fall,—lovingtodwelllonguponthesethemes.Hewouldsay,ashewentbyinthemorning,“Howthickthepigeonsare!Ifworkingeverydaywerenotmytrade,IcouldgetallthemeatIshouldwantbyhunting,—pigeons,woodchucks,rabbits,partridges,—bygosh!IcouldgetallIshouldwantforaweekinoneday.”
Hewasaskilfulchopper,andindulgedinsomeflourishesandornamentsinhisart.Hecuthistreeslevelandclosetotheground,thatthesproutswhichcameupafterwardmightbemorevigorousandasledmightslideoverthestumpsandinsteadofleavingawholetreetosupporthiscordedwood,hewouldpareitawaytoaslenderstakeorsplinterwhichyoucouldbreakoffwithyourhandatlast.
Heinterestedmebecausehewassoquietandsolitaryandsohappywithalawellofgoodhumorandcontentmentwhichoverflowedathiseyes.Hismirthwaswithoutalloy.SometimesIsawhimathisworkinthewoods,fellingtrees,andhewouldgreetmewithalaughofinexpressiblesatisfaction,andasalutationinCanadianFrench,thoughhespokeEnglishaswell.WhenIapproachedhimhewouldsuspendhiswork,andwithhalf-suppressedmirthliealongthetrunkofapinewhichhehadfelled,and,peelingofftheinnerbark,rollitupintoaballandchewitwhilehelaughedandtalked.Suchanexuberanceofanimalspiritshadhethathesometimestumbleddownandrolledonthegroundwithlaughteratanythingwhichmadehimthinkandtickledhim.Lookingrounduponthetreeshewouldexclaim,—“ByGeorge!IcanenjoymyselfwellenoughherechoppingIwantnobettersport.”Sometimes,whenatleisure,heamusedhimselfalldayinthewoodswithapocketpistol,firingsalutestohimselfatregularintervalsashewalked.Inthewinterhehadafirebywhichatnoonhewarmedhiscoffeeinakettleandashesatonalogtoeathisdinnerthechickadeeswouldsometimescomeroundandalightonhisarmandpeckatthepotatoinhisfingersandhesaidthathe“likedtohavethelittlefellersabouthim.”
Inhimtheanimalmanchieflywasdeveloped.Inphysicalenduranceandcontentmenthewascousintothepineandtherock.Iaskedhimonceifhewasnotsometimestiredatnight,afterworkingalldayandheanswered,withasincereandseriouslook,“Gorrappit,Ineverwastiredinmylife.”Buttheintellectualandwhatiscalledspiritualmaninhimwereslumberingasinaninfant.HehadbeeninstructedonlyinthatinnocentandineffectualwayinwhichtheCatholicprieststeachtheaborigines,bywhichthepupilisnever