Volume 25 www.legionnl.com 43 Newfoundland Labrador Command During our stay at Campbellton, my youngest sister, Isabella, died, December 1st., 1930, aged fifteen. My mother died on January 15, 1932. A baby boy, Howard, was born January 31, 1932. As well my sister, Olive, who was teaching and residing with us, developed 'Influenza Meningitis' and died April 17, 1932. After some dickering we secured a piece of land, and work on gathering materials got underway. I spent much time and sweat on the project, cutting much of the material and pulling it from the bush with but three dogs to help me. I put all the rafters in it by myself. As illustration, I recall one incident in particular. During the second year of abidance, Howard, then of six years, developed Tubercular Meningitis. We took him to Twillingate Hospital, and his mother stayed there to be near him. After seventeen days in Hospital, Doctor Olds told her, "take him home. There is nothing we can do for him". He was destined, it seemed, to die at home. Having brought him thence and having made hime as comfortable as we could, we sat and talked things over. Finally, I said to Minnie, “well girl, we have done all we can - we have had him to Doctors and to the Hospital, and they can do nothing. Now, its up to the Lord”. Following a prayer together, we left him in the hands of the "Great Physician”. For several days Howard took very little notice of anybody. He was too weak to talk or lift his head. Then one morning his mother discovered that he wanted some pineapple. At first I would only allow the juice, but on the second day he wanted the fruit, which we gave him. Two days later he could talk and ask for his needs. And within a month he could walk again. God had intervened, and brought him out of a condition and the doctors claimed to be incurable. Yes, indeed, God answers prayer! We proceeded thence to Bishop's Falls, which entailed a boat passage to South Brook, in the bottom of Hall's Bay. We were met there by two cars from Bishop's Falls; the comrades of that Corps having hired one of them and the other was owned by one of our soldiers, Arthur Whelen, who had come especially to greet us. When we arrived at the Bishop's Falls Quarters, we found that the ‘Home League' ladies had the place in tip-top condition. Three or four of them were there with the table ready and set for us. We had theretofore never seen such a combined Corps welcome! In Bishop's we had a fine Band of twenty-two players, a large Home League, Scouts and Guards. With World War II then raging there was a 'Home Front' in operation, and I had to sit in on its proceedings, as well as being a member of the Interdenominational School Board. It was on a day in Musgravetown that World War II came to its end in Europe, and on the following Sunday night we came in fellowship with the United Church, to give God 'thanks' for the victory. Reverend George Moore was the United Church Clergy, and we worked very well together. Meanwhile, it was at Musgravetown that our last child was born. It only lived four days. In the course of our stay at Duckworth Street, our family began to move out on their own; Jean taught school at the Salvation Army College, Clifford worked at Argentia, Winnie worked at the Grace Hospital and Marjorie was Secretary to Colonel Brown, who represented the Salvation Army in the Educational Department. We had two fruitful years at 'The Old Glory Shop', wherefrom we were appointed to Gambo whereto, in the course of shifting, our family once again became fragmented. Thus we arrived at Gambo in August, 1947, with only four of our children - Betty, Maxena, Melvin and Ferne. My health by now was near back to normal. From Gambo, we were appointed to Deer Lake. In the meantime, while at Gambo, Winnie married Roy Antle, Jean married Graham Bursey and Clifford married Mavis Bowering. We arrived in Deer Lake with Maxie, Melvin and Ferne; Howard being in St. John's, while Marjorie and Betty were in Saint John, New Brunswick. Finally we got the Corps Sergeant Major, William Mercer, from Dover with two other men together. They having moved the old Citadel about fifty feet, the new one began to take shape. We saw it opened by Colonel Dalziel and spent one winter in the new Citadel, whereafter we received the now much familiar 'Farewell' orders. Betty and Marjorie had married during our stay at Deer Lake, and Maxie had entered the Officers' Training College. Melvin had passed his grade eleven and had set out on his own. Following studies at Memorial University, he chose the teaching profession, and commenced his career whilst living with us at Bell Island where we had been moved around the middle of August. continued ... continued ...
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