A Span, The Length of Memory 119 
     
    
   
   
    
     There was always help available for the busy mothers in the homes 
     
     from the visiting dressmakers to the home nurses; including Mrs. Thomas 
     
     Condon, Jennie Marchbank, and Jessie MacCaull. Mrs. Ben DesRoche 
     
     would help with the laundry and the Maclnnis girls would stop in the homes 
     
     for a time to braid mats and do sewing and tailoring, while Sarah Maclnnis 
     
     is remembered as a spinner of wool, and Mary Brennan as a weaver. 
     
    
   
   
    
     These people came to work but others came to play, and the company 
     
     that came for the ceilidhs, the house parties and the all-night dances, were 
     
     the most fun of all. The social activity of the time was enhanced by the 
     
     jovial entertainer, the willing musician, and the expert story—teller. Their 
     
     visits were bright spots in the routine of country living and a return visit was 
     
     always hoped for. 
     
    
   
   
    
     So it was with anticipation that the curtains were pulled aside to take a 
     
     peek down the lane when the children's excited cry — “there‘s company 
     
    
   
   
    
     'yn 
     
    
   
   
    
     comin , was heard. 
     
    
   
   
    
     REMINISCING 
     
    
   
   
    
     Remember when: 
     
    
   
   
    
     The hazards of crossing the ice of Bedeque Bay after dark were lessen- 
     
     ed through the kindness of the Condon family who always left a light in a 
     
     window to guide travellers to a safe landing near the Red Bridge. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Remember when: 
     
    
   
   
    
     The girls wore pinal‘ores or pinnies to school to keep their dresses 
     
     clean. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Remember when: 
     
    
   
   
    
     You could buy a long—tailed licorice whip at Harold Moase‘s store or a 
     
     stick of candy with a ring for your finger at a cost of one cent each. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Remember when: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Ordering clothing from Eaton‘s Catalogue using your hard earned 
     
     potato picking money and having the parcel arrive at the post office at 
     
     Sobcy’s caused an almost unbearable excitement. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Remember when: 
     
    
   
   
    
     The first cars came to Wilmot Valley. The owners were: Thomas 
     
     Humphrey, Kentford Waite. Reuben Large, Robert Hogg and others. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Remember when: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Hot china plates wrapped in flannel were applied to the chest of a per— 
     
     son suffering from a heart attack and hot hardwood sticks fitted into 
     
     woolen socks were taken along to warm the bed on a cold night in winter.