Chapter 52.
Our mother’s visit to Manitoba had fired us with a desire to view that land of promise, and when in the spring of 1894 the Canadian Pacific Railway advertised very cheap fares, namely $25 return to any desired point, we thought our chance had come. Jack had now a sufficiently reliable staff in the bank to be left and easily obtained a month’s holiday.
Great preparations were made for this trip by all the older members of the family. We had a sewing girl and had clothes made not only for our own children but, in many cases, duplicates of the garments for my brother’s family. Then I remember Dora crocheted Dorothy and Christopher each a tam o’shanter, and Somerville had a little red fez, which suited him remarkably well. He was not a big sturdy boy like Christopher, but a small, dapper little chap with bright brown eyes and dark hair. He was very intelligent, but not given to talking much, and usually gave very little trouble.
We had to arrange for food for the family for four or five days and also provide bedding. It was not a pullman car we were to travel in, nor yet a comfortable tourist car—this had not come into vogue yet. It was to be a colonist car and you had to bring all your bedding and curtains if you desired such luxuries. We thought quilts would do instead of mattresses but we had not counted on slat seats. Mother baked us a huge cake and we had a spirit lamp and condensed coffee and of course bread and canned meat and biscuits. Dorothy was provided with a new book, “Bessie at School” and various toys for the others. At the end, Mrs. Holdaway decided to accompany us, as she wished to visit her father.
We had an early tea at Granny’s and started off in great excitement by the 6 p.m. train. We had a good deal of luggage; among other things a baby carriage for my brother’s family. Dear Mr. Irwin and Mr. Hayhoe met us at the Union Station in Toronto, and in less time than I can tell had our things checked. The baby carriage was refused, but Mr. Hayhoe calmly put it in the luggage car and it went all right. The train went an hour sooner than advertised, so if it had not been for our good friends we could not have managed. Mr. Hayhoe handed us in a big basket of bananas and off we set. It was about 9 p.m. I think.
We found we had the use of the little smoking compartment attached to the car. It had four double seats, of which we had two and Mrs. Holdaway one. The fourth we found to our joy was occupied by Charlie Meadows, son of our much esteemed hostess. We soon made up our beds. There were no porters. I know I had an upper berth with Helen and how those slats stuck into me. I lay on one side the first night and on the other the second, but the third I was so stiff I lay on my back. The road bed was new and it was very rough, and I was not much good all the way. But how the children enjoyed it; the novelty of meals in the train was charming, and such games as Jack invented; “shop” was the greatest favorite and was played at for hours together.
That very first morning we heard someone singing hymns in the adjoining part of the car and of course went to make his acquaintance, and it resulted in our having many meetings. There seemed to be a number of Christians on that train, and morning and afternoon and evening we had Bible reading, prayer and singing. We said it was as good as a conference. Our little compartment would be very full of those who wished to attend.
We have always looked back with pleasure to that trip. Now we can go from Toronto to Winnipeg in 36 hours, but thirty years ago it took 60 hours. When we finally arrived in Winnipeg, on Friday morning, we were met by a friend of my mother’s, Mrs. Daupe. We saw her last May when in Winnipeg and she was a very frail old lady, but in 1894 she was brisk and active, and soon took our whole party up to her house, but not before we had found out that we could not proceed on our journey until the next day.
I shall never forget our kind friend’s hospitality. She kept us and cared for us all day, and when night came the question of beds was easily settled. Her son was away, so we had his room. One of the mattresses was taken off the bed and the three older children slept on it on the floor, while Jack and I and the baby shared the bed. Mrs. Holdaway had a shakedown somewhere else. Next morning we all parted. Mrs. Holdaway went one road and we another, but I must not omit to mention what a comfort she was during that journey, taking almost entire charge of baby Helen and helping in every way.
We started over the prairie early in the morning. The train certainly went quicker than the oxen of old times, but there was still much to be desired as to speed. We seemed to crawl along, and every now and then we would stop and some adventurous man would get out and pick some of the gorgeous prairie flowers, or hunt gophers. It was a long, weary day, for we did not arrive at Binscarth until long after midnight. Here my brother met us.