The school was not large enough to accommodate the rural pupils in the following year, so I attended St. Mary’s Academy in Winnipeg For the next three years of my high school. I can surely say they were happy years as the Sisters were so very kind to all of us and certainly tried to make it a home away from home. We learned so many extra accomplishments such as sewing, mending, embroidering. painting and how to entertain. We also took piano lessons and were in the choir.

The Bells of St. Mary’s was “our” song, and how we made the choir loft echo when each day we sang it! Even today when I hear it on radio or television, it leaves a feeling of nostalgia.

in my last term, I can remember the Prince of Wales visited Winnipeg. Sister Superior came to the study hall quite excited and told us he was to come

”to St. Mary’s for a luncheon.

After the luncheon was completed, the Sisters and all of us said goodbye. Then Superior complimented us on our excellent behavior and informed us that iii-appreciation, the Prince had ordered ice cream and a generous supply of chocolates to be delivered for the Sisters and all the students. Being genuine kids at heart, we decided the treats just topped off the entire day.

Upon leaving St. Mary’s, my ambition was to teach school, and on making . inquiries, Dr. Fletcher, Deputy Minister of Education, told me there was a ' vacancy at the school near Morden and advised me to apply. He said it was just for a short period until Normal School was out, and it would give me an oppor— tunity to see if I realty liked teaching. Then if so, I could make my application for Normal School training. I sent in my application and was accepted.

On January 2nd, I920 I took the train to Morden armed with a new set of World books and my pen and pencils and pondered what the future would hold for me.

i was met at the train by a member of the community with a horse and cutter, and it was a blustery cold day. When we turned North on First Street, there were no houses on either side of the road, just farming land; until we came to the fair grounds and there was a grandstand and a few small buildings to house the stock for the annual fair. Then open farm land on both sides of the road until we came near the shelter belt of Cheval Creek and its heavy bush. We passed some homes and l was told I would have pupils from them. Then crossed the bridge and there was my first school — “Cheval”.

The next morning, I was off to school early to meet my own pupils. I am really sorry that I cannot remember all their names, but every desk was filled. When we stood up to sing O Canada, I could see several of the boys and some of the girls were as tall or taller than I. There were at least 23 or 24 pupils — Mable and Merle Barkley, Lemar Keir, the Hiebert family, Martins, Jimmie Savizky, and 1 know there were others. Which included the Fred George Family. There were two boys and one girl. We had the pleasure of visiting with George and his lovely wife a few weeks ago.

At that time it seemed that teaching was used as a stepping stone for other

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