The Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-08-29, Page 75106111ft•• **Olio aggist
A cold December breeze blew across the. .rolling
land and powdered the countryside with a light
dusting of snow. It brought the first signs of winter to
Redtrees and the morning sickness to Mary MacLeod.
She had received only one letter from Angus,
although she had written to him almost every day.
Now she had something urgent to communicate which
she couldn't have written, until she was absolutely
certain. It was not a doctor's diagnosis - she had no
intention of making her condition known to anybody in
• the community, not even to her father, the Reverend
Douglas MacLeod.
Mary felt she had to talk to somebody, but who?
There was only one person who might keep her secret
and then only because it also involved her. Could she
talk to the mother of Angus? Jessie MacCrimmon was
• a good understanding woman, and unlike her husband
Jarnes, had no animosity towards Douglas MacLeod.
Jessie was an active church member, who might be
able to advise on her future course of action. It was a
difficult subject Unmarried pregnant girls were a
rare phenomenon in a pigus community like Redtrees.
• One word about her unforgiveable sin and the future
oft -the Reverend Douglas MacLeod would also be in
' jeopardy.
The minister's wife had died shortly after the birth
of Mary and it had been no easy feat for DouglaS
MacLeod to raise the child on his own. In many ways
the life of the minister was wrapped around his
• daughter - Mary feared the effects of her sin on his
life, if ever he should become aware of what she had
done
She would go and talk to Jessie MacCrimmon and
sound her out, Try to find her reaction to the
predicament which both the MacLeods and the
MacCrimmons would have to face. The thoughts
which passed through her mind only added to. the
confusion, as she made her way on foot through the
biting wind to the Hungry Hundred.
Mary was greeted by the warmth of the wood stove \
and the round smiling face of Jessie MacCrimmon.
The.atmosphere was filled with the pleasant smell of
newly baked bread. The best china soon appeared on
the parlour table together with scones and fresh
churned butter. Jessie put on a clean floral apron for
the ocCasion, and talked incessantly.
"Well, well, how nice to have a -'visit from the
minister's daughter - and how was Douglas MacLeod
today? What a splendid sermon he preached last
Sunday. Such a fine man - such a great speaker. Yes,
she'd had a letter from Angus and he said he was just
fine."
Mary hardly had time to say anything. Jessie was„so
intent on holding the conversation. When the
trivialities were overthe usual gossip was brought out
for an airing.
"Did you hear about that wicked woman in
Pantown? She was arrested for enticing the young
soldiers from the armouries - well, for money of
Dates
• Avttilable
Lucknow &
District
Community
Centre
SEPTEMBER
Friday 21
OCTOBER NOVEMBER
Friday 42 -
Friday 19
Friday 28
Friday 2
Friday 18
Friday 23
Friday 30
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION AND
WEEK BOOKINGS
CALL 528-3532
111
•
Acres of Memory
BY D.A. CAMPBELL
course - disgraceful I call it."
Jessie had harqly time to drink her tea, she was so
intent qn giving Mary all the news. Her final choice
piece of information was imparted through a cupped
hand around her mouth, as if there were other people
in the room who were not supposed to hear what she
said.
"But that girl, the harness maker's daughter. Just
a slip of a thing, scarcely 20 - pregnant so she is -and
by a boy who is away at war. Her poor father and
mother are just sick with grief. How could a girl do
such a thing?"
There was no question in Mary's mind now.
Whatever thoughts she had had about revealing her
secret to Jessie MacCrimmon disappeared into thin
air. Far from receiving consolation from her visit to
the mother of Angus, her mind was more confused
than ever. She was utterly miserable and whatever
punishment she had to bear, she realized she would
have to suffer it alone.
She was. making preparations to leave when old
•James MacCrimmon came up from the barn. He had
no axes to grind with Mary, but his loathing of the
minister showed on his face.
"Oh, so we got the minister's daughter, 'ere, 'aye
we? Well, well!"
Mary rose to her feet and thanked Jessie for her
hospitality.
"I think I'd better be going," was all she could say.
Old James MacCrimmon, like his son Angus, was a.
hard man, but he was soft inside, especially where the
womenfolk were concerned. He changed his tack
quickly.
"You ain't walkin"ome in this cold weather," he
said quickly. "Just 'ang on a minute, l'm gonna git
the buggy, so I am."
It was a bitter ride back to the manse and not only
because of winter's chill. Mary had received cold
comfort from her visit with the MacCrirnmons and she
was sorry she went. One fact became clear, -there was
nobody in Redtrees who could help her now. Her only
salvation would be a speedy return of Angus, but the
war the newspapers said, wouldbe along and bloody
conflict.
Once inside the house, Mary busied herself with the
'evening meal, whilst she still battled with the torment
of her thOughts, Her father was working on his next
sermon - rehearsing would be a better word. He was
something of an actor as well as a minister. As Mary
prepared the evening meal by the light of the oil lamp,
• she heard her father's voice from the study raised in
that same voice. The dialogue of passion which
blessed the righteous and condemned the wicked,
which now Onknown to him, included his own
daughter. His voice and the' message drifted to her
ears, loud and 'clear. ,
"And if there be sin, then I say unto you, the wages
of sin is death."
• THE.MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES WILL ISSUE ,
'CONTRACTS TO PERSONSWISHING TO
'Collect White Pine
and Basswood Seed
from trees located within the Wingham District.
Further details of prices, etc. may be obtained by contacting the
Wingham District Office of the Ministry of Natural Resources at R. R.
5 Wingham, Ontario NOG 2WO. [357-3131
No payments will be made for seed collected WITHOUT PRIOR
CONTRACT.
Ontario
Ministry of
Natural
Resources
Ilanclabow Sentinel, Wednesday, August 29, 1979-Pags 7
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•-•
B' Builders
• "Builders For Todays
Building Needs"
Carpentry and Cement Work
Special
Events
LUCKNOW FALL FAIR
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
1.00IC OVER THIS LIST OF VARIOUS CLASSES YOU CAN
• ENTER ANIITHE CASH PRIZES GIVEN. • •
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 1979.- ..
1. Decorated Bicycle 5 3.00 2.00 1.00 •.50
2: Decorated Tricycle: 3.00 2.00 1.00 .50
- '(25c or all other entries)
3. Decorated Doll Carriage • 1 50 1.00 .75 . .50
(25c for all other entries)
4, Best costumed rider on decorated pony
(Animals not be judged) •
• 5 6.00 5.00 • 4.00 3.00 2.00
5. Largest family at the fair 5.00 3.00 2.00
6: Longest beard 5.00 3.00 2:00
7. Oldest lady it the tair 5.00
8. Oldest gentleman at the fair '5.00
9. Couple coming the farthest distance
• • 5.00
10. Person coming the farthest distance
(not eligible to win both 9 & 10)
• 5 00
1 I Tug of War (3,30 P.M.) 10.00 . 5.00 .
2 divisions - (10 to a team), ..•
(1) Elementary School (2) Teenape (19 & under)
LOG SAWINGCONTEST (Friday evening)
12, Log Sawing Contest (men) 10.00 • 6.00 4.00.
13. Log Sawing contest (ladies) 10210.... 6.00 4.00
14 Log Satving•Contest (man and lady)
15. Log Sawing Contest .open to surrounding Agricultural
Societies-- .perpetual plaque donated by Lucknow Agricultural
Society
16. Climbing the pole contest •
(16 & under) 5,00 3,00 . 2,00
(17 & over) • 5.00 3.00 2.00
17. Wheelbarrow race'
(14 & under) 10.00 6.00 4.00
(1 male &.1 female) (15 & Over)
(wheelbarrow supplied) 10.00 6.00 4,00
18. Mbst original entry in parade 6.00 5,00 3.00
19. Best clown (in parade), adult 5.00 300 2.00
20. Best clown (in parade), child '5,00 3.00 2.00
21. Elementary School Float
in parade . • 25,00 20.00 15.00 10.00
22. Secondary SchoOl Float
in parade 25.00 20.00 15.00
23. Decorated Cars 10.00 7.00 5.00
24. Decorated Truck 10.00 7,00 5.00
'25. Antique Car/or Truck
priot to 1960 1200. 8.00 5.00
26. Best Society Float 25.00 20.00 15:00
27. Best Comic Float 25.00 20.00 15.00
28. Best Patriotic Float - 25.00 20.00 15.00
29. Best COMmercial Float - 25.00 20.00 15.00
NEW THIS YEAR
Commercial Floats for Businessmen
Prizes $25, $20, $15
10,00
3.00
3.00
• FOR MY EXHIBITORS
Leiree's Wks' Wear Is Werke a sporeapries fir lb. Bret
year ollsiblise who whs. the meat palate ha baldwg.
PrbelS
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