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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1982-09-29, Page 6editor al • . LUCKN 1 YSENTINEL "Ths Snowy Town" Estabhab.d 1873 Vilhat is a farmer? By BSI Brady RadioCFPL . A fanner is a. person who owns between 20 and 30 hats... They have names on. the front, just above the .peak, names like Stewart Seed, John Deere, Agrigro, United' Co-op, and, Master Feeds. You can. always .,, tell a farmer...but not very .much. One can always recognize a farmer by his tingift' (sometimes farmers don't have all of them by the way), they are usually very big and when you shake hands with 'one it feet' a lot like sandpaper; andthey squeeze as though they really are glad to see you, Sometimes after you shake hands with a farmer he slaps you on the shoulder and dislocates it for you. 1f a farmer says its going to rain, it does, but rarely when their land really needs ' it, Farmers never go out of the house without one of those caps, that's why an farmers have white foreheads, and sometimes they wear them indoors.. ! Young farmers wear them low over their eyes, usually their dads wear them on the back of their heads and have the uncanny ability to, in one motion, take off the cap, scratch the scalp, and replace the cap at the same anglein about 2.3 seconds. Farmers sometime wear their hats in the house until (a) their wives make thein take it off, or (b) they go to bed. Fanners like new . cars ' and always buy big shiny ones, within two weeks after delivery there is three to four' inches of mud on the new front floor mats, the dashboard Is covered with dust; a pair of work gloves, a nitebook, and three books of matches. In the trunk of the new car can be found - the air cleaner off the pickup, a pair of boots caked with dried mud, a box of miscellaneous gears, cop, two fan belts, and three spare hats. Farmers are the only people who can keep their sanity while the rest of us bang our heads on the wall in dismay over the weather, government policies, the weather, price increases, the weather, and a county council which often forgets that most of its constituents farm for a living. Farmers . read agriculture bulletins,, "The Canadian Farmer" and the financial page, but not necessarily in that order, They know a lot 'about insects, ,hail, crop dusting, irrigation, interest .. rates, . curling, animal husbandry, engines, electricity, welding, futures, but can never seem to figure out what the heck those guys in Ottawa and at Queen's Park are' doing. ' Farmers like roast beef (usually well done), small children, especially . their grandchildren; woodlots, big tractors, Hubbard squash, pot roast, and sometimes liver. They lace mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade pie, and almost anywhere in Florida. They like vacations, but not as much as their wives do; like them,'that is if they 'don't crime too. closetogether; big bath towels, dogs, euchre and .Hockey Night in Canada. Farmers don't' prarticulariy like: zucchini, opera, Liberals, hospitals, supermarkets, 401, gas stations (that's because they usually keep a gasoline pump of their own near the barn, sort of a dc -it -yourself service station), implement salesmen, bank managers, the Liberais, and drought.. Farmers are people, whoare convinced to spend, a small ° fortune on a sprayer and huge quantity of the new insecti- cide -methyl bethyl aprozsan, only to find out the day after they spray that it has been banned by the Federal Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Welfare because besides killing the bugs, it may be, just may be, kills birds and a few people 'too. Farmers are the people who know how to raise food in such quantity and of such quality that we are a people blessed many times over with their plenty at a. fraction of the cost of what many in other leas privileged countries pay to eat. A farmer is an eternal optimist who in spite of rain, when his land is soaking wet and drought when it is parched dry; hail when 'his tobacco 'or corn or tomatoes are at their peak...notwithstanding interest rates and collapsing markets, government -action or in -action; still get up every day, puts on his cap, and once again makes it ail work for all of us,' who so often take for granted our farmers. 11 THOMAS A, THOMPSON » Advertising Manager. SHARON J. DIETZ • Editor PAT LIVINGSTON Office Manager JOAN HELM • Compositor MERLE ELLIOTT - Typesetter Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday,. September 39, 1982 --Page 6 Business and. Editorial Office Telephone 528.2822 Mailing Address p,O. Box 400, Lucknow, NOO 2HO Second Class. Mail Registration Number 0847 Subacrlpd.n raw, 814,30 per year In advanc. Sevier Mhos rate, 812.00 p r year In Wynne* U,S.A4 aid F.ralga, 838.00 par year In advance Sr. CMU,S.A. and Pr r.lgn, 836.00 per you la wlvince Ietteri to the editor Huron school trustee decides to retire To the Ratepayers of the Townships of Ashfield and West Wawanosh: II This letter is to inform the public that Iam retiring this November from the Huron County Board of Education and to ie the electorate know there is air opening for a trustee in the November 8th. election. If you are deeply interested in the education of our children and young people enjoy public relation work and have a "mighty sharp pencil", then think about this challenging and re - Warding position. - think about this challenging and re- warding position. . I have stored in my home all of my agendas and ' minutes of ' board meet- ings since 1969 and would be pleased . to lend them out to anyone who, is interested: in knowing what this posi- tion entails. Give me a call at 529- 73,50. The number of meetings a month is from a minimum of two to maximum of four or five, ' depending upon the standing committee a board member serves. , . However, in my opinion, board meetings are only part of the duty of a. board member and the most reward- ing. part of the job is public 'relations, To know what is happening in our schools, attendance at the following is, very worthwhile.' redtrees Visits to the classrooms (a phone call to the Principal first); professional Development Day (2 .a year); Prin- cipal's Seminars (when board mem- bers are invited); Science Fairs; Public Speaking contests; Drama Club pres- entations, choirs and band concerts in the High ' Schools; teacher -parent nights; staff meetings (once a year in each school); curriculum presentations at the board office; tours of the various schools; school concerts • Brookside and Golden Circle; retirement dinners andteas; and the highlight of the school . year • Grade 8 graduation at Brookside and Commencement Exer- cises at F. E. Madill Secondary School and 'Goderich. District Collegiate In- stitute, ' .I would' like to take this opportunity to' thank , everyone for their support during the past 16 years. Sincerely, Marian Zinn.. To the Editor: I would much appreciate you print- ing the following letter in your paper. I am researching the history of Lake Ainslie; Cape . Breton, N.S, and some members of a particular MacKay family moved to Lucknow and Cuirass, Neil MacKay from the Isle of Muck, Scotland came to Cape Breton and spent the first: year in a plac e called Judique where he was married to Mary Maclsaac, She was Roman Catholic and later became protestant. He came to Lake Ainslie and had children named Donald, John Neil, James and some daughters. It is recorded that James was killed when the family was moving.. to Ontario. Donald wash born. February 20, 1827. Neil MacKay was married previous tohis marraige ,to. Mary MacKay. His firstwife died at the birth of their son Hector. Hector. remained at 'Lake Ainslie , where he was a blacksmith. Neil MacKay also had a brother, Lauchlin, who settled in Lake Ainslie ars well. If anyone is descended from this' family or know information on them 1 would most appreciate hearing from You; Thank you. Sincerely, Barrie Fraser. R. R. #1 Whycocomagh, Inv, Co., N.S. by don Campbell In. late. January, high winds and heavy snow came to Redtrees. These strong blizzard conditions. troubled Hamish , Murdoch. He pictured : ian Jamieson trapped in .the fury of the storm on some remote trail; during his return journey to: the settlement. Per- haps, and Hamish dreaded the thought, both horse and' rider may perish. He expressed his fears to the people who ' braved the extreme ,weather conditions to trade at the. general store, and particularly' to the Reverend Duncan MacLeod,: "Considering the delicate and .fas- cinating purpose of Captain Jami- eson's mission," the minister said in consolement, "l doubt if he will be in any hurry to relieve you of your duties. You might as well prepare yourself to' operate the store until the spring, for I wager he will'' not return until then,". The character of MacLeod had improved since his ardent courtship of Mary MacKenzie. Her influence _ seemed to have mellowed his eloquent speech and he was inciined to inject humour into his conversation. "I might be so bold as to predict. that Mr. Jamieson, at this very moment, is more interested in petty- coats than any other merchandise," the minister said, leaving Hamish with his mouth wide open and just a little shocked, When Hamish related the minist- er's predictions to Neil MacCrirnmon, the usually kind and considerate piper's reaction was hostile. • "Redtree. is frae Highland people, ! s; and no frae the likes o' Sassenachs," MacCrimmon said in a bitter' tone, 'T'would be best if Jamieson wed a lass o' his ain folk, Oeh, 1 tell ye Hamish, he will rue the day he took an Irish widow woman tae his bid!" Gossip, highly coloured with con- jecture, and often outlandish hes, was a natural pastime in . those days, Jamieson and sills romance with "the foreign woman" .became ' the main topic of conversation. Many 'who visited the /general . store, lingered in groups around the .wood fired 'stove and expressed their contempt for such a marriage arrangement. They had only one consolation, which they repeated over and over again: "Thank the Lord the woman is a Protestant and we shall be spared the humiliation of accepting a Catholic into The com- munity!" ) The doctor's wife; Jane Cameron, who+should have known better, could not resist the temptation to voice her opinions on the subject which had become the preoccupation of , the Friends of Skye. There was, however, an ulterior motive for her interest. Kelly's Emporium was a fashionable establishment, and Jane had been a regular patron : when she lived in Toronto. She recalled ' quite vividly that Kathleen was a highly, respected and powerfulladyof commerce, whn held her. station in life by sheer ability. The mistress of Kelly's shunned , the so-called "upper classes" and ' the dandies who vied for her favour. In an enviable way, this. mysterious Irish woman was held in awe by the ladies of fashion. Secretly, Jane knew only too well that if Kathleen should arrive in the community, she, the doctor's wife, would no longer be regarded as the a 'first lady of Redtrees", "My dealings with the woman will be cordial," Jane told the school mistress, Mary MacKenzie. "Yes indeed, cordial but firm, I would nearer allow such a dominant creature to ride roughshod over mei" Mary MacKenzie never indulged in the gossip. When confronted by such outlandish statements, . she smiled, but it was only to replace the reply she never spoke. Being deeply. religious, she placed more emphasis 'on the commandments of the Bible than the jealous . dialogue of those hypocrites who pretended to follow its teachings. Oniy Chippy Chisholm spoke out openly in defence of Jamieson. He, like the ex -sea .captain, had travelled the world and had learned to be tolerant of all races and religions. Once, when accompanied by his wife 'to the general store,he made a statement, which must have mortified everybbdy vvho heard it. "Och, all women are rigged much the same. 1 mind once in Mandalay I took a ` fancy tae a native woman; Brown as 'a nut she was, and a Buddhist. I might hae wed the lass, 'Notre it no frae the looney gossip 0' people such as ye!" He was not allowed to make any further remarks, Elizabeth grabbed him roughly by the arm and almost dragged him out of the store. In reality, the escapades of', lan Jamieson, imaginary or otherwise; were merely discussed in detail to eleviate the boredom of along winter. It was after all just gossip, and nobody in Redtreees could possibly have fore- told the impact which Kathleen would have on its people. Nobody, except perhaps lan . Jamieson, Far away in Toronto, Jamieson was beginning to realize that he was about to team up .with a high spirited filly, who would take the bit between her teeth and pull more than her fair share of life's heavy load; Reluctantly, he also accepted the fact that she could powder ked, ready to explode at the fir become a veritable spark, into the face of anybody who stood in her way!