Village Squire, 1979-10, Page 25winter wood arrived, but even with proper hardwood, that
miserable stove refused to yield a decent quota of heat. I was still
pinned between the stove on one side and the kitchen table on
the other, a bit overcooked on one side, too cool on the other.
I had a sudden inspiration, sat down and wrote away for one of
these wonderful old tin stoves that were officially refered to as
air -cite heaters. With it I requested an elbow, a "T" and a taper
pipe along with a quantity of stovepipe wire. Then I sat down to
wait and shiver.
On the Friday of the next week, now the last of October, my
carton arrived. So eager was I to get it going that I forgot to
change into work -clothes. Putting up stove -pipes is at best a
miserable task and I had to tackle it single handed. How many
times I went up and down the stairs after I broke the line to insert
the "T" 1 am not going to try to guess at now. I do know that by
the time I had done that part of the job with the aid of temporary
hitches with the stovepipe wire, 1 was, hot, angry and frustrated.
Both hands were bleeding from scratches. I had pinched my
finger. Hands as well as my shirt front were smeared with the
oily preservative which is on all new pipes.
1 -'or a moment I stood sniffling while I caught my second wind.
Then another go to get the heater linked into the "T" and finally
a quantity of ashes, saved for the purpose, spread on the floor of
the heater.
Travel
Continued from page 21
Woodleigh Replicas are large scale
models, made of concrete and stone, of
famous castles, cathedrals and other
outstanding landmarks. They range from
the tiny thatched Anne Hathaway cottage
to the 60 -foot long completely furnished
model of Dunvegan Castle and the huge
reproduction of the Tower of London
replete with full scale British Crown
Jewels.
Northwest of Summerside past the
shores of Malpeque Bay is Alberton, a craft
village. At Leavitt's Maple Tree Craft,
visitors are welcome to watch craftsmen
turn rough pieces of wood, such as the
native Bird's Eye Maple, into attractive
wooden articles.
ATLANTIC CANADA
The Maritime provinces, Prince Edward
Island, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick, have much to offer
tourists. The best way for visitors to
become acquainted with the land and the
people is to leave the TransCanada and
explore other highways and byways. The
landscapes and seascapes, seafood and
hospitality of Atlantic Canada will not
disappoint: "He who enters is a stranger
but once."
By this time darkness had fallen. I had to light the lantern and
go outside after wood. You note I did not say go out into the cold,
for that cottage by nightfall was just as cold as the great
outdoors.
In no time I had a roaring fire going in the heater. It was the
first time in almost three weeks that I had been able to sit in my
shirt -sleeves.
As soon as I could draw up an old Windsor chair from the
corner, 1 curled up almost on top of the heater, drawing in that
blessed warmth until it reached right into the chilled marrow of
my bones. Never had I enjoyed such bliss. There 1 sat
occasionally stoking the heater until the whole room all but
reached the temperature of a Turkish bath.
Finally hunger pangs roused me. I was too tired, too contented
to worry about a regular meal. I started up the stove to add still
more calories to the big_ room. Bacon, eggs, toast and tea
followed a can of soup, and were topped by Mom's home
preserved peaches.
I was warm at last. God was in his Heaven and all was right
with the world.
Possibly the story should end here. Further blessings were to
come. The owners of a fine fully winterize cottage one hundred
and fifty yards up the beach had heard of my plight. They offered
me their place free for the winter months. Not only was it cosy
and possessed of a fireplace, but best of all it also boasted the
finest woodburning cookstove 1 was ever to have the joy of using.
Perform a
death -defying
act.
Stop smoking.
Give Heart Fund V�
October 1979, Village Squire 23