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TITLE: NEVILLE TRUEMAN THE PIONEER PREACHER
AUTHOR: WILLIAM HENRY WITHROW
EBOOK: E03528 (O'Briens Book Cellar)

This file was produced from images generously made available
by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions.

NEVILLE TRUEMAN,

THE

PIONEER PREACHER.

A TALE OF THE WAR OF 1812.

BY THE

REV. W. H. WITHROW, M.A.

TO THE

REV. EGERTON RYERSON, D.D., LL.D.,

WHOSE LONG LIFE

HAS BEEN DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY,

THIS

"Story of the War,"

WHOSE HISTORY

HE HAS WITH GRAPHIC PEN RECORDED,

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

BY

THE AUTHOR.

[Illustration]

PREFACE.

In this short story an attempt has been made--with what success
the reader must judge--to present certain phases of Canadian life
during the heroic struggle against foreign invasion, which first
stirred in our country the pulses of that common national life,
which has at length attained a sturdier strength in the
confederation of the several provinces of the Dominion of Canada.
It will he found, we think, that the Canadian Methodism of those
troublous times was not less patriotic than pious. While our
fathers feared God, they also honoured the King, and loved their
country; and many of them died in its defence. Reverently let us
mention their names. Lightly let us tread upon their ashes.
Faithfully let us cherish their memory. And sedulously let us
imitate their virtues.

A good deal of pains has been taken by the careful study of the
most authentic memoirs, documents, and histories referring to the
period; by personal examination of the physical aspect of the
scene of the story; and by frequent conversations with some of the
principal actors in the stirring drama of the time--most of whom,
alas! have now passed away--to give a verisimilitude to the
narrative that shall, it is hoped, reproduce in no distorted
manner this memorable period.

W. H. W.

TORONTO, March 1st, 1880.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

War Clouds

CHAPTER II.

The Eve of Battle

CHAPTER III.

Queenston Heights

CHAPTER IV.

The Wages of War

CHAPTER V.

A Victory and its Cost

CHAPTER VI.

The Capture of York

CHAPTER VII.

The Fall of Fort George

CHAPTER VIII.

The Fortunes of War

CHAPTER IX.

A Brave Woman's Exploit

CHAPTER X.

Disasters and Triumphs

CHAPTER XI.

Elder Case in War Time

CHAPTER XII.

A Dark Tragedy--The Burning of Niagara

CHAPTER XIII.

A Stern Nemesis--A Ravaged Frontier

CHAPTER XIV.

Toronto of Old

CHAPTER XV.

A Quarterly Meeting in the Olden Time

CHAPTER XVI.

The "Protracted Meeting"

CHAPTER XVII.

Heart Trials.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Tragedy of War.

CHAPTER XIX.

Chippewa and Lundy's Lane.

CHAPTER XX.

The Closing of the War.

CHAPTER XXI.

Closing Scenes. NEVILLE TRUEMAN, THE PIONEER PREACHER [Footnote:
The principal authorities consulted for the historical portion of
this story are:--Tupper's Life and Letters of Sir Isaac Brock,
Auchinleck's and other histories of the War, and Carroll's,
Bangs', and Playter's references to border Methodism at the period
described. Many of the incidents, however, are derived from the
personal testimony of prominent actors in the stirring drama of
the time, but few of whom still linger on the stage. For reasons
which will be obvious, the personality of some of the characters
of the story is Slightly veiled under assumed names.]

CHAPTER I.

WAR CLOUDS.

  Now lower the dreadful clouds of war;
  Its threatening thunder rolls afar;
  Near and more near the rude alarms
  Of conflict and the clash of arms
  Advance and grow, till all the air
  Rings with the brazen trumpet blare.

Towards the close of a sultry day in July, in the year 1812, might
have been seen a young man riding along the beautiful west bank of
the Niagara River, about three miles above its mouth. His
appearance would anywhere have attracted attention. He was small
in person and singularly neat in his attire. By exposure to
summer's sun and winter's cold, his complexion was richly bronzed,
but, as he lifted his broad-leafed felt hat to cool his brow, it
could be seen that his forehead was smooth and white and of a
noble fulness, indicating superior intellectual abilities. His
hair was dark,

    --his eye beneath
  Flashed like falchion from its sheath.

His bright, quick glances, alternating with a full and steady
gaze, betokened a mind keenly sympathetic with emotions both of
sorrow and of joy. His dress and accoutrements were those of a
travelling Methodist preacher of the period. He wore a suit of
"parson's grey," the coat having a straight collar and being

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