He had little difficulty in persuading his wife to
accompany him, as her parents with her two brothers and one sister had
emigrated some two years previous. It was more difficult, however, for
him to persuade his father and mother that his decision was a wise one.
"If ye maun leave us," said his mother, "can ye no seek anither hame
nearer han', an' no gang awa across the water to yon' wild place they
ca' Canada?" "We maun try to be reasonable, woman," said his father,
"but I canna deny that the thought o' our first born son gaun sae far
awa gie's me a sair heart." It was equally hard for the son to bid
farewell to the land of his birth, and of a thousand endearing ties; but
prudence whispered that now was his time to go, while he had youth and
health, to meet the hardships that often fall to the lot of the
emigrant. When his parents saw how much his mind was set upon it they
ceased to oppose his wishes, and with his wife and children, he soon
joined the large numbers who, at that period, were leaving the British,
for the Canadian shores.
As may be readily supposed, the parting between the two families was a
very sad one; but the last adieus were finally exchanged, and the poor
emigrants were borne away on the billows of the Atlantic.
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