Cape Breton's Magazine

years ago and, without reading them or any other help, they stayed with you all these years?) Well, some of them stayed with me pretty well. Of course, there were a couple that stayed with me. Aw, but you'd lose them over the years, when you got out of the habit of telling those stories.... I was reading them--I knew that part, I heard that from the person before. But then I'd find another part. And that was (what) he had in another story. Or he had a part in it that didn't seem to follow up in that one. They were pretty hard to straighten them away. (If you were alone--perhaps this was years ago--if you were alone and you'd think of a story, would you ever try telling it aloud to yourself?) Well, I don't know if I'd go that far. But I could go over it. (Did you try entertaining yourself?) Oh yes, oh well, yes, I'd be liable to go over the story, and trying to think of it--how did that part go. Maybe, well, if I had notes of it, or if I had the book or any? thing, I'd go over it that way for sure. (I had thought that there was a storehouse of stories that you had, that you hadn't told for a good many years. But that sort of, when people got interested in them again, well, that brought them up to you.) Well, that's the only way I could get back, was to think about the stories. Oh, I was down to one or two stories, once upon a time I was down to one or two stories. But then I got back into. And of course, picking them up out of the books. And they were written in English. But then I trans? lated them to Gaelic. And I started tell? ing them, the same as if I had known them for years. And some of them I did know, but I'd lost, but I'd got them back again. And then I found stories here and there that belonged to parts that I heard from this man and the other. You see, there were so many stories being told--people had frag? ments. And I didn't realize at the time, when I was hearing a lot of those stories-- I didn't realize that they were fragments, or most of them. Well, I thought they would be just a complete story, that he started from the very first start, and that he told the story. But in many cases, he left pieces out. Or he started up a good ways up on the story; where he should have started it with, say, on page 1, he started up maybe on page 5 or 6, as he went through. And then, there were some people told stories-- and however, they had them all different. I found those sto? ries. I found a part in a cer? tain story when APPLE Auto Glass SERVICE DIRECTORY • Windshields - Mobile service at no extra charge • Windshield Repairs - Stone bruises etc. • Auto Upholstery • Vinyl Tops • Convertible Tops • Sun Roofs • Trailer Hitches • Van Accessories • Rear Sliders • Running Boards • Mirrors • Plate Glass • Thermo Units 1-800-506-5665 PH: 564-6141 FAX: 562-811Sf 45 Industrial Drive, Sydney 12 MONTHS INTEREST FREE O.A.C. But then when I made one story out of what I saw in a book, and told that story, well, it was all right, it was going on tape, and it was recorded, and it was in the ar? chives, it's preserved then. When it came to, well, "Did you hear that story or did you read that story?"--well, that's anoth? er angle. You take, in the School of Scot? tish Studies (in Scotland), they're re? cording over there. Well, (when I was there) I'd have to tell, if I could, where I heard it, and did I read the story or did I hear it from somebody, or if I did, who did I hear it from, and all. When you're, working along those lines, it's hard. (You told me about Maclsaac. We didn't say too much about Kate Kennedy, but as I re? member, Kate Kennedy was important to you at one time.) Well yes, because I heard-- it was from Kate Kennedy that I got part of the story of "John, the Son of the Big Fisherman." I heard her telling part of that story. And then I heard another man, Angus MacMillan, he told that story, most of it. But there was a part missing. So, between what I got from her, and what was in the book, and what I got from the other man, I was able to complete the story. That's why Kate Kennedy was so valuable, because she had a certain part in that story. (That's a long story. I can see how even a part of it would make a good story.) Yes. You see, it was where the three ani? mals were feeding at the river, or wherever you came across three of them feeding--the falcon and the otter and the dog. Well, you Enjoy the European flavour oi ' menu created by our Scandinavian chef in a fully licensed dining room which caters to the public as well as our guests. Reservations advised. Cozy, turn-of-the-century home • Victorian decor with many antiques Each deluxe guest room has its own particular theme, private bath ensuite with Jacuzzi, some with gas fireplaces Views of ocean or woods & stream Relaxing parlour with fireplace, plen? ty of reading material, games, electric organ and always a jigsaw puzzle • Smoke-free environment • Great for that overnight get away! • Not suitable for children under 10 yrs. In residence hosts Carole & Bill Swander 17 Wolfe Street • LOUISBOURG • (902)733-2171 59