0n Prince Edward Island

the other hand. They were obliged to carry their scanty supplies on paths marked out by the blaze of the woodman’s axe through a dense and unbroken forest, for a distance of ten or twelve miles.

One of these early settlers, Mr. James Nicholson, of pious memory, a devoted and cherished friend of the renowned Highland divine, Rev. Dr. Roderick McLeod of Snizord, Skye, was the first to light the torch of the gospel in this new settlement, and he continued to hold it aloft for the guidance of his fel- low-settlers for nine long years. At first he com— menced to hold prayer meetings in his own house every Sabbath, until the schoolhouse was built, in which afterwards the Sabbath services were held. His congregation was not large but his faith was strong and never wavered.

In the years 1839 and 1840 one hundred families arrived from Scotland and settled in Hartsville, Rose Valley, Darlington, Hopedale, Hazel Grove and Junction Road. Among these were many men of deep piety, notably the late Alexander McLeod, catechist of Hartsville, Murdoch Buchannan and Al- lan McSwain, the latter of whom until quite lately was a ruling elder in the congregation and a veri— table father in Israel. These men at once rallied around the grand standard so long held aloft by Mr. James Nicholson. Mr. A. McLeod, the catechist, being a powerful Gaelic speaker, and like Apollos, “mighty in the Scriptures,” attracted such crowds that they could not find standing room in the school- house, and during the summer months they were

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