Books and Being Saved for the Lord - Part 1

A great change came into my life in my early teens. I discovered books - not cheap books but the best in English literature - only the best! I have Dr George Fraser of Parkhill for this discovery. Dr Fraser was our dentist. My teeth had to be straightened. This meant weekly sessions to the dentist that continued over the next couple of years.

He had the only library in the village. How impressed I was with his book lined study. He was interested in my mind and took it upon himself of acquainting me with the classics. We would discuss only books during my weekly sessions with him.

Seeing I was interested he began loaning me those suited to my age. Soon I had advanced to the novels of Charles Dickens. A new world  was open to me. I was in my early teens, I believe.

I began quetioning my parents and sunday school teachers on the beliefs and thoughts I was supposed to accept.This proved to be very embarrassing to them. I can remember asking Mrs Mitchell, my Sunday school teacher what happened to Chinese babies who died from starvation before they were christened.  She had told me Christianity was necessary to take us to heaven. Many Chinese were still heathens then weren't acceptable to the Lord.  She was very embarrsed when I asked her. Finally I asked. " Would they go to Hell?" After some hesitation she answered "I suppose they would".
I held this against the Lord. I thought it was very cruel of him to send babies to Hell who hadn't lived long enough to be saved by our Christian missionaries.

Soon afterwards a Carnegie Library was built in Parkhill. What a momentous occasion that was for me. It turned me into the book worm I am today. I am never lonesome as long as I have books to read. I don't need people, but I need books!

Then I was fourteen and mother and father decided I was old enough to become a member of the Presbyterian church. My sisters Olive and Lloy were already members. Olive, their obedient daughter, joined without a murmer of dissent. Lloy was quite emotional when her turn came and I would sometimes see her in her bedroom praying it all hours of the day preparing herself for the first communion.

My parents weren't prepared for my rebellion. I think I was still holding it against the Lord for those little Chinese babies put in Hell. because they died before they could be christened.

Crassly and Hunter, the great Evangelists had come to Parkhill to hold nightly meetings in the Methodist church. It was quite a social affair. Everyone attended, especially women and children. I went with mother.
It was an emotional experience. After a very emotional sermon on the joys of being saved and the tortures awaiting us in Hell if we weren't, we'd all get down on our knees to ask forgiveness for our sins, and this would open our hearts to the Lord.

When we arose, the organ was playing and the choir led us in a song I still remember. It went something like this.
"I am coming Lord, I am coming;
coming near to thee
Wash me, cleanse me with thy blood
which flows from Calvay"

As if under a spell we marched down the aisle to the front benches and were blessed by messrs Crassly and Hunter. To mother's horror I would not accompany her. I sat in the back row with the sinners. For five nights I went back. Mother insisted but for five nights I sat in the same back of the church. How humiliating to mother!

School and the Great British Empire

I was six years old when we moved to Parkhill. We were now in the twentieth century. I knew nothing of the world outside our small community. Soon I was studying geography and a bit of history at school. Both subjects fascinated me. The good noble Queen Victoria died on Jan 22nd, 1901 at the age of 81. She was succeeded by her equally "good and noble son" Edward VII. To have even questioned their goodness and nobleness would have been treachery. They ruled over The British Empire. Those red spots on the globe were the countries fortunate indeed to be ruled over by our noble monarchs. No harm could come to them. I was so proud to think that Canada was part of that British Empire.

We were never told of the starving people of India. If we had been told we wouldn't have believed there were starving people. How could they if they were part of the British Empire, ruled by our good and noble king Edward VII! It must be unbelievable to you how misinformed we were about the world we lived in. The Indians were "the savages" who wanted to ambush and scalp us. The Chinese were heathen who hadn't learned the words of God till missionaries went in to save their souls.          

Mother in missionary form decided to take on three Chinese laudrymen who opened a laundry in Parkhill; also one of their sons - a small lad we liked very much. Poor lad! He had a very bad time at school where students would throw stones at him yelling after him as he fled "chink, chink, chinaman ..." He persevered. One day he was brave enough to call back at them  "You are bad boys. My Jesus would not like you to throw stones at me".

I am very proud to remember my parents were not intolerant. These Chinese laundrymen. were our neighbours. We exchanged gifts at Christmas time. They'd give us Chinese nuts, Chinese tea and Chinese coins. I know mother gave them gifts also. After all she was their Sunday school teacher!

When father died he lay in a casket in our living room. Everyone came to pay their last respects. Our Chinese neighbours came.  Imagine our surprise when one of them bent down before his casket, smote him on the chest and said smilingly "Goodbye Mr Fenn. You were very good man. You will got to Heaven".

Mom, Moving to Parkhill

But our lives were soon to change. On a rare vacation father went to visit a harness maker in Parkhill who had a much bigger store than his. It was owned by an elderly gentleman by the name of Thomas Watson, an Englishman, who was about to retire. Father bought the business. I am sure it was a cash sale for my father always paid in full for everything he purchased.

Now I will talk about a bit about mother and how hard father's thriftyness was on her. She loved pretty things in her home but how could she indulge her desires for nicer furniture, pretty dresses and above all fine china! Where there is a will, there is a way! She found a way to buy that lovely set of Limoges Irene and Cathy will inherit. Our old cow Blackie gave us more milk than we could use. Albert Berham who owned the china shop in Parkhill was displaying in his windows this beautiful china. How could she get a set when her husband only gave her 2$ a week for groceries? (however the house was well stocked with food).

She entered into her sweet plan with daughters . We would help her. We went out and got milk customers. We took on just enough to supply ourselves without father guessing. Every morning and evening we would streak out to supply our customers with their daily quota. We sold a quart of milk for 10 cents. It took years for mother to finish her set - but in the end she did. I don't know if father knew about our deception. He probably did and was greatly amused!

So Cathy do be very careful when you wash your Limoges plates, cups and saucers. How many quarts of milk did your grandmother Fenn have to sell to purchase one plate, and one cup and saucer.

Just some photos

The few pictures that we have of mother from long ago were taken by box cameras and invariably the grainy photos were of many people. I haven't found any portrait pictures of my mother. Anyway here is what we have.