The Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-07-25, Page 7* ts
Acres of Memory
-41,10 81040,!!!.
It took several days for Windy Perkins to completely
recover from his last boozing: binge. During that time,
he continued to stay at the Hungry Hundred under the
watchful eye of Angus. It was not easy for Windy to
overcome his cravings for alcohol and, on occasion, it
was necessary for,Angus to forcibly restrain him from
going to town to satisfy his thirst. Angus caught .him
sneaking down the laneway and had to hop, skip and
jump in order to allow his rheumatic legs to catch up
with Windy. When he caught him, he took Windy by
the -lapels of his coat and shook him.
"You weak kneed, snivellin', ungrateful basket,"
• he said. "1 figured you were gonna kick the habit but
It looks. as if I were wrong. You've no guts that's fer
sure. i/ergo, sol will, but git this - you take one
step towards that God forsaken -or as much as
mention boozeto rrie agin, an you're finished as far as
I'm concerned. You'll die s� yer will - die in some back
alley in the city, yer land all gone and everythin' that
yer ever worked fer finished."
Angus released him,turned and limped back
towards the old frame house, Windy stood for a few
moments looking towards Redtrees. He turned
Angus's words over In his mind and realized the truth
in them If he left, he would lose the only person who
had befriended' him in his hourof need, but he longed
for that first drink - the one he knew would lead to
• anotherand yet another, until Once more he was left in
the doldrums' of alcoholic madness.
It was the moment of decision and there were tears
of Self pity in Windy's eyes: He turned and followed
Angus. up the driveway. Angus never mentioned
Windy's one lapse again.
• From that Moment. on,. there was a graclUal change
for the better in Windy Perkins. Hiseyes became
brighter and he took more care in his appearance, He
began eating like a normal individual and started to
gain weight.'• - •
One: day when. they had finished the chores on. the
Perkins' place, he asked Angus if‘he.cobld stay on'his'
own farm Stand on his. own two feet, . as it Were.
Angus had Waited for ifils. moment. He took Windy's
hand and srniled softly. "I guess yer learned yer
• lesson, andl sureain't gonna preach any more. Had a
sort of disease, so yer did, and 1 figure you're cured, .
• but ttre only guy who really, knows is you!"
Windy Perkins began to see life in a new light. The__
country side was all green and beautiful again. He
, heard the birds singing and marvelled once again at
•the colours of the suriset.
Any spare time he had, was spent in cleaning up the
• farrn. Marge manure heap. was slowly transferred to
the fields. He worked on the fences and repaired the
roof on the barn. The change in Windy was so
dramatic, in fact, he became the focal . point. , of
• conversation and the Temperance .Society ladies
pointed to hum as an example of life without liquor.
There was, however, a scar on Windy's conscience -
the deep guilt he felt when he thought about his Wife,-
. Lizzie. He couidn1 blame her now for running away.
What a dreadful life she must have endured, he told
BY Ct.A. CAMPBELL
himself. If only she would come back again: Windy
started to redecorate the old frame house,„got rid of a
lot of garbage and put new linoleum down in the
summer kitchen. Secretly however,' he knew Lizzie
would never return. The wrongs he had. heaped upon
her could never be righted - these would endure
forever.
Windy's transformation was not a miracle, Many
men and women have taken the same route to return
to a happy and fulfilling life, but personally I was
overjoyed with his recovery. • There was nothing I
could print in the Grunt & Thunder on the subject. In
the first plebe', like all small newspapers, 1 never,
embarrassed members of the community. Secondly,
there was little I could say which had not already been
said, about this international problern. 1 did, however,
decide to visit Windy, at least to give him moral
support.
It was one warm summer evening when I drove un
to the Perkins' place in my old '39. Dodge, Molly.
When I stepped out of the car, I heard the notes of a
• trumpet (or similar instrument) - like the efforts of a
student, determined; but not exactly with the talent of
a first rate performer! Windy was sitting on the
verandah, blowing into an, old instrument,, and
producing a melody which resembled "Onward
Christian Soldiers".
He was happy to see me, in spite of all the rude
things I had said about him in the past. I noticed his
• lips were a little swollen from his musical efforts.
"So what's with the trumpet?" I asked him.
"It ain't a trumpet - it's a cornet! When I wasa lad I
used to play it in the town band, but 1 ain't touched it
for years. I gotta get rny lips back into shape.
•
' a
'Ulan" Sentinel, Wedneed4Y1 MY 25, 1979—Page 7
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The Redtrees band had long been dispersed and
Was curious to knew why Windy had suddenly taken.to .f .•• , , .•.
, . citireDssE).VEZ. 0/PFM. irk
playing again,
• Inforinatien call 271-5650 [coneetj
"Don't tell my you're going to start eland in. •.. • oiivt1te 1036 Okada Si. %taffeta-
c9mpetiti.on to LaWrence Welk," I said, - trying to
inject a littlehumour into the conversation. •
•4'Nope, but 1 joined a band, sq ave. The Salvation
Army band at Pantown. When I've practiced some,
111 be playin' every 'Sunday!" he said with jYrude:
1 was happy for Windy, not so much because he had
rediscovered a long lost talent, but because he had
joined the Salvation Army. Throughout my life, -I have
followed the activities of this particular •organization,
with interest. They are one of the fevi religious groups
Which really practice what they preach! During World .
• War II, a coffee and •a doughnut were greatly..
appreciated at the "Sally Ann" by members 'of the
• armed forces. throughout the world. 1 knew the
Salvation Army would be a strong guiding influence to
Windy and I felt absolutely confident Of his future.
Windy Perkins nevers,went backto the booze again . •
He became a highly respected member of the
community, and made up for all the heartaches he
caused in his alcoholic past. As be told me later.
"It ain't never too late for la sinner to repent."
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