Book 2 : CANADA, cont’d
The Family and Education
The family must now be mentioned. Our log house was comparatively warm as the walls were thick and, with the cook stove and heater, we could get the house comfortably warm.
The first thing I knew was that I had to see about a school for them and, like King Bruce[1] of Scotland, we tried and tried and could not succeed, and so became quite sad.
[27] So I fixed up a rig, box on sleigh runners, and Cyril and Olive drove to Rama[2] for some time, but others wanted a school nearer. There was a School District left after others had carved out what they wanted, and had left us quite an awkward shaped district. So we formed a committee and wrote to the Government about altering the shape and size of the School District, but they would not give way. So, after a good deal of back and forth correspondence, we had to take what we could get:
6 miles N to S
on E side
6 miles E to W
on S, and the other
varied
Now, according to rules, the school building had to be placed in the center, and only ? mile allowed either way, so we erected a [28] schoolhouse as near the center as we could with the result that, in 5 years, it had to be moved north. That created a disturbance both north and south of us and, as I happened to be much mixed up in affairs, wrote to the Education Department to recoup us for the loss we had sustained through following their advice. "Oh," said they in effect, "we have no fund to recoup you out of. Apply to your municipality," which meant, pay it yourselves.
As secretary of the School District, I know some of the troubles of teachers, parents, pupils, trustees and government and, to me, the Government was the more difficult. I know the reason later. The latter are not on the scene and don't enter into the particular needs of the place.
I had one other experience later in connection with Rama school. Some poor children had to come about 5 miles and I've seen them in some of the roughest, coldest weather [29] and in deep snow, come to school. Yet the Government would not allow another schoolhouse to be erected for those and others under the same Board. Perhaps a good rule in general, but exceptions should be made. What requires to be done, when making rules for other people's children, would be to apply those rules to the children of the people who make the rules, and then see how they would work.
Well, we got through with the school and moved it 2 or 3 miles north, and it was named "Boxmoor" after our farm, and after the house at Teddington occupied by Lillian and children after I came away.
In 1911 Lillian was called home to England, as her mother was ill[3]. My father died at that time and my wife went to his funeral. He was in his 90th year and was buried in family plot at?.. Well, I'm repeating myself and so desist for the present. [30] I've written about 8 pages this eve of the 6th Sept., 1943.
As needs arose I acquired farm implement after farm implement until I had all necessary things for use. Sometimes it was a struggle to keep up payments on account of crops not turning out as profitable as might be. When I had broken enough land as I could reasonably work, I found myself owing money on a binder, so sold my 3 big oxen and paid up one fall. In the spring, Eustace bought an old team of horses and so I was able to continue.
In 1914 the first World War broke out and Eustace, with Harry Stevens, were some of the first to enlist. In exercising over rough ground, Eustace fell and broke his leg, and was in Brandon Hospital for several weeks after which he came home for a few days and then went to a job at Winnipeg in the Canteen. In 1916 he was drafted overseas and was soon in the trenches of the fighting line where a German shell enfiladed the trench where he was and buried 22 men, Eustace amongst them. Some got out alive, but not Eustace. He was got out afterwards, buried on Flanders Fields.
He made a will in his pocket book, leaving his estate to me. It comprised his ? section and the money he had sent home from his army pay. I was not surprised at his death, the wonder is that so many escaped, but I was hurt and filled with regret at so short a promising life. But I was only one of thousands of parents who had to sustain such a loss.
Cyril, thinking to take the place of Eustace, enlisted, with quite a bunch of boys from Rama, including Charles Lockhart, G. Ferrie, A. Dean and others. Of course, I missed his help on the farm, but did the best I could. They were drafted as a labor corps and, when the war was over, were sent to Germany in the Army of Occupation. All this latter group lived to return home.
I must here go back and intimate some of the things that happened in the neighborhood.
On our arrival, we found Rev. Neil Morrison, a retired Presbyterian minister, a widower, and very deaf. These two things were the cause of his retirement, but he took up [32] farming, doing all the work himself, housekeeping and all, including bread baking, butter making and, in fact, everything - besides taking from one to three services each Sunday. This continued for years. He also buried the dead and married the young who needed his services, and all for nothing so far as we were concerned, and I don't think he was subsidized by the funds of the Presbyterian Church.
Some others I must note - Mr. & Mrs. Bailey with their bevy of daughters, 3 of whom soon found husbands. All had been well educated. In fact, one was a school teacher, and was teaching at Rama School when Cyril and Olive used to drive there. [33] Mr. Bailey settled on a ? section but had an office in Rama and was made J.P.[4] He wanted me to get elected and help him in the work, but I resisted for a time as I had no stomach for the job. After a while I was prevailed on to submit my name for the post, but whoever did the job went to the wrong M.P.P. and I did not get appointed. I never applied again.
Mr. Bailey, as J.P., was called out of bed on a cold winter's night by a man who had some cattle stolen, and he stood in the severe weather until he caught a cold which proved fatal. I helped to carry him to his grave, as I had helped to carry his first wife to her grave a year or two previous. He had wed a second time.
I was elected to the Municipal or Village Council and was Chairman for years. When eventually we left Rama, a public meeting was called and a farewell given in that way. [34] Earlier, I was secretary-treasurer of the Boxmoor School District, and so got to know the troubles of parents, teachers, and School Board members, also of the finances of the business.
Time would fail me to tell of the Tingleys and Lockharts who were on farms to the south of us. Also the Murrays and Deans arrived soon after us. Also the Ferries, Prices, and many others too numerous to mention. The parents of the Dean family I helped to carry to their graves on their own quarter section. Albert Walker, too, at the Post Office. He had given me a ride in his car round Buchanan and, on arriving home, found an R.C.M.P. awaiting him on business. I never saw him alive again. He died suddenly the next day; then Mr. & Mrs. Price who were amongst the first to have a preaching service at their house. Then Main Rd. schoolroom was built and services transferred there. Also services were held at White's School, Mason's, Boxmoor, and 2 churches Presbyterian and Methodist, and then the districts were divided up and the Presbyterians were allotted the Invermay and Rama district. Mr. Morrison took his full share of the [35] preaching services, also weddings and funerals.
The women earlier had held a meeting. Mrs. Tingley, Mrs. Ferrie, and my wife Lillian taking leading parts, my wife acting as secretary for 18 years.
And so the years passed by and, like the Village Blacksmith, "toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing" onward through life he goes.
(At this point Aunt Olive took over
and added the following note):
"Here the book abruptly ends. Father died Oct. 28th, 1943, aged 87."
(A newspaper clipping was attached):
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Lethbridge, Alberta
A respected adherent of our church, ripe in years, and a lover of God's House and people, Mr. T. W. Moores passed away on Thursday morning last, the anniversary of the day of his wedding. Our sympathy goes to Miss Moores[5] and others of the family in their loss.
(Aunt Olive had also added this poem in
her handwriting):
He who has journeyed land and sea
O'er hills, through vales, 'neath snow and sun,
Is resting now, most peacefully,
His earthly course well run.
So great a traveler he'd been;
His mind was guardian of a store
Of wondrous things heard, done and seen,
From shore to farthest shore.
Through his long life, oft he would seek
A bed and board in some strange land,
And if their tongue he could not speak,
He'd make them understand!
And now "safe lodging" he has sought
Yet once again as in the past;
But this request of his has brought
A haven that will last!
No stranger answered his faint call;
No unknown tongue to mystify.
One knock he gave, and that was all -
His Father answered, "Here am I."
A life fulfilled; no cause to weep.
"Safe Lodging" for his soul's reward.
"He giveth His beloved sleep."
For this we praise the Lord.
by Wilhelmina Stitch
Link back to the part
2 index, or to the description of his passing.
[1] I think he meant Robert the Bruce – the Scottish King who (according to legend) watched a spider weaving and re-weaving a web, and learned the value of patience; Bernard.
[2] Rama - Neighboring town a few miles from Invermay
[3] Lillian's Mother died Oct. 1911 - H.L.M.
[4] Justice of the Peace
[5] His daughter Helena, who continued to live at Lethbridge until her death.