-‘38 -

in our Summer finery, white kayser glgzes-silk stockings and white canvas shoes
included. Suddenly out of the west came dark clouds but on the principle that if
you ignored them they would go away, we carried on. From the poultry exhibit to the
fancy goods and flower show we traipsed when suddenly and without a by-your-leave,
within seconds we were up to our shin bones in rain water. The Fairground buildings
could not gebin to afford shelter for all the people. Families instantly sought out
their members from the far corners.

Father was a pragmatist. He said, "we will leave for home immediately,-—before
the dirt road softens. Since the rain has come down so heavily and so quickly, it
will have run off. We leave now." we did. The only one who might have preceded us
would be Dr. Cunningham (H.C.) in one of hisirequent races with the stork.

And none too soon! thhers' highly-bred cockerels were, without exception, lying
flat on their backs, eyes closed, stone cold, with their legs absolutely stiff and
fully extended. Nbr did their scanty plumage even begin to cover their anatomy.
These blue-blooded males, ignoring the open-mouthed coops, hadn't the sense to go in
out of the rain!

Mother was near the point of collapse. "The rinsing tubs, the copper boiler,
the clothes basket and anything else you can find," she commanded. No thought was
given to our already ruined clothing or footwear. These stupid roosters-to-be were
piled two and three deep into the containers and taken into the kitchen. A fire was
lit in the stove, windows were closed, and the WATKINS' LINIMENT bottle brought down
from the shelf. "Good for man or Beast" the instructions read. That was good enough
for mother! In turn, each bird was given a swig of this 67¢ alcohol mixture diluted
with warm water and a little sugar and milk. wasn't that the way mother used it for
herself for chill? Sugar being a first-aid remedy for quick energy never occurred to
her. The milk was just for appearances, -- it didn't look so 'strong'.

Any bird that didn't relax immediately, was given a second swig. Nor did her
temper or consternation subside at my Father's continuous and hearty laughter and
frequent reminders that never to have a casualty in any venture would mean that she
(mankind) would get too much money. "Pinpmoney" was her interpretation.

A bleary eye opened and an occasional throaty rattle was heard. In due time all
those chickens were staggering around dead drunk. But survive they did. The supply
of WATKINS' LINIMENT fortunately held up. mother decided right then and there, never
again to have Plymouth Rocks so highly bred that they didn't have the intelligence
to observe the first law of nature. Submitted by Mary waddell Laing. Daughter.

Farm home N.E. 26-6-3.

SPERLING TRAGEDIES
Lyle Brown, brother of A. K. Brown, drowned in a dugout on their farm south
of Sperling. Son of Mr. and mrs. Chas. Colpitts drowned. Robert, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Jacob Tjaden, drowned in cistern.
1922 - Helen, daughter of ur. and mrs. Jacob Tjaden, drowned in dugout.
1924 - Simon Anderson burned to death when his clothing caught fire from a gasoline
engine.
1927 - mrs. Gates and three children perished in a fire which burned their home.
193” — August lst, Retha Stewart slipped into the dugout on their farm east of Sperling.
Her father, mr. Thos. Stewart jumped in to save her - both were drowned.
1940 - Gordon - younger son of Hr. and Mrs. O.R. Brown died from injuries he received
when caught in a moving wagon wheel.
1941 - June 24 - Peter, eldest son of Mr. and mrs. David Hildebrand drowned in the
dugout on their farm north west of Sperling.
1943 - Aug. Blst - mr. David Hildebrand died in Carman Hespital as a result of a combin:
accident. He was survived by his wife and 8 children. a
In early February, 1923 a terrific three day blizzard piled snow into Sperling and
surrounding districts. Snow banks reached the upstair windows in the T.A. Hobbs Drug
Store, which was later Nae and Bill Davidson's store. A tunnel had to be dug to enter
the front door. Schools were closed during the storm. A few weeks later warm spring
weather brought a flood of water suddenly one afternoon, which washed out the wooden
sidewalks and the road between the school and “r. Borwman's home, now the Fred
Gehring residence. It was not safe to drive van teams through this water so Ed

  
 

Anderson, Balfour, Ed Mhloney and the principal, A.V. Pigott, wearing long rubber boots,
carried the school pupils one by one to the north edge of the water where the vans
were waiting. Some of the younger girls, Reta Waddell, Betty Mackenzie and others