Ottawa June 9, 1870

My dear Dolly,

It is your turn to have a letter from Papa. Two days ago was my birth-day and I did not recollect it until now. I wonder whether anybody at home did. We have so much to do and are visited by so many people that such trifles are quite forgotten. Everybody is very kind to us and we have been received in a very cordial and unostentatious manner - nothing has occurred to make our visit at any time disagreeable, on the contrary exactly the reverse.

The weather is excessively warm and we feel like melting away. The nights are so sultry, that we roll and toss in bed one half the night and get but little sleep, for all that, however, we are uncommonly well and ready for anything that we may be called upon to do. Although we have very important business for our country to do, still it is conducted in such a pleasant and social manner that the labor becomes quite pleasant and we have every reason to be satisfied with those we have met and our progress this far.

Today we received an invitation from His Royal Highness Prince Arthur to be present at his installation and to form part of the procession. We start so tomorrow morning with some of the Ministers of State. It is our intention to go by the St. Lawrence, so as to run the falls and see all the things worth seeing upon the route. Of course the intention is that we shall "talk business" all the way, at all events we can do nothing more here until the ministry returns about a week hence. It is quite probable that we shall visit Quebec and if we get back to Ottawa in a weeks time we shall be quite early enough to do any business.

I will write something about the ceremony but to see it will be an honor only given to few very few and in reality I feel very very proud although perhaps I should not feel inclined to confess so much to everybody. My dear little girl, our country will most certainly be attached to and form part of Canada before very long.

You must learn everything you can and do everything you are able in order to not be behind in any way those who will be joined on to us. You must therefore continue to be a good little girl and give up crying and learn to sit quietly at the table. I shall be so happy to see a good little girl when I come back particularly if Mrs. Wilde says you have been a good little girl.

Here I am, at least three thousand miles away from Victoria. I have been travelling almost night and day since I left home, but I have not seen any country better than Vancouver Island. I have seen larger cities, more beautiful habitations by far, more magnificent buildings, more activity, more business, more chances for making money and becoming rich, more excitement and sources of manufactured pleasure, but, for all that, taken altogether, I feel certain there is as much comfort and hapiness to be obtained in Vancouver Island as can be obtained at so little cost and where else.

Depend upon it, however small our population, it is to us as happy and well off as much larger places. This hotel at which we are staying has nearly all its labor performed by female servants, in Canada ever house has some female domestic attached to it, and they receive only from five to ten dollars per month for their services. Now I do not like this. I want to see every one well paid who works well.

But I am forgetting that I am writing to my poor little motherless girl. I feel that although I am absent you at least are well taken care of. God has been good to little Dolly, and whilst she continues to be an obedient little girl and behaves herself everybody will like her. But, remember, you have to depend upon yourself, therefore make yourself equal in every respect with those who may surround you, rely upon your own exertions, but be thankful to every one who will or does endeavor to show you how to wrestle with the dangers and difficulties of life. Now my little daughter I must finish - be a good very good little girl - so that when I return at the end of next month I may be proud of my little daughter.

J.S. Helmcken