Cape Breton's Magazine

orders around town. And in 1900 there weren't very many telephones. No refriger? ators, no such a thing as an icebox, even-- because there was no ice put up, Saturday was the big day, although they were busy more or less all week. Anyway, I delivered parcels with a horse and express wagon a- round town all day one Saturday, We lived at Upper North Sydney, They were getting a new schoolteacher. And towards evening, he came to the store to see if there was a chance up--he had a boardinghouse up there. So I took him home with me in the evening. I started to school on Monday to him. And I was 6, and I had delivered parcels all day, with a horse and wagon, I knew where everybody lived when I was 6, My father did a very large--largest in town--meat and provision business. Plenty of work there, but I didn't like it. One thing I didn't like about it, he gave a lot of credit. And if any person he thought was really poor or might be hungry, he'd give it to them. And he kept himself poor all the time, doing it. When he died-- he died before my mother--he didn't leave enough to keep her till she died. Always, "Oh, they might be hungry. They might be hungry." That's always what he'd say to me. But anyway, I didn't care much for that work. Manufacturers of Castings and Sheet Metal Products P. 0. Box 98, King St., North Sydney, N. S. B2A 3M1 nncEL ' ,& THE BEST IN HEATING AND SUPPLIES" Keddy's Motor Inn 600 King's Rd., Sydney, N.S. 165 Rooms Air Conditioned Colour Cable TV Licensed Dining Daily Features Restaurant Hours 7 a.m.-2 p.m. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Featuring Cape Breton's Only Complete Indoor Recreation Facility • • Pool • Sauna • Whirlpool Bath • Oasis Pool Bar • Games Machines ENTERTAINMENTS DANCING NIGHTLY AT IVORY'S LOUNGE For Reservations Phone 539-1140 I was never big, and always ambitious. We used to do our own slaughtering, and that's very heavy work. And I had to go to the slaughterhouse alone sometimes, to kill an animal, cut it down and load it in? to a big wagon and take it, I tore the vel? um (gestures to his back), as the doctor called it. And the second time I did it, the doctor said, "Look, get out of that business, or," he said, "they'll be carry? ing you out. You're doing too much heavy lifting," "Well, it's there to be done, and I can't wait for somebody else to come." But I was with Father, right on up till I was 24, I suppose, (Why did you take on Customs work?) A fun? ny thing: when I was a little fellow, say 6, 7,8 years old, I had aunts in Boston, And at Christmas, they'd always send you something home, and we'd have to go to the Custom House to get it. And the man who had charge of the duty book, parcel post-- same man for years--I looked up at his face and said to myself, "I'd like to have his job when he's through with it," A lit? tle fellow like that. Well, he was left there till he was in his dotage, and I got his job. Isn't that funny? In those days, you got a job through pa? tronage. And in 1911 an election turned o- ver. And I went down in the evening to hear the returns come in at one of the headquarters. They started coming in, and there was nobody there to give them out-- so they invited me to go up and start it. Well, I stayed there till it was ended, and I couldn't talk, I was that hoarse. So the next day, I met one of the head men of the party and I told him about my condi- Three Locations in your area ROBIN Cheticamp Wain Store 224-2022 Inverness 258-2241 Cheticamp Furniture Store 224-2434 YOUR FAVORITE SHOPPING CENTRE FOR .ALL YOUR NEEDS, Founded in 1766, CHICKEN CHALET fried 5outlets to serve you- C.B. Shopping Plaza, Sydney River Sydney Shopping Mall, Prince St. Blowers St., North Sydney Sterling Mall, Glace Bay Piummer Aye., New Waterford (41)