Page 255

Jan. 12

254

and the rest give me abundant [moral?]
support. If the rascals do not knock
me on the head, I will make them
happy in spite of themselves, and
God willing, lead all hands to
America.

At present there is apparently
the most unbroken harmony and
social comfort, but I have been
taught caution and am never
unguarded. Hard life dear Mother
to a man with love in his heart
and home in his hopes!

Thurs. Jany. 11.

How the days drive on! We
see day on the mountains, pale as an
emblem of God knows what, a flickker
of twilight. It will be yet ten days
before we reach the comforable [darkness]
light of Parrys darkest day and
perhaps longer before we can read a
thermometer turned towards the illuminated
South.

McGeary better Brooks worse
and Wilson, poor fellow down with
a relapse but Riley is better. Thank
God for that.

Friday Jan. 12

[*Copy*] The condition of this book shows
the state of our interiors [*Copy from this. We have long been living like the Esquimaux in every
other respect and now last of all, the*] The very low
temperatures and the restricted allowance
of wood have obliged me to resort to lamps
- Of those taking in the new wants of the
returned party, I burn no less than
twelve. Hence the abominable redundance
of soot and grease which appears of late
or these pages.

So great is the discolouration
produced by carbonaceous matter that I