A few days later the bishop landed at Long Portage House, a small and lonely establishment. All are friends here, and preparations are at once made for a service, which all greatly enjoy. ‘And there is a beautiful little baby to baptize,’ continues the child-loving bishop, and there are several who are anxious to receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
‘I wished to get to Moose before the ship, so before six o’clock we are in our canoe and hurrying forwards; down we plunge over our last great rapid, and are in the Moose River. We are soon nearing Moose, and already come upon some of its people. Here is Widow Charlotte in her canoe, fishing; her face brightens as she grasps my hand and tells me how thankful she is to see me once more; she looks well, but the last three years have told greatly upon her. A little further on we meet stirring Widow Harriet, engaged in the same occupation. At breakfast-time we meet a large canoe on its way to Abbitibbe, containing a family returning to Canada; we breakfast and have prayers together, and I learn that the ship arrived safely from England two days ago, and that all were well. We paddle on, pass the Bill of Portland, and the Mill, and the winter fishing-place at the mouth of Maidman’s Creek, and we cross the broad river, and sweep round the head of Charles Island. Here is Sawpit Island, and there, directly in front of us, is Moose Island, but showing no signs of being inhabited. We travel along it, we round its head, and a new world lies before us—for it seems indeed nothing less, coming as one does on the large thriving establishment after days of travel in the wilderness.’
MOOSE FACTORY, CAPITAL OF THE DIOCESE OF MOOSONEE
1, Bishop’s Court; 2, school-house; 3, cottage (residence of a good helper); 4, cottage (residence of catechist); 5, stores; 6, church; 7, residence of chief factor; 8, residence of officers; 9, large store and sale shop; 10, cattle byres; 11, Pontypool, a mile below the church
Moose at this time and at this season presented an even still more pleasant aspect than when, some thirty years before, the Bishop of Rupertsland had described it as the prettiest spot in the country. Since then it has somewhat increased in importance, and the condition of the buildings and their surroundings give it a charming appearance.
The grazing cattle first attract attention, then the neat residence of the bishop and the other mission buildings, the adjoining cottages with their well-kept gardens, and a number of Indian tents and marquees in the foreground, the church with its metal covered spire glistening in the sun’s rays a little distance off. Near the landing-place are the Hudson’s Bay Company buildings, the substantial residence of the company’s representative and that of his subordinate officers. The large handsome store, and a good garden, with the steward’s house adjoining, with a group of workshops—carpenter’s, joiner’s, cooper’s, and the blacksmith’s forge behind, cow-houses and stables for cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep. In the foreground is the grave-yard neatly fenced round; then a field of waving barley, another of potatoes, and a large hay-meadow, with again a group of cottages, gardens, and tents.
The ship had come in, and people were hurrying about everywhere. The Mink was receiving cargo, the Marten too, as well as a barge with sails set. These transferred their contents to large flat-bottomed boats, which conveyed them to a store by the riverside. Along the banks were moored many smaller craft, full of grass, brought from the salt marshes, to be turned into hay for the cattle during the long winter. In the midst of all the bustle the advent of the bishop in his canoe is observed. The white mission flag is hastily run up. The red flag of the Hudson’s Bay Company is hoisted. The mission party, which includes Archdeacon Vincent from Albany and Mr. Peck from Fort George, as well as two young missionaries, the Rev. H. Nevitt and Rev. J. Lofthouse, who had come by the ship, and Mrs. Saunders from Matawakumma, hasten to the landing-stage. The bishop’s daughter Chrissie, with her husband, Mr. Broughton, and their three boys, Kelk, Fred and Arthur, are there already, and the first greetings are not given before the chief members of the station are all collected about the bishop. All are anxious to welcome him and to give him the news he longs to hear, of the welfare of themselves and the various members of his flock in the different parts of his diocese. Then the bell from the church tower sends forth its summons, and the Indians hurry to respond to it, and soon the church is filled from end to end by an eager and interested congregation. He to whom they all look as a father has come back, and having given their greeting and received his blessing, they depart again to their several occupations.