CHAPTER
XXIII.
AFTER
THE FIRE.
LATE in the
afternoon
Dr. King,
of the American side, arrived. He was very kind and did all be could both
for my suffering wife and our sick child; there seemed but little hope
that the latter would live, in her weak state the shock had been too great.
After tea I went over to see my poor Indian children. All were lacking
in clothing more or less. Jimmy Greenbird,
who ran into Frosts'
room after the fire began and saved his coat for him, was rolled up in
a counterpane. Little Nancy,
eleven years old, had her hand to her head and looked ill. She said,
"My
brain pains me." She seemed
inclined to faint, so I took her in my arms and gave her some restora-
tive. All night our little Laurie
was very ill, and Mrs. Wilson
never slept at all.
Next day, Monday,
the Indians, held a council to hear from me what I proposed to do.
They asked me whether I felt "weak or
strong about it," whether I would
collect money to rebuild again, or whether I should give up the Mission.
I reminded them of what I had said in the church. I could only wait
on God till I saw my way. Some of them said it was unfair to ask
me just now when the calamity was but just over, and my wife and child
sick; it would be better for them to set to work and try and repair the
damages and leave me more time to think: they then talked of putting up
a house at once for our school-master, as he would remain and take my place
this winter.
Old Chief
Little Pine, spoke very nicely; addressing
me, he said,
"The
destruction of these buildings
and property
is not loss.
Were you
to lose your wife and children
it would
be loss,
for they
cannot be replaced.
I have
just lost a son,
and I
know what that is."
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Our friends at
the Sault were most kind and sympathizing; they sent us a portmanteau
full of clothing and food.
One more sad
event has to be recorded. Tuesday was a clear cold morning, and the
stars were still shining brightly, undimmed as yet by the streaks of dawn
in the East, as I wended my way to the church. I was going to toll
the bell, for our little daughter Laurie
was dead. The soft morning star beamed down upon me as in pity; all
was quiet, all looked calm, serene, and peaceful, — the silence only broken
by the deep tolling of the bell. The little coffin had to be made
in haste, and was only just
ready in time,
for the steamship Cumberland arrived at 10 a.m. My wife was
carried on a mattress down to the steamer. The boat could only stay
a short time. The servants and the other children were already on
board. I gently lifted my child into her last narrow bed, then Cryer
and I carried it on board with our hats off. Frost
remained behind to take charge of the Mission temporarily. The Indian
children who had come from a distance were left with him and the Matron
until we could decide what to do. The captain and officers were very
kind.
When we got to
Bruce Mines, I went up to a store to buy a great coat and other necessaries.
My wife was still in her dressing gown, being too ill to dress. We
had special prayer onboard for fine weather, the captain and others joining
with us. On reaching Collingwood, we were most kindly received
by Dr. and Mrs. Lett.
They were greatly distressed to hear of our sad misfortune, and my wife
was carried up with the greatest care to their house. They gave up
there own bedroom to her on account of its' being warm and comfortable,
and would not hear of our going elsewhere. Late in the evening a
vehicle was engaged, and Dr. Lett,
my two little boys, and myself went together to the cemetery which is some
distance off — taking the little coffin with us. It was too late
to read from the Service-book, but
Dr.
Lett repeated some portions of the service
from memory, and our little girl's body was committed to the ground
"earth
to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,
— in sure
and certain hope of the glorious resurrection."
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The telegram
announcing our disaster was received at my father's house in England
at 8 p.m. Oct. 1st, three days after it happened, and a reply expressing
much sympathy was immediately telegraphed to us. A week later came
a letter saying that £250 had already been subscribed
towards the rebuilding: this simply in response to the telegram.
Very great sympathy was aroused, and letters came pouring in from kind
friends both in England and in Canada. By Oct. 16th the "fire
fund" in England had reached £518,
and this before any letters with details had arrived. Our friends
up to that time knew only that "all was
burnt down." They were anxiously
expecting letters, and hoped to hear that we had at least saved some of
our personal property. The following are extracts from some of the
earliest letters received in response to the first detailed tidings of
our calamity.
| "Your
letter, giving the details of that terrible escape and your great anxiety,
only reached us yesterday morning (Oct. 22). It made our hearts bleed
for you. But how comforting to know that you were kept in peace,
even amid such sorrow. I knew you would be helped and comforted,
as God's children always are, when their need is the greatest. And
now our fears and longings have been greatly relieved by the short telegram
which arrived at 4 a.m. to-day. We do indeed rejoice and thank God
with you for this great mercy. After your sad account of your dear
wife and her falls in escaping we feared much for her, but what a joy to
have another living babe in place of the sweet little one whom the Good
Shepherd has folded in His own arms. . . . How mysterious it seems that
everything, just when completed, should thus in a moment have been destroyed;
and then, just when the fire came, that the children should have been so
ill: but if trials like these do make us cling the more to the Mighty One
shall it not be well? . . . £550 is now in hand for you, and more
keeps coming in." |
Another writes:
| "I
cannot say how we all felt for you in your great trial, such an overwhelming,
overpowering misfortune; and then your darling child's death too, it all
seems to have come upon you like an avalanche. Well, you have the
best comfort. I came upon such a nice verse for you this morning,
'David encouraged himself in the Lord, his God'." |
On the 30th October,
a large packing case and bale were despatched from England containing
full supplies of clothing and house requisites, books, &c., and many
handsome presents from our kind and sympathizing friends.
But besides all
this help from England we received also very much sympathy and a
great deal of substantial help from our friends in Canada. The very
first contribution I received towards rebuilding was from the Methodist
minister of the Sault, although I had never made his acquaintance
or spoken to him. One lady sold a diamond ring from her finger and
sent us the proceeds, and many others helped liberally. Dr.
Lett was indefatigable in his exertions
for us. The following is from our dear Bishop, who had been elected
only a few weeks before the fire occurred and was not yet consecrated.
| "My
dear
Mr. Wilson,
I
have only to-day been able to ascertain with any probable certainty where
I could hope that a letter, conveying my deep and heartfelt sympathy with
you and yours under the late severe visitation which Our Heavenly Father,
doubtless for wise and good purposes, has seen fit to bring upon you, might
find you. . . . I feel assured that you have gone to the right quarter
for comfort and support in the trying hour; and that so doing you have
experienced the faithfulness of Him, who hath promised that He will
never leave nor forsake such as trust in Him, and have been comforted.
If, in the midst of all your cares, you can find time to send me a line,
first to tell how your dear partner is - whom I pray may be spared to you
- as well as how you are yourself, and then what your plans for the future
are, I shall indeed feel greatly obliged. Such trials as these
must not discourage us, but rather quicken our exertions and stimulate
our zeal. Praying that you may be strengthened and supported
in this your hour of need, and realize that it is good to be afflicted,
believe me to remain your affectionate and sympathizing brother in the
lord,
F.
D. FAUQUIER." |
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