an inch of his life, another polished his hooves, and yes, they even sneaked off with some of Enid’s toilet water to sponge Smoky. He was a pampered pet!

Our community had a tragedy too, the polio epidemic of 1946. Everyone in the community was quarantined, the store was closed as well. The village was like a morgue, people were even afraid to pass through. The Raymond Wood family moved their children to a summer cottage at the shore. Several surveys were done to determine the source of the virus; however, nothing was discovered. The polio epidemic followed a flu epidemic, and some thought the same virus may have caused both illnesses. Four families were affected: Parker Delaney’s two grand-children, three of Sheldon Dixon’s children, three of Clayton Thomas’ children, and one of Sydney Dawson’s children. The two children most seriously ill, Gerald Dixon and Judy Thomas, spent several months at the Polio Center in Charlottetown to receive treat- ment. The illness affected Judy’s leg and Gerald’s arm. Judy, who was nine years old, had the first operation of its kind on the Island. Dr. Gencheff inserted clips in the long bones of her good leg to restrict its growth, her stricken leg was about one and a half to two inches shorter. Her ankle joint was also fused. No help could be given for Gerald’s arm.

We had time to be neighborly then, no TV, fewer cars, and few summer homes. We lived simply; no junk food, lots of milk and homegrown vegetables; apples were our main fruit. We canned and preserved berries, cured our hams, and canned our own chicken. We didn’t have an orange every day. We also made fudge and molasses taffy. All in all, it was a pretty good life.

There is a destiny that makes us brothers

None goes his way alone All we send into the lives of others

Comes back into our own.

Enid Thomas Recalls Teenagers’ Social Life

Social life for teenagers in the mid forties would be looked on today as perhaps corny or square, but there was fun galore and many hearty laughs without the benefit of television or videos. I ’m bored was an expression not heard during that era.

Summertime started with a few of the more daring individuals having the first swim in Lord’s Pond on the 24th of May. This was a ritual, regardless of the temperature! Swimming and fishing in both the upper and lower ponds kept the boys and girls active through the summer season. Of course, there was also the annual dip at Harry Inman’s shore after the school picnic injune. Friday nights were taken up with a walk to Young Peoples at the Baptist Hall where excess steam was released with games of volleyball or double dodge. If anyone was

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