The Evangeline well is presumably the well attached to the priest’s house. After the deportation it was filled up and plowed over for many years. Twenty-five years ago it was opened and an interesting lot of Acadian implements were found in the bottom.
The burial ground is marked by a large cross built of stone used in the foundation of the church and the priest’s house and in other Acadian cellars. Beneath it are three graves and about it rest the remains of those who died in Grand-Pré during its occupation by the people, about eighty years.
Just north of the church site stands a row of willows set out by the people of Evangeline’s day. These have stood probably two hundred years, and shielded the Acadian Chapel and the priest’s house from the north winds of winter until 1755 when, after the removal of the Acadians, the buildings were burned.
On returning to Wolfville I again interviewed Mr. Herbin, and among other items gathered the following account of a legend which has to do with one of the nearby villages:
Immediately after the expulsion a considerable number of those who had escaped the clutches of the British, gathered at what is now known as East Minas, on high ground from which a large territory could be overlooked, in the belief that French ships would come for them. It is claimed that they had a priest with them, though Mr. Herbin regards this as doubtful, as the priests had been removed from the country during the summer in anticipation of the removal of the inhabitants later.
These are said to have erected a small chapel with walls about six feet high and steep pitched roof. Here they worshipped during the winter, but in time were discovered by the English and forced to again flee. So sudden was their departure that they were unable to carry with them the silver service used in the chapel, which had been brought from some other point, and this was hastily placed for safe keeping in a spring of water conveniently near.
Many years passed, the chapel had crumbled and the spring dried up, when several men appeared in the locality and, after making much inquiry, located a great tree, the stump of which is still to be seen, that was standing in the days of the French. Taking a line by this and another mark of which they appeared to have some record, they passed into the forest, but were unable to find the site of the spring, all signs of which having long since disappeared.
Later three men, who had learned the object of the unsuccessful treasure-hunters, instituted a search on their own account. One of them, named Bishop, stumbled on a slight depression which he believed to be the dry bed of the spring, and began to dig, but immediately the heavens darkened and strange noises issued from the surrounding woods, while half-seen shapes threatened to pounce upon him from the nearby trees.
About this time he concluded not to be selfish over his discovery, but to call in his friends that all might share alike, and commenced a search for them with zealous haste. But when they endeavored to return to the spot he was not able to locate it; the earth had been replaced and leaves and sticks scattered over it as formerly, and even the trees had been shifted about until the search was hopeless.