RK-794

Ft Simpson. Sunday Sept 4th 1859

Dear folk at Home.

For several days, - beginning on the second of Sept - we have had the same glorious hazy exhilerating weather that you get below a little later - only the wind blows steadily from the east instead of west as with you. And many times in these days have I sat on some high bank and looked toward the South East speculating, a little sadly, on what you might all be doing then. Wondering if major was budding peaches, Alice getting boquets for sunday (one for me too) cora collect ing flower seeds with Bruno helping, while Paddy examined the grape vines, father smoked an afternoon segar and mother sat, working of course, mayhap thinking of me as I was of her and the rest. Charlie too is perhaps with you. - Well I would have liked to accompany a flock of cranes I saw flying south just to have gotten one good look at you all, provided I could come back again directly. For I dont at all repent my coming and though I could get very very homesick I shall not do it.

I came down from the long porage (A La Locke) with Mr Ross in his

boat and had a jolly trip; the journey to Ft Simpson taking only two weeks, Mr Ross has learned all of the good old songs we sing at home and eve sang no small part of the time coming down. During the first week or two after our arrival all the gentlement from the different posts in the district were assembled here to the number of fifteen (besides three ladies) including myself the minister and a catholic priest. And of course we were very merry, having several dances & two weddings, helped on by a small supply of the element of conduction. They all left last week leaving only the member that are to winter here viz - Mr Ross. Mr Onion the Parson and myself.