But their fatiguing journey was at length terminated; and they
arrived safely at the bush settlement in R., where the friends of Mrs.
Ainslie resided. That now thriving and prosperous settlement was then in
its infancy, and possessed but few external attractions to the new
comer; for at the period when Mrs. Ainslie's parents settled there it
was an unbroken wilderness. It is needless for me to add that the
wayworn travellers met with a joyous welcome from the friends who had
been long anxiously looking for their arrival. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were
overjoyed to meet again their daughter from whom they had been so long
separated by the deep roll of the ocean; and almost their first enquiry
was for the "wee lassie," who when they left Scotland was less than a
twelve month old. Mr. Ainslie was unable to reply, and looked toward his
wife as if beseeching her to answer to their enquiry. She understood the
mute appeal, and composing herself by a strong effort said: "My dear
father an' mither, a great grief has o'erta'en us sin' we left hame',
an' our hearts are well-nigh broken; we buried wee Susie in the caul
waters o' the ocean." She endeavoured to relate to them the particulars
of the child's death; but her feelings overcame her, and for some
moments they could only weep together.
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