Page 100 - With George Prosser of Whitney Pier

ISSUE : Issue 74

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1999/6/1

that's the guy that helped unload the liq? uor. His name was Humbert. That's true. Three or four or five hundred dollars I got out of the trip anyways, because I'd done all the navigation. The fella that owned the boat, I don't know what i money he made down there. I went home and I met the wife and I said, "Lord Jesus, I got to change my life in some way or an? other ." So I changed. That's how I met the wife. (But how did you meet the wife?) She was a serving girl, she was housekeeping. A fella lost his wife and he had a bunch of kids and she was keeping house for him. That's how I met her. She was looking after his kids. Put her in the family way and we got George Prosser married. I married in May and I on their way left home again. I was only married about a month or so, but I went back on the is? land • took the wife on the island • and I left home. I was gone all summer again. She said to me when I got home, "If this is the way you're going to live, you got to count me out." So I had to stay. I stayed home and took over the old fishing boat that my father owned--and that's what I made a living off of then. (I'm almost afraid to ask you • Was she the first woman you ever saw, or was it love at first sight?) {George laughs.) If you turn that thing off.... There's always a way to sneak around the old man. I was go? ing with one steady when I was only four • ' teen years old. The poor little girl. But like I said, nobody knew too much about it. In them days you had it hid away. In the wintertime you'd take a shovel with you and dig a hole in the snow. That was where you done your courting. I was only twenty years old when I married the wife, you know. I married the wife and I got settled down. Not too much, but I set? tled down anyway. I kept on go? ing till she got after me. One way or the other I had to slow down. She helped a lot. with Don Nugent, to the Legion oh. She reared up the whole family. I never was home for my kids. From the time I left Newfoundland, I never spent a Christmas with them. Until I joined the Navy.... Shipped me down to Sydney here on the Shore Patrol, and I done five and a half years sleeping home, which I hadn't done for four years. Sleep? ing home. Thanks to Adeline and Donald Luckie for their hospitality and help in telling this story. ORDER NOW! ' MABOU WREATHS Created by Hand in the Highlands ofMaboUy Cape Breton THE HIGHLANDER j' M'''' THE CAPE BRETONER The tips of this balsam fir wreath are freshly cut and made by the local people of Mabou and area. Locally gathered cones are tipped with frost and accented with a hand tied, tartan bow. Approx. 24" Diameter. $39.95 INCLUDES TAX & SHIPPING If you can't make it home, whatever the season • order the pride of the Highlands and bring a little of home to your home away. Pictured left, similar to THE HIGHLANDER, with the same high quality, lasting construction but with a lovely, specially woven Cape Breton Tartan ribbon. $49.95 INCLUDES TAX & SHIPPING Order before December 15th and we Guarantee Delivery anywhere in Canada or United States (except Hawaii & Alaska). To Order • Year after Year • Call Toll Free: 1 -800-565-5140

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