the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第16章
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ants have taken in the new country he was probably right in his estimate。
As I remember the second William Humphrey； he was a man of more than ordinary intelligence； one who looked closely at both sides of a question； and with whom every new undertaking was well thought out beforehand。 He had no place for the man who wanted to make a show。 He was； for the times； a large employer of labor； and his men did not readily leave his employ。 He was possessed of strong religious convictions； but was by no means demonstrative in such matters。 His children were given good educational opportunities。 Two of his sons studied and graduated at colleges in the United States； and two others were students at the old Academy； at Sackville。
The following letter； written by William； one of the sons who was educated in the United States； to his cousin Ruth； will show how graduates of that day looked upon life：
〃NEW HAVEN； June 27th； 1853。 〃DEAR COUSIN； 〃Your very welcome letter came to hand in due time； for which I am exceedingly obliged； especially as many of my correspondents have been dilatory and others have given me up altogether。 But they probably have as much reason to complain of me as I have of them。 The truth is my studies so occupy my attention that I am too much inclined to forget my friends。 The acquisition of a profession presents such an immensity of labor that it would seem to require a lifetime to become proficient； especially when the small amount of energy that I can command is brought to bear upon it。 However； I am not disposed to find fault with the labor so long as there is so much that is intensely interesting and I can make respectable progress towards the grand crisis of a student's life。 〃New Haven is equally as attractive as it was during my college life and I feel more at home here than in any other place in the United States during the present summer so far。 I have become acquainted with the professional men of the city from whom I have received many favors and many of whom I hope to regard as my future friends。 Through their influence I have had an opportunity of treating a number of patients； which is no small advantage to me in my studies。 I confess I am so much attached to the city I should like to make it my home if it were practicable； but it is so much crowded with physicians that there is no room for me。 In reply to your question as to what pleasure it afforded me to receive my diploma； I can very readily say that it was far from affording me anything like a thrill of pleasure to look back upon my acquirements。 I rather felt as a tired traveller might be supposed to feel when； having exerted himself to reach the top of the first peak on a mountain； he has only secured a position where he can see Alpine peaks towering to the skies； which he must scale before his journey is ended。 I very many times have felt as though I was not a particle wiser since I graduated than before I first left home； yet I suppose I may claim more than this for myself without being thought vain or arrogant； but what advantage either myself or others are to reap from it remains to be seen。 I hope I am better prepared to spend the remainder of my life more profitably than I was before； with higher aims and in possession of greater capacity for enjoyment myself and of doing good to others。 I cannot yet tell when I shall get my medical degree； yet if fortune favors and I get along with my studies pretty well； it will not be longer than fourteen months。 I would like to arrange my plans to leave for home as soon as I get through； but it is so long beforehand that I do not think about it yet。 〃I shall have a short vacation of a few weeks； commencing with August 1st； when I should like to be at home； but I do not deem it best for me to go this summer。 I shall probably go into the country 'round。 I shall probably return to Philadelphia early in October and spend the winter there； which will end my residence in that city； unless I should remain longer to attend the hospital and see more practice than I could otherwise。 〃From the accounts I hear from home you still have need of doctors； for people continue to be sick and die。 〃Think you there will be any patronage for me？ But your answer will probably depend upon my worthiness of it。 〃But I must hasten to close。 I shall be happy to hear from you whenever you are disposed to write。 〃Kind regards to your mother； sisters and brothers。 〃Very sincerely yours； 〃WILLIAM F。 HUMPHREY。 〃To： 〃MISS RUTH TRUEMAN； 〃Point de Bute。〃
The Humphreys have not increased rapidly in this country。 There were three brothers in the first family； William； John and Christopher。 John never married。 Christopher married； but had no family。 William had four sons； and these； with their father and uncles； made seven of the name then living in the provinces。 Since then these four boys have married； and two of their sons； yet the males of the name just number seven to…day； and； strange to say； have remained at that figure the most of the time for the last seventy years。 At present there are living four great…grandsons； and three great…great…grandsons of the first William。
Dr。 Humphrey graduated in regular course； received his medical degree； and settled in St。 John； New Brunswick； where he worked up a good practice。 His health； however； gave way； and he died a comparatively young man。
Mrs。 Bishop； a daughter of William Humphrey； writes：
〃I do not remember hearing my parents say much about their early life。 I remember my father saying he gave a doubloon to the man who married them。 They moved to Maccan very shortly after they were married。 When grandmother Humphrey died they went to the funeral on horseback （thirty miles）； and took John with them； then a young babe。 （The baby； John； was the late John A。 Humphrey； of Moncton。） I have heard mother say she took me to her father's funeral when I was four months old； another long ride on horseback。〃
Mrs。 Bishop is the only one of the family now living。
Returning to the family at Prospect； Betty； the youngest daughter； was married to George Glendenning； in 1823。 Her name was to have been Elizabeth； but one day previous to the baptism the minister was at the house and asked Mrs。 Trueman what baby's name was to be。 She said； 〃Oh； I suppose it will be Betty；〃 meaning to have her baptized Elizabeth； but to call her Betty for short。 When the minister came to the baptism； he did not ask the name； but baptized the baby Betty。 The mother did not feel very well pleased about it； but Betty it had to be。
George Glendenning； George Moffat and George Dickson； three Dumfrieshire farmers； came to America in the spring of 1820。 They had talked the matter over during the long evenings of the previous winter； and finally determined to try their fortunes in the New World。
The agricultural distress that prevailed in Ireland at that time affected Scotland also； and the wages of farm laborers was only a shilling a day in harvest time。 No doubt the love of adventure and a desire to see more of world also had something to do with the decision of the young men。 Passages were secured on the ship ABIONA； bound for Miramichi； at which port the young men were safely landed early in May。 John Steele was also a passenger in this vessel。 He went to Cumberland and settled on the gulf shore near Wallace。 Rev。 Dr。 Steele； of Amherst； is a grandson of John Steele。 George Moffat also went to Cumberland； and settled at River Hebert。 Beside managing a farm he did a large business in sending beef cattle to the Halifax market。 Mr。 Moffat was a fine； honest man； 〃a canny Scot；〃 who was always as good as his word and expected others to be the same。
George Glendenning had a brother living in St。 John； and after landing at Miramichi he went direct to that place； where he had a short visit。 There was not much in the surroundings of St。 John that was attractive to the eye of a Scotch farmer； so the young emigrant decided to try another locality。 He turned his steps toward 〃Old Chignecto；〃 a long； hard walk。 He made several attempts to get work on the way； always without success。 At a farmhouse in Dorchester he might have got employment； but did not like the appearance of things about the place。 Before leaving Dorchester he had become much discouraged； and remembering his early training in a godly house； determined to ask direction and guidance from his Heavenly Father。 And so； falling on his knees； he prayed that he might be directed in his way so that by another night he might find a place where work could be had。 After this earnest prayer he started out with more heart； but in the long walk through the Dorchester woods to Sackville； then on the 〃Four Corners；〃 no work was found； and so the marsh was crossed and Prospect Farm was reached just as it began to grow dark。 He would try his fortune here。 An old man answered his knock at the door and bade him； 〃Come in；〃 but in answer to his request for work said； 〃No； I do not want a man； but you had better not go any further to…night； we will keep you here。〃 In the morning the proprietor of Prospect reversed his decision of the night before and decided to give the young Scotchman a trial。 The result was that he remained with the family for three years； and when he left took with him as his wife the youngest daughter。
Mr。 Glendenning settled on a new farm in Amherst Head （now Truemanville）； and soon became one of the most successful farmers of the district。 John Glendenning； of Amherst； is his son； and Rev。 George Glendenning； of Halifax； N。S。； and Robert Glendenning； M。D。； of Mass。； U。S。； are his grandsons。
CHAPTER VIII
PROSPECT FARM。
Thompson Trueman； the youngest member of the family； was married in March； 1823； to Mary Freeze。 He was only twenty…two years old； and young looking for that age。 He used to say in later life that he married at just the right time。 His wife was a daughter of Samuel Freeze； of Upper Sussex； King's County。 Her mother was Margaret Wells； daughter of Williams Wells； of Point de Bute。
The Freezes came from Yorkshire to Cumberland in the DUKE OF YORK； the first vessel that landed Yorkshire emigrants at Halifax。 Charles Dixon； the founder of the Dixon name in Sackville； with his family； came out at this time。 The Freeze family； when they arrived in Nova Scotia； consisted of William Freeze； sen。； his son William； with his wife and two children。 Wm。 Freeze； sen。； remained in this country only a short time。 It was supposed the vessel in which he took passage for England was lost； as his family never heard of him again。
The son； William； was a mason by trade； but settled on a farm in Amherst Point； now occupied by the Keillor brothers。 He remained in Cumberland until the first of the present century； and then removed to Sussex； King's Country； N。B。 He had become rather discouraged in his efforts to reclaim the salt marsh； and came to the conclusion that it would never be of much value。
It is said that Mr。 Freeze and his two sons started in a small boat for Kentucky。 When they got as far as the mouth of the Petitcodiac River； they turned their boat up the stream； going with the tide to the head of the river。 Leaving the boat； they plunged into the forest and tramped for some distance。 At last they concluded they had lost their way
