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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1937-05-27, Page 6PAGE SIX THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1937. C'HIAPTT]R X. A children's tea party in a High- land barn sounds a trivial .;ort of af- fair; and, as a spectacle, would doubt- less suffer in contrast with a fancy- dress ball in Kensington or with a state concert in Buckingham Palace, Bot human nature is the important thing, ,after all, no matter -what the surroundings may be; and if one con- siders what the ordinary life of these children was—the dull monotony of it in those far andbleak solitudes: their ignorance of pantomime trans- formation scenes; their lack of elab- orately illustrated fairy tales, and similar aids to the imagination enjoy- ed 'by more fortunate young people elsewhere—it was surely an interest- ing kind of project to .bring these bairns away from the homely farm or the keeper's cottage, in the depth of mfd'winter, and to march them through the 'blackness of a January evening into a suddenly opening won- der -land of splendor and color and .festivity. They were not likely to re- anennber that this was but a barn -- this 'beautiful place, with its blazing can:dtlbras, and its devices of ever- greens ,and great white and red roses, and the long table sumptuously set forth,' and each guest, sitting down, 'finding .himself or herself a capitalist to the extent of sevenpence. And so warm and comfortable the lofty building was; and so •brilliant and lu- minous with those circles of candles; and 't1`: loud •strains of the pipes echo- ing through it—giving them a wel- come just as- if they were grown-up, People: no wonder they stared most- ly in silence at (first, and seemed awe- struck, and perhaps were in doubt whether! this might not .he saune Cin- derella kind of feast, that they might suddenly be ,snatehed away from, and sent back again through the cold and the night to the far and silent cottage in the •glen. But this feeling soon wore off, for it was mystical fairy— but she seemed more -beautiful .and ,gracious and more richly attired than any fairy they had ever •dreamed abort --who went swiftly here and there and everywhere, arranging their seats for them, laughing and 'talking with them. forgetting not one of their names, and as busy and merry and high-spirited as so iereat an occasion obviously deunanded. Moreover. is it not in these early years that ideals are unconsciously hems formed—from such experi- ences as are nearest ---ideals that in after -life may become standards of conduct and aims? "T'ltey had never seen any one •set 'gentle -mannered as this young lady who was at once their hostess and the little isi then of them all, nor any one so diemi'tied anti yet so simple and good-humored and (kind. They could nut 'but observe with what marked respect Ronald Strang (a most important person in their eyes) treated her --insisted on changing places with him, lest she should be in a draught when the door was opened, and not aliowin•g her to touch the tea-pots that came hot and hot from the kitchen, lest she should born her fingers; he pouring nut the tea himself. and rather clumsily too. And if their ideal of sweet and graci- ous womanhood t(upposing it to he .forming in their heads) was of but a (prospective advantage, was there not 'something of a more immediate value 'Lo them in thus being allowed to look on one who was so far superior to ordinary unman •creatures they saw around them? She formed an easy 'key to the few imaginative stories they were familiar with. Cinderella, for example: when they read how she fascinated the prince at the hall, and won all hearts, and charmed all eyes, they could 'think of Miss Dang'las, and eagerly understand; The Queen sof Sheba, when she came in all her splendour: how were these shepherds' and :keepers and crofters' children to form any notion of her appearance !but by regarding Miss Douglas in ' this beautiful .and graceful attiri• of 1 hers? In; point of fact, her gown yv.as hitt of plain •hlacksili,; bet 'there ^w'as srtne- t thing about the manner of her wear- Ling it that had an indefinable charm; and then she had a sin llariv neat g't collar and a pretty ribbon round her neck; and there were slender silver things gleaming at her wrists front time to time, indeed, there was no saying for how many heroines of his- tory or fiction Mks \ieenie Douglas had unconsciously to herself to do duty—in. the solitary contanunings of a sannmer day's herding, 'or during the dreary hours in which these hapless little people were shut up in some small, close. overcrowded parish church, supposing that they lived any- where within half a dozen utiles of such a building: now she ,would be Joan of t..Arc, or perhaps 'Queen Es- ther that was surpassing beautiful, or Lord L llin's daughter that was drowned within sight of nava s shores. .And was it not sufficiently strange that this magical creature, who repre- seuted to them everything that was noble, and beautiful, and re fined, and queen -like, should now be moving about amongst them. cutting cake for them, laughing, joking, pat- ting this one or that on the •shoulder, and apparently 'quite delighted to wait on theist and serve them? The introductory singing' of the Oki �Hundrrclth 'Psalm vats, it utast be confesses, a failure, The 'large ma- jority of the children present had nev- er 'heard or seen a piano, and when eerie went to that ,strange -looking instrument (it ,haat been 'brought over from her mother's :cottage with con- siderable difficulty), and when she sat dow••n and struck the first deep re- sounding chords -and when Ronald, at his end of the table led off the singing with his powerful tenor voice !they were far too much interested and awe-struck to follow, \ieenie sang in her quiet, clear tray, and Maggie timidly joined in, lint the children were silent. 'however. as has already been said, the restraint that was at first pretty obvious very soon ware off; the tea and rake were consumes amid Hutch general hilarity and satis- faction; and when in rine course the Chairman t an toe to deliver his address and when Miss Douglas tapped on th table to secure attention, sn,! nisi ]n way' of applause, several of the elder ones had quite enough courage and knowledge of affairs to follow her et- anmple, so that the speaker may h said to have been received with favor A•nci if there were any %vise ones there whose experience had taught theist that tea and cake were but a snare to entrap innocent people into hying lectured and sermonized, they were speedily reassured. 'The. 'Chair- man', address was mostly about star- hn and ;lays, and rabbit:s, and fer- ret., and squirrels, and about the rar- ions ways of taming these and teach- ing; them, and of his own carious suc- cesses and failures when one was a hay. He had to apologize at the aut- sel for not speaking in the 'Gaelic; for he said that if he fried they would soon the laughing at hits; lie would have to speak in English; but if he mentioned any bird or beast whose sante they cud not understand, they were to ask him;, and Ise would tell thesis the 'Gaelic name, And very soon it was clear enugh this was no lec- ture on the wandering of the children of Israe'I, nor yet a sermon on justifi- cation .by faith: the eager eyes of the boys followed every detail of t•he cap- ture of the nest of young ospreys• the girls 'Were like to cry truer the un- timely fate of a certain tame s•parrnw that had •strayer) within Vhv reach—or the spring, rather --of an alien cat, and genera• laughter greeted the history of the r•0n611MA and uncalled-for mfs- ehiefs and evil deeds of one Peter, a squirrel but half reclaimed fr<,m it: savage ways, that ha ti et ,61 the ynsttls- ful naturalist murk anxiety and vexa- tion, and also not a' little blood. There las, moreover, a dark and wild story if revenge, on an ill -conditioned cur hat was the terror of the whole vil- ace, and was forever snap•pi11z at Irk ankles and hays' legs—a most nrsroper and immortal story to be eiid• to young folks; though the br.ys seemed to think the ill-tempered beast got no more than it deserved. That small village, 'hy-t'he-way, down there in the 'Lothians, seemed to have 'been a 'very remarkable p'laes. the scene of the s�tran,gest exploita and perform- ances on the part of terriers, donkeys. fret kittens, and tame jackdaws; haun- ted by curious folk, Inc. who knew all about bogies and kelpies and such un- canny creatures, .a'n'd had the most re- ntarkable experience of them .pthough rmderu science was allowed to came ht here for a little bit with its cold- blooded explanations t.f the 'su'perna- tural1, •stud when, to finish asp this discursive and apparently aimless ad- dress. lit remarked that the only thing asking in .the village where he had •i+o5' br,oatlst cup. and where he had v.b-snvcd all these incidents and won- ,tas the presence o1 a kind- i,earted and generous young lady who, e n ass occision, would undertake all the t•roub'te of gathering together the children for utiles around, and would do everything she could to snake them perfectly happy, they ).new perfectly. well Whom he meant; and when he said, in conclusion, that if they knew of any Stich a one about Jerre, in In- ver -Modal, and if they thought she had been kind to them, and if they wished to show her that they were grateful to her for her goodness, they could not do better than give her three loud cheers, the lecture came to an end in a perfect storm of applause; and Meenie, blushing a little, and yet laughing, had to get up and say that she was responsible Tor the keeping of order by this assembly, and would al- low no speech -making and no cheer- ing that was not putt down in the. progra'mme. After this there was a service of raisins; and in the general .quiet that followed, •\'lc•, Murray came into the room, just to see how things were go- ing on. Now the innkeeper considered himself to be a ratan of humorous turn; and when he went up to shake hands with Miss )Douglass, and looked down the long table, and saw Ronald ,esiding at the other end, and 'her presiding a1 this, and all the children sitting so sedately there, he remarked to her in his waggish way, "Well, now for a young married couple, you have a very large family," But Miss Douglas was not a self- conscious young person, nor easily seia'1 'd; and she merely laughed and said, "I ani sure they are a very well -be - hawed fancily indeed." But Ronald (who had not heard the jocose remark, thy -the -way) objected to any one coming to claim Miss Douglas's attention on so important• an occasion, tied in his capacitc of Chairman be rase and rapped loudly on the table. "Ladies aur) gentlemen." he said, 'we're no going to have any idler, here the night, .Any one that hides with us must do something. 1 cal'1 un \', 11 array to sing kis well-known song, 'Bonnie Peggie, 0,'" ""Indeed no, indeed no," the inn- 1lkeeper said instantly retreating to 'the door, "•There its too many gaol !judges here the night. 1'11 leave you to yourselfs; but if there's anything in the inn you w:odd like sent over, elo not be afraid to ask for it, Ronald, And the rooms for the children tiro a1'1 ready, and the beds; find we'll stake theist very comfortable. Mfrs 1 Douglas: he sore of that. now. e "It's 0:vcr soon to talk about that yet:" Ronald said, when the innkeeper had :;one; and he drove home the wooden bolt of the door, so that no other- interloper should get in. .\ieenie had said she wanted no outsiders pre- sent; that was enough. And then they set about getting through the ,pro rauune, the details of which is 111 not Ise repeated here. Song fall owed song; when there was any pause, \Iconic played simple airs on the piano; for "The t'amerania n's Dream," when it carte to iter tura to read them something, she substituted "The Pied Piper of Hallielin," which tea, listened to with breathless inter- est. Even the' 'little Maggie did her part in the "IT-lunting-tower" duet very creditably, fortified by 'the knowledge that there were no critics present...1and as for the children, they had become quite conviatced ,that there was to 'be no sermon, and that they were not to be catechised about their lesson's, nor examined as .to rea- sons annexed to the 'Fourth Com- mandment; all care gone front theme, for the moment life was nothing 'hut shortbread and .raisins and singing, ttith aiinsiration of 'Miss (Douglas's i,eantii111 hair, and beautiful, kind eyes, and soft and laughing voice, .\nri then; as the evening wore on, imeao sc time to send these young people to thebeds that had been 'pre- pared for them si the inn; and Of u;sense, they could' not break up with - tat singing- ".\nhl Lang Syne"— \I,•enie officiating at the piano, and all she others standing up and !joining Mantis. And then she had to rouse 'e tel to .the tattle to propose a vote .1 thanks to the Chairman. Weil, she vas not much abashed. 'Perhaps there was a -little extra :color in her ace at the .beginning; and she said she 'had never tried, to make a speech before; and, indeed, that now there was no occasion, for that all of thein knew (Ronald t(so she. called him, ,quite naturally), .and knew that he was always •willing to do a kindness when he was asked, And she said that he had •done a great deal •itiore than had been ori'gina'lly ,begged of him; and they ouight all of 'them, in- cluding herself, to be very grateful to thio; and if they wished to ;give him a unanimous vote of thanks, they were all to holt cup their right hand —as she did. Sothat svote was ear - Heel; and Ronald said a few words in reply—mostly about Miss Douglas, in truth, and also telling them to whom they were indebted for the money found in each saucer, Then came the business of ,fincling wraps for them and muffling 'them up ere they went out into the 'January night (though many a one there was all un- used to such sprecautions, and wond- ering that Miss Douglas :should be so careful of them), while Ronald, up at the head of the rooan, was playing them a parting salute on the pipes— Caidil 'g'u l0, it was, which 'means "Steep on till day." Finally, when Maggie and 'Meenfe were ushering their small charges through the dark- ness to the back door of the inn, he found 'himself alone; .and, ere 'puttin'g out the candles and .fastening up, he thought he .might .as well 'light a pipe—for that solace had been denied' info during the long evening. Well, he was ;elarfng absently into the mass of smouldering pests, Find thinking mostly of the sound of ieleenie's voice as he haat heard it when she sang with the children "Whither, pilgrims, are you going?" when he hoard footsteps :behind 'him, and, turning, 'found. that both'Meenie and Maggie had come back, "Ronald," said \d'•eenie, with her pretty eyes smiling at 'him, "do you know 'that .Margie and I are rather tired—" "1�te11; Q linea wonder." said he. "Yes, and ;both of ns very hungry too, IAnd I am sure there will be no supper waiting for eitherMaggie or me when we go home; and do you think you could get us some Little thing note?" "Here?" said he, with his face lighting up with p'leasttre; were those three to have supper all 'by them- selves?" "Oh, yes," said she, in her friend- ly way. "I am sure that my mother would like me to stay at the inn for supper; but 'this is our own 'pla•ce; and the table laid; and Maggie and f would rarther he here, 1 am sure. And you—are you not hungry too— after so long a time—I am stere you want something besides raisins and shard -'Unread. But if it will he any trouble "Trouble or no trouble," said he• quickly, `has nothing to do w'i't. diene, Maggie, lass, clear the end of the table; and we'll soon get some supper fon' ye," And away one neat to the inn, sum- moning the lasses there, and driv- ing and hurrying. thein until they had arranged upon a large tray a very presentable supper --sone cold beef, and ham, and •cheese, and bread, and ale; and when the fair-haired \illy was ready to start forth with this .burden, he lit a candle and walked 'before her through the darkness, lest she should miss her tooting. And very demure was Nelly when she 'placed this supper an the table; there was not even at hook for the smart young keeper; and when \ieenie said to her, "I hear, \ells, you had .great goings on on Monday night," the only answered, "OIs, yes, miss; there was that," and could not be shaken intra conversation, but left the mn- ment she had everything arranged. But curiously enough, when the two girls had talcetc their seats at this little cross tab'1e, 'Ronald re si aired standing --)just :behind them, indeed, as if he were a waiter. •And would \Miss Douglas have this? and would Miss Douglas have that? he suggested, mostly to cloak bin shamefacedness; for, indeed, that first will assumption that they were all to have supper together was ,banished snow as an impertinence, II -Te erould wait on thein, and gladly, but—but his ;own supper would tette after, "stud what will you have yourself, Ronald?" •;l:ieenie asked. "Oh," :said he; ",that will clo tby- and=hv. I am not so hungry as you." "Did you have so much .of the short -bread?" said she, laughing. Tie went and stirred asp the pests, .and the red glow sent a ,genial warnth across towards thein, "Come, Ronald," said the little lIjggie, "and have some supper." "There is no hurry," Ise said evas- ively. "I think 'T will go outside and have a pipe now; and get something by-and-by-" ' "1 ant sure," :said ,Meenie, saucily, "that it is no compliment to us that von would rather go away and smoke. See, tines, if we cannot tempt yon." Ansi therewith, with her own pret- ty ,fingers, she made reacly his place et the table; and put the knife and fork properly ;beside the plate; and PROFESSIONAL CARDS helped 'hint to .a slice of beef and a slice of hamq and p'ou'red, some ale into 'his tumbler, Not only that, but she trade a little 'movement of ar- ranging her dresswhich was so Ob- viously an invitation that he . should there and then take a place by her, that it was not in mortal uman. to re- sist; t'itoug'li, indeed, after sitting down, he seemed to devote all his at- tention to looking alter his compan- ions. And very soon any small em- barrassment was entirely gone; Mee- nie was in an unnSsually gay and mer- ry mood, for 'she was pleased that her party had been so .obviously a success, and all her res'po'nsibilities over. And 'this vivacity 'gave a new beauty to her face; her eyes seemed more .kind ' than ever; when she laughed, it was a .sweet low laugh, like the cooing of pigeons on a sunt mer afternoon, "And what are you thinking o'1, Maggie?" she said, suddenly hind's to the !little girl, who had grown ra then silent aurid this talking and jok ;nig. "11 was wishing this 'could go an fore\ er,". was the simple answer. "Ws '1 hat? perpetual supper? 'Q you greedy •girli b\illy, you must h looking forward 10 the Sicandinay.ia heaven."." "No; it's to the with Ronald an trou, iMeenie •dear-lju•s't like now—Ifo you seem to he able to keep every body 'happy:' - Miss D'auglas did blush a 'little a this; but it was an honest compl stent, and it was •soon forgotten. AAuthen, when they had finished her sus per, she said: "Ronald, do you know that 1 ha never played an accompaniment one of your songs? Would you n like to hear how it sounds?" "But -+but I'•m n•o used to it should be :putting you wrong." "No, no; Pan sure we will ncanaa• Come along," she 'said. tbriskl "There is that rote I beard you sin the other .day -1 heard you, thong you did not see one—'('sae to bring ma. •port o' wine, and fill it in a. silve tassie; that 1 may drink ;before 'I g a service to my bonnie lassie'—and very proud she was, I .su•ppose. W'r14, now, we will try that one. So they went to the other end of the 'barn, where the 'piano was, and there was a good deal of singing there, and 'lan'ghieg, turd prig g—aant- pntg 'this- little party of three. And 3'i Genie sang too ---ons condition (w'9- man -like) that Ronald would light his pipe. !Little Maggie scarcely knew which to admire the more ---this 'beau- tiful and ;graceful young 'lady, Who was so complaisant ancl friendly and kind, or her own brother, who was so handsome and manly and modest and yet could do everything in the world IN'ar could there have been any sinister doubt in that wish o' hers that these three should always be to- gether as they were then. 1 -low wad - she. to know that this was the last ev- ening on •w•'hich :\i eerie Douglass and Ronald were to .meet on these all to friendly. terms? O1-IAIP'1'IEiR XT. /Early the next ntatning, When a, yet the suers. e was still widening int. and over the loch, and the faint tinge of red had not .quite left the higher slopes of 'Cilebrig, .Rona d had already finished his ,breakfast, and eras in his own small room, smoking the custom- ary' pipe, and idly—and with sono curious kind of whimsical amusement in his brain—turning over the Most sheets of scribbled verses. And that wa t Very ethereal and imaginary Meenio hi' found there --a M'ecnie of cay'-dreams and visions; not the act- ual, light-hearted Meenie •of the 'ev- ening'before. who was so merry after the children had gone, and so content tt'ith the little supper panty of three, and would have thine smoke Isis pipe without regard to her pretty silk dress. This Meenie 011 paper was ra- ther a wistfatl. visionary, distant cre- ationwhereas the '\'ieenie: of the pre- vious evening was altogetheraltogetherfriendly ns and 'good-huored and laughing, with the quaintest mother -ways in the ma- nagement of children. and alwtiys a light OE 'kindness shining in her clear Hp) Highland eyes. e would have to write 'something to .portray \Leonie ( to himself) in this more 'friendly and actual •character: ,T -Ie ,could Flo it easily enough, Ice .knew^. There never was any lack of rhymes when •\leen•ie was ,he occasion. At other things he had to labor—fnc.quetrel, indeed, tm- til, reflecting.reflecting.that this was' not his business, he woulwould.i'1in.g the thing in- to the fire, and drive it into the pea'ts ,with his .heel, and go away with Much content. 13,11t when \4eenie was in his hear. everything. carie readily enough; all the world around seemed full of 'beautiful things to compare weitb her; the birds were singing. of her; the tntsurntaiiis were ' there hi guard her.;her.; the 'bo•rn, as it whispered through the rush, m .clanceii over the apes• bed :of Pebbles, hart 'hut 'the one continual murmur of \fecnie's name,' Verses?—he could have written them by the score, and laughed at thein and burned them ton Suddenly !little Maggieie appeared, 1 11 r t 1- hat t0 cet —'1 e. y• h 5 0 Medical LIR, E, LA, MnMiAISbTIER—Graduate of t'he Faculty of Medicine, Univers- ity of Toronto, and of the New York Post Graduate S'ch'ool and Hospital. Member of the College of Physicians and 'Surgeons of 'Ontario. Office on High street. Phone 217. Office fully equipped for x-ray diagnosis and :for ultra 's'hort wave'' electric treatment, ultra violet sun lamp .treatment and infra red electric treatanentc,,Nurse attendance, DR, GLLB'EtRT C. JA'RRO'TT — Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, Un, iversity of Western Ontario, Member of College of Physicians and 'Surgeons of Ontario. Office 43 Goderich street west. Phone 317. ,Il'ours 2-4.30 ,pan., 730-0 pm. Other 'boars by appoint- ment, Successor to Dr. Chas, Mackay DR. H. I3UGGIH ROSS, Physician and Surgeon Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and residence 'be'hind D'ominion Bank, Office Phone No. 5; 'Residence Phone 104. DR. F. J. BUIRsROW'S, •Seaforth, OfIfi'ce and residence, !Goderic'h 'street, east of the United Church, Coroner for ,the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46. DR. F. J. R. FORSTER— Eye Ear, Nose and Throat, •Gradua'te in Medicine, University of Toronto •11897. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural institute, Moorefield's Eye. and Golden Square throat hospi- tals, .London. At Commercial 'Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 1,30 p.m. to 5 p.m. DR. W. C. -SPROAT Physician - Surgeon Phone 90-W. Office John St. Seaforbl- Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements earn' be made for Sale Date !it The .Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed, F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Aucttian- eer for Perth. and Huron Coaunties, Sales Solicited. Terms on Application. Farm .Stook, chattels and real estate property. R. R. No. 4, Mitchell. Phone .634 r 6. Apply at this office. WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE McKILLO}' Mutual Firelnsuraace Co HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. O(tIFICERS President—Alex. Broadfoot, Seafonth; Vice -President, John E. Pepper, Brucefiedd; Secretary Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth, AGENTS F. McKercher, R.R.1, Dublin; John E. Pepper, .R:R.1, :BrucefieId; E. R. G. Jarmouth, Brodlhagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, •Kin'cardine; Wm. Yeo, Holmesvilde, DIRECTORS Alex, Broadfoot, Seaforth No. 3; Janes S•h•oldice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; Gearge Leonhardt, Bornholm Nb. 1; John Pepper, Bruce - field; Jain es Connolly, Goderich; Alex. McEwing, Blyth No. 1; Thom- as Moylan, Seaforth No. 5; Wm, R. Archibald, Seaforth 'Noss 4. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their respective post - offices. "Ronald," she said, "the .doctor's cone !home." "'What! at this time in the unorn- ing?" he said turning to her. "Yes, II ani sure; far I .can see the dog -cart at the'doar of the inn. "Well, now," said he, hastily snitching sup •his ,cap, +"'that is a stroke of luck—if lie will •oaine with sus. T will go and meet him." But he need not have 'hurried so much the dog -cart was still at the door of the inn when 'he went out, and indeed remained there as he made his way alonag tube road. 'The !doctor, who ' was a most sociable person, had stop - pod for a moment to hear the news; but Mr. Murray ,happened to he tduere and so the .ghat was a;' protracted one. In the ntean'tinne,Ronald'slong swing- ing stride.-sogn 'brought' hint into their' neighborhood. (To Be Continued)