The Serial: Far From the Rowan Tree Day 38

It has not been easy coming to Canada, but we have overcome much together. Being together is what makes it possible and helps to keep up our morale

Iwrote to my mother and father frequently in those early days in Canada. Finding my letters interesting, they kept them all in a shoebox which I discovered while clearing out their home when in Scotland.

I looked through it and came upon the letter Ronald had sent so long before. I paused – should I read it?

Curiosity got the better of me. To begin with I was interested to read of Ronald’s reactions to these times, and then moved and touched at the comments on my younger self.

Dear Mother, it began. I am having a few days off owing to a gastric complaint which has been painful but not serious.

This has given me a little time in which to write to you. It has been a long journey and is not over yet for we are far from satisfied in our present position.

It has taken time to recover from the changes. We needed a space of comparative peace and quiet to carry us through some of the rougher patches and get the feel of things.

Unnerving

It takes a wee while to become orientated into a new environment. To begin with even the smallest things are unnerving.

For example, in stores, it is not always obvious whether you are supposed to help yourself or be served or where to pay for the goods.

It’s so very different from home. I find even these small things can shake my confidence and make me diffident.

It has, of course, not been easy coming to Canada, but we have overcome much together.

Being together is what makes it possible and helps to keep up our morale – that is most important. Your letters have been a great help in this respect. Though the work is hard there are many compensations – such as sunshine.

Having a car also makes a big difference to our lives. We were practically prisoners without one.

We get the full local rate of pay which is not bad for newcomers although farm work is very poorly paid.

However, I have great hopes for the future although not perhaps in farming. I do not know if we will ever make a fortune but the chances are here and I mean to try.

That is the great thing. In Canada it is up to yourself. So far, I have not regretted coming here and I don’t think I ever will.

A period of waiting, doing at least one season on a farm, is what is needed.

Though we have lived a fairly quiet life so far, as we get stronger we mean to visit the few friends we have and make as many new contacts as we can.

There are great opportunities here and so much to see. Why didn’t we come before?

lt is not the journey that is difficult, but overcoming the inertia of a safe rut. This is easier to do when you are younger.

How much better would I have been to come five or 10 years ago? At 34 years old I am already too old for some jobs. This is a young man’s country. The boys are fine and healthy and they have enormous fun running about the yard (no mud, stones or hills).

The Princess is in ‘roaring’ health and growing so fast. I wish you could see her. I know you would love her.

Marvellous

I have not attempted to tell you all that is going on, rather the thoughts in my head. Margaret gives you all the news very adequately.

She has been marvellous, as it is not easy for her. If anything, she has had the heavy end of the stick.

In moments of weakness, as now, with this gastric trouble, due to drinking bad water, it is more difficult to see what we are striving for.

Then I look around me and see my children delighting in new surroundings and new games. What an adventure it is for them.

I look over at my beloved Margaret, her dark hair pulled back from her pretty Scottish face.

She is nursing our Princess Mahri-Louise, her eyes filled with maternal love and pride.

What strength she has bringing our newborn into a new and difficult land – giving her life to be a mother and a wife.

Never complaining about our hardships, instead showing great spirit and resilience and most of all hope.

Suddenly it becomes clear that everything that is dear to me is in this cabin.

If we have managed this far things can only get better which gives me an immense feeling of well-being and satisfaction.

How lucky I am. Many thanks for all the interest you both have taken in our activities. This spurs us on to fresh efforts.

Love, Ronald

Not long after Ronald had gone back to work another unexpected event occurred at home which, in retrospect, turned out to be more amusing than serious.

Mischievous

On afternoons when I was feeling especially tired, I

tried to have a snooze for half an hour after feeding Mahri-Louise.

Usually wee Ronnie had a nap in the afternoons around this time also but the other two refused. They were big boys now they told me.

However Richard became my ally and promised to keep an eye on the mischievous Michael.

He would come and tell me if he was doing anything bad, he said.

I found him most reliable. After half an hour my watchdog would creep quietly into my bedroom being careful not to waken the baby.

He would then pat me gently on the shoulder and whisper: “Does the clock say it’s time to get up yet, Mummy?”

One afternoon I had left Richard and Michael playing happily with the girls and was just dropping off to sleep when I became aware of Richard standing in the room.

“Mummy, Mummy!” he was blurting out through his tears, “prickle beasties, prickle beasties!”

I shot out of bed to discover Richard covered from head to foot in small ants.

They had been out playing in the wood beside the house and he had inadvertently walked over an ant hill in the cloth slippers that the boys wore.