Village Squire, 1974-12, Page 13exchanged, and absorbed the other side ut
the story. I never heard them argue' more
than mildly about any issue. I think they had a
broad enough insight to know that a good deal
of politics was just plain 'blah' then as it is
now.
As the years went by the inevitable
happened. Grandfa•her C. slipped a little,
both mentally and physically. He was
confined more to the house, but still kept in
touch with all the farm affairs.
He depended on me for first-hand reports.
For instance if there was a cow expecting, he
would greet ,ne every morning after my first
trip to the barn with the terse query, "Cow
calve yet?" I would have to say no. This'
would go on for a week or so and when finally
the blessed event took place, and to the usual
question I could say yes, he would relax.
"Ah," he would say knowingly, "I thought
she would." What else the animal could have
done I do not know.
Grandpa C. in his younger days had been
something of a sport. He had stepped out
with the boys and more than held his own.
This clouded past had been concealed from
me. He never drank around our house,
though he might have taken the occasional
flyer when away from Mother's watchful eye.
He had a daughter who lived some distance
away in a small town, and every few months
he went there for a visit. Thus occurred a
disaster. My cousin Jack, the son in that
house, and also a good friend of Grandpa's,
related to me the details.
It seemed that when Grandpa boarded the
train this time he took with him a bottle or
maybe two bottles. When the 200 -mile
journey was ending he felt very fit; he could
even have run ahead of the train. He
disembarked feeling happy and full of good
will toward everyone.
His first stop was a candy store where he
purchased a big bag of candies. He then
progressed along the street in the general
direction of my aunt's house, but on the way
took in many of the sights and became briefly
acquainted with most of the natives. He
insisted that everyone partake of the candy.
Now, Aunty was just about top banana in
the social whirl of the village, being the wife
of the local banker. Village society then
tended to be strait-laced; there was none of
the tolerance with which we would view such
conduct. Inebriation in one's family,
especially in a parent, was something to be
kept in the background. I don't know if Aunty
even lived down the disgrace. Cousin Jack
never said. At least he didn't think any less of
Grandpa. In fact the incident cast a certain
glamour around the old man.
He died at 83. Got up and dressed one
morning, looked after himself, then decided
to go back and rest. Presently he was dead. I
didn't mourn for him because it was time for
him to go. But as with the other grandfather,
A great gift for the entire family that everyone
can enjoy, this Christmas present is sure to hit
a sweet note with all.
Beautiful styling: Spinet Cabinet in Vintage
Walnut. Fits your room ... perfectly!
the memories are still strong.
Now I have grandchildren of my own. They
are scattered about this big country. 1 see
them at intervals but only for a few days at a
time. There is no chance for an enduring
relationship to develope. They are alarmingly
competent; the plain fact is they don't need
me.
They are respectful and friendly, they may
even like me, but 1 suspect they regard me as
a harmless and aimiable eccentric with some
fairly mouldy ideas.
Before they even got into their teens they
had seen more of the world than I have in a
lifetime. They have travelled thousands of
miles by jet and seen many different
countries. The oldest recently went on a
walking tour of Europe. She saw around the
Mediterranean the ruins of ancient civiliza-
tions, pictures of which I had poured over as a
child.
In those far-off farm days we sometimes
tricked a mother hen into hatching a brood of
ducklings. All would go well enough until the
family hit the nearest pond. Then the
ducklings would slide gleefully into the water
and sail off with the hen clucking frantically
on the bank.
Today we see the young ones embarking on
an unknown sea, in ,a world that seems to
have an extra dimesion.
We stand on the bank clucking warnings.
We achieve about the same results as the
hen did. 0
PIANOS BY
Sherlock -Manning
Heintzman
Yamaha
and others
We have new
and used pianos
on display at
all times.
THE HOME OF FINE PIANOS
AT MONEY SAVING PRICES
ORGANS BY
Lowrey
Yamaha
Thomas
Air -Line
. and others
ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS NOW
GARNET FARRIER 357-2068
HAP SWATRIDGE 357-2785
WHITECHURCH ONT
VILLAGE SQUIRE/NOVEMBER 1974, 11