Cape Breton's Magazine

(How did you feel being taken to Manitoba?) They made a big picture of all the things I was going to see, and what I was going to. Well, one thing--they took me to North Syd? ney and they dressed me all up, and gave me clothes and shoes and--dressed me all up and going on the train, made a big experi? ence about it. I remember the day I left. I remember saying goodbye to Aunt Kate. I guess I broke down then. I remember that. Well, some things in your life like that-- that has an impression on you. (How was she about your going?) Oh, well, I guess per? haps she felt bad, but I guess she was do? ing it for the other one's sake. I don't know. But I know she felt bad about it. But anyway, they were going to come back when they'd sell the farm. We went by train. And you know the trains then? You went in--you did your own cooking if you wanted to--there was a kitchen. I remember that. And they came and they put a table. Of course, they made bunks, you know, like they do--sleepers--one down and one up. And that was another thing. When I was there, I wouldn't sleep up alone--I had to sleep with her down below. Oh, they must have had a hard time with me about sleeping. Anyway, I remember the kitchen, and everybody going down to the kitchen, a great big stove and kitchen and sink and all that--making their own meals. And bringing it in to there, and us having it at the table. They they took (the table) out when they were through. (Were you sorry to leave Cape Breton and go to Manitoba?) Yes, at the time. But then I got in school, you know. We were only a mile from school. And my aunt would go up? stairs at the window, and she'd watch me all the ways till I'd get to the village. We could see the village, although it was a mile away. And I was interested in the ani? mals, see. I guess if there was a recording of what I used to talk to that horse! I re? member that, and braiding her tail and braiding her mane and brushing her. I guess perhaps I was talking to her like a person. I felt so bad when we left, then, Manitoba, I really felt--I think I felt worse than when I left Wreck Cove. Because there were two dogs, a mother dog and a puppy dog. And I was so interested in that. And the mare. That's all the animals they had. Well, they had a couple of cows, but I wasn't inter? ested in cows, I don't think. (Were you, Presbyterian people, able to be as religious in Manitoba as you had been in Cape Breton?) The only thing in Manitoba-- see, it was a French settlement. And we were about 8 miles from the church. See, it was a French school, really. But they had to teach English, the way it was then, you know--had to teach English. There was only one English girl went to school besides me--all the rest were French. I always re? member that--when the priest came in, you know, the teacher said for us to stand up. And she (the other English girl) was sit? ting behind me, and she said, "Don't you stand up! I'm not standing either." So when I went home and told them, they said, "Don't you ever do that again." They said, "You stand up, because the teacher told you."" They went out west (further). They sold the farm, it was in the fall of the year. And my other aunt was out in New Westminster (British Columbia)--well, a place called Burnaby. So she was saying, "Why don't you come out here for a trip before you go back home, and see the lovely place." And, oh, she liked it, and how they liked it. So, went out there. And the first winter, they lived in a rented house. It was in the fall, I remember late in the fall we went. Then in the spring they bought three lots of land and they built a lovely big new home. So that showed they liked British Co? lumbia! (And you weren't very happy about leaving Manitoba.) No. But once I got out there, see, my aunt had four children, and I was in with them. Of course, it was alto? gether different--English school and church and all this. (Annie Mae: A lot of Cape Bretoners, too.) An awful lot of Cape Bre? toners- -oh, my goodness, yes. Mathesons-- they were related to ourselves--and a lot of people that we knew. Just like coming home to Wreck Cove. OWEN FITZGERALD PHOTOGRAPHY LTD. Since opening his studio in 1978, Owen has received wide acclaim with the publication of three books and awards in Portraiture, Industrial and Press Photography. 423 Charlotte St., Sydney, N. S., 562-2321 6 Boutiques Under 1 Roof: 2nd FL, Over TWEED & HICKORY "' Cotton' .Bxp'rti,.' Club ALL NATURAL FIBRES ':abr Careers Shoo UNIFORMS FOR PROFESSIONALS you YOUR MATERNITY SHOP Tweed Sport] CLOTHES FOR THE OUTDOORS SPORTSWEAR WITH ELEGANCE 263 CHARLOTTE STREET, SYDNEY 539-3152 CTITK FOR THE 5'2" AND UNDER ALL DISCOUNT PRICES JACOBSON'S Discount Outlet: High-Fashioned, Quality Merchandise at Unbelievably Low Prices Don 1 This uiscount Operation! 40 Pitt Street under Tweed & Hickory 539-1404