look into the future, making themselves as gods, while yet the work given them to do is unaccomplished.

“ Replenish the earth and subdue it,” was the first unconditional command (Gen. 1-28).

When that command has been fully obeyed, “ The

INTRODUCTION.

earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2: 14) “I would that they may be one even as we are one,” prayed our blessed Lord when He was upon earth ; but are we one ? No ! We have opinions many, creeds many, and ways and means many for accomplishing the work given to us to do, whereas the directions are so simple that a wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein.

There are questions of the day to answer, and I feel I should be a coward if I did not try to meet them. Yet the attempt to do so may be considered presumptuous on the part of one in so humble a position, but most things come from small beginnings.

In England, near the River Ouse, there is an old oak so large that more than a hundred persons can dine under its branches, yet it grew from a very small seed. Our great men grow from tiny babes, and “ In the beginning God made (one) man ;” now we count men by millions.

The Earl of Shaftesbury once said : “ Other and better men have preceded me, and I entered into their labors ; other and better men will follow me and enter into mine.”

So, sitting in the pretty town of Berlin, where, as a stranger, I have met with much kindness, I will make my humble effort, trusting that in trying to please the reader I may not forget to put before them the beauty of a consistent life — a life lived in Christ, for Christ, and with Christ. R. P.

Chapter I. A Thriving Ontario Town

‘ ‘ Those who watch Providence will never want a providence to watch.”

“ Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness ; and all these things shall be added unto you ” (Matt. 6: 33).

“ How e’er it be, it seems to me,

’T is only noble to be good.

Kind hearts are more than coronets,

And simple faith than Norman blood.”

— Tennyson.

Berlin is the capital of Waterloo, and received its name in 1826. In 1820 it had one blacksmith’s shop ; in 1825 the first factory was built and a store opened. Now, in 1899, it is one of the most thriving towns in Ontario, and well deserves the name, so often given to it, of “ busy Berlin.”

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF CANADIAN LIFE.

It was settled chiefly by Pennsylvania Dutch. It has a population of about 9,000, is situate on the Grand Trunk railway about sixty-two miles west of Toronto ; it is cleanly, healthy, and has a great number of beautiful residences, chiefly brick.

It has thirty-four manufactories, three banks, an opera house, a free public library, a college, schools and parks, also twenty-six places for the worship of Almighty God.

It is essentially a religious town ; the people are kindly and do not forget to entertain strangers. Speaking for myself, I may say that as a stranger among strangers I was most graciously received and invited to their houses and their tables ; and this, not because they could possibly expect a return of compliments, for I am not only a stranger to them, but in so humble a position of life that I am astonished.

They have an orphanage, too, with eight small specimens of humanity — one, a colored girl about ten years old, was spoken of as a most lovable child, taking care of the younger ones in a tender, motherly way. I heard her spoken of in several houses as well as by the matron herself. I went over the gaol, in which there were four prisoners ; also over the poorhouse, in which I found about ninety old, old people — some not responsible at all, and none of them able to earn their own living. I felt that it was a good thing to have them there to be taken care of and kept clean.

There was only one thing I found to object to in this beautiful little town : the small wages paid to the working-man, though I expect to find this same blot in many other places.

When will the time come that man shall love his neighbor as himself ? I think I hear some one say, That is more general now than it ever was. I ask in

A THRIVING ONTARIO TOWN.

what way ? Why ! look at the amount given away every year in charity. Yes, but if our employers would give better wages, build their own homes smaller, and live a little less expensively, their working-men could keep themselves without this charity, and build for themselves homes in which to dwell. Do you say, “ Not in every case — some would drink it all up, no matter how much they earned, and others would squander it in waste.”

Doubtless you are right, but that is another question ; the employer will have done his duty, and the industrious man will not suffer. Neither of these are responsible for the others. Charity is not all charity that goes by that name, for “ Charity is Love.”

Is there anything in life man more desires than to achieve a good name ? And to attain this some try to get wealth, some honor, some power, others devote themselves to art, science or literature, but underlying all we discover the hope that it may be their lot to obtain that after which they aspire.

Is it not true that men are beginning to see that to gain this good name and keep it their motives and their efforts must be pure ; they cannot afford to do evil ; it does not pay ; it will sooner or later hinder or hurt. If you touch pitch it will blacken, if you touch fire it will burn.

Could we but realize the greatness of the life committed to our keeping, should we not try to live more in accord with the Giver of that life ? thus developing lofty conceptions and noble purpose, always looking up instead of either downwards or towards self.

But I hear a call to tea. I am boarding in a German family ; everybody is very kind. I must say I was rather dismayed the first day I came here as I took the seat assigned to me at the head of a wellfilled table and saw nine young men take their places and at once begin to make havoc with the eatables set before them. I had no idea that my fellow-boarders were all men. It was the tirst time that 1 had ever gone to a public boarding-place ; I felt a little shy, to say the least of it, and 1 don’t know but the boys were just a little uncomfortable, too.

When supper was over I went back to the parlor. Do you know what a boarding-house parlor is like ? Have you ever spent a first evening in one all alone ?

I went to my room at nine o’clock, and shortly afterwards heard some one playing on a violin dance music and some of the popular songs of the day ; the last I heard before sleep took possession of me was “ The Two Little Girls in Blue.”

I did not meet my boys again until the next day at dinner, as they went to work early in the morning. They were polite and nice to me. The violin player was the one who sat at’ my right hand, a good-natured German. He and I became quite friendly ; he took a good deal of teasing from his fellow-boarders, who told me that he was very fond of the girls and that the violin he played on had only three strings. I soon got accustomed to their ways and placed them at their ease, though it was some time before I could coax them into the parlor ; after I was able to do this, however, we had quite a social time. When I left the town it was with the good wishes of every one of them. I had one opportunity of speaking for the Master, but the great day alone will tell to what extent it did good.

My work for this summer has come to me through many happenings, which some would call chance, but which I prefer to call Providence, and in mapping out that work I had three objects in view : To earn my

daily bread, to regain lost health by change of air and exercise, and last, though by no means least in

A THRIVING ONTARIO TOWN.

my consideration, was the speaking a word for the Master and His kingdom.

Each morning 1 go out calling from house to house until noon ; each afternoon I receive callers from two till five, to whom I give lessons in art needle work.

I have already spent some, and expect to spend many more, happy days in this way. As I leave my home each morning I repeat the old familiar lines :

“Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I go,

My daily labor to pursue ;

Thee, only Thee, resolv’d to know,

In all I say, or think, or do.”

I did not start on this course without some opposition, which, I am glad to say, I was able to overcome.

We are very dependent one upon another, but as long as we respect ourselves others will respect us. I am really enjoying my outing; it is going to be quite an education to me, and 1 shall try to impart to others some of that which I myself receive.

I rejoice in the fact that God has already used me more than once to minister to His waiting ones, and to give messages of His love and consolation.

Some years ago a dozen or so of boarding-school girls may have been seen taking their usual walk in one of our pretty Devonshire towns in England, and although there were two teachers in charge, a lad was able, unseen by them, to give into the hand of one of the young ladies a note, which she immediately put into her pocket. As soon as she was alone she eagerly scanned its contents, then, bursting into tears, spoke thus to herself : “ Can I do this ? Is it right ? or ought I to go home? No, I wont; she is cruel, mean, and I hate her. I will do what he asks me to do. I am nearly seventeen, and mamma was married at eighteen. And oh ” (with a sob), “ if she were here I should not have to do this ; but she is dead. I will not be a slave to this woman and her young ones. I will do as he says. Mabel is all right with Uncle John/’

A month later, on board a steamer coming to Canada, was a young and pretty bride, about seventeen years of age, with her husband, some two years older. They were apparently very fond of each other, yet at times could be seen a shade of sadness on the young bride’s brow, as though she were not perfectly happy.

Six years later, living in a handsome house in one of our Ontario towns were a young couple with two children — a boy and a girl. One glance at the mother is sufficient to tell you that her days are numbered, — the cough, the hectic flush, the quick breathing, speak very plainly of consumption.

A few kind words of sympathy brought the ready tears to those bright .eyes, and a second visit in answer to her invitation brought the cry which could be made more readily to a stranger than to friend or neighbor : “ I am very ill and I know I must soon die — but, oh ! I am afraid/’

A little later the caller is shown into the bedroom. “ Well, dear, how are you to-day ? ”

“Very weak, Mrs. Mordant, but I do not suffer much. I took your advice; my husband wrote to Mabel, and he got a telegram saying that she would start at once. I am asking God to keep me alive until she comes, though I know I do not deserve it ; but He is so full of love. I thank Him again and again for sending you to me, and that I opened my heart to you that morning.”

A THRIVING ONTARIO TOWN.

“ I am glad of that, too, dear friend, and I know that our God is full of love. But supposing He does not deem it wise to keep you here until your sister comes, are you willing to trust Him in that as in all else ? ” A moment’s silence, then in earnest tones :

“Yes! I am willing; not my will but thine be done, oh, Lord ! ”

She did live until her sister came.

Six weeks later, in another town, on picking up an evening paper I read : “ Died on the 18th inst., Mrs. A., beloved wife of W. A., aged 24 years and 6 months.

How little we know to whom God may send us ! Let us watch for opportunities.

Chapter II. A Wonderful Get-up

“ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want ” (Ps. 23 : 1).

“ The King of Love my Shepherd is,

His goodness faileth never —

I nothing lack if I am His And He is mine for ever.”

Mrs. Leonard! Mrs. Leonard, there goes that white horse again with the old man on his back ! This is the third time he has passed by here to-day. Why, he’s coming in at the gate — coming in here, I do declare.”

“ So he is,” said Mrs. Leonard, as she went to open the door.

“If you please, is my sister here ? ” said a youthful voice.

“ Who is your sister, may I ask ? ”

But before he has time to reply, Mrs. Leonard is rather unceremoniously pushed aside, and he is warmly embraced by the first speaker, and shaking hands with a young man who comes from an inner

A WONDERFUL GET-UP.

room at the sound of his voice, and whom he calls “ Bill.”

Very soon his horse is tied to a tree, and explanation is the order of the day. He is presented to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard as “ My brother, Harry Elliott.”

“ But, my dear boy,” said his sister, “ what a figure you cut. Why did you come out in such clothes, and on a Sunday, too.”

“ Oh ! we’re in Canada now, you know ; and I wanted to show you a real Canadian farmer and his get-up.”

“You may well call it a get-up, for it is one, and I see you have still your old love of mischief ; but where have you come from ? how long have you been on the road, and are you hungry ?”

“ Well, now, you remind me of it, I do think I could eat my breakfast.”

“ Why, it is past dinnertime; have you had nothing all day?”

“Not a thing. I was too excited to eat this morning, thinking I should find you without any trouble, and here I’ve been roaming about all this time.”

“ Poor fellow, you shall have something to eat at once, then you shall tell us all about it.”

A lunch was soon prepared, and as he sat down to it he said: “Now, Sis, while I am trying to satisfy the inner man, won’t you tell me everything that has happened since I left you in England ? ”

“ Well ! let me see. You left in June, and it is now September. It would take a long time to tell you everything that took place in three months ; but I will do what I can. Of course you know we missed you very much and were often thinking about you. When we got your first letter William surprised me by saying : ‘ If I were not a married man I would go out to him.’”

“ Do you really mean that ? ” I said. “ Would you go ? Because I would like that above all things. But there is your mother to think of !

“ ‘ Yes/ he said, ‘ that would be the only drawback. Though I’m sure she would not keep me, if she thought it for my good that I should go.’

“ So to cut a long story short, we went to see her, and it was decided that we should start as soon as we could make arrangements for so doing.

“We were fortunate enough to get an offer for the business, and sold it for cash down. We gave the debts to Mr. Gordon for collection, and here we are.”

“ What boat did you come on ? ”

“ The Prussian , Allan line.”

“ Had you a good time ? ”

“ Yes ; and we had a good captain. I can never say too much in his favor. He did everything he could to make all on board happy. He had a little harmonium on deck most evenings, on which he played — the steerage passengers singing and dancing to their heart’s content.

“We had a service every Sunday morning, with a sermon from a Scotch gentleman, who went a good deal amongst the passengers and was greatly respected.

“We were eleven days on board, and each day brought before our eyes something sad and something droll. There was, as it were, laughing and weeping at the same time in some part or other of that same boat. Doubtless, it would make a good sized volume if I could write the history of all on board. However, I will tell you one little thing that was very pleasant, and one that was very sad, which must suffice.

“There was an interesting old couple on board who were newly married — a very romantic account of

A WONDERFUL GET-UP.

which marriage the lady herself gave me. She told me they were engaged when she was only eighteen years old and he was twenty-one. He left her in Scotland while he went to Canada to make a home for her, then he was to return. She had remained faithful, but he had been married and his wife was dead. He was wealthy and had a tine home near Niagara. On his paying a visit to his native land at the age of seventy-three they met and were married, and the dear old lady was as happy as a young girl. She was rosy cheeked and fresh looking, and 1 should imagine had been a beauty in her young s.

“Quite a romance,” said Mrs. Leonard.

“ Then the sad case I spoke of was the death of a little boy, whose parents were afraid he would die before we landed. He did, too ; but not until we got into the St. Lawrence. So he was buried in Quebec.

“ We landed on Sunday at one o’clock ; we were one night on the cars, one in Toronto, and reached Brampton on Wednesday. William went to a thrashing on Thursday, to another on Friday, and to a third on Saturday ; to-day you see him. Does he look any the worse for a change of work ? ”

“ No ! I don’t think he does. How do you like it, Bill ? Do you find it hard ? ”

“Oh, no; I suppose there is work on a farm I should like better, but I made up my mind that I would take the first thing that was offered to me, and so I did.”

“ And I mean to do the same,” said his wife.

“ And now, if you have finished your repast, Harry, we will have an account of yourself since you left us, and a history of this wonderful get-up of yours — dirty boots, blue cotton trousers and coat to match, 2 no collar or tie ; and, surely, if you were in England the boys would ask you ‘ Who’s your hatter.’ ”

“ I guess they would. The boss wanted me to get fixed up, as he calls it, but I wanted to show you a real live Canadian.”

“ I told you in my first letter all about our passage out and that we both hired the very next day, did I not ? ”

“Yes; but by the way, how is Walter ? Have you heard from him ? ”

“ I got one letter and wrote him one, that’s all.”

“ When did you first see my advertisement ? ”

“ I was in bed when the boss got home last night — they only get a paper once a week, on a Saturday. My room is just off the kitchen, and they were sitting around the fire, when Mr. Atkins called out, ‘ Harry, Harry ! What’s your sister’s name ? I believe she’s here in Canada.’

“ I was only about half-awake, and jumping up I rushed out in my night-robe. There sat the mistress, the maid and the daughter. The boss roared and laughed. ‘ Get your trousers on, lad,’ says he, and I went back in double-quick time, you bet. I got dressed, and there was the advertisement sure enough. I’ve got it here in my pocket.

“If this should meet the eye of Harry Elliott, who hired with a farmer five miles east or west of Toronto about the end of June last, he will find his sister, Mrs. Mordant, by inquiring at 36 Trevor Street, Brampton, County Peel.”

“ Yes, that’s it. What then ?”

“Oh, I wanted to start off .right away, but they would not hear to that at all. The boss said he’d call me early and I could have the old white horse, and that’s how I got here. But, you know, when I went to 36 Trevor Street it was only a store, and

A WONDERFUL GET-UP.

being Sunday, of course it was closed. I tried to find out the man’s name and where he lived, but I was ever so long before I met with anybody who knew his name. At last I was told he was George Wright, and that he lived nearly a mile past here.”

“ That must have been the first time I saw you go by ? ”

“I expect it was. Well, when I got to the house Mr. Wright was away, and neither mistress nor maid knew anything about any person by the name of Mordant, so I trotted back to the village and I was advised to go to the proprietor of the printing office. I did so, and that’s how I found you.”

“ Well, you did have a hunt, and no mistske,” said William, “but I’m glad you found us at last. How do you like the country ? ”

“ First rate, the people are very kind ; but of course everything is different from what it is at home. What do you think of it, and Mary ? ”

“ So far, Mary says its great fun, but she has not been to a thrashing, you know. I suppose we shall all get used to it in time. How far is your home from here ? ”

“ About seven miles, and that reminds me I must get along or it will be dark before I get there. And, oh ! I came near forgetting my message. The mistress told me to tell you that she hoped you would go out and see them.”

“ Did she, that was very kind of her.”

“Yes, she said if you would fix on Wednesday they would be in Brampton and would take you out with them ; then you could stay until Saturday, and they would bring you back. They always come to the market, you know.”

“ That is very nice of them, seeing that we are strangers. I think we should go, William, should we not ? ”

“Just as you like. I expect we shall have to fall into the ways of the people. It will seem strange too, Harry, to visit where you are only the hired boy.” “That makes no difference. We are all equal here. The girls call me Harry, and I call them Sarah and Jane ; the hired girl is Agnes.”

“ What kind of a lady is your mistress ? ” asked Mrs. Mordant.

“ She’s a real jolly, motherly woman — that’s what she is — and the boss is just as jolly. We have lots of fun, I can tell you ; but here’s Bill with my old nag. Good-bye, Sis — I’ll tell them to call for you on Wednesday. Good-bye, Mrs. Leonard and Mr. Leonard. Good-bye, Bill.” Then the old horse started off with the odd figure in his wonderful get-up.

Chapter III. A War On Our Hands

“ Search the Scriptures ” (John 5: 39).

“Let God arise, to lead forth those Who march to war ;

Let God arise, and all his foes Be scattered far.”

Will you pardon me if I come back to present times in this chapter. We are getting very near the end of 1899, and a great war is on our hands. Many differ as to the right or wrong of this because they do not study the question from the beginning. I was to-day taken greatly to task because I said the British would doubtless be the victors in the end.

“ I thought you were a Christian,” said my opponent.

“ I trust I am,” I said ; “ but I fail to see why I should not be a Christian and still believe that the British would be victorious.”

“ Well, I don’t know whether I will call myself a Christian or not, but I am a man anyway, and I don’t see how God can be just and like war and so much bloodshed. And if He has the power that some of you Christians say He has, I can’t see why He don’t put a stop to it. The Boers don’t hurt us, and why can’t we let them alone ; the fact is, the British are a greedy lot ; they just want a little more territory, and they don’t care how much blood they shed to get their own way.”

“ I think you are a little hard on the British, are you not ? as well as upon God — I speak with all reverence. With Him it is not a question of liking, or even of power ; His plans were made in the beginning and they must be carried out. He has given us His Word ; but how few there are who live by it or attempt to understand it. Just as soon as we are perfectly obedient there will be no more need for war ; in the meantime ’tis justice that the British are fighting for. I know that they are by no means perfect, yet you must acknowledge they are the only people who take care of the countries they conquer, giving them the Gospel and civilization.

“ Look at India, for instance. What did they find there ? Superstition and cruelty of. every kind, amongst themselves and to others. Their children were thrown into the River Ganges to appease their gods ; their old women taken to the river bank and there left to die.

“ If a prince or king amongst them died, his twenty-four wives were buried alive with him, and many other cruelties were practised on behalf of their religion. There is nothing of that kind now, for India is being civilized under British rule.”

“ Well, but it was the missionaries that put a stop to all this.”

“ Hid they ? Thank God, they have nobly done their part ; but, my friend, it . took a superior power to

A WAR ON OUR HANDS.

conquer and make them ready to hear the still small voice. I believe God has chosen Britain to be that superior power. But she is slow to understand God’s will towards her, which is undoubtedly a reign of righteousness, showing mercy and giving liberty to those who come under her sway.