The Narrative of Gordon Sellar Who Emigrated to Canada in 1825

A young Glasgow boy recounts the sudden emptiness that followed his father's death at Waterloo, when his mother, a servant, could no longer keep the household together. He watches the city celebrate a victory he cannot yet understand, then endures the cold shock of his mother’s fever and her quiet passing in a crowded hospital, leaving him a fatherless, motherless child on the streets.

Seeking refuge, he befriends a wandering shepherd named Archie, who shares stories of Scottish heroes and the simple rhythms of rural life. Their conversations turn hopeful as Archie speaks of a future in Canada, promising a new farm and a chance to rebuild a family far from the soot‑filled alleys of Glasgow. Together they navigate the harsh weather, trade psalms and verses, and cling to the promise that a distant land might offer the stability and belonging they both crave.