241

229

By placing the benches and cushions the
waggon becomes a carriage on Sunday and
conveys the family of a backwoodsman to
church remove the seats and cushions on monday
morning and the carriage is converted into
a waggon ready to convey a load of hay or
potatoes to market which the gentleman settler
is not ashamed to take himself in the
double capacity of waggoner and sales-man

Mrs. Dixie's waggon is thus constructed,
neatly painted, well hung, drawn by two beautiful
Canadian horses, guided by a young
(man) charioteer of fifteen years of age
William Collins by name from Naugham
near Sandhurst in Kent.

An hour's pleasant ride through
the forest diversified by the clearings and
patches of cultivated land, together with the
beautiful foliage of the magnificent trees
led us to reflect that the woodsmans axe of
the increasing population would in a few
generations convert and change the present
wild landscape into cultivated fields of
boundless fertility

Of all amusements throughout
every class of Canadian society none is
more enjoyed than the excursions into the
country on what is termed picnic parties.

As we passed through the forest we saw
at every opening direction and distance waggons