Village Squire, 1977-02, Page 26can only guess what's been done, what the threat is this time.
I can only look and think, not that I can do anything about it. I
notice the blood on the snow. First, it was the grouse which
was trying to burrow under a branch in the snow. It's tail
feathers stuck out. Something for the children to see, I
thought, a grouse, when I pulled it out not suspecting death
even though it did not resist my hand and there was blood on
the snow. It's head was a blackened stump. Then later on,
we saw a rabbit, stiff now, but trying .to make a nest in the
snow under a branch. The blood on the snow looked fresh but
there was no sign of a scuffle. The rabbit must have run some
distance.
They could have died this morning. Or last night. A wolf
would have eaten them. The bodies were within range of the
line fence. Shot, maybe, and left.
There were Americans up here asking to shoot. Four
policemen from Port Huron on their day off. Looking for
jackrabbits, they said. If we don't give permission here they
go to the neighbours and ask and come in that way. Was that
yesterday or the day before?
And then a shock. Blood spattered in a wide circle under a
hemlock tree. A coon, shot at close range. Killer uncertain.
It was one of those coons that wait in the trees for us to leave
so that they can start stealing the corn again, their marble
eye -pairs shining in the dark. If I take the trouble I can
probably find the spot where the hunters came in and where
they left. The damage is done now. There is nothing I can do
about it. But I will check anyway. In the same way I will
continue checking the fences, the woods, the slough, the
drains, noting the changes, piling rocks and debris to prevent
erosion. I put up No Trespassing signs. These irk people
because they make them feel unwanted. He must think he is
better than we are. He doesn't want us in there, they say. I
also check down the road where the poachers used to park
their car and walk across to the slough before it became
generally known that we didn't want them in here. I have got
so 1 think an intrusion always means damage. Though I don't
like to admit it, I will soon resent anyone who comes in here
univited. I want to protect what is here. I don't want killing
for no purpose, like hunters looking for deer and can't find
any and shoot a chipmunk instead.
I wouldn't want this farm to be taken over by people who
would build square houses on acre lots, who would get rid of
the thatches of dogwood, cat -tail and weeds, thinking there is
somethings messy about them. You could break up your farm
into lots, the minimum size now is twenty acres so they tell
me. sell it to homeowners and then rent the rest of the land
back except for two or three acres to put your crop on. The
homeowners would then put up a square house relatively near
the road. There would then be several houses, in the
four-square fashion, the people in them used to town but
liking the way the country looks soon resenting the noise. the
smells of the farm. They might even be able to close us down.
They'd better stay in town, I say, instead. We are so close to
town that already we can see the aura of lights from it at night
when we walk back from the barn and 1 wonder then how long
it will be before it surrounds us.
The growth of the town is a distant threat now. The worst
will happen when the nuclear plant is built. When it is built,
the power line will run directly down the back of our
property, parallel with Hwy 21 because it lines up with the
relay station in town. It will be an eyesore; it will cut a wide
swath through the hemlock that should be protecting us from
the north winds. Later on, though, 1 will go past it and not see
it. It will become part of the landscape. 1 will become
accustomed to it even though I hate it.
1n the meantime. expecting the worst, keeping some of the
past. resenting change because I want to hold on where I
belong --1 want to feel good here. not threatened by the future.
When I check the line fence and find the buildings buried
deep in snow drifts, I'll not be in limbo but here wh:re I
belong.
GERRARDS
SHOPPING CENTRES:
Goderich, Clinton, Mitchell
YOUR IN -TOWN
;SHOPPING CENTRE'S
OUR 3 LOCATIONS CAN NOW
FILL ALL YOUR SHOPPING NEEDS.
QUALITY - PRICE - SATISFACTION
Now at Locations
GODERICH- CLINTON - MITCHELL
28, VILLAGE SQUIRE/FEBRUARY 1977