refreshing and copious draughts of the pure element recommended by his
discomfited opponent.

A good joke is not, however, a good argument, though it stood for one
at this meeting. Total abstinence is the best plan to be adopted by
habitual drunkards, who, if they can get at strong drink at all, seldom
keep their pledge of sobriety. The British and Foreign Temperance
Society, in fact, advises the habitually intemperate to abstain
altogether, while, at the same time, it aims at bringing the man to
repentance and reformation, by the renovating influence of the gospel.
If I differ in some respects from that society, in its prohibition
against the use of spirits altogether, in such a climate as Canada, I
still must consider its views far more liberal, and more consistent
with scripture rules, than that of any other for the promotion of
temperance, as, indeed, possessing more of that charity, without which
even the most fervent zeal is worse than useless.



CHAPTER XII.

WANT OF HOME-PASTURAGE IN CANADA. -- DANGER OF BEING LOST IN THE WOODS.
-- PLAIN DIRECTIONS TO THE TRAVELLER IN THE BUSH. -- STORY OF A SETTLER
FROM EMILY. -- AN OLD WOMAN'S RAMBLE IN THE WOODS. -- ADVENTURE OF A
TRAPPER. -- FORTUNATE MEETING WITH HIS PARTNER.

ONE of the greatest inconveniences belonging to a new settlement, for
the first four or five years, is the want of pasturage for your working
cattle and cows. Consequently, the farmer has to depend entirely on the
Bush for their support, for at least seven months out of the twelve.