Codex Battleford
Transcription: 19
Transcription:
{18 [written in the top right corner]
country; they will form a large family, always united for the defence of their common interests. ”
The puff of enthusiasm created by this festivity, was hardly ended [added] dispersed [crossed out], when already xxxxxx [crossed out] the people [written over it] became anxious. The winter was approaching with manifest signs of rigour, the harvest had been a failure. Drought had destroyed the wheat in [crossed out] a part of the crop after its [written above] germination. The little that remained became the prey of legions of larves [crossed out] worms [written under], and an early frost completed the work of destruction.
On the other hand, freightin[g] was lacking during the summer months. The [added] Hudson’s Bay Company alone had few xxxx [crossed out] “loads” [written over it] of goods to transport to its warehouse at Green Lake. Through the lack of all competition, prices fell [crossed out] the freight rate fell [written above] distressingly low. At the beginning of the winter misery was already knocking at many doors.
However, winter transportation promised to be more profitable. In consequence of the scarcity of wheat, the government agents, as well as the merchants were obliged to buy from the Winnipeg markets, their provisions and their flour [crossed out] supplies of goods and flour [written above]. Many were the half-breeds employed in the transportation [crossed out] conveyance [written over the text] of those commodities. Soon, however, the [freight]ers [written over "carriers"] perceived that the business, instead of being profitable [crossed out] lucrative [written in the margins], became ruinous. The intense cold rendered the roads impracticable [crossed out] heavy [written in], the sle[ighs] [written over "sledges"] were hard to draw [written over the text]; the overworked horses perished [crossed out] many horses underfed and underworked [per]ished [written above] on the roads [crossed out] and the[ir] loads had to be abandoned along the route [crossed out] trail [added in the margins]. In a word, few were those who reaped any profit from their undertaking.
And, then [crossed out] besides [added above], there were so many poor fellows [crossed out] families [added above], who, had [crossed out] having [added above] neither oxen nor horses, nor cent, not farthing and who [crossed out], could live only at the expense of the mission.
“Is it, therefore, surprising,” wrote Father Fourmond, “That the poor breeds, who have reason to believe that some of their rights have been ignored by the government, should listen to the political excitement aroused in their favour and giving them hopes of a better future? ["?" added]
Meanwhile [added in the margins] During this time [crossed out] Riel continued to show himself at least in words, humble, submissive, peaceful and extremely devout. He recited many prayers, fasted often, live[d] by charity, and distributed his superfluity to [crossed out] helped [added in the margins] the poor [crossed out] needy [added above]. Under this candid exterior, the missionaries were not long in discovering the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
At this juncture, Father Vegreville, under some unknown circumstance [crossed out] came to spend a night at Moise Ouellette’s house where Riel [added] had just taken up lodgings. He was xxxxxxx [crossed out] shocked [written over the text] on hearing Riel give vent to violent abuse of the government which held power unlawfully, and advising revolution as the only way of xxxxxx [crossed out] freedom [written over the text]. Then he began to thunder against the priests and the bishops, who were only men good. [added in the margins] for money-making, instead of being like the apostles, men who veiled and lived through the work of their own hands. [crossed out] “It is necessary,” [crossed out] urgent [added] he added, “that all the priests bishops and archbishops advance with [crossed out] of them follow [written in] us. We know how to xxxxx [crossed out] compel [written over the text] them.” The Father['s] was [crossed out] blood [written over the text boiling with anger to answer him [crossed out] was boiling with indignation [written in], but it was neither the time not place to answer him [added]. This had been, by the way, the theme of his harangues for some weeks past.
On December 10th, the day of their monthly recollection, all the Fathers [crossed out] missionaries [added] of the district, excepting Father Vegreville, were assembled at St. Laurent [corrected from "Lawrence"]. Riel profited by this to come and respect [crossed out] took advantage of this meeting to xx call on them and [written in underneath]}
country; they will form a large family, always united for the defence of their common interests. ”
The puff of enthusiasm created by this festivity, was hardly ended [added] dispersed [crossed out], when already xxxxxx [crossed out] the people [written over it] became anxious. The winter was approaching with manifest signs of rigour, the harvest had been a failure. Drought had destroyed the wheat in [crossed out] a part of the crop after its [written above] germination. The little that remained became the prey of legions of larves [crossed out] worms [written under], and an early frost completed the work of destruction.
On the other hand, freightin[g] was lacking during the summer months. The [added] Hudson’s Bay Company alone had few xxxx [crossed out] “loads” [written over it] of goods to transport to its warehouse at Green Lake. Through the lack of all competition, prices fell [crossed out] the freight rate fell [written above] distressingly low. At the beginning of the winter misery was already knocking at many doors.
However, winter transportation promised to be more profitable. In consequence of the scarcity of wheat, the government agents, as well as the merchants were obliged to buy from the Winnipeg markets, their provisions and their flour [crossed out] supplies of goods and flour [written above]. Many were the half-breeds employed in the transportation [crossed out] conveyance [written over the text] of those commodities. Soon, however, the [freight]ers [written over "carriers"] perceived that the business, instead of being profitable [crossed out] lucrative [written in the margins], became ruinous. The intense cold rendered the roads impracticable [crossed out] heavy [written in], the sle[ighs] [written over "sledges"] were hard to draw [written over the text]; the overworked horses perished [crossed out] many horses underfed and underworked [per]ished [written above] on the roads [crossed out] and the[ir] loads had to be abandoned along the route [crossed out] trail [added in the margins]. In a word, few were those who reaped any profit from their undertaking.
And, then [crossed out] besides [added above], there were so many poor fellows [crossed out] families [added above], who, had [crossed out] having [added above] neither oxen nor horses, nor cent, not farthing and who [crossed out], could live only at the expense of the mission.
“Is it, therefore, surprising,” wrote Father Fourmond, “That the poor breeds, who have reason to believe that some of their rights have been ignored by the government, should listen to the political excitement aroused in their favour and giving them hopes of a better future? ["?" added]
Meanwhile [added in the margins] During this time [crossed out] Riel continued to show himself at least in words, humble, submissive, peaceful and extremely devout. He recited many prayers, fasted often, live[d] by charity, and distributed his superfluity to [crossed out] helped [added in the margins] the poor [crossed out] needy [added above]. Under this candid exterior, the missionaries were not long in discovering the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
At this juncture, Father Vegreville, under some unknown circumstance [crossed out] came to spend a night at Moise Ouellette’s house where Riel [added] had just taken up lodgings. He was xxxxxxx [crossed out] shocked [written over the text] on hearing Riel give vent to violent abuse of the government which held power unlawfully, and advising revolution as the only way of xxxxxx [crossed out] freedom [written over the text]. Then he began to thunder against the priests and the bishops, who were only men good. [added in the margins] for money-making, instead of being like the apostles, men who veiled and lived through the work of their own hands. [crossed out] “It is necessary,” [crossed out] urgent [added] he added, “that all the priests bishops and archbishops advance with [crossed out] of them follow [written in] us. We know how to xxxxx [crossed out] compel [written over the text] them.” The Father['s] was [crossed out] blood [written over the text boiling with anger to answer him [crossed out] was boiling with indignation [written in], but it was neither the time not place to answer him [added]. This had been, by the way, the theme of his harangues for some weeks past.
On December 10th, the day of their monthly recollection, all the Fathers [crossed out] missionaries [added] of the district, excepting Father Vegreville, were assembled at St. Laurent [corrected from "Lawrence"]. Riel profited by this to come and respect [crossed out] took advantage of this meeting to xx call on them and [written in underneath]}
