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'Twas at Naiscoot Station by the CPR track
That a weary old stork set down his pack
He said the ride's over and your now to be
The first female offspring in the Family Tree.
So t'were there I began in nineteen two five
That journey through life, which the stronger survive
Ere I came along there were brothers as well
The older one, Joe, then Alex, and Bill.
Counting us all, some seven are seen
With Dorothy, Madlyna and baby Irene.
Since our own dear parents head up the clan
We proudly add them to make the score nine.
Diverse though our group it was clear in our mind
That strength was in family, we were one of a kind.
Joe was the one with the hunter's skills
He canoed the French River and stalked the back hills
When the wilderness beckoned, he was on his way
And would be gone for many a day.
Alex we know as the dreamier kind
Who loved his guitar and the whispering pine.
He once built an igloo so large and secure
That when all had crawled in, there was yet room for more.
Brother Bill was born with that old wanderlust
But tried to stay clear of the blueberry bush.
When we sisters went picking he'd sit on his tail
Filling the stomach while we filled the pail.
Dear sister Dot came next in the flow
Moody at times but charmingly so.
When the Larchwood Beaus would pay a call
They'd pass me up for being to tall.
But she shared them all whether short or thin
And we would be off to the skating rink.
Sister Madlyna was born to wear a bright smile
Set off with cute dimples which are always in style.
Though timid by nature real life she did face
And all who did know her were charmed by her grace.
Irene being youngest was dear to us all
Though impish and spoiled she was yet our wee doll.
She giggled for real and she'd giggle for fun
Her zesting for life sure put blues on the run.
Dad and his gang kept the section in shape
In forty four years not a mishap took place.
The income was skimpy but Mother made do
With blueberry pies, fish and wild meat stew.
While bolstered by prayers through good and bad weather
It was love and respect that bound us together.
As time marched along life met us in turn
The more we embraced it, the more we all learned.
Nothing stood still and year followed year
As each ventured from home, Mom shed a fresh tear.
We build our new nest, enjoined with a mate
Whom for better or worse we chose freely to take.
Since the eve of our weddings we've had up and down days
In life there's no knowing just what's on the way.
Now it's here where we're at, our offspring and all
Some teens, some weans, some waiting a call.
While happy we are on this great family day
It is much in our mind that some are away.
There's a Dad and a Mom and a dear brother Bill
Even though they're not here, we remember them still.
There's hope in our heart that a great master plan
Will bring us together in a grand peaceful land.
But more so today while here with each other
Let's toast this reunion and plan for another.
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I do believe in miracles for I have known a blessed life, which began on Jan 19th 1922/
A few years earlier my parents with Joe had moved to Naiscoot, a whistle stop on the CPR. The only others there were three other railway workers.
In order to have a doctor present for my birth Mom decided to visit an old friend from England, who lived with her husband Fred Barril in Thessalon.
She was met at the station by Fred on that morning,who started off to his farm by horse and cutter, which was some eight miles distant.
However I decided to make my entry into the world after some four miles, so Fred drove his horse and cutter into a disused barn and my mother onto a bed of straw, where I was born.
So while the temperature ranged between 20 and 30 F below zero I decided to come forth. Fred made a good mid-wife and I soon knew and was comforted by the warmth of my mother's body, as well as the love of God.
My childhood was traumatic, for as a 4 year old I witnessed my mother's unfaithfulness, and when I was 5 my father's tears as he wept like a baby.
As a ten year old I witnessed the face of Jesus in the clouds one bright moonlit night. I had just made a vow to become a boxing champion of Canada, for I had been beaten up and humiliated by the school bully, for I had vowed to show them all one day when I would be a national champion.
Seeing the face of Jesus frightened me and I ran home as fast as I could, but 18 long years later I realized that vow; however I am not a real fighter, I have not got the killer instinct, but do have the help of God.
At 13 I was probably the youngest hobo on the CPR freight trains and was rescued many times. The best memories were getting a raisin pie from the cook on a railway gang, also being taken from beneath a coal car one cold wet November day, when the fireman ushered me to a seat beside the hot boiler, and he even shared his lunch with me.
When I was 19 in the army, I was reading my Bible one day, and when I read Jeremiah's words "I will put My law within them and I shall write it on their hearts and I shall be their God and they shall be My people," I felt God's warmth within me at that time, which stayed with me right through the war.
When I was 29, following a mining accident, I died on the operating table. I was dead for over 4 minutes, but during those minutes the doctor made medical history and world news, in opening up my chest and massaging the heart back to life again, it had never been done before.
The doctor confided in me years later that he seemed to be under some strange force guiding him.
After that I was in a coma for several weeks, to finally regain consciousness, but with no short term memory. With only a long term memory I felt my calling to be coaching boxers.
From 1954 till 1973 I founded seven clubs in England and Australia, realizing six national champions.
In 1973 that came to an abrupt end when I fractured my neck in a diving accident.
I suddenly found that I was a quadrapalegic, and I prayed desperately to be allowed to go on. God answered. Feeling came back to my body, along with an excruciating pain in my neck, but that was secondary, for I could move my body again.
I lived on pain killers for some time till I prayed for release. Once again God said YES. and the pain left me.
However years later when arthritis set in, I finally saw my doctor. I saw him again the next morning after the xrays. His words are still echoing within me, "I don't understand this Mr. Mason, you should either be dead or in a wheel chair."
I knew that he would never accept the truth so I never went back to see him again, and am leaving my life in God's hands.
Since 1973 I have resigned as a YMCA director and have become a lay pastor.
More recently I have joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church, to discover more truths in the Bible
I have not mentioned many Things, Like JOE SAVING ME FROM DROWNING TWICE
from Alex from down under
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