Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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The settlement of the Loyalists had a marked influence on the different provinces. The Loyalists were no mere disbanded soldiers who were beaten and were going off to a new country in the hope of finding an Eldorado. Had they been of this stamp, they would have given up their opinions and gone in with the colonies. They were, in reality, men of the finest character. Respect for the law, high standards of honour, and nobility of bearing were their special traits. Certainly some were of lowly origin, but the time of suffering through which they had passed had left its purifying mark upon them. Among them were not a few men of birth and education, who at once took a leading part in public affairs. In short, from the Loyalists have sprung some of our finest citizens. Had America been wise she would have kept these men; but she did not recognise their value, and Canada reaped the benefit. Among our people to-day it is a proud boast to say that one is descended from the Loyalists. Their name will be honoured as long as men regard heroism, truth, and loyalty! O. Mary Hill, Form Upper V. Canada as seen in the American Movies Canada ' s a land of perpetual snow. Where ne ' er a blade of grass will grow. Upon whom the sun doth scowl. And at night the wolves do howl. Where you oft do meet a gri ly bear. And a beaded savage may grab your hair, Lift his hatchet, and only cease When up do ride the Mounted Police. Where women always wear riding suits. With leather shirts and big high boots. Where everyone lives in a wooden shack. With a checkered cloth, and guns on the rack. Where moose wander round about the street, And trappers limp home with fro2;en feet. Where miners fight over bags of gold, Where the snow falls thick and the wind is cold. Where the ' ' rustler steals from the orphaned maid But, thanks to the hero the debt is paid. And the culprit hanged on the nearest tree, While the hero asks, Do you love me? Ruth Bishop, Form Lower VL [ 15]

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The Loyalists The Pride of the Maritimes HROUGH the long centuries — across the pages of history — heroic men have suffered innumer ' able hardships, or have died horrible deaths, for the sake of a cause which many deemed con ' temptible. It has been the unhappy lot of many of these men to be scorned and despised, even after their death, because of the cause they upheld, and not even their heroism has softened the criticism. Such, mayhap, was the case with that devoted band — the United Empire Loyalists. They are more often remembered as ' ' traitors to the cause of liberty than as noble patriots. In the days of ' 76, when the American colonies rose against their unjust English rulers, there were yet some men who clung to their mother country. We believe now that even minorities have certain rights, but in those days tolerance was not known. Accordingly, when at last the cause of the people triumphed, the Loyalists, as they were called in contempt, were most shame- fully treated. Riotous mobs, acting under unscrupulous leaders, attacked the Loyalist homes, confiscated their goods, subjected them to gross personal insults, and drove them from their homes. It was considered right in those times for the victor to despoil the vanquished. At last the Loyalists could no longer bear this harsh treatment, and almost eighty thousand of them came to settle in loyal Canada. They established homes in different parts of the Dominion — Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and even on the Pacific shore. They founded many towns and cities, some of which endure to this day. The governments of the provinces gave them grants of land, materials for building, and all the other help that they could. The Canadians reali2;ed what their neighbours had not — the tremendous value to the country of these settlers. Just where the mighty St. John river meets the Bay of Fundy they founded a colony, now bearing the name St. John, and still known as the City of the Loyalists. At first the settlement was called Parrtown, but as it grew into a city its name was changed to St. John. To this day, May 1 8th is a public holiday in that city, and is known as Loyalists ' Day. Another colony that the Loyalists established, which has an even more romantic history, is that of Shelburne, Nova Scotia. The Loyalist City has endured to this day, and has a future — SheL burne has only a past. The Loyalists came there ten thousand strong, and built a city. The Governor himself came to christen it, and for a few years Shelburne flourished. But soon it passed away like a gipsy encampment. The surrounding country was not sufficiently cultivated to supply the needs of the people; the harbour was ice-bound in winter, and the situation was bleak. To-day Shelburne is a sleepy little town, chiefly interested in shipping and fishing — the days of its glory have faded. [14]

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The Story of Marie Leblanc nVf NAME it is Marie Leblanc, and I am an old, old woman. I know not how to read, or how to write, but my grandchild Jeanette writes this for me. I have now seventy ' nine years, but I can remember — ah! — so well! when I was young and beautiful, and I lived with my father and my brothers and sisters out in the woods. Mon pere, he was a trapper, and used to be gone all day long with the oldest boys, and as e hon Dieu had taken our darling mother from us, when I had but ten years, I had to care for the little ones. I recall how heavy was Paul, the baby, who grew to be a fine tall boy and was taken by the plague. There are only three left of our large family, Jacques, who lives to the south (I shall never again see him), and Anne who married a smart young man from the city, and now is very rich. She sends me much presents, but never comes to see me (I think I shame her). Then there is myself. All my youth, as I have said, was spent caring for my family, and I was never able to attend the school, which was held in the village, seventeen miles from our home. I am not sorry for it, Jsanette is no happier than I am. So, when handsome young Pierre Cadieux came courting me, I had to send him away, for the youngest, Paul, had only five. I kept house for Papa for several years, but one day he was caught in an iccjam, and we never saw him again. The children were all gone but Paul, and that winter, while the snow tried to bury our cabins, the Black Death swept over the land, and mon petit Paul was taken from my arms. I recall well that morning, as Paul tossed on his cot, raving with the fever. I dug out my way from the door, and snowshoed to the nearest village for the doctor. When we came back, fortyeight hours later, my Paul was dead. When the plague came to me, I was glad. But I did not die as I had wished. Instead I married the doctor. He was a big man avec une harhe noire. I still have the marks of the plague upon my body and my face, my beauty was ruined forever. When I married I had twenty ' seven years. Ma foi, how I hated to leave my old home, although our new cabin had two rooms and was very comfortable. When I was married three years, and had two petits garcons, my husband got himself lost in the bli 2;ard, and I suppose he fro e. All the same I loved my children and I lived for the sake of them. They grew up to be big healthy boys, and how they were good to their mother, especially mon Antoine ! They sometimes went to school, un jour la semaine, peuuetre. My boys knew how to read and to write, but I confess I think it foolish. One day, Antoine, he came to me and said, Chere petite maman, far, far away they are fighting a big war, and I must go. I did not understand, but Antoine went. My other boy stayed with me until he was made to go, by the government, he said. Thus both my boys went to the wars, I know not where. Cependant, I lived as best I could, but I was getting old. In the winter my bones ached, and my breath came with difficulty. Then one day it was Spring, the snow was melting and the air was warmer; on m ' apporte une lettre. Of course I could not read it, but I kept it for a week or two, until little Georges Perrault came to see me and to chop my wood. He was able to read it for me, as he went to school. ' ' Antoine est mort ' ditnl. [16]