THE DEATH OF FRIENDS SEEDED MY OWN STRANGE SUPERSTITION OF DEATH

The Joy of Small Rural Fall Fairs

 

There is a charm associated with small rural fall fairs around the region.   Despite major changes in our towns and hamlets, small communities still hold on to the charm of a rural fair fall.  Dedicated volunteers make sure that all the details are in place and fair day will be an enjoyable event for the whole family.    Memories of fair falls will remain with me for a lifetime.

 

Here – George and Kathy Cooper of Cooper’s Falls proudly pose with their rand Champion Rooster at the Sunderland Fall Fair. (Photo By Fred Schulz)

Coming to The Gravenhurst Seniors Club

THOSE OLD TIME SAYINGS AND SUPERSTITIONS BORROWED FROM HISTORY

THE WISDOM OF HOMESTEADERS, WATCHING THE CHANGING SEASONS


     FIRST THING THIS MORNING, JUST BEFORE SUNRISE, THERE WAS A COLD, HEAVY FOG, DRIFTING FROM OVER THE MOOR, OR AS IT IS BETTER KNOWN, THE CALYDOR BOG. IT WAS MYSTERIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL, AT THE SAME TIME, AND IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE MUSKOKA MOMENTS, OF HINTERLAND ENCHANTMENT, THAT KEPT ME OUT LONGER, EXPLORING FULLY, ITS DELIGHTFUL, AUTUMN ATTIRE; BEFORE THE SUNRISE BURNED IT OFF THE LOWLAND. INSIDE THE WOODLAND, IT WAS SO AMAZINGLY SILENT, AND EVEN THE FALLING LEAVES WERE ON HIATUS, IT SEEMED; AND THE ONLY SOUND, THE CLOSER I GOT, WAS THE GENTLE TRICKLE, LIKE THE CLINKING OF CRYSTAL GLASSES, FROM THE NEARLY INVISIBLE, TINY CATARACT, TUMBLING LIKE LIQUID SILK OVER THE MATTED GRASSES.
     IT WAS HAUNTINGLY AMAZING, AND IT'S TOO BAD IT WAS JUST ABOUT GONE, WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS WALKED UP THE LANE, TO CATCH THE SCHOOL BUS. I AM PARTICULARLY FOND OF FOG, AS IT WAS FAMILIAR TO THE LAKESHORE, IN BURLINGTON, WHERE I SPENT THE FIRST YEARS OF MY LIFE. I'D HEAR FOGHORNS FROM THE LAKE FREIGHTERS, WHILE WALKING TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING. AS WELL, I'M A BIT OF A SHERLOCK HOLMES FAN, SO ANYTHING THAT REMINDS ME OF "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES" TAKES ME ON A JOURNEY OF GREAT FICTION. MUSKOKA IS A STORIED PLACE. THE FIRST CHAPTER BELONGS TO THE COURAGEOUS HOMESTEADERS, WHO BUILT THEIR LOG CABINS IN A MOST INHOSPITABLE ENVIRONS. IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME.
     THE MUSKOKA PIONEERS HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LEARN FAST, ABOUT THE RELEVANCE OF WEATHER-STUDY, AND THE SIGNS OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, SUCH AS THE DEVASTATING DAMAGE TO CROPS, OF EITHER AN EARLY OR LATE FROST; AN APPROACHING STORM-FRONT, HAIL, RAIN AT HAYING TIME, OR KNOWING WHEN THE PERFECT ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS PREVAILED IN ORDER TO PLANT; AND TO THEN HARVEST THE CROPS TO AVOID SEVERE WEATHER. SO WHAT THEY DIDN'T POSSESS OF WEATHER-APPRECIATION, WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN THE HINTERLAND, FROM THE CITIES OF EUROPE ESPECIALLY, THEY LEARNED FROM TRIAL AND ERROR, BUT MOSTLY FROM THE CO-OPERATION OF NEIGHBORS IN THE REGION. SO WHAT WASN'T CONTAINED IN SETTLERS' GUIDEBOOKS, CAME BY EXPERIENCE, AND PASSED-DOWN ADVISORIES, GARNERED OVER TIME, FROM FELLOW HOMESTEADERS. WHO HAD LEARNED, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST HOW LONG A MUSKOKA WINTER COULD BE; HOW SEVERE, AND THEN, HOW ADVERSE THE SPRING MIGHT BE, WITH LATE FROSTS; AND HOW SHORT THE SUMMER COULD BE, LIMITING A SUCCESSFUL HARVEST.
     SO IT WAS BLOODY WELL IMPERATIVE TO KNOW NATURE'S SIGNS. THINKING OF WHAT THIS MEANT, IN TERMS OF LEARNING BY TRIAL AND ERROR, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE "GREEN" SETTLERS, WHO ONLY HAD A BACKGROUND IN URBAN LIVING, IN BRITAIN, IS BEFUDDLING, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE TIME.  WHY OH WHY DID THEY COME HERE?  THE FACT A MAJORITY OF SETTLERS WERE "GREEN" TO AN AGRICULTURAL LIFESTYLE, IS STILL MIND BOGGLING FOR THIS HISTORIAN, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BREAK, NO SOCIAL ASSISTANCE, OR "DO-OVERS," FOR THE INEXPERIENCED IMMIGRANT. IT WAS NATURE'S TOUGH LOVE FROM THE BEGINNING, AND IT WAS A LIFE OR DEATH STRUGGLE TO KNOW WHAT WAS COMING NEXT. SO IT IS TO BE EXPECTED, AFTER SOME DISASTERS, NEW FARMERS BEGAN SEEKING OUT THE SAGE ADVICE OF THE MORE PROFICIENT AGRICULTURALISTS IN THEIR AREA. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF SUBSTANTIAL CO-OPERATION, IN THIS REGARD, THROUGH FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCH CONGRETATIONS, WHERE FOLKS SHARED VOLUNTARILY WITH OTHERS, ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THEIR HOMESTEAD ENTERPRISES.
     CONTAINED IN THE 1950 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CANADA HISTORICAL BOOKLET, ENTITLED "FOLK-LORE OF WATERLOO COUNTY, ONTARIO," RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN BY W.J. WINTEMBERG, (BULLETIN NUMBER 116, ANTHROPOLOGICAL SERIES NUMBER 28), THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF FOLK-TALE ADVISORIES, SAYINGS, WARNINGS, AND GENERAL WISDOMS, LISTED IN THE TEXT. ALTHOUGH THE TEXT WAS GARNERED MOSTLY FROM RESEARCH OF THE GERMAN-CANADIAN POPULATION OF SETTLERS, IN WATERLOO, MANY OF THESE HAD JUST AS MUCH RELEVANCE IN OUR REGION OF THE PROVINCE. YOU WILL ALSO PROBABLY RECOGNIZE THESE SAYINGS FROM HEARING A PARENT OR GRANDPARENT MENTION THEM, SUCH AS IN THE CASE OF A RING AROUND THE MOON, FOR EXAMPLE, OR THE APPEARANCE OF A RED SKY IN THE MORNING. HERE NOW ARE A FEW OF THESE FOLK-LORE ADVISORIES. TO REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR OVER-RIDING SIGNIFICANCE, ONE HAS TO IMAGINE BEING HOUSED IN ONE OF THESE PIONEER SHELTERS, AND WATCHING THE WEATHER CHANGE HOUR BY HOUR.....AND PONDERING IF THE CROP WILL SURVIVE THE SUDDEN AND PROFOUND CHANGES NATURE INDICATES IS ON THE WAY.....OR OCCURING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
     IN REGARDS TO WEATHER, HERE ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THE FARM COMMUNITY WATCHED FOR, CROSSING OVER THE LAKELAND: THE SIGNS OF RAIN WERE - "IF A HEN CROWS; IF A COCK CROWS REPEATEDLY; IF A COCK CROWS AFTER SUNDOWN; WHEN THE WALLS ARE DAMP; WHEN THE PEACOCKS CRY; IF YOU DREAM OF A DEAD PERSON OR FRIENDS; IF A COCK CROWS IN THE RAIN IT WILL STOP RAINING; IF YOU SEE MANY SNAKES DURING THE DAY YOU MAY EXPECT RAIN; WHEN A PERSON'S HAIR CURLS IT IS A SIGN OF APPROACHING RAIN; WHEN SWALLOWS FLY LOW DURING A SHOWER IT INDICATES A STEADY DOWNPOUR; WHEN GUINEA FOWL ARE CRYING CONTINUALLY IT IS A SIGN OF RAIN; WHEN CROWS ARE UNUSUALLY NOISY IT IS A SIGN OF RAIN; IF IT RAINS ON WHIT-SUNDAY IT WILL RAIN FOR SEVEN SUNDAYS IN SUCCESSION; WHEN A GLASS TUMBLER ON THE IRON WORK OF A PUMP SWEATS, IT IS A SIGN OF RAIN; IF THE SOOT THAT COATS THE INSIDE OF THE STOVE BURNS, YOU MAY EXPECT RAIN; IF THE SUN SHINES WHILE IT RAINS, IT WILL RAIN AGAIN AT THE SAME TIME THE NEXT DAY; WHEN THE HENS OIL THEIR FEATHERS YOU MAY LOOK FOR RAIN VERY SOON; IF THERE ARE BUBBLES ON THE SURFACE OF PUDDLES FORMED BY RAIN IT WILL CONTINUE TO RAIN; A GERMAN IN BADEN WAS HEARD TO REMARK, 'WE ARE GOING TO GET RAIN,' AND WHEN HE WAS ASKED WHAT MADE HIM THINK SO, HE ANSWERED, 'BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY WOMEN OUT TODAY; WHEN A FOWL SEEKS SHELTER ON THE APPROACH OF A SHOWER, THE RAIN WILL NOT LAST LONG, BUT WHEN IT STAYS OUT IN THE RAIN, YOU MAY EXPECT A CONTINUAL DOWNPOUR; IF YOU HEAR TRAINS AT GREAT DISTANCES, IT IS A SIGN OF RAIN."
     AS FOR STORM FRONTS MOVING IN, THE BOOK REPORTS THAT, THE SIGNS ARE: "WHEN GEESE FLY HIGH; WHEN THE TEA-KETTLE HUMS; WHEN THE CAT LIES ON ITS BACK WHILE SLEEPING; WHEN A CAT EATS GRASS IT IS A SIGN OF A STORM; IF A DOG ROLLS HIMSELF IT IS ALSO A COMMON SIGN; IF THE FIRE SPLUTTERS IT IS A SIGN OF A STORM; ANOTHER COMMONLY ACCEPTED SIGN IS A RING AROUND THE MOON; WHEN THE MILKY WAY IS UNUSUALLY BRIGHT IT HERALDS THE COMING OF A STORM."
     AS FOR THE SIGNS OF COLD WEATHER APPROACHING; WHEN THE STOVE BECOMES RED HOT; IF IT THUNDERS WHILE THE GROUND IS STILL COVERED WITH SNOW, YOU MAY EXPECT REAL COLD WEATHER IMMEDIATELY AFTER." MILD WEATHER? "WHEN LARGE NUMBERS OF CROWS FLY ABOUT IN THE WINTER, IT IS A SIGN THERE WILL SOON BE MILDER WEATHER." AS FOR MISCELLANEOUS SIGNS, HERE ARE A FEW TO WATCH FOR: "IF THE SUMMER IS VERY WARM IT WILL BE A VERY COLD WINTER; WINTER THUNDER IS A SURE INDICATION OF A LATE SPRING; AN EARLY EASTER IS CONSIDERED A SIGN OF EARLY SPRING; HOLY OR PASSION WEEK, THEY SAY IS ALWAYS RAW AND COLD; IF THERE SHOULD BE NICE WEATHER DURING PASSION WEEK THE FOLLOWING WEEK WILL BE DISAGREEABLE. (WEEK BETWEEN PASSION SUNDAY AND PALM SUNDAY); IF YOU HEAR THE FROGS TWO WEEKS BEFORE ST. GREGORY'S DAY, THEY WILL REMAIN QUIET FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER, OR, AS SOME SAY, THEY WILL BE FROZEN-IN THREE TIMES AFTER; IF THE SPLEEN OF A HOG IS SHORT AND THICK, THE WINTER WILL BE SHORT, - IF LONG AND THIN, A LONG WINTER; IF SQUIRRELS GATHER LARGE QUANTITIES OF NUTS IN THE AUTUMN WE MAY EXPECT A LONG AND COLD WINTER; IF MAY IS A WET MONTH JUNE WILL BE A DRY MONTH; FOR EVERY FOG IN MARCH, THERE WILL BE A FROST IN MAY; WHATEVER NUMBER OF WHITE FROSTS OCCURN IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY SO MANY WILL OCCUR IN MAY; WHEN THE SNOW DISAPPEARS WITH THE SUN'S AID ALONE (WITHOUT RAIN) THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FREQUENT DURING THE SUMMER; THE LAST FRIDAY IN THE MONTH USUALLY RULES THE WEATHER DURING THE SUCCEEDING MONTH."
    UNDER THE HEADING, "NATURAL PHENOMENA," ARE THE FOLLOWING NOTATIONS; "IF IT THUNDERS BEFORE BREAKFAST, IT WILL THUNDER AGAIN BEFORE SUPPER TIME; DURING A THUNDER STORM ONE SHOULD KEEP AWAY FROM THE MIRROR AND THE STOVE; IF THERE IS MUCH LIGHTNING DURING THE TIME, A BROODING HEN IS SETTING, NONE OF THE EGGS WILL HATCH; WHEN IT THUNDERED, CHILDREN WERE FORMERLY TOLD THAT THE LORD WAS ANGRY BECAUSE THEY WERE MISBEHAVING; IT IS BELIEVED THAT LIGHTNING WILL NEVER STRIKE A BEECH TREE; SOME BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTINGUISH WITH WATER, A FIRE CAUSED BY LIGHTNING, MILK BEING THE ONLY LIQUID THAT WILL DO SO EFFECTIVELY. I HEARD OF A BARN NEAR NEW DUNDEE THAT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, BUT INSTEAD OF WATER, THE FARMER CARRIED MILK OUT OF THE CELLAR AND POURED IT ON THE FLAMES; A SURVIVAL OF THE MEDIAEVAL BELIEF THAT STONE AXES AND CELTS WERE THUNDERBOLTS IS STILL CURRENT AMONG GERMANS IN SOME PARTS OF ONTARIO. THEY ARE CALLED G'WITTER-SCHTEE, AND SOMETIMES G'WITTER, OR DUNNER-KEIDEL, LITERALLY MEANING 'LIGHTNING STONE,' AND 'LIGHTNING,' OR 'THUNDER WEDGE;' THE LATTER NAME REFERS TO THE GENERAL FORM OF THESE IMPLEMENTS. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE SPLINTERED CONDITION OF A TREE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEVERAL YEARS AGO A COW BELONGING TO A MAN IN WATERLOO COUNTY WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, AND THE MAN DUG A HOLE IN THE GROUND WHERE THE ANIMAL WAS KILLED TO SEE WHETHER HE COULD FIND THE THUNDERBOLT. ANOTHER BELIEF THESE PEOPLE HAVE IS THAT IF ONE OF THESE STONES HAS A STRING TIED AROUND IT AND IT IS THEN PUT INTO THE GRATE OF A STOVE, IT WILL PREVENT LIGHTNING FROM STRIKING THE HOUSE. IT IS ALSO CLAIMED THAT ONE OF THESE STONES MAY BE TIED TO A STRING AND THE STRING SET ON FIRE, AND THE STONE, WILL NOT FALL TO THE GROUND, ALTHOUGH THE CORD MAY BE CHARRED AND EASILY BROKEN. IF YOU DO ANY WORK ON ASCENSION DAY, LIGHTNING WILL ALWAYS SURROUND YOUR HOME. AN ALSATIAN WOMAN ONCE MADE AN APRON ON THAT DAY, AFTER WHICH LIGHTNING ALWAYS SEEMED TO HOVER AROUND HER HOUSE. SHE MENTIONED THIS TO A FRIEND, WHO TOLD HER THAT ON THE APPROACH OF A THUNDER SHOWER, SHE WAS TO HANG THIS APRON ON A STAKE IN THE GARDEN. SHE DID SO AND THE LIGHTNING STRUCK IT AND BURNED IT TO A CRISP."
     AS FOR RAIN, "IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF ONE PRESSES HIS THUMB WITH THE INDEX FINGER OR WITH THE FINGERS OF THE SAME HAND IT WILL DISPEL RAIN OR RAINSTORM. A RAINBOW? LOOK FOR LOST ARTICLES WHERE THE RAINBOW APPEARS TO END. CLOUDS? MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER, AN ALSATIAN, CALLED WHITE, FLEECY CIRRUS CLOUDS 'SHEEP'."
     IN REGARDS TO DEATH AND BURIAL, THE AUTHOR COLLECTED A FEW INTERESTING WARNING SIGNS, AS TOLD IN FOLK-STORIES; "IF A CAT LOOKS INTO A WINDOW AT NIGHT; TWO FORKS ON A TABLE BETOKEN A DEATH; WHEN A WHITE SPIDER CRAWLS TOWARD YOU OR YOUR HOUSE; THREE SPIDERS CRAWLING ON A WALL IS A DEATH SIGN; THE HOOTING OF AN OWL NEAR A HOUSE IS A DEATH SIGN; WHEN THE CORN SHOOTS ARE OF A WHITISH COLOUR; IF THE CABBAGE HEADS ARE COVERED WITH WHITE SPOTS; A WHITE BEAN PLANT IS ALSO CONSIDERED A SURE DEATH SIGN; WHEN A BUNCH OF APPLE BLOSSOMS APPEARS LATE IN THE SEASON, A DEATH IN THE FAMILY IS SURE TO FOLLOW; WHEN A WILD BIRD ENTERS AN OCCUPIED HOUSE, ONE OF THE OCCUPANTS WILL SOON DIE; THE HOWLING OF A DOG IS ALSO REGARDED AS A DEATH SIGN; IF THE CLOCK STRIKES SIX OR TWELVE WHILE THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE ASKS THE BLESSING, IT IS A SIGN OF A DEATH; IF A COCK CROWS BEFORE TEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, IT A SING OF A DEATH; IF ROOSTERS CROW BETWEEN SUNDOWN AND MIDNIGHT THERE WILL BE A DEATH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SOON; IN WHATEVER DIRECTION A STAR FALLS, THERE WILL BE A DEATH; PRESUMABLY OF SOME RELATIVE OR FRIEND OF THE PERSON WHO SEES IT FALL; A PERSON PASSING OVER A MOLE WORKING UNDERGROUND, WILL DIE WITHIN A YEAR. A DYING PERSON WILL ALWAYS GIVE A SIGN OF HIS DEATH TO AN ABSENT FRIEND WHOM HE WISHES TO SEE; THE LAST CHILD OR PERSON MENTIONED BY A DYING PERSON WILL BE THE NEXT ONE TO DIE; A FAMILY LIVING NEAR WASHINGTON BELIEVES THAT THEY WERE WARNED OF THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S DEATH BY THE STRIKING OF HER CLOCK, WHICH WAS NOT GOING AT THE TIME (PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN); IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHENEVER A FAMILY BUILDS A NEW HOUSE OR BARN OR EVEN AN ADDITION TO THE HOUSE, THERE WILL BE AN ADDITION TO THE FAMILY (A BIRTH) OR ELSE A DEATH; WHICHEVER LEAVES THE ROOM FIRST, THE BRIDE OR THE GROOM, DIES FIRST; THE ONE WHO HAS THE MOST LETTERS IN HIS OR HER CHRISTIAN NAME AND SURNAME WILL DIE FIRST. THIS MIGHT BE CALLED A KIND OF ONOMANCY; THE ONE (WIFE OF HUSBAND), HAVING A DEEP HOLLOW BETWEEN THE EYEBROWS WILL DIE FIRST; SIMILARLY, THE ONE WHO HAS MOLES ON THE CHEEKS."
     "BURIAL CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS; GERMANS STILL KEEP UP THE LYKE-WAKE OR WACHTER CUSTOM OVER THE DEAD; A FUNERAL HELD ON A SATURDAY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER THE NEXT WEEK; IF A FUNERAL STOPS ON THE WAY TO THE CEMETERY THERE WILL BE ANOTHER BURIAL SOON; IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF ONE IS BURIED ON A RAINY DAY HE WILL BE SAVED." AS FOR OMENS AND SIGNS; "IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES YOU WILL HEAR NEWS; WHOEVER CHOKES WHILE SPEAKING IS TELLING A LIE; IF A GIRL CANNOT START A BRISK FIRE SHE WILL GET A LAZY HUSBAND; IF A GIRL, WHEN CUTTING BREAD, MAKES THE SLICES VERY THICK, SHE WILL BECOME A GOOD STEPMOTHER; SOMEONE WILL GO HUNGRY IF A PERSON TAKES BREAD AT THE TABLE WHEN HE ALREADY HAS SOME; IF YOU DROP A FORM AND THE TINES HOLD IT TO THE FLOOR YOU WILL HAVE VISITORS; TO SNEEZE THREE TIMES IN SUCCESSION IS A SIGN YOUR COLD IS BREAKING-UP; IF A CHILD IS BORN IN A LARGE HOUSE, HE WILL BECOME VERY RICH; TEA FROTH FLOATING ON THE SURFACE IN A CUP IF QUICKLY SWALLOWED WILL BRING RICHES; PERSONS WITH VERY HAIRY ARMS WILL BECOME RICH; A PERSON HAVING A LARGE NUMBER OF MOLES ON THE BACK OF HIS NECK WILL BECOME RICH; COUNT SEVEN STARS FOR SEVEN SUCCESSIVE EVENINGS AND THE FIRST GIRL YOU SHAKE HANDS WITH WILL BE YOUR FUTURE WIFE; WHEN THE LEFT EAR BURNS, SOMEONE IS SPEAKING ILL OF YOU, AND IF IT IS THE RIGHT EAR, SOMEONE IS PRAISING YOU; WHEN THE LEFT EAR BURNS, PINCH THE EAR AND THE ONE SPEAKING ILL OF YOU WILL BITE HIS TONGUE; THE BELIEF EXISTS THAT IF ONE LAUGHS TILL THE TEARS COME SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN SHORTLY THAT WILL MAKE HIM CRY; IF A BROOMSTICK FALLS ACROSS THE DOORWAY, A WITCH WILL COME; IF YOU PICK IT UP THE WITCH WON'T COME."
    IN MORE RECENT TIMES, I FOUND OUT HOW SUPERSTITIONS COME ABOUT, IN ACTUALITY, AND THE HAND EACH OF US PLAYS IN ITS TRANSMISSION, AND EMBELLISHMENT.
    WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SIX, (LATE 1960'S) I BELIEVE, HAVING RECENTLY RE-LOCATED TO MY NEW SCHOOL IN BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO, (FROM BURLINGTON) I MET SOME NEAT NEW FRIENDS, CHARLES PEACOCK AND KEN CHISOLM, AND I WAS INVITED, ON THE COMING SATURDAY, TO JOIN THEM DIGGING AN ARMY BUNKER, TO PLAY WITH OUR MILITARY-THEMED TOYS. WHEN I TOLD MY MOTHER WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND BEGGED TO PARTICIPATE, SHE BECAME HIGHLY AGITATED, AS SHE WAS VERY SUPERSTITIOUS, AND TOLD ME THAT, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WAS I TO ATTEND. SHE CLAIMED TO HAVE A BAD FEELING ABOUT IT. IN FACT, ON THAT RAINY AUTUMN DAY, MERLE MADE ME STAY INSIDE OUR ALICE STREET APARTMENT,  UNTIL THE EARLY AFTERNOON. I WAS ANGRY ABOUT HER INTERVENTION BUT IT WAS OBVIOUS SHE HAD SOME DEEP MOTHERLY FEELING, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN MORTAL DANGER IF I'D GONE OUT THAT MORNING. "AN INSTINCT," SHE USED TO CALL IT, WHENEVER SHE WAS INCONVENIENCING ME....TO SAVE MY LIFE. SHE HAD A LOT OF WARNINGS ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS; MOST I DIDN'T RESPECT, BUT THIS ONE, I BOWED TO HER INSISTENCE.
     SHE ASKED IF I WANTED TO WALK UPTOWN WITH HER, AFTER LUNCH, AND THAT MEANT A CHANCE TO GET SOME CENT CANDY, AND MAYBE A SMALL PACKAGE OF ARMY MEN; AND POSSIBLY A DINKY TOY TO ADD TO MY COLLECTION. WHEN WE GOT TO WHAT WE CALL THE HUNT'S HILL BRIDGE, ACROSS THE MUSKOKA RIVER, A STONE'S THROW TO THE MAIN STREET, WE HEARD ALL THE SIRENS OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND THE TOWN SIREN AT THE FIRE HALL. AMBULANCES AND POLICE CARS PASSED US WITH A ROAR. WE SAW DRIVERS ACCELERATING THEIR CARS AND PASSING OTHERS, IN WHAT GAVE EVERY APPEARANCE OF A WIDESPREAD DISASTER, GOING ON SOMEWHERE CLOSE. WHEN WE WERE PASSING THE FORMER MUSKOKA TRADING COMPANY, WE SAW MY FATHER ROUNDING THE TURN BY THE DOWNTOWN GARAGE, AND HE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP WHEN HE SAW US WALKING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. "THANK GOD," WAS ALL HE COULD SAY, OVER AND OVER. "THERE'S BEEN A CAVE IN, AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW MANY KIDS ARE BURIED IN THE TUNNEL," HE YELLED AT US. WELL SIR, IT WAS THE DAY I UNDERSTOOD, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, THE VALUE OF A MOTHER'S INTUITION. MY TWO MATES FROM BRACEBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL HAD BEEN KILLED IN THAT TUNNEL CAVE-IN, AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE THAT MORNING TO HELP OUT. IT WAS MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH TRAGEDY RESULTING IN DEATH. SEEING PEOPLE RUNNING WITH SHOVELS, TOWARD WHERE THE CAVE-IN OCCURRED, HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON A LOT OF US KIDS, WATCHING AS OUR PARENTS GOT INVOLVED TO SAVE LIVES. THERE WAS A SUSPICION, THAT MANY MORE KIDS WERE IN THAT CAVE-IN, SO PARENTS ALL OVER TOWN, DID AN INVENTORY OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS. I HATED IT WHEN I WAS DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WITH MY MATES, BUT I WAS ALIVE BECAUSE OF MY MOTHER'S SENSE OF IMPENDING DISASTER.
     AS MY OWN ISSUE WITH SUPERSTITION, I ABANDONED TWO SONGS, FROM OUR SINGING CLASS AT PUBLIC SCHOOL, THAT I HAD BEEN SINGING OVER AND OVER FOR THOSE TWO WEEKS, LEADING UP TO THE DEATHS OF THESE FINE YOUNG CHAPS. I BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY, THAT THESE TWO WONDERFUL, WELL KNOWN, TRADITIONAL SONGS, BOTH DEALING WITH DEATH, AND ITS AFTERMATH, CURSED THOSE TWO BOYS TO DEATH.....AND THAT IF I EVEN HUMMED THE TUNE THERE-AFTER, I WOULD BE DESTINING SOMEONE ELSE I KNEW, TO A TERRIBLE DEMISE. TO THIS DAY, I WILL START HUMMING ONE OF THEM, FROM MEMORY, AND IMMEDIATELY CEASE WHEN I RECOGNIZE THEIR SIGNIFICANCE TO THAT FATEFUL AUTUMN DAY. I WILL NOT EVEN NAME THE SONGS OUT OF MY OWN SUPERSTITION, THAT I MIGHT AGAIN BECKON THE GRIM REAPER.....IF NOT FOR SOMEONE CLOSE TO ME, THEN FOR YOU, THE READER. I HAVE NEVER ONCE OFFERED THE TITLES OF THE SONGS, FOR SUZANNE'S BENEFIT, ALTHOUGH, I HAVE IN FACT, ASKED HER, FOR PERSONAL REASONS, TO STOP SINGING ONE OF THE TWO SONGS, ON AN OCCASION WHEN SHE WAS PLAYING OUR PUMP ORGAN. CRAZY? IRRATIONAL? POST TRAUMATIC STRESS ISSUES? I DON'T KNOW BUT I WILL CARRY THIS TO MY GRAVE, THAT'S FOR CERTAIN. I AVOIDED THE GRAVE BY LISTENING TO MY MOTHER, SO I AM ALWAYS LISTENING AND LEARNING FROM SAGE ADVICE.....EVEN FROM THE OLD-OLD TIMERS.
     I WILL HAVE MORE STORIES ON FOLK LORE AND REGIONAL SUPERSTITIONS, IN THE NEXT BLOG. THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING TODAY. AND SHOULD YOU KNOCK OVER A SALT SHAKER, REMEMBER TO PICK IT UP, WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND, AND TOSS A FEW SPRINKLES OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER. OR ELSE!