-1l2- disappeared. The Old threshers and treadmills are very likely museum pieces -- if any are still in existence. Gone are the men who owned them -- men such as Charlie Frizzell, Dan Docherty, "Big Neil" MacKinnon -- hardworking, conscientious men to whom an unearned dollar was a spurned

dollar. Gone too are the rest of the sterling characters of that

generation, but the memory of their stern integrity lives on.

| ebeT Tete seaETE .

With the threshing behind us, the days slipped swiftly away until the announcement of fall school vacation reminded us that potato-diggsing time was once more at hand. We youngsters greeted it, perhaps not exectly ina spirit of Sager anticipation, yet happy in the prospect of earning a dollar or two when we worked at what we called the "paying places." First in order of priority came the co-opsrative digging. We, for example, worked with Angus Darrach, Peter McElroy, John MacKaig, and my Uncle Michael.

When their crops and our own had been harvested, we wore free to pick for pay. During those years, I picked and planted potatoes at various farms, including Sam Clow's; Walter Shaw's old home in St. Catherine's; Robert Boyle's, and Robert MacPhail's.

Mr. Shaw, known far and wide as "Sandy," had a way all his own with young folks. He never "talked down" to us. It was supremely flattering to have a man of his recognized intellectual superiority chat with us as though we were on his level; it was no wonder that we vied for the privilege of picking alongside him. I have always regarded him as one of. the truly outstanding personalities of the region; to this day, I consider myself fortunate in having known him. -

Robert MacPhail was a genial, kindly man who always had a pleasant word ~ for all with whom he came in contact. If a youngster failed to measure up in some detail of work, he was never harshly critical. He always spoke with a smile. I recall helping weed turnips at his place along with a couple of

other juveniles, one of whom was obviously lagging behind. Mr. MacPhail's