The Secrets of the Jack Pines

© 2012 by Marilyn Chapman. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 01/28/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-2302-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-2300-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-2301-0 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011961947

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Waiver

Acknowledgments

Preface—1910-1914

Forty Years Later

My siblings

Caretakers

Accidents do Happen

What happens in the pantry stays

in the Pantry

Starting School

TV Visitors

Cigarette Run

Visiting on Maatis Road

Niel’s Bribe

Found Dead

You Have Won

The Busy Bee Club

Neighbors

4H & Girls Club

The Boogey Man

Luck of the duck

Come Picnic

Ainie and Jack

Perrier Family

Richards

Grandma & Grandpa

Nevelas’

Wedding Bells

Birthday Party

Christmas

Christmas Tree

Fair Trade

Bucky

Winter Wear

Changes

Life with Jehovah’s Witnesses

A big Eraser

Eino’s Gifts

Our House

Renovations

Heating an old House

Winter Entertainment

Summer Fun

Our Best Friends

The Tai Tai Ladies

Fun with a Plastic Bag

I can see YOU!

More Neighborhood Fun

Circus comes to town

Saturday Matinee

Jumping Tree to Tree

Boating & Picnics

No 911

The Unexpected

Please Wake Up

I promise to stop

Current Affairs

Swoosh

Mills Family

Orange Pop

New Neighbors

What happened to the Pets?

Multi-purpose

Kin-folk

Supper time… . Good Old Supper time

Pustuna

Recipe ~ Pustuna (Finnish Beer)

Where is Mom

Sunday Dinner

OOOPS!

Teasing

Under the Jack Pines

Backfield

And the winner is… .

Are you Poor?

Gifts from Niel

The bet is on

New Barn… New Entrepreneur

Tractor

Cars

Helen’s 13th Birthday

Bus Rides

Helen goes to High school

Grade 7

School Dances

A Different Bed

Visiting the Psychiatric Hospital

School Supplies

Grade 8

Drinking Worsens

Home Alone

Changes in Niel’s Life

Springtime

First Summer Job

Toothless

High School Days

Don’t get sick

High School Buses

Big Move

Cold Hard Winter

Christmas as a Teenager

Helen’s New Job

Dental Work

While Mom’s Away

Skis

A Baby

Get Home on Time

Hitch Hikers

My Dates

Call to Worship

Life of a waitress

A Visit to the Island

The girls learn to drive

Police Car Rides

What’s Going On?

New Boyfriends

Crisis in Ainie’s Life

Likes me, Likes me Not

Getting to Know Bill

Helen

Dirty Laundry

Job Changes

Wedding Bells

Life without an older sister

Where there is smoke…

Up in Flames

The Newest Car

The countdown is getting closer everyday

The Phone Call

Job Offer

Wedding Plans

Wedding Bells are Ringing

Is it yours or mine?

The Greens

A Little Church in the Wildwood

Why can’t you believe like me

We Shall Gather at the River

Changes in Niel’s life

School / Rule Days

Special Delivery

Will History repeat Itself

A Busy Life

Where will we Worship?

The Announcement

Waiver

The Preface to The Secrets of the Jack Pines, dates of birth, death, and immigration are actual. The name of ship crossing the Atlantic is true as per records found on Ancestry.com The events written around these dates is the author’s conception and written merely for entertainment value.

The Secrets of the Jack Pines is a work of the author’s memoirs. Immediate family member’s names are actual. All other character names in the memoirs are used fictatously.

Acknowledgments

All praise to Jesus Christ my Lord and savior, who has blessed my life in un-measurable ways. I find great peace in knowing that God is with me at all times.

Among the most adored are my husband, and our sons and their families for without their support and encouragement, I would still be on page 1.

My beloved sister for without her this journey would never have been so rich in color and excitement. My niece Jodi-Lynn who’s enthusiasm for my writings invigorated me to keep writing. Grateful thanks for the fan letters from the grade 6-7 class of 2010 at Crestview Public School, Murillo, Ontario. Your letters boosted my spirit to keep on writing.

To my long-time friend Glorie who read my draft manuscripts without judgement, and with enthusiasm which inspired me to continue.

Thanks to Irene who edited my raw manuscripts. Your suggestions were appreciated.

Preface—1910-1914

Sofia nervously squeezed her fingers as she stood in line, waiting to board the ship. She kept her head bent down in hopes of not attracting any attention. She inched forward along with the other passengers who also were anticipating the long voyage aboard the Tunisian. Buying the ticket in Liverpool had been easy just as her fiancé Leonard had told her it would be. Boarding the ship without distraction and or disruption was her objective and perhaps the biggest hurdle she would face. She purposely gathered her hair and carefully puffed it up pinning it into place, hoping to add height to her short body. Secretly, she had altered her mother’s best dress to fit her small frame. The trip from Finland to Liverpool England was travelled with ease and without trouble. Leonard had written to her from Canada. He outlined every detail she should take, from escaping her parent’s estate to catching a boat in Helsinki and travelling through the Baltic Sea to Liverpool where she would buy a ticket to Canada. Standing in the boarding line, Sofia felt more assured than ever that she was following her heart and soul to the place she wanted to be. Leonard, had orchestrated her trip perfectly and so far it was faultless. She tried not to think of the discord she had had with her parents. From the day that Leonard started to work for her father and their eyes froze into one another, her parents had disapproved of her having any association with the hired help. Leonard had laughed with her as he excitedly shared that he was saving his money so that he could go to the promised land called Canada. He and his parents had set sail a year prior to Sofia’s departure. Absence made the heart stronger as she anxiously waited for his letters. Her parents were happy that the hired help had moved and rejoiced that it was across the ocean. They tolerated the letters but never gave thought to the plans of escape and marriage expedited in every letter Sofia received from Canada.

Sofia was finally facing the ship’s registrar. She handed the man her boarding pass not paying attention to his face. She listened exceptionally carefully, although he was speaking English which she did not understand, he pointed to blank space on her boarding pass. His chubby finger with a dirty fingernail kept tapping on the blank space. She shrugged her shoulders as his finger tapped impatiently at the blank. You did not put your age on the form, how old are you? She kept shrugging her shoulders as he repeated over and over again how old are you. A voice from directly behind her said 26 right mam, Sofia looked behind her where she saw a young man nodding his head yes. Realizing the urgency she looked directly at the registrar nodded her head in the yes motion and quietly responded 26. Wiping the sweat from his chubby faced brow the registrar stamped her boarding pass and motioned her to step aboard. His day was catching up with him, he had to approve and board over 1460 passengers included in this number were 51 children from an orphanage in Liverpool. 51 children hoping to be adopted in Canada. He stamped their boarding passes not paying attention to the sad faces boarding ship. Children who were rejected in England now were on a destination of uncertainness. Sofia sighed a deep sigh of relief as she boarded the Tuissian, she was tired from her already long restless journey that had started hours ago. Sofia had not eaten since suppertime the day before her journey began. The registrar could have forbid her from boarding the ship because she was only 16. In spite of her sudden weiriness her heart skipped a beat. Her disguise hair do and altered dress had fooled the registrar. She would not leave this ship until it docked in Montreal. The captain blew the ship’s horn as it left dock, the children in second class raised their arms and shouted with the blow of the horn. Sofia, wanted to join the chorus of children and raise her arms and shout and dance. She was on her way to start a new and exciting life with her fiance Leonard in Nipigon, Ontario Canada.

The Tuissian was more than Sofia had ever imagined. Her stateroom was private and very comfortable. All areas of the ship were well ventilated and heated. There were electric lights throughout the ship. The ship was equipped with Marconi’s wireless telegraphy something that Sofia had no interest in. The electric lights fascinated her and she secretly hoped that her new home in Nipigon would have electric lights. The dining room was very upscale as with the music and saloon, and ballroom. Sofia kept to herself except at meal times when she joined other passengers for meals in the elegant dining room. She had experienced finer dining at her beloved home in Finland. The ship’s menus presented a cuisine that was knew to Sofia she relished the experience of trying new foods. Each day passing brought her closed to her beloved Leonard and it also brought on more eagerness and anticipation. She read and re-read all the letters, if asked she could recite all his letter word to word.

To break the monotony of ship life Sofia decided to venture outside a little further to explore more of the ship’s deck. She no longer feared her true age identity. The fresh salted air was refreshing as she leaned carefully over the side of the ship trying to get a closer look at the ocean. Was Sofia hearing things? She pulled herself up straight to look around hoping to see who was speaking Finnish. Her last words were 26, and kiitos(thankyou) when served by ship staff. A few feet from her was a young Finnish couple embracing one another enjoying the view of the ocean. They were definitely speaking Finnish. Sofia knew it would be rude to interrupt but they had sparked her interest and she yearned to have a friend. Sofia moved a little closer to the couple. Grabbing the deck railing with her hands and leaning back she began to climb up the ships guard wall with her feet. She was able to pull herself up to the steal railing where she hoisted herself up to sit on the railing. She was nervous sitting up there but held on bravely, breathing in the fresh air. Caught in the moment of her new found bravery she was interrupted by the soft voice of a gentleman. The man and woman had spotted her sitting on the railing and immediately came to her. Please come down to safety asked the man. Sofia was happy to quickly disembark from the railing. The lady told Sofia how she had frightened them. Sofia gave a little laugh and reassured them that she was in no danger. She introduced herself to Ali and John. Ali and John were newly weds. John had immigrated to Canada and returned two years later to marry Ali. Ali was now like Sofia on her first journey to Canada. Sofia told them that she was going to Nipigon where she was going to get married. Ali and John excitedly told Sofia that they lived in Nipigon. Could there ever be more of a coincidence. Sofia asked by chance do you know Leonard Matson. Leonard Matson exclaimed John, of course I know Leonard. An immediate friendship was established, for the remainder of the voyage the three new friends enjoyed all their meals together. They spoke in their mother tongue. Although John could speak English he never attempted to teach or help the woman to revert their language. The 4 week trip came to it’s destination in Montreal. John insisted that Sofia travel along with he and Ali. Canadian Pacific Railways owned the ship line along with the railway across Canada. The railway station was built across the street from the dock. When a ship ticket was purchased in Liverpool it included a railway ticket to your destination in Canada. John knew the routines for he had made this journey several times before. He assisted his wife and Sofia with their baggage off the ship and onto the train. Sofia was now aboard a train in Montreal that was bound west to Nipigon. Montreal was bustling with people of all origins, Sofia had never seen such a group of diverse people. Sofia imagined Nipigon looking like Montreal. The train brought the threesome over and through mountains, over bridges covering vast rivers, the inland lakes so huge that they could not see across the vast waters. The Indian people poked their heads through their primitive shelters as the train made its way across once their uninhabited land. The train chugged along for days stopping to pick up passengers and to let off passengers or stopped to pick up supplies. The train crossed the Nipigon bridge and Sophie had reason to be ever more excited she was mere minutes away from greeting Leonard. Slowing down and what seemed like eternity the train stopped at the Canadian Pacific Railway Station in Nipigon Ontario. Sophie’s long journey was over. She eagerly looked out the windows at all the well wishers hoping to catch her eye on her chosen one.

Leonard secured the horses and wagon as his parents and his brother Emil disembarked from the wagon. The family was eager to meet Leonard’s fiancé. Sophie stepped from the train, John tapped her on the shoulder then pointed to Leonard who was curiously looking out for Sophie. Sophie quickly went toward him. He greeted her with enthusiasm and lots of joy, but did not embrace her or physically acknowledge her. Sophie was not distraught by his lack of physical affection. Finnish people customarily did not touch or exchange body contact in public, other than a friendly handshake. This custom did not change because they were new immigrants to Canada. Sophie climbed aboard the wagon along with Emil and his parents. Nipigon did not look like Montreal or anything that Sophie had envisioned during the long quiet moments on the ship and train. The horses pulled the wagon along the freshly carved roads through the bush. The road was bumpy and full of stumps and bugs. She swatted and swatted the swarms of mosquittos and black flies gathered around their heads. Sophie wondered if a wheel was going to break off before they arrived at the Matson homestead. The wagon rumbled through the bush past swampy pools of water and huge trees, they crossed creeks with fresh cut rough log bridges. They did not pass any sign of civilitation as the wagon curved its way around another corner. Sophie smelled smoke that attracted her to a little log cabin built in the bush. There also appeared to be a log sauna with smoke coming from it’s chimney. Mrs. Matson gleefully told her that they had stoked the sauna fire with anticipation that she would appreciate having a good sauna. Sophie thanked her for her thoughtfulness indeed she would lavish in a hot sauna, after all the weeks of travelling. Coffee and freshly baked Finnish coffee bread was served once they arrived at the Matson home. The surroundings were nothing what Sophie had experienced, nor ever imagined. The immigration posters in Finland showed Canada with open fields with horses drawing a plough, and a beautiful finished house in the background. The sky was always blue in the posters. Here she was in Nipigon in the bush with swarms of mosquittos and backflies. bush all around, and a small log cabin. They savoured each drink of coffee and bite of coffee bread, exchanging stories of their ship and train rides. Sophie was too shy to express her disappointment that they would be living in the bush. There wasn’t enough land cleared to put in a garden. It would be a project to be completed within the next month. Mrs. Matson was obviously pregnant and due any day. Sophie wondered how a woman would give birth in this primitive bush. The thought came to her that the train must travel back to Montreal, and the boat back to Liverpool. She had made a decision to follow her heart and with same determination that brought her to Nipigon would have to be enough to keep her in Nipigon.

Leonard was working for the local lumber camp along the Nipigon River. He encouraged Sophie to also work for the lumber camp. She could be a dishwasher in the kitchen or a cook’s helper. Sophie realized that is he wanted to improve their life style that she was going to have to go work in the lumber camp. Sophie made arrangements with Ali and John to live with them when she wasn’t working. The couple worked hard for a full year. They saved their money to buy a house in what was Nipigon townsite and not the outskirts like the Matson homestead. Leonard and Sophie got married February 20th 1912 in the Anglican Church in Nipigon. Mrs. Matson nursed her third son as her first son got married. The happy married couple travelled by train to Port Arthur to celebrate the consummation of their long awaited marriage. Sophie’s dreams had come true, and her goals accomplished. Within the year of marriage Sophie felt movement inside her abdomen accompanied with weight gain and morning nausea, she was definitely with child. She excitedly wrote her mother and father in Finland, sharing the joy of her pregnancy. The letter was returned back to her as unaccepted by the recipient, the same as her letters that were sent when she arrived to Canada and started working, when she wrote about her marriage and her new life and home. She added the returned letter to the others in the drawer. Sophie went into labour on News years day 1913. Leonard brought her to his mom’s house. Sophie would be in the most capable hands during her delivery. The sauna was heated and sterilized ready for Sophie to bring a new life into the world. Sophie’s labour continued from the first pangs of pain on the 1st of January to January 4th. Coached by her mother in law and anguished in back pain, pelvic pain and coughing blood, Sophie delivered a tiny little baby girl. Like her father the new baby was petite with deep set eyes like her mother. The proud couple decided to name their new daughter Sophie Elizabeth after her mother and her grandmother back in Finland. The spelling was changed to the Canadian spelling but in pronunciation the name was the same. Sofia suffered an after birth infection, and for months she suffered and strived to overcome her illness. Her consuming attention to her baby girl’s demanding needs took much of her focus from her pounding chest pains accompanied by a cough. Her abdomen was swollen and burning with pain. Sofia bore with all the pains and relentlessly cared for Sophie and her husband. Sofia poured her heart out to her good friend. Ali consoled her friend with the deepest empathy, particularly to the fact that Sofia’s parents had returned all the letters. Ali gave Sofia and Leonard hours of child care so that Sofia could get some rest.

Summer 1913 Sofia’s infections were blazing within her frail body, the world was at the battle with the first world war. Leonard felt helpless to his wife’s needs. He suggested that she and baby accompany him to the Hudson Bay Trading Post, they rarely left the house. Sofia bundled up the baby and joined Leonard on the wagon to go out on business. Inside the Hudson Bay Trading Post was the Lake Helen Indian Chief and his wife. The Squaw was attracted to Sofia and her little husband, and child. She recognized the pain in the white woman’s eyes, the swollen abdomen and the fact that she was a new mother. Sofia, tried to discreetly cough as quietly as she possibly could. The Squaw knew the white woman was very sick and she knew exactly what the problem was. She swiftly slipped out of the trading post. She ran down to the mud flats where they had left their birch bark canoe. Paddle in hand she pushed the canoe from the muddy shore and onto the Nipigon River. She had to paddle with extra strength and all her might because she was paddling up river against the rapids and current. The Squaw paddled past her residence and into the open waters. The Squaw had done this many times before and this time was with more urgency than ever before. Pulling the canoe ashore on the northern tip of Lake Helen the Squaw got out and emerged into the thick bush. She came out with arm loads of thick green moss. The canoe was loaded with her pickings. Back down the lake and onto the Nipigon River the Squaw paddled with ease giving long strokes and gliding with the current. Her mission adventure had left her Indian Chief husband back at the Trading Post totally bewildered why his woman had left. The Indian woman guided the canoe onto the shore and grabbed her load of moss. She ran to the trading post to find the sick white woman. Arriving at the trading post the Squaw was disappointed not to see the white couple. Two white boys were in the trading post. The indigenous woman with her load of moss approached the young boys. Her attempt to ask the boys where the man and woman were was lost in language barriers. They boys kept shaking their heads saying no, no. Squaw tried using her body to get her message across to the boys, she danced around them which caused their Finnish reserve mannerism to explode into laughter. The Indian Chief walked into the trading post, speaking in his native tongue he told his wife to come along. The Squaw looked sadly at the boys as she left the trading post with her man. The Chief trusted his wife’s judgement therefore did not ask any questions of her as they paddled up the Nipigon River. Squaw broke the silence by her deep heart throbbing cry. He looked back at her tear soaked face. She began to explain to him that the white woman with the baby and little husband was a very sick woman. She recognized that the white woman had an infection from child birth. For centuries the native woman applied deep green bush mosh to their genital parts after childbirth to heal and prevent infections. The white woman needed the bush moss in order to get well again. The chief was a mighty man among his people but at this moment he knew that all greatness belonged to his woman.

Haikki and Emil left the trading post pleased with the money they earned for their furs. Amused by the Native woman trying to sell them moss, who buys moss they asked one another after all it is everywhere for anyone who wants it. Who wants it or who would need it. On their way home they stopped by to see their brother Leonard and his family. They imitated the Indian woman trying to sell her arm load of moss and dancing around the trading post. Leonard laughed along at their frolics. Meanwhile Sofia was in the bedroom cleaning herself from the smelly discharges found in her underwear. She bent over in pain as she coughed and coughed until blood showed up along with the phlem.

Seasons came and changed, Sofia’s condition changed for the worse. Sophie celebrated her first birthday, her mother too ill to enjoy the day. Leonard took his sick wife to the train station where they boarded for Port Arthur. He was bringing his wife to hospital. Once again their friends stepped in to take care of Sophie. The train ride was cold and long. Sofia coughed up blood continually, she leaned against Leonard on the train, with blood dripping from the corner of her mouth staining Leonard’s winter coat. He gently rubbed his fingers through her red auburn hair that desperately needed a good wash. Something that Sofia had not been able to do by herself for weeks. Leonard was relieved when she fell asleep. He carried her into the hospital hoping for the best of care. The doctors and nurses attended to her every need. He waited in the waiting room glad that he had brought her on this long trip to the hospital. The doctor dressed in a white jacket came to the waiting room where he sat beside Leonard on the black leather couch. Mr. Matson, I am sorry to say that there was nothing that we could do for your wife and… . we lost her. Leonard couldn’t believe what he was hearing, lost her. He was shaking fighting back tears as the doctor told him that Sofia had a severe infection frchild birth along with tuberculosis. It was January 10th 1914. Leonard would take the train back to Nipigon along with his dear wife who would make the return trip in a wood box in the baggage car. It was bitterly cold as the train pulled to a stop in Nipigon. The steam from the engines appeared to be frozen in the air, Leonard’s emotions were frozen in grief. He went to his dear friends to break the news of Sofia’s death. They put on a strong front for Leonard as he embraced his one year old daughter. He proceeded to his parents’ home to tell them the dreadful news. Shocked and stricken with grief the family stepped in to help Leonard with the onerous task of burying his wife in the bush on a frigid cold January day. Sofia was the first woman in Nipigon to pass away, there was no established graveyard. The officials told him to bring her to the eastern edge of the