“I Want to Join Your Club”: Letters from Rural Children, 1900-1920

"My Father Is Both Fisherman and Farmer": Occupations and Vocations [Includes Image Plates]

"My Father Is Both Fisherman and Farmer" Occupations andVocations Families living in rural areas were engaged in a variety of occupations , including fishing, farming, sealing, trapping, tending lighthouses, logging, and mining. Others were employed in the construction and operation of expanding rail and road systems and in the building of growing urban centres. Children were very aware of the occupations in which their parents and neighbours were engaged. When they were big enough, and where it was appropriate, they helped with the work. 145 Sent a Story Dear Editor: This is my second letter to your club. I received my button, which was very nice. I am going to send you another story about Molly. There was a picnic here June 30. I went to it and had a fine time. My father is a blacksmith, and we keep a boarding house. I am in grade four and 11 years old. We are having beautifulweather now. I can ride a bicycle. I think I will close for this time. Harry Dearing Moose Park, Man. Free Press Prairie Farmer July 22, 1908 146 The Coming of the Seals Dear Leaves: In my last letter I told you about the coming of the harp seals. They came again last spring and with them the little baby seals only a few days old. If the Leaves could only have seen them, they would have been as excited as if they were seeing Santa Glaus coming through the air on his ship. Every one who could get on the ice was there. When the ice comes to the land it rushes together in great heaps—we call them rifters—and it was very hard getting the seals over it to land. Every man had a different tale to tell of his adventures when they came home that night. The old seals are very fierce. The seals would fight them off. My father went out on his snowshoes, for the ice was very bad. The snowshoes tripped him up and he fell on his back just as an old seal was coming for him with open jaws. He had to strike it with his gaff before he could get up.. The young seals are yellowish at first, but in a few days they bleach white as snow and are white for about twenty days. Then the white fur comes off and black hair comes out. Mary Decker Cape Onion, Nfld. Family Herald and Weekly Star August 26, 1914 147 Seal Fisheries Dear Maple Leaves: I would like to say a few words about the Newfoundland Seal Fisheries. My father was captain of the steamer "Samuel Blendford /'—he shared a very good trip in which they caught a very large number of seals. I am trying for the Primary Grade this year and I hope I shall not fail; but it is hard to tell. I like the Boys' and Girls' page very much. Newfoundlander Sealer Roland Winsom Wesleyville, Nfld. Family Herald and Weekly Star July 19, 1916 148 A Cheesemaker'sSon Dear Maple Leaves: I have never seen any letters from a cheesemaker's son or from this part of Ontario. I live twenty miles from Ottawa and one hundred miles from Montreal. My father is a cheese-maker. I help in the factory on Monday because that is the hardest day in the week because there is Sunday's milk as well as Monday morning's. I tried the Junior High School entrance examinations this year but do not know whether I passed or not. I can imagine the Editor smiling at this when he sees my poor writing. I have a collection of several thousand stamps. They are from all the continents and from nearly every country. I am learning to swim, but can only swim five or six strokes at a time. Some time ago I asked for correspondents in Africa, Australia or New Zealand. I did not get one correspondent. I would now like to correspond with anybody in Africa, Australia, and North of Ireland and with Edward F. Cunliffe of Trinidad. Hoping to see this letter in print. Roydan Olmstead Bear Brook, Ont. Family Herald and Weekly Star August 12,1914 149 Lives in a Mining Camp Dear Maple Leaves: I have been a reader of this interesting Club for a long time, enjoying the letters...