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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-05-02, Page 7Lucknow Stine), Wednesday, May 2, 1979 --Page 7 economize Doc Peters and I had at least one thing in common - both of us were friends of Angus. Maybe it was because of this fact, that Doc revealed to 'me some of the intimate details of his Life. During the depression, Angus rescued Doc Peters from the arms of the law. At that time, through sheer necessity, Doc was riding the rails in search of work - any kind of work: He was unable to continue his studies in medical school because of financial circumstances. The Hungry Hundred became Doc's temporary place of reguge and he was thankful to help Angus in return for board and lodging. It was there amongst the rolling land of Redtrees, that a city boy found the rock which became the foundation of his medical career - Angus .MacCrimmonl "if I didn't have my heart set on. medicine, I think 1 would be a farmer," Doc told Angus. "I've become attached to the land." Angus appreciated Doc's sentiments, but always the practical man, he saw the real future of young Mr. Peters. "You're goin' back ter school lad," Angus told him decisively. "I'm gonna pay yer tuition fees an' give yer enough ter keep yer alive whilst yer study!" Doc Peters protested. There was slim pickings on the farm and he knew Angus had to struggle to make ends meet: "You have enough troubles as it is." "Then I guessone more won't make much differenc' ," Angus told him. Returning to the intensive studies of a medical student, with extremely limited funds, was not easy for Doc Peters. His mindwasfilled wi.th many problems, not necessarily connected with !medical science. His once affluent parents, bankrupted by the, Wall. Streetcrash of 1929, now struggled to survive in. a cheap rooming .house. Both his father and mother performed, menial tasks in order to live. In spite of the uncertainty of the times, Doc could rely upon a grubby envelope being delivered every Monday morning addressed by the bold hand of Angus. Doc could never be certain if it would contain one word of greeting but for sure there was ,always a money order for seven dollars. - a dollar a day for bed and board! For more than three years, by the grace of God and Angus MacCrimmon; young Peters strove to win for himself the title of "Doctor". On graduation day, his shabbily dressed parents joined the more affluent members of an audience to witness the diploma awarding ceremony. Standing at the back of the hail, unnoticed, and perhaps the shabbiest of all, was Angus. He had come to witness Doctor Peters' moment of triumph and he slipped quietly away as. soon as D,oc had received his award. After`a long period as an intern, Doc Peters drove a newly acquired second-hand car back to Redtrees and. up to the old frame house at the Hungry Hundred. Fall had come early to the rolling land, caressing the maples and bringing forth the first traces of a crimson blush. It was September,.1939. "I've got the choice of two positions," he told Angus, as they strolled together down the farm laneway. "One in a Toronto hospital and another as an assistant to an elderly doctor at Sault Ste. Marie. There'd be more money in Tdronto." • Angus was silent and he had a strange look upon, his face, as if something was troubling him. "I'll be able to pay you back soon - all the money you loaned me," Doc told him. "What I ain't got - I ain't missed!" Angus almost snapped. "You don't owe me much." He stopped in his tracks and looked at Doc - a long searching look.. When he spoke again it was in a softer tone which a father might have used when speaking to his son. "I figure you got, another choice .an' -to me, the most important we're at war you know!" Sothis was it Angus wanted him to join up. Damn it, how much does a man have to stand. Poverty, the depression, six years medical school, intern in a hospital- for what? To get killed in some stupid war thousands of miles away. "i'm supposed -to save lives not destroy them," Doc said in bitter reply. '.' Let theldiots who start the wars, fight them!" . "Didn't figure on yer fightin.:- you'd be doin' a more important job in the medica'l''service. They'll be ,needin' medical officers real -bad,':' .Angus retorted-- .� convincingly: • Doc Peters respected Angus, perhaps even loved him', but he could not contain his anger. Surely Angirs must realise that after all this time, the years of stud, he couldn't just, pick up and go off to a war. , "You just don't understand, do you'? The war is not for me - I don't want any part of it. I can't argue with. you; you've got your views and I've got mine!'.'. Doc Peters walked back to the car in a huff, paused with his hared on the door handle, thenchanged his mind and walked a few paces back towards Angus, "I don't want to leave you in this frame of mind," he said sadly. He held out his hand.:`'Let's part as friends." Angus regarded him with mixed feelings: He held his head high and thrust his chin out, like he always did when he felt aggressive. "I ain't never shook 'ands with a conch' or a coward," he said haughtily. "If you're one of them, I sure as 'ell .ain't changin' mi mind -; not even fer you! " Doc Peters shrugged his shoulders, got into the car and drove away. Angus watched him.go, all theway down the sixth, until there was only a small cloud of dust settling -into the rolling land. Just dust in place of a friendship. © To be continued County Honours were presented to these girls at the MacDonald, Joanne Bregman and Mary Stanley, achievement night at Lucknow United Church on April 26. 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