lucky enough to get a chance to Summerside on Saturday night it was an extra bonus to be able to walk up and down Water Street a few times and to finish the evening seeing the current Western at the Capital Theater.

School always re-opened in mid August. It was hard to concentrate in the warm weather while contending with the hundreds of flies that were always there to enjoy left over lunch crumbs. Fall was the time when pupils needed two weeks vacation to pick potatoes either for their fathers or neighbors, so classes had to begin early. Potato picking was hard work and a real challenge, but it gave youngsters an opportunity to prove their worth and also a chance to earn necessary money for clothes. Eaton’s catalogues were dog eared and ragged by the end of October when the potatoes were safely in the cellars.

Then came October Slst! Halloween night was sometimes quiet, sometimes riotous, depending on the weather. Tic-tacks on the windows were always a hit but rather nerve racking to older residents and soaping was no doubt a nuisance as well. One thing was for sure: there were very few outside privies left upright on Nov. lst.!

Preparation for school and church Christmas concerts started in late November. The drills, readings, choruses, and solos took endless hours of practice. White cheese cloth dresses trimmed with tarnished tinsel were taken from storage boxes, along with the decorations. With the girls getting bigger, the gowns getting shabbier, and halos slightly askew, it was difficult to imagine that they were true portraits of angels; however, the shepherds in their colorful headgear and blankets seemed more in tune with the scene. The older boys always went to the woodlot to cut the tree, sometimes with the help of their father, while the older girls took charge of decorating and were quick to replace blackboard school work with coloured chalk drawings. During the concert, favorite performers were always clapped back for one or two encores, prolonging the event and making young parents with small restless children very glad to herald the arrival of Santa. After a few shrieks of fear from the audience, and a boisterous entrance, everyone settled down to accept their gifts of an apple, orange, and a bag of candy from Santa who usually had some timely remarks for several community residents. The Presbyterian Sunday School children also had a concert with a visit from Santa who presented a bag of candy, an orange, and an apple to each of the children present.

With Christmas over, skating on the pond night after night was a favorite pastime, after lessons were finished. There was usually a large bonfire on the ice to supply light and warmth. Hockey games at Victoria Rink followed by an hour skate were popular outings. They were usually on a Saturday night, and two or three wood sleighs filled with happy teenagers made the trip. There was lots of singing and fun on these rides.

Arriving home around midnight, most teens found their parents

129