Christmas trees. They had no map, but Joe said, “If I can get on the right highway to Boston, I’ll get there all right.” They arrived in the city at 5:00 pm, during rush hour with a three ton truck piled high with trees, giving him very little rear view. Joe remained calm, kept on driving, and arrived at his destination without any problem at all. He sold the trees for three and four dollars, and that was a great financial help.

Kenny and Peter went fishing trout one day, and were on their way home with a good catch when a flash of lightning lit the sky. As they approached the driveway, they were suddenly struck by lightning and knocked into the ditch. Terrified, they scrambled to their feet only to see the neighbour’s heifer that was tethered to a steel rod lying dead in the field. They were spared. If they had been walking on the other side of the road, it might have been a different story.

Joseph had a great love for music, usually beginning and ending his day’with a tune. A neighbour often had a morning march to lead his cows into the barn for milking. On a warm summer’s morning, Joe’s violin music could be heard through an opened window in his house. Margaret, a good singer often sang to the children at night to lull them to sleep after they said their prayers. Peter was twelve or thirteen when he learned to play the violin. He won the Shut—Gain— Contest in Souris, and went on as one of the finalist to play on television.

Now, in a later era, the father’s music has been passed on to his children and grandchildren. It may not be heard early in the morning, but it still may be heard at other times of the day or night. The sound of music has enriched the community of Bear River.

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