Journal of education, 1 septembre 1864, Septembre - Octobre

'1 mm mm JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.Volume VIII.Montreal (Lower Canada), September & October, 1864, Nos.9 & 10.SUMMARY.—Literature.— Poetry: Our Woods in Early Autumn, by Mrs.Leprohon.—What do we live for?Jennie E.Haight.—Whip-poor-will, Alexander M’Lachlan.—Canadian History: The Fort George Massacre, (continued, from our last).—Science: Leaves from Gosse’s Romance of Natural History, (coutinued).—The Census of Canada for 1861.by John Langton.Esq —Education : Arithmetic, by John Bruce, Esq., (continued).—A Hinton Teaching Geography.—Physical Culture, by M- L.Holbrook.—Official Notices: Erection of School Municipalities.—Appointments.—Examiners.—School Commissioners—Trustees of Dissentient Schools.—Notice to those corresponding wilhthe Department of Public Instruction.—Diplomas granted by Boards of Examiners.—Donations to the Library of the Department.—Teachers wanted.—Situations warned.—Editorial : To Parties corresponding with the Education Office.—To our Subscribers.—Meeting at Montreal for the formation of an Association for the protection of the Educational interests of Protestants.—Twenty-third Conference of the Teacher's Association in connection wilhthe Laval Normal School.—Extracts from the Reports of School Inspectors.—Notices of Books and Publications: Zender : Abécédaire français-anglais.—Transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec.—McGill University Calender.—The Northern Kingdom, by a Colonist.—Small: The Animals of North America,— Annuaire de l'Université Laval.—Dr ipeau : Coup d'œil sur les ressources productives et la richesse du Canada.— Nesbitt: Directions de navigation.—Ias Ursulines de Québec.— Latour : Annuaire de Ville-Marie,—La Revue Canadienne.—Cartwright : Remarks on the Militia of Canada.—Monthly Summary : Educational Intelligence.—Scientific Intelligence.Statistical Intelligence.LITERATURE.POETRY.(Written for the Journal of Education.) Otsr Woods in Early Autumn.By Mrs.Leprohon.I have passed the day mid the forest gay In its gorgeous autumn dyes, Its tints as bright and as fair to the sight As the bites of our sunset skies, And the sun’s glad rays veiled by golden haze Streamed down neath its arches grand, And with magic power made scene and hour Like a dream of Faïerie Land.The emerald sheen of the Maple green Is now turned to deep rich red, And the boughs entwine with the crimson vine That is climbing overhead, Whilst like golden sheaves, the broad saffron leaves Of the Sycamore strew the gtound, Neath Birches old, clad in shimmering gold, Or the Ash with red berries crowned.Stately and tall—towering o’er all Stands the Poplar, proud and lone, Every silvery leaf in restless grief Mourning o’er the summer flown, Whilst each Oak and Elm of the sylvan realm In brilliant garb arrayed, Seem together to vie, though it be to die, In beauty of colour and shade.When wearied the gaze with the vivid blaze Of rich tints before it spread, Gay orange and gold with shades untold Of glowing carmine and red, It can turn mid the scene to the sombre green Of the Fir, the Hemlock and Pine, Ever keeping their hue and their freshness too Mid the season’s swift decline.Though the bird’s sweet song that the summer long Hath thrilled melodious and clear, Through the cool dim shades of our forest glades, No longer entrances the ear, As witching a spell that will charm as well As his glad notes may be found In the solemn hush, or the leaves’ soft rush, As they thickly fall to the ground.Vainly they tell of bright Summer’s farewell, Or of coming decay and doom, Of stormy wild cloud—of cold snowy shroud, Of approaching winter’s gloom, The heart must yield to the charms that wield Alike tender, soothing, gay, The beauties that gleam and that reign supreme In our woods of an autumn day.WIIAT DO WE LIVE FOR?JENNIE E.nAlGHT.What do we live for ?Is labor so lowly, Toil so ignoble, we shrink from its Stain 1 Think it not—labor Is Godlike and holy ; He that is idle is living in vain.Wliat do we live for?Creation is groaning,' Her desolate places are yet to be built ; The voice of the years Swells deeper the moaning, As time rolls along the dark tide of guilt. 119 JOURNAL OF EDUCATION What do we live for?The queation is soundiDg Low in the silence, and load in the din, And to each heart-ear, With warm pulses bounding, Answers come thronging, without and within.What do we live for?We live to be waging Battle, unceasing, with indwelling sin ; We live to fight on, In conflict engaging Temptations without, and passions within.What do we live for ?To sow, by all waters, Fruit-bearing seeds of deeds for all years ; To toil in the ranks With earth’s sons and daughters, Manfully striving with doublings and fears.What do we live for ?We live not to rust out, Slothfully standing aloof from the strife ; A thousand times better, More noble, to wear out, Battered and burned in the hot forge of life.WHIP-POOR-WILL.ALEXANDER m’lACHLAN.There is a lonely spirit Which wanders thro’ the wood, And tells its mournful story In every solitude ; It comes abroad at eventide And hangs beside the rill.And murmurs to the ear of night “ Whip-poor-will.” Oh ’tis a hapless spirit In likeness of a bird, A grief that cannot utter Another woeful word, A soul that seeks for sympathy, A woe that won’t be still, A wandering sorrow murmuring '¦ Whip-poor-will.” CANADIAN HISTORY.The Fort George Massacre, (Continued.) Having given vent to my feelings of compassion, and having solaced an unfortunate, I hastened to get my own little party on board of the boats, which was done instantly.The distance was short : two hours were sufficient to get to the end of our journey.The tent of the Chevalier de Lévi stood at the entrance to the camp.I took the liberty to pay my respects to this personage, whose name is synonymous with merit, and who is still better than his name.The conversation turned on the circumstance which had saved the life of the five English prisoners, whose perilous adventure I have just related.I was far from knowin® the details, which are indeed startling, viz.: M.De Corbesse, a French colonial officer, had been ordered the night previous to cruise on Lake St.Sacrement.His detachment consisted of about fifty French and a little over three hundred savages.At dawn of d ‘y, he discovered, in boats, a detachment of three hundred English.These boats, being more lofty and stronger in build than birch canoes, more than compensated the superiority we had over them in numbers.Our men did riot hesitate to attack them, and the enemy at first seemed ready to fight, but this resolve did not last.The French and savages, whose only chance of victory rested in their boarding the boats, and who fought at a disadvantage, being at a distance, closed in, in spite of the heavy-fire poured on them.The British no sooner saw them drawing near, than terror disarmed he m.It was not a fight : ’twas a rout.Of all alternatives, the most dangerous, though the less honorable, was for the English to seek to land : they chose it.They made their way towards the shore accordingly.Some jumped in the water to swim ashore, in hopes of hiding in the woods: a bad plan, the folly of which brought sorrow on them.However swift their boats might be, could they expect to beat the birch canoes which fly through the liquid element with the swiftness of an arrow ?Soon did the French and savages catch up to them.In ttie first heat of the fight all were massacred without quarter—torn to pieces.Those who took to the wroods did not fare belter.An Indian in the woods is in his own element ; he can run through them as nimbly as a deer.The enemy was hacked to pieces.At last the Outaouacks, seeing that they had to deal, not with fighting men, but with bejngs who allowed themselves to be slaughtered without resisting, set to making prisoners.There were 157 prisoners taken and 131 killed ; twelve only escaped captivity and death.The boats, equipments, provisions, all were taken and plundered.No doubt you fancy that such a victory cost us dear.The fight took place on the water, that is in an open place, where no ambush could be laid.The enemy hail time to prepare ; he had the advantage of attacking from boats with lofty sides, frail bark canoes which a little skill or coolness would have sunk with their crews.Well, this is all true, and still this success only cost us one Indian, disabled by a shot in the wrist.Such was the fate of the British under the unfortunate Mr.Cop-perel, who, it was thought, was drowmed.The English speak of this engagement in terms denoting as much sorrow as surprise at its results.They frankly admit the extent of their losses ; it would, indeed, be difficult to deny the slightest detail : the corpses of their men floating on the waters of the lake or strewing its beaches, tell the fearful tale.As to those made prisoners, the greater portion are still in the dungeons of M.Le Chevalier de Lévi.I saw them fyling off in detachments escorted by the victors, who, barbarously occupied with their triumph, thought little of softening the pangs of a defeat.In the space of a league which I had to walk before joining my Abenaquis Indians, I met several small squads of these prisoners.More than one Indian stopped to exhibit to me, with pride, his capture, expecting 1 would applaud his success.The love of country certainly did not make me insensible to a triumph favorable to our nation.But misfortune' commands respect, not only on behalf of religion, but even from nature.Moreover, these prisoners seemed in such a plight ; their eyes swimming in tears, their faces covered with perspiration and blood, and a halter round their necks: in presence of such a spectacle, compassion and humanity asserted their rights.The rum, which the savages had freely imbibed, had gone to their heads and increased their natural ferocily.I feared to witness every minute, some of the prisoners slaughtered and falling at my feet, victims of cruelty and drunkenness ; I scarcely dared to look up for fear of meeting the sorrowful glance of some captive.A spectacle more horrible than what I had yet seen was soon to take place.My tent had been pitched in the centre of the Outaouack camp.The first thing I noticed on arriving there was a large fire : wooden stakes, stuck in the earth, announced a feast.It was one, but, good heavens! what a feast: the remains of an Englishman’s corpse cut up and half eaten.I saw these fiends a short time after greedily devouring a human creature: they were helping themselves from the pot with large ladles to the reeking flesh as if they could never swallow enough.I heard that they hatl prepared themselves to this feed, by drinking brimful, out of the skulls, human blood ; their smeared faces and gory lips confirmed the statement.What was still more awful, they had placed, close by, ten English prisoners to witness the abominable repast! The Outaouack’ nation resembles that of the Abenaquis ; 1 thought that by gently rebuking them for this act, I might make some impression on their mind.I erred : a young warrior said, “ You speak and act like a Frenchman, but I am an Indian, human flesh is good for me.” He then handed me a baked fragment cut from the English corpse.To his words I made no reply, but his offer I rejected with visible horror.Convinced, by what I had just witnessed, that I could do nothing to alter the state of things in respect to the dead, I thought I would see what I could do for those still living, whose fate was much more to be pitied I walked up to the English, one of whom attracted my notice; by his uniform I saw he was an officer; I resolved to purchase him.and thereby save his life and liberty.I made up, with this object in view, to an old Outaouack, thinking that the ice of age would have tempered his ferocity, and that he would be more manageable; I extended my hand to him, bowing civilly at the same moment.It was not a man I had to deal with ; it was a being even more ferocious than a wild beast, as wild animals often yield to kind- FOR LOWER CANADA.119 ness.“ No,” he thundered out, in accents which might have awed me, had my heart, in that moment, been susceptible to harbour any other feeling but that of compassion and horror, “ No ! 1 do not want your friendship ; avaunt!” I did not wait for a repetition of the threat.I withdrew to my tent, to brood over the thoughts which religion and humanity cart inspire on such an occasion.It did not occur to me as necessary to dissuade my Abenaquis Indians from committing such horrible excesses.However powerful example may be with all men in matters of customs and habits, they were incapable of perpetrating such acts ; even before they were christianized, they never were cannibals.Their humane and tractable-disposition, at that period, distinguished them from the greatest portion of the Indians of this continent.These thoughts kept me awake a considerable portion of the night.Next morning, on rising, I had hoped no vestige would remain round my tent of the repast of the preceding day.1 flattered myself that the fumes of rum and the fierce feelings they engender, having been dissipated, calmness and humanity would again return.I knew not the Outaouck's character and disposition.It was as a luxury, a bonne bouche, that they had banqueted on human flesh.At the dawn of day, their execrable repast had been resumed; they were only waiting for the moment to set to and devour the last remains of the English corpse.I have already said that we were three missionaries attached to this mission.During the entire campaign, we lodged, thought, and acted together on all points ; this community of feelings rendered our duties more bearable during the fatigues of warfare.We came to the conclusion that it would not be proper to celebrate our holy'mysteries in the head-quarters of barbarism, inasmuch as these superstitious tribes might use the holy vases to assist them in, and to decorate their, juggleries.For this reason we left a spot jollified by so many abominations, and dived into the depths of the forest.This could not be effected, however, without separating myself a little from my Abenaquis.It had, however, to be done.This step was in the end productive of regret, as you will see by the sequel.I had not been long in my new abode before I witnessed with what new fervor my neophytes drew towards the tribunal of repen-tence.* * * * * Whilst many of my Abenaquis sought the succour of religion, others strived to irritate Heaven, and by their acts to call down punishment from above.Ardent spirits are the favorite drink, the universal passion of the savage tribes, and unfortunately, despite of laws human and divine, too many furnish them with this cuise.Unquestionably however the missionary, by his character, by the influence he exerts, prevents much disorderly conduct.1 lived close to my flock, a small wood alone intervening.I could not, however, after night-fall visit the encampment, without running the risk of hostile attacks not only on the part of the allies of the English, the Iroquois, who had, a few days previously, scalped one of our grenadiers, but also at the hands of the idolatrous portion of our own savages, to whom experience had taught me not to trust.Some young Abenaquis, together with Indians of several tribes, took advantage ot my absence and of darkness, to go and steal some ardent spirits from the French tenls, whilst the inmates were asleep.Once in possession of the liquor, they used it freely and soon felt its influence.Drunkenness amongst Indians makes itseli known seldom by silence, generally by noise.They commenced to sing, to dance, to cry out, and then set to fighting.At the dawn of day, disorder was at its height ; 1 then learned of it and hastened to where trouble existed ; alarm and confusion everywhere—caused by intoxication.My Indians soon were calmed.I took each of them by the hand in succession and conducted them to their tents, bidding them to lie down.This scandalous scene seemed ended, when a Moraigan Indian, naturalized amongst the Abenaquis and adopted by the tribe, re-enacted it in a still more serious manner.After having had words with a drunken comrade, an Iroquois, they came to blows.The first, a more powerful man, having thrown his opponent, was belaboring him unmercifully, and what was worse, lacerating his shoulder with his teeth.The combat was at its height when I drew near them.I could only use my own strength to separate them.Indians fear one another too much to interfere, no matter for what reason, into one another’s quarrels.I was unable to cope with them, and the victor was too infuriated to quit his victim so readily.I was tempted to leave these demons chastise one another for their own excesses, but I feared the death of one of them would be the finale.I increased my efforts; by dint of pulling at the Abenaquis, he felt some one shaking him ; turning his head round: he had trouble in recognizing me ; he was still excited, but gradually became calm, when he allowed the Iroquois liberty to escape, of which the latter was not slow to avail himself * [Further on the good missionary relates the1 trouble he experienced in preventing his Indians from blowing up the boats containing the powder, a feat they had undertaken for mere amusement’s sake.] The forced inactivity of our Christian Indians, together with the presence of so many idolatrous nations, made me tremble, not for the sake of religion itself, but on account oflheir future conduct.I longed for the day when the preparations for the expedition would aliow us to start.When the mind is engaged the heart is Jess j liable to err.That day at last came, and on the 29th of July the Chevalier de Lévis, with 3,000 men, marched overland to protect the arrival of the army which was to proceed by water conveyance.His march was not accompanied with any of those facilities which ; high roads in Europe, built with princely magnificence, offer.J Impenetrable forests, rugged mountains, slimy bogs, such was the route composed of.Three leagues a day was a good performance ; we look five days to travel twelve leagues.These obstacles had been foreseen, and hence why this detachment had, in marching, started a few days before the .other.On Sunday we embarked with the Indians, only about 1,200 at that time, the rest having gone by land.We had scarcely made four or five leagues on the lake before we noticed evident traces of our last victory in the shape of abandoned English boats which, after being buffeted a long while with the winds and tide, had floated ashore on the beach.The most striking spectacle was a tolerable large quantity of English corpses strewing the shore or scattered here and there in the woods, borne were hacked to pieces, and mostly all were mutilated in a most horrible way.What an awful visitation war then seemed to me! It would have been highly agreeable to me to have the remains of our enemies buried, but we had only landed by accident in this cove.Duty and necessity compelled us to journey on, in conformity with orders ; we had to lose no time.It was night when we reached the spot marked out as a camping ground —a locality overrun with wild thorns and alive with rattlesnakes ; our Indians brought us several they had caught.This venomous reptile, if ever there was one, has a head much too small in proportion to its body; the skin is sometimes regularly spotted with a dark black and a pale yellow colour.He has no sting, but very sharp teeth, a bright sparkling eye ; he carries under his tail several small scales which he can inflate prodigiously, and which he rattles violently one against the other when irritated : hence his name.His virus after being exposed to smoke is a specific against toothache; his flesh when smoked and pulverised is also a good cure for fever.Salt is applied as a cure on the part affected by his bite, which otherwise proves fatal in less than an hour.The next day about 4 p.m., M.de Montcalm arrived with the remainder of the forces ; we had to start in spite of the rain which fell in torrents; we marched on the greater portion of the night until we discovered M.de Lévis’ camp, by three fires lighted in a triangle on the crest of the mountain.We halted there ; a general council was held; and then we started for Lake George, distant twelve miles.At twelve o’clock, noon, we took to the canoes to ascend, paddling slowly in order to ailow the boats bearing our artillery to come up, but they could not do it, and at night they were more than three miles astern.Having arrived at an indenture, the point of which we could not pass without revealing ourselves to the enemy, we resolved, until we received fresh orders, to pass the night there.It was marked by a small incident which was the prelude to the siege.About eleven, two boats from the fort appeared on the lake ; they soon had reason to alter their calm and measured movements.A neighbor of mine, who kept watch for the benefit of all, noticed them at a fair distance.All the Indians were apprised of the fact, and preparations made to receive them, in haste but in silence.I was ordered to seek safety by going ashore and concealing myself in the woods.It was not through mistaken bravery, unsnited to a minister of religion, that I disregarded the mandate.I thought the order was not serious, having reason to doubt the statement about the boats.It was not likely that our lynxeyed enemies had failed to notice the presence, since two days, on the waters of the lake, of our four hundred boats ; on this hypothesis I could scarcely persuade myself that two boats would have the foolhardiness to appear in our presence, much less to engage in combat forces so much superior, A friend of mine who had seen all, reprimanded me in strong terms for not being where I ought to be: he was right ; a boat tolerably large held all the missionaries ; a tent was spiead over it to protect them against the inclemency of the weather during the cool nights.This white pavilon, under which we took shelter, was visible at a distance by moonlight, and the English were curious to find out what it was.To come towards us or to run straight to destruction was one and the same thing. 120 JOURNAL OF EDUCATION Few could have escaped, if, fortunately for them, a small incident had not warned them a few minutes too soon for the success of our1 plans.One of the sheep forming part of the army supplies began | to bleet ; this sound, which presaged an ambuscade, caused the 1 enemy to stop short, face about, and urge on their boats double ! quick, in order to escape, favored by darkness and the woods.What then remained to be done ?Twelve hundred savages pursued the fugitives, with yells as loud as they were incessant.Both parties seemed to hesitate ; not a shot was fired.The assailants not having had time to form regularly, were atraid to fire lest they should hit one another ; moreover they wished to make prisoners.The fugitives struggled hard to get away, and were in the act of doing so, when the Indians fired.The British, being too close to the first canoes, returned the fire, and soon an ominous silence succeeded to all the noise.We were hoping for viclory, when a pseudo-brave, who was not in the mêlée, shouted that the Abana-quis Indians had met with severe loss.Immediately, seizing hold of the religious vases wherewith to administer the last rites, I hurriedly jumped into a canoe to get to where the fight had taken place.I was however not wanted, as I learned from another Indian who had been in the thick of it ; none of our forces had been struck except a Nipissingue who was killed, and another Indian warrior wounded, whilst boarding the enemy.I did not wait for the end of his narrative, but hastened back to our people, leaving the matter in the hands of the Nipissingue missionary, Mr.Mathaveh.I arrived by water and met M.de Montcalm, who, on hearln