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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-07-13, Page 6editorial page Lucknow Sentlnei, Wednesday, July 13, 1983—Page 6 LUCKNt "The Sepoy Town" t>� SENTINEL Jansabome Established 1873 THOMAS A. THOMPSON - Advertising Manager SHARON J. DIETZ - Editor PAT LIVINGSTON - Office Manager JOAN HELM - Compositor MERLE ELLIOTT - Typesetter Business and Editorial Office Telephone 528.2822 Mailing Address P O. Box 400. Luckno‘x, NO6 2H0 Second C•I;:ss Mail Registration Number 0847 Subscription rate, $15.25 per year In advance Senior Citizen rate, $12.75 per year In advance U.S.A. and Foreign, $38.00 per year In advance Sr. Cit. U.S.A. and Foreign, 536.00 per year In advance The Lucknow Pipe Band hi later years featured the following members, from left to right, Roy MacKenzie, Frank MacKenzie, Lorne MacKenzie, Archie McQuillan, Donald MacKenzie, [Kincardine man], Elmer MacKenzie, Mac Webster, David Community groups earn well deserved rest It's been a busy summer for Lucknow's service clubs and its various organizations. The Kinsmen and Kinettes held their annual Kin Summerfest and Slo-pitch ball tournament in June to raise money for the new ball diamond the Kinsmen are building. Jamboree '83 was staged the first weekend in July through the co-operation of almost every organization and service club in the village. A party that size just doesn't happen and the executive committee for the Jamboree had the assistance of many area groups in making the celebra- tion of Lucknow's 125th birthday a success. The Lucknow Lions, Lucknow Agricultural Society, The Lucknow Kinsmen, The Lucknow Kinettes, The Lucknow Legion, The Old Light Lodge, various women's institutes and church groups as well as several other organizations participated. This past weekend the Lucknow Tractor Pullers' Association held their annual tractor pull and again several of these same organizations were involved. The Lions, the Kinsmen, the Junior Farmers, the Lucknow Figure Skating Club worked together to provide food booths, parking, ticket takers and track officials. The money raised from all three events will go towards community service projects making Lucknow a better place to live. The residents of this community do not have to be reminded of the various services which have been provided through the years by tie clubs, organizations and groups which work for the betterment of the community we live in. It's been a busy summer so far and many of the people involved in these organizations are grateful the events are over and they can take a rest until their year begins again in the fall. It takes many man hours to raise the money which provides facilities such as a ball diamond, tennis courts, community centre or swimming pool. If the community had to raise the money for these facilities through tax dollars, the cost would be prohibitive and the people of Lucknow would simply do without, Our service groups and community organizations are part of the rich human resource that makes Lucknow a fine community in which to live. To the members of these clubs ane organizations, enjoy the remainder of the summer. Take it easy, you deserve it. MacKenzie, Sandy MacDonald, Wilfred McQuillan, Murray MacDonald, D. A. MacLennan. [Contributed by Mrs.. Roy MacKenzie] redtrees by don campbell By Don Campbell The community of Redtrees was an outcast and motley flock, driven from the slopes of their hereditary soil to find new pastures in a strange but promising land. Yet from this diverse wool of human character was woven a cloth of indestructable strength, hope and courage - the multicoloured tartan of survival! It would be ludicrous to pretend however, that even a small fraction of the Friends of Skye conformed strictly to the real Christian ethic. Then, as now, there were more hypocrites than truly righteous. The pattern and cir- cumstances of life may change but the greed of men is eternal. As the community moved through the slow transition from poverty to affluence, there would be envy, jealousies and personal conflicts be- tween its people. Nobody realized these facts more than Neil MacCrim- mon. Their leader by acclamation, it would be his duty to hasten the day of prosperity and, at the same time, strive to retain those unselfish ideals which had united them in poverty, danger and exile. If he attained nothing more, Mac- Crimmon was satisfied with the results of his great adventure. He had a son who would carry his name and be disciplined and trained to respect and defend the earth his father had won from the forest. Little James would not be allowed to forget from whence he came, or the pride and honour of the bloodline which would set him apart from the rest. For as the Reverend Duncan MacLeod once said: "We came to this place following the pipes of MacCrimmon, and although Almighty God in His mercy showed us the patch, Redtrees is MacCrimmon and MacCrimmon is Redtrees!" Neil never underestimated the con- tributions of his wife Flora in their joint endeavours. Without reserva- tion, she had accepted and endured each hardship they had encountered since leaving the "auld hame". Her laughing and continuous jovial person- ality made her an ideal partner for such a tremendous task. Flora in turn appreciated her husband and especially because he helped her to overcome the sadness of her early years. This kindness was reflected in the name he had chosen for his son; James was the name of Flora's first husband. Of all people, Flora was thankful for small mercies; a full belly, the warmth of a log fire and ,,Tost of all, the sheer inner strength of the .man who stood by her side. A child shares the genetic structure of two people and perhaps they watched the young James to see if his character would lean towards one or the other. There was one facet of the little boy's makeup which became evident at a very early age. Even in the cradle, at the sound of the pipes his eyes would brighten and he would stir visibly with deep inherent emo- tion. It has been said that "it takes seven long years and seven genera- tions to make a piper." Neil was determined that as soon as the lad's little fingers could span the notes he would start to play the music of his ancestors. The MacCrimmons had no wish to spend their lives doting upon an only child, but as time went by. the hopes of adding to their family grew dimmer. In the days when nature governed procreation, abundant families were the rule rather than the exception. It seemed however, that the seed of MacCrimmon would only bear one flower. Yet, whilst the bird of fertility had winged past the cabin of MacCrim- mon, it had been very generous with its visits elsewhere in the community. The Camerons, MacLeods, Brodies and even the Jamiesons were about to swell the population at Redtrees. It cannot be said of course, that all these events -to -be were greeted with happiness. The doctor's wife Jane was far from pleased when she could no longer dress as a lady of fashion. She was tempted to escape from the whispers and knowing glances of the other women and return to that society in Toronto which would be more sympathetic to her condition and selfish whims. Doctor Cameron did not notice his wife's bitter resentment of the preg- nancy which she thought detracted from her physical appearance. He was constantly engaged in attending his many patients and the other women who were eagerly expecting the birth of a child. The first few flakes of snow which drifted slowly down from a November sky, settled on the window through which Jane Cameron gazed in moody silence. It was a reminder that soon the roads would be impassable. A life which is born to wealth and comfort does not take easily to the hardship and isolation of a cold long winter. Although she was reluctant to admit it to herself, the marriage to the handsome young Doctor Cameron wpf not all love and roses. The decision ts stay in Redtrees or beat a hastily retreat to Toronto had to be made quickly, or not at all!