Cape Breton's Magazine

man, he was to the barn--he was coming from the barn. We were standing alongside of him. But we asked him, and he said, "No." That (we) couldn't (stay--because his wife was away). We never said anything. But it was in our mind--we didn't care--because we were pretty well tuckered. All right. He went in, and his grandmother-- his wife had gone visiting that evening. All right. So, the grandmother was a very old lady. So he went in, and he asked her, would she be able to get something to eat for us. "Sure, sure." So he says, "Come on in." He told us afterwards. He said, "I couldn't get a meal for myself if I was paid." He said. "That was the reason." It was our welcome in, if he could go and get something to eat for us. But his wife was out visiting. And it was the old grand? mother that was home. We stayed there. We were welcomed there, then. And she got something to eat for us. (Did they charge you?) No. (How did they prepare you for bed?) Oh, then, they had a good bed. Good bed. (And how did they warm the bed.) Then, they likely had a stove, probably, in the front room or somewheres. (I had heard a story that somebody once got in the bed before you, just for a while, to warm it for you?) No, that never happened. But I'll tell you what did happen, one time--that was down in Breton Cove, at--he used to run the mail here years ago--the mink man is on that property now. (Proba- Tea Room & Gift Shop R. R. #1 • Big Pond • BOA IHO Telephone 828-2667 Owned & operated by Canadian singer/songwriter Rita MacNeil Rita welcomes everyone to visit this unique tea room, browse in the gift shop, and enjoy tea and a variety ofhomebaked treats served by her friendly and helpful staff. Maritime Crafts • Patio On Display: Rita's Tapes • Albums Memorabilia • Photos • Awards OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK bly an Urquhart.) Urquhart, yeah. That's right. So we went there. Just about--it was just getting dark. And the woman, she was busy with this and that. There was one of the girls was going to the States the next day. Then there were so many, you know, back and forth to the house. And she was here and there and everjrwheres, too. So she was busy all day. But when it came bedtime, then she said to us, "No one slept into the bed, and the bed would be like an iceberg." And they hadn't got the stove up in the front room. So we said that was all right. So what did she do--but she went and she got splits of hardwood, and put them in the oven, and roasted them good and hot. Took a blanket, and rolled them in the blanket, and put them in the bed. When we went in, this is what we found. The bed was nice and warm. So, bless her soul! (Do I dare ask you how much she charged you to stay the night?) Nothing. And the other house across on the hill there, I've stayed there.... And poor Papa, he stayed there several times. They were very kind, nice people. (And of course, different religion.) Oh, yes, yes. (Did you speak Gaelic?) No, no. That didn't matter. Because most all we went, they could speak English. (But you know people sometimes--different religions and things like that--they act different. But you found them good.) We found them good. It didn't make any difference. Did Donald (Cameron) tell you about the time they were coming down--him and Tommy MacDougall, I think. They were coming down the North Shore, and ah, it was coming up to dinnertime. So they went into this house. It was a middle-aged lady came to that door. They asked, you know--but she had no English. Couldn't understand what they were saying or what they wanted. So here, there's a bucket of potatoes here, and there was a gad of herring hanging up here. So what did Tom do--he took a potato out of the bucket. and he put it up to the WE BUY AND WE SELL AND WE'RE AS NEAR AS YOUR TELEPHONE Sid's Used Furniture Phone 564-6123 436 Charlotte Street, Sydney NOW AT 229 Kings Road SYDNEY Motor Cycle Shop 539-7644 • 539-1730 HOKTDA Power M