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When Ruth's brothers and sisters were young； and books were not so common as now； she very often read aloud to her mother and the family。 Macauley's Essays and History； Prescott's works； the 〃Literary Garland；〃 and lighter works were read from time to time as circumstances or taste dictated。 GLEASON'S PICTORIAL； the ANGLO…SAXON； the SCOTTISH… AMERICAN； and HARPER'S MAGAZINE were read with great interest。 She was a subscriber to the CENTURY MAGAZINE at the time of her death。 Some of Hannah More's sacred dramas were frequently read on a Sabbath evening。 The writer remembers well how we younger children enjoyed the moment when David；
〃From his well…directed sling； quick hurled； with dexterous aim； a stone； which sank deep…lodged in the capacious forehead of the foe。〃
And
〃The mighty mass of man fell prone； with its own weight； his shattered bulk was bruised。 Straight the youth drew from his sheath the giant's pond'rous sword； and from the enormous trunk the gory head； furious in death； he severed。〃
The language was rather beyond us； but we knew that David had killed the giant； and we did not bother about the big words。 Or； when little Moses was left in the ark of bulrushes； exposed to all the dangers of the Nile swamp； how we almost trembled lest some evil should befall him before Pharaoh's daughter could rescue him； and rejoiced to think that Miriam did her part so well as to get her mother as a nurse for the little brother。 Ruth seemed to enjoy reading these dramas over and over quite as much as we enjoyed listening to them。 She grew fonder of reading as she grew older； and would talk of the characters in a book as if they were as real to her as her personal friends。
Ruth was deeply interested in the confederation of the Provinces when that question was before the people。 After giving the matter a good deal of thought she decided in favor of the union。 In early days； because of sympathy for a friend； she had conceived a prejudice against Dr。 Tupper； who began his public life in Point de Bute； and with whom she was personally acquainted。 The family at Prospect were supporters of Howe and the Liberal party in Nova Scotia at this time； but Howe had turned his back on Confederation； and Dr。 Tupper was the leader of the Confederate party in that Province。 Ruth was exceedingly anxious that the principle of union should triumph； and it was a grief to her that Dr。 Tupper should triumph with it。 But she lived long enough to forgive him and to appreciate the good work Sir Charles did for Canada。
The Free School question was another problem in which she was greatly interested； and as one of her favorite cousins was in the election of 1872； in which free non…sectarian schools were on trial in New Brunswick （at least； so thought the friends of this measure）； she was anxious as to the outcome of the elections； and well pleased when they resulted well for free schools。
Of the twenty members of the second generation now living； the women outnumber the men thirteen to seven。 Five of the twenty are octogenarians； twoMartin Trueman； of Point de Bute； and Thompson Trueman； of Sackvillehave reached the patriarchal age of eighty…seven years。 The former in one particular is like the late Mr。 Gladstonehe takes his recreation with the axe。 He has prepared many cords of wood for the stove in the last few years。
The first Trueman family were not strong men； but they were persistent workers； and could accomplish more in a given time than men of much stronger build。 The second generation were physically equal or superior to that of the first； which was rather a rare circumstance in this country。 The gift of languageof talking easily and gracefully； either in private or publicwas not one of their possessions。 Not a man of the first generation could talk ten minutes on a public platform； and the second generation are in this particular not much of an improvement on their forbears。 This； in part； no doubt； accounts for the fact that a family which turns out elders； class…leaders and circuit stewards in such numbers has not produced a minister of the Trueman name。
Agriculture was the work to which the family set their hand in the new country。 The children were taught that manual labor was honorable； and that agriculture was worthy of being prosecuted by the best of men。 The seven sons and three sons…in…law were all successful farmers； and heredity no doubt had its influence。
CHAPTER IX
FAMILIES CONNECTED BY MARRIAGE WITH THE SECOND GENERATION OF TRUEMANS。
WELLS
William Wells； the first of the name in Point de Bute； was one of the Yorkshire band。 He was a mason by trade； and built the Methodist Chapel at Thirsk before leaving Yorkshire。 He married Margaret Dobson。 The Dobsons lived in Sowerby； near Thirsk； and were among the first to accept the teachings of John Wesley。 Mr。 Wells did not come direct to Halifax； but landed at Boston； and； after staying there some months； came to Fort Cumberland。 This was in 1772。 He bought property in Upper Point de Bute； very near to that of his father…in…law； George Dobson。 This property is still in the name of its original owner； a rare thing in this country； as very few families hold the same property for a century and a quarter。
Mrs。 Wells was the mother of thirteen children； six of whom died in early life。 The remaining seven married and settled in the country。 They were married as follows：George to Elizabeth Freeman； of Amherst； William to Catherine Allan； of Cape Tormentine； Mary to George Chappel； of Bay Verte； Elizabeth to Jonas Allan； of Cape Tormentine； Margaret to S。 Freeze； of Amherst Point； Jane to Bill Chappell； of Bay Verte； and Joseph to Nellie Trenholm； of Point de Bute。
William Wells was an active member of the Methodist Church。 He enjoyed a special gift in prayer； and not infrequently； in the absence of the minister； read the burial service over the dead。
I find this entry in the old journal： 〃June 3rd； 1811Mrs。 Jane Fawcett departed this life May 31st； very suddenly； was well about ten o'clock； and died before eleven o'clock； was buried Sunday afternoon by Wm。 Wells； Esq。〃
The following letter； written a century ago by Mr。 Wells； may have some interest for his descendants。 The letter was addressed to William Trueman。
〃DEAR BROTHERAm sorry to hear of Mr。 Bennet's indisposition； but am glad his case is hopeful。 I trust the Lord has more work to do for him yet。 Respecting myself should be glad to come to see my dear friends； but the journey appears to be too much for me to perform； for I was exceeding bad yesterday； and altho this day I feel a little freer from pain； yet my weakness is great。 If I should be better towards the latter part of the day maybe I may try to come； but I have hitherto felt worse at the latter part of the day。 I pray God that our light afflictions may work out for us a far more and exceeding weight of glory。
〃Yours affec。； _W。_ WELLS。
〃Saturday morning； 〃Nov。 13th； 1802。〃
The descendants of William Wells are widely scattered over New Brunswick and Nova Scotia； and a good number have emigrated to the United States。 Charles H。； Charles C。； James； and Joseph D。 Wells； great…grandsons； represent the name in Point de Bute and Jolicure。 The late W。 Woodbury Wells； M。P。P。； and Mr。 Justice Wells； of Moncton； also are members of this family； while Lieut。…Governor Snowball is a great… grandson of William Wells。
BLACK。
William Black was born in Paisley； Scotland； in 1727。 When a young man he removed to Huddersfield； England； and engaged in the linen and woollen drapery business。 In 1774 he prospected Nova Scotia with a view to settlement； and purchased a large block of land near the present town of Amherst。 The next year he brought his family； consisting of wife； four sons and a daughter； to Nova Scotia； and settled on his new farm。
William Black was twice married； and lived to the great age of ninety… three years。 He spent the last years of his life in Dorchester； where he left a large family by his second wife。 He was the father of William Black； who has been designated the 〃Father of Methodism〃 in the Lower Provinces。
The Blacks have proved good citizens； and have contributed their full share to the development of the coun