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Dearest Rachel,

Life here in Canada is so very different than in England! It is quite nice here, but oh, I am so homesick.

I believe I told you before we left that my husband, Ethan, had bought us the best accomadations on the ship. Even so, I was dreadfully seasick and was starting to wish we hadn't left at all. Luckily, the sickness passed after the first few weeks had gone by. There were many peasants aboard the ship. The captain told me that most of them were hoping for a fresh start and a new life in Canada, but had already been disheartened by their poor living quarters on the ship.

When we finally landed on the shores of our new country, my first view was not very pleasant. The poor were everywhere! Most of them were standing in long lines, pushing and being pushed, but some of them looked completely bewildered and seemed to have no idea of where they were supposed to go. We were quickly shuffled away from that part of the dock, but I don't think I shall ever forget it.

We then took a train, an experience I enjoyed much more than sailing. Not two hours into the trip, Ethan introduced me to a man named Robert and his wife, Victoria. It turned out that they were going to the same town as us! Victoria and I discussed everything from the lives we used to lead to what we imagined our new homes would be like, and we were soon good friends. Ethan was thrilled, as I am usually a shy person and have a hard time making friends.

When we arrived in Brantford it was quite late, so we stayed at the local inn for the night. In the morning, Ethan bought a beautiful manor, not quite so big as your house, sister, but the perfect size for me. The property is quite large, with trees and plants and a very grand lawn.

The air here is so clean compared to London! There are factories on the other side of town, but none of the smoke comes near us. There is so much space, and I love it.

We even have this new... electricity. It's very odd! They have a way of lighting sphere shaped glass without using fire, and I'm very curious as to how it works. There are wires throughout our house connecting these lightbulbs, and with the flick of a switch our rooms are lit. We even have lights lining the pathway to our house!

We also have one of those new automobiles. It has "horsepower," but I have no idea what that means because there are cerainly no horses to pull it. It is also very, very noisy.

We also have a lovely pianoforte, which I love to play any time of the day. Sometimes Robert and Victoria come over and I play for them and Ethan. He so loves to watch me play! I am so lucky to have him.

When we were taking a stroll the other day, we happened to pass by a man cussing at and beating his wife. A child came ot the door, and the man started yelling at the child to get back inside. It was very frightening, and Ethan hurried me past. I was very much saddened by the sight of the man and his wife and suddenly very grateful that Ethan would never raise a hand against me.

Just last week Ethan bought a brewery. I was very relieved that we now had a source of income. As you know, our funds are substantial, but they could not last forever.

You know how I love animals, as does Ethan. Well, yesterday was very odd. Even though Ethan doesn't work very long hours, all he does is manage the paperwork, he does work six days a week. During the time he is gone, sometimes Victoria comes over and sometimes I go to her house, but most of the time I am alone. So, Ethan came home and brought with him... a chicken. I was surprised, to say the least. It was not a normal chicken either. It had feathers on it's feet! I know I have not seen many chickens in my life, living in the city, but I have seen enough to know that mst do not have feathers on their feet. Indeed, it strutted about like it owned the world. It reminded me of those exotic birds called peacocks that I have read about. Well, Ethan told me that this kind of chicken were bred for contests, and that this one had won the most previous one. I christened him Charles, and even though he is an unusual pet, he is very good company.

I apologize for not writing sooner, but a lot has been on my mind. I am quite content living here, as different as it is from London. I think just writing about everything that has happened made the homesickness pass. I will write again soon.

Love, Elizabeth