Cape Breton's Magazine

Father kept this up for one year, got tired and quit on his last trip from P.E.I. We came back through the Bras d'Or lakes and anchored in Johnston's Harbour. We stayed there a few weeks and fished several barrels of oysters. We came back to Sydney and tied up again at Reeve's wharf on the Esplanade and sold all the pro? duce and oysters. During the time he was getting rid of his cargo, he managed to pick up another job. In 1905, he began hauling cordwood from West Bay to Marble Mountain, Cape Breton, for MacLaughlin Broth? ers Limited, who owned a general store and lime kiln. We moved from Marble Mountain in 1907 to St. Pe? ter's. My father had twenty-five acres of woodland willed to him by his father at River Tillard. In the fall of 1907 my father ran the schooner ashore, stripped the sails off her, made a canvas tent with the sails and we lived in that until he cut enough logs to build a log cabin. It was. a race between him and the cold winter that was creeping up on us but he won out. In the spring of 1908 he had spent the winter in the woods cutting tim? ber down and making railroad ties out of the biggest part of the tree. The balance of the tree was used for pit timber. and cut them the required length for rail? road ties, pit timber, props and pulpwood. My father built a capstan and used the shroud for a cable. Then he cut a long pole to put in the head of the capstan. He would put the cable around the stumps--and Mother and I would walk around pushing the pole in front of us until the cable got good and ' tight. Then he would take the grub hoe, cut the roots off the stumps and pile them up. Later on he would set fire to them. He cleared about ten acres. From 1908 to 1911 I worked with my father. I was only nine years old but was a big boy for my age and was strong. I used to go in? to the woods with my father, take the cross cut saw, cut the trees down, branch them One of our neighbours gave us a small calf which Father reared. After it grew up, he got a plow and plowed the land that was clear. He planted oats the first year and after that he planted vegetables. I stayed home with him until 1914. There still was a lot to be Goldie & Stephen Sampson done; planting in the spring, haymaking in the summer, digging potatoes in the fall, picking vegetables and storing them away for the winter. Then there was firewood to be cut for the stoves, pigs and a young steer to be slaughtered. There were lots of rabbits and partridge in the woods and plenty of trout, eels, smelts and salmon in River Tillard which was running through part of his land. He bought a cow and from then on kept breeding his cattle until he ended up with four cows. He sold the big ox he reared and bought a horse. (He made a liv? ing there until mother died in 1911.) IJlcadian] de cheticamp Ltee Cheats Hand Hooked. Virgin Wool ProductsJ May 6th - October 15th • 224-2170 • Open Every Day to Welcome You CONNORS '8i''?iE We now carry a complete line of Drafting Supplies and Drafting Papers Computers and Computer Furniture for Home and Office Your One-Stop Shop in Cape Breton! Telephone (902) 562-7900 Fax (902) 539-8672 We carry one of the largest inventories of Office Supplies Furniture and Machines in the Maritimes 350 Charlotte Street, Sydney, NS The Markland a coastal resort Rel Welax in our luxury log suites and dine on our gourmet food featuring local fish and lamb. ihrill to the play of light and shadow as they dance over the northern seascape. For reservations in the Maritimes call 1-800-5654)000. Or ask the operator tor your toll free Checl( Inn number. Local phone (902) 383-2246 Cabot Trail, Dingwall, Nova Scotia, BOC IGO, Canada