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[Welland Telegraph, 18 September 1891]
There’s a hole filled with bull frogs galore
Just east of the Red Rocker furniture store
Where pollywogs thrive
And good citizens strive
Some plan to contrive
To keep the foul smell from their houses
Which the breeze o’er the frog pond arouses.
Filled with rubbish, and dirt, and old bones
Rags and tin cans, a few bricks and stones
Its water grow thick
Till the smell makes you sick
And you pass by it quick
Heave a sigh of relief as you strike the fresh air
Away from the fumes of the pollywogs’ lair.
It’s bad for the health of those who live near
It keeps them from sleep and diseases they fear
Go by when you please
One whiff of the breeze-
Whew! Limburger cheese!
Put a cork in your nose, give the place a wide berth
And make up your mind it’s the worst spot on earth.
Its fame has gone forth through the land
The stale, heavy odor is always at hand
Till you close up your smeller
And swear at the “feller”
Who owns the old cellar
And vow if you had him-the man of such riches
You’d dump him right into it, body and breeches.
It’s a boon to the doctors and vendors of pills
For it adds a big chunk to their customers’ bills
The waters are green
With diseases they team
Till it’s well to be seen
That with typhoid and ague it’s filled to the top
That foul smelling hole on the old vacant lot.
Complaints had been made without number
Till the council woke up from their slumber
Then aldermen wise
With opening eyes
Paid heed to the cries
Of the public which turned up its suffering nose
And threatened such wanton neglect to expose.
The owners were told of its horrible state
And warned to get on to a good lively gait
And fill up the place
That was a menace
To the whole human race
Or the laws of the land would be brought into use
To compel them to drain off that hole full of juice.
The summer is over and still it remains-
No pen can describe the filth it contains-
So now, Mr. Mayor
To make the thing square
Rise up and declare
That the hole shall be filled and no time be lost
And the owners charged up with the whole of the cost.
[Canada First and other poems by James A Ross. 1920. Page 50.]
The sap is runnin’ from the tree,
The crow is cawin’ loud
The sky is dancin’ bright and blue
And scatterin’ every cloud;
The bumble bees are buzzin’ round,
The air is like a dream;
We’ll soon be catchin’ catfish
From the old mill-stream.
The blackbird’s pourin’ forth his song,
The frog is croakin’ gay,
The robin flies from tree to tree
And pipes his merry lay;
The speckled hen is cacklin’ loud,
The sun sets pink and cream;
We’ll soon be catchin catfish
From the old mill-stream.
The grass is springin’ fresh and green,
The tree-buds shootin’ out,
The blue-bells and the daisies
Are poppin’ all about;
The brook is tumblin’ o’er the rocks,
Its spray a silvery gleam;
We’re pullin’ out the catfish
From the old mill-stream.
By James A. Ross
Let all our voices ring with praise
To Him from whom all blessings flow.
Join in with harp, and may all strains
In one Thanksgiving chorus grow.
Give thanks for sunshine’s azure sky
Scarce e’er destroyed by storm king’s blast;
For memories dear, whose golden chain
Links present family to the past.
Give thanks for all the bounteous wealth
Of harvest gathered o’er the world:
For peace within our native land,
And Freedom’s ensign still unfurled.
Give thanks for wealth, for health, for life,
For ever blessing, great or small.
Praise Him in thought, in word, in deed;
The precious fountain of them all.
Taken from “Canada First and other poems by James A. Ross, 1920“
A Pair of Convict’s Trousers and a Live Turkey
[The following is the last article which Mr. Field wrote for publication]
[People’s Press, 27 December 1898]
During the entire period of my connection with The Chicago News it was the benevolent custom of the proprietors of that paper to give a turkey to all their married employees at Christmas time. When the Christmas season came one year, I found that turkeys had palled upon me, and I thought I would rather have a pair of pants. I therefore sent a polite little note to Editor-in-Chief Stone, saying that if it was all the same to him I would take a pair of pants instead of a turkey for a Christmas gift, as my soul felt no longing for a turkey, but sighed for pants.
Now, Editor Stone was a bit of a joker in his way, and, liking the modest tone of my petition, he obtained from the warden of the penitentiary at Joliet a pair of striped pants such as are worn by the convicts in that institution. On Christmas eve the package containing them was sent to me with the best Christmas wishes of the concern, just as the turkey had always been. Editor Stone and the entire writing and business force, whom he had taken into his confidence, thought they had played a splendid practical joke. I turned the laugh on them, however, by donning the pants the next morning and wearing them constantly every day for a week, expressing my gratitude for them, and telling everybody about the office that I never had a pair I liked so well and that thenceforward I would wear no other kind.
When the next Christmas came I again addressed a polite little note to editor Stone, stating that I did not care for the mere corpse of a turkey, but preferred to have one animated by a soul, or in other words a live one, in order that I might keep it in my yard for a pet. On Christmas eve I was sitting at my desk when suddenly I heard what the classics call “a strong noise” above my head, and down came a bouncing big turkey over the partition dividing the editorial rooms. The bird gave abundant evidence that he was strongly endowed with life, and there could be no question that my desires had been gratified, and that I was at last the proud possessor of a live turkey. I did not want him in my room just then, so with great presence of mind I leaped upon my desk and “shooed” the bird out of my room. He went flapping, jumping, gobbling all through the editorial and reportorial rooms, knocking down ink-bottles, scattering and destroying copy, overturning and breaking the shades on the drop lights, and doing many dollars’ worth of damage. At length, after a long and exciting chase, the entire editorial and reportorial force, with the single exception of myself, succeeded in capturing the bird. Thus I once more secured the laugh on my associates, and after that no further attention was paid to my petitions at Christmas time.
Eugene Field
2 September 1850-4 November 1895
How She Kept a Contract Made For Her by Her Father
By F.A. Mitchel
Copyright 1910 by American Press Association
[Welland Tribune, 16 February 1911]
Dorinda Childs and I were born the same day. My father and my uncle, Dorinda’s father, made an agreement that we two children should marry on our twenty-first birthday-that is-if such a result could be brought about. When we came of age my father had been dead ten years. A few months before I came to my majority I received a letter from my uncle informing me of the agreement made twenty one years before. We lived a thousand miles apart, and I had never seen either him or his daughter.
I am of rather a romantic disposition, and the idea of this marriage was fascinating to me. I wrote my uncle that I would be pleased to make the acquaintance of the young lady to whom I had been pledged and would as soon as convenient go to pay them a visit. Meanwhile I would like a photograph of Dorinda. My uncle replied that he had told her to send me the likeness, and it arrived soon after his letter, inclosed with a very few words which did not refer to the contract, but the writer asked for my photograph which I sent her.
I was delighted with Dorinda’s picture. She looked out of a pair of tender eyes at me, either blue or gray, while in the expression there was indication of character. I found myself looking at the picture a dozen times during the day I received it, went to sleep with under my pillow and dreamed of the original all night. I spent several days framing a letter of thanks.
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Successful Closing Exercises of the Public Kindergarten
“The Kindergarten Children invite you to their Closing on
Tuesday, December the twenty-second at 10 o’clock, 1903.”
[Welland Tribune, 25 December 1903]
Neat little dimity cards with the foregoing and a miniature drawing of an Xmas stocking filled with presents, were the invitations received by the children’s parents and a few friends.
The kindergarten being now a branch of our public educational system, there was more interest than usual taken in the Christmas closing, and it was truly a delighted audience which gathered at the Central school on Tuesday morning to see the little tots go through the different exercises and drills, the result of the term’s training. The visitors were warmly greeted by Miss Mackie and her assistant, Miss Willson, and seated in the kindergarten room.
The kindergarten children present numbered 24, and were grouped together at two long tables at the front. On the blackboards were many beautiful and artistic colored illustrations by Miss Mackie. An Xmas tree covered with presents by the children was in one corner.
Shortly after the appointed hour the proceedings opened with a beautiful prayer by the children. Then they sang many songs all of which were descriptive of some occupation or fact, and were asked questions concerning each song, which they answered promptly and correctly. Each song was accompanied by representative motions. Singing is one of the best methods of impressing a thought on a child’s mind. The Christmas hymns taught the children about the birth of Christ, and his mission to earth. The “Good Morning” song was a very pretty one, and told of the opening of the day and the rising of the sun. Then came several songs of the approaching winter and signs thereof, such as the blackbird’s flight, etc. The appearance of Jack Frost brought out the need of warm woolen clothing. From what animal the wool is obtained, and who kept the sheep, and where and how they were kept, were among the questions asked and correctly answered. Several songs all closely connected, told of the transformation of the grain to bread. The farmer’s work in preparing the soil was first taken up, then the sowing of the seed, the growth of the grain, the harvest, the grist mill and its propelling power, the flour, and then the baker and his products. The song about Santa Claus, describing his person, occupation and manner of distributing presents, was entered into heartily by the pupils, who fairly shouted for joy. Several Christmas songs, including one about the presents the children had made throughout the term, were next sung after which the presents were taken off the tree and given to the pupils who gave them to their parents. They were neat little sachets and napkin rings and really showed wonderful skill considering the age of the pupils making them.
Marches and drills were next in order, all of which was extremely interesting to the spectators, and in which the children excelled and took great delight. Sewing cards were then distributed with outlines on them, which were traced out by the children with needle and thread.
The children were then asked what game they would like to play, and chose the ball game without hesitation. This consisted of trying to roll the ball so that they would stop in a ring in the centre of the room. Each successful effort was applauded by the children. They were then asked to pick out among the various colored balls the two colors that went best together, then to arrange them so that the colors blended, forming a rainbow. These developed the color test and taste. A test for the hearing was that one child was blindfolded, when another spoke, the former to recognize the voice. Another test was, one child was blindfolded and another left the room and the former being unmasked was to speak the name of the missing one. The art of deportment was taught in the dancing game and it was really surprising to see how well the little ones acted their parts. Other games which developed both body and mind were played but which we have not space to describe it.
A “Good Bye” song by the children closed one of the most interesting and pleasing events ever transpiring in Welland, and those who were present are now stronger than ever of the opinion that the Kindergarten under the able management of Miss Mackie, is a splendid institution for the town.
That Was a Long Time Coming
By Edna Winthrop
[People’s Press, 18 February 1913]
In 1849 Edward Poindexter left his home in the most east and his ladylove, Ellen Crane, to join the gold hunters in California. She received several letters from him, the last at the beginning of the new year, the mid-year of the nineteenth century. In this letter, Poindexter said: “I shall send you a valentine, calculating to mail it so that it shall reach you on the 14th of February. The mails are the surest means of transportation from here to the east, but, even they are not very regular. If you don’t receive my valentine, say, within ten days after Valentine’s day, go to the postoffice and inquire for it, writing me at the same time.”
The 14th of February came, but no valentine. Instead a letter came saying that Poindexter had been taken ill a fortnight before and had died. He had struck a vein of ore, which he had instructed the writer to sell and send her the proceeds.
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[Welland Telegraph, 5 January 1912]
We have here a handsome portrait of Alex. Brown’s team of oxen, Buck and Bright. This speedy pair was engaged for the summer on the Lyon’s Creek Drain contract, but has since been sold to a Jordan man. It is many years since Welland saw a pair of real oxen. The exhibit here is probably the last of the species. West Main street can be seen in the background.
Welland Telegraph, 23 December 1910
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[Welland Telegraph, 27 December 1910]
The streets on Saturday night were filled with parcel-laden people. Many did not heed the “shop early” advices and the stores on Saturday night did a rushing business.
The manner in which Christmas Day was celebrated in the different homes varied. Christmas services were given in the churches and were attended by large crowds of Christmas worshipers. The weather was real Christmas weather, with plenty of snow on the ground. The sleighing was good.
Hundreds from out of town spent the holidays with relatives. Others went out of town for Sunday and Monday. The Christmas travel on the trains surpassed all other years.
At the Post Office
Business at the local post office during the holiday season just passed reached enormous proportions being double that of other years in some lines.
WellandHistory.ca: An article about postcards that appeared in the People’s Press in 1906.
[People's Press, 1 May 1906]
A good way to see Welland is to look at the photograph postcards in the Tribune window. Thirty-four different views of the town. New ones added this week: Welland Opera house, Cordage Company’s big boarding house, East Main street, West Main street. Welland River bridge, T.H & B train crossing, M.C.R. bridge. It’s a cheap way too. It don’t cost much more to buy 3 for 10 cents; 8 for 25 cents-Tribune Stationery Store.
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