14

The New Arrival
A short story from "Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories"
By H.B. Adshead
Part 6
Putting on my sheep skin and mitts, I took the lantern and waded to the stable, put the wet harness on wet horses, hitched them to the old buggy and started to find the trail that ran across the creek.
We found it and I turned the horses towards the wide stretch of water. The crossing wasn't very wide but fortunately the width of water made the current not so swift in the center. Splash, splash, splash, splash went the horses' feet. Higher and higher came the water. It was now up to the horses' shoulders and into the bottom of the buggy. I put my feet up on the seat and held the lines firm. "Steady girls, steady girls. Easy girls, feel your way." I always talked to my horses, especially when we got in a tight spot. They seemed to know what was said. "Steady girls, we must be somewhere near the crossing." Kerplunk, splash. Bell, the off mare, had disappeared, but Colie held the trail and Bell got her feet on the trail again as we swung to the left, but the buggy's right wheel went kerplunk too but we did not upset. "Close call that, girls. Easy now were out of the channel and on the flat

15

The New Arrival, part 7: A short story from 'Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories'
7 August 1899
Olds NWT Canada

Credits:
H.B. Adshead

16

The New Arrival
A short story from "Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories"
By H.B. Adshead
Part 7

When I reached John's house I made known my mission and very quickly my neighbor's wife got dressed and putting on her rubber coat (still raining) we started back. When we arrived at the edge of the water I had to convince Mrs. Deans that we could navigate the channel. I had to leave her on a knoll and drive across alone and come back again before I could persuade her that she might venture across. So putting her feet on the cushion and sitting on them so that she would not get wet when the water came in around the dashboard, we managed to get home without mishap.
Then came the journey for good old Doc. Kay. It was just breaking daylight, and through mud, rain and slush the miles wore on until doc.'s house was reached. "That you A?" he called out. "Yes," I answered, "how did you know?" "Oh," he answered, "I just thought the affair would come off in this weather."
Lighting his pipe, and wrapping up both himself and his case to keep dry, we retraced our steps, facing the eternal drizzle, sleet and wind.

17

The New Arrival, part 8: A short story from 'Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories'
8 August 1899
Olds NWT Canada

Credits:
H.B. Adshead

18

The New Arrival
A short story from "Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories"
By H.B. Adshead
Part 8
And arrived at the shack where the water was running down the walls and dripping from the roof, except in the one spot where the boards on the roof had made it fairly dry.
Time passed from noon to dark and from dark to midnight, and good old Doc.'s face looked grave, as it was evident the mother's strength was failing. He whispered something to me about instruments, and there amid the eternal rain, doctor, nurse and mother battled for life, and it was not until the clock said 2 a.m. that this Alberta boy was born.
How many pioneer women, not having medical aid, have passed into the great beyond? And yet, with uncomplaining, unflinching courage, they have entered the valley of the shadow and battled with the king of terrors to bring into being a new human life. And we men call them the weaker sex!
Least we forget, again I say, All honor to the pioneer mothers of Alberta.

19

John and Mary Deans with some of their children.
1899
6th Siding (Olds) NWT Canada

20

The Country Dance, pt 1: A short story from 'Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories'
1 September 1900
Olds NWT Canada

Credits:
H.B. Adshead

21

The Country Dance
A short story from “Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories”
By H.B. Adshead Read by Shirley Van Eaton great grand daughter of the Deans

Part 1

I have stated that another form of our social life, where we met each other and exchanged views and got acquainted, was the country dance or surprise party. When it is considered that often our nearest neighbors were a mile or more distant, and rural telephones were not in existence, it will easily be seen that any legitimate form of recreation that caused neighbors so far distant, to get together, to get to know each other better, to roll the mists away, and also to keep settlers who were more or less tied to their land, from getting into ruts, did good service and encouraged a community spirit.
Modern dances, such as fox trots, dog trots, turkey trots, and other trots, tangos or shimmies were unknown to us. The majority of the dances were square dances, cotilion, quadrilles, with a waltz or military schottische thrown in by way of variety.

22

The Country Dance, pt 2: A short story from 'Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories'
2 September 1900
Olds NWT Canada

Credits:
H.B. Adshead

23

The Country Dance
A short story from “Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories”
By H.B. Adshead

Part 2

My old friend John Deans nearly always “showed up” at these dances, with his ruddy, rotund face beamed with delight as we together, two fiddles and an autoharp, scraped out such music as “Soldier’s Joy,” “Irish Washerwoman,” “The Girl I Left Behind Me”; but when in the exuberance of his music John entered on one of those peculiar Scotch strathspeys, I was compelled to leave him alone in his glory, and watch with amazement his bow produce those hemi-demi-semi-quavers for which that class of music is famed.
Perhaps the most important person at the dance next to the fiddler was the “caller,” floor manager or director of ceremonies. The figures in the cotilion had to be “called off,” and few dances proceeded without the “caller.” In fact, upon his pep and wit depended much of the success of the party.

24

The Country Dance, pt 3: A short story from 'Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories'
3 September 1900
Olds NWT Canada

Credits:
H.B. Adshead

25

The Country Dance
A short story from “Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories”
By H.B. Adshead

Part 3

His calls would often be in a sort of rhyme to the music, and in the third set or breakdown (I never knew just why it was called a breakdown), he excelled himself. To the vivacious tune of “The Irish Washerwoman” he would call:
“Ladies lead up to the right of the ring,
And when you get there you may balance and swing;
Then back to your place, remember the call,
Allemande left and promenade all.”

26

The Country Dance, pt 4: A short story from 'Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories'
4 September 1900
Olds NWT Canada

Credits:
H.B. Adshead

27

The Country Dance
A short story from “Pioneer Tales and Other Human Stories”
By H.B. Adshead

Part 4

And when he called “balance all.” Oh, boys, no more noiseless marking time, with slippers. Every gent in the dance, old or young, was expected to “hoe it down,” to emphatically exhibit his best step dance, and astonishing were some of the steps. But on the last note of the bar we all came down with a mighty bang on the floor, even we who did not know any steps could come in on this. Sometimes the caller would sing out a humorous call such as “Swing that girl with the great big feet,” to the merriment of those who were not doing the swinging. The tunes for waltzes were very often the refrains of some well known song, such as “Ehren on the Rhine” or “Dream Faces,” and the ladies would sing the refrain as they danced, which had a very pleasing effect. We were very much of a big happy family.