Postscript

[Postscript:  Jean Sinclair did stay with the Steins until the end of 1905.  Armed with enough money to pay room and board for a few months she traveled to Montreal.  Mrs. Stein had a friend who ran a boarding house on St. Catherine Street, and armed with her former employer’s reference she took a room.  Jean found work at a neighbourhood café.  Slowly but surely she saved a little cache of money, although it would be years before she could bring her daughter to Canada.  We have few details of these years, although we know she met and married a French-Canadian by the name of Stevens.  Jean had two children with him, Alex and Jean.  We have no knowledge of her years with Mr. Stevens, other than his death during the influenza epidemic of 1917-8.  He left her with enough resources to open her own rooming house.  More determined than ever to be self-sufficient, she and her children thrived.  Unable to do so until the end of World War I in 1918, Jean finally was able to bring Mary to Canada where she settled in among her family at 110 Centre Street in Montreal.

During those years, history continued to unfold.  The Boer Wars finally ended.  In Canada:

-       Railways developed and expanded acrossthe country

-        Public libraries were built in the major cities.

-       In 1905 Alberta and Saskatchewan officially became Canadian provinces.

-       Montreal’s first movie theatre opened in 1906 .  

-        In September of 1907 anti-Asian rioters attacked the residents of Vancouver’s Chinatown.

-       In that same year The National Council for Women demanded “equal pay for equal work.”

-        Telephones and radios became commonplace. 

-       The first powered flight in Canada was made by the Silver Dart in 1909. 

-       The Royal Canadian Navy wass created in 1910.  

-       Early in 1911 King George V died and was succeeded by Edward VIII. 

-       Halifax buried the dead recovered from the sinking of the Titanic during the long, sad spring of 1912.  The ocean liner Empress of Ireland sinks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 1914 with a loss of over a thousand lives.

-        The Japanese steamship carrying 376 passengers, is turned away under authority of the exclusion laws prohibiting Asian immigrants.

In 1914, Canada went to war along with the rest of the British Empire. 

At this point Jean Sinclair’s story becomes intertwined with that of yet another soldier, Arthur Christian Peterson.]

Hogmany, 1905

35 Gordon Street

Sherbrooke, Quebec

Hogmany, 1905

Dear Heather;

This may well be the last letter I write you for a very long time-it will take you weeks and weeks to get to Australia, and I may have moved on before I am able to know your new address.  I’m sure your mother will be able to forward my mail to you, at any rate.

I suppose by the time you get this you and Rory will have sold the shop and have your trunks packed and be all ready to emigrate. 

I know Mary will do very well with my mother and brother; I have no fears there.

It doesn’t seem possible that in a few short months my three years will be up!  The Steins have offered to keep me on for wages until the end of this year, and I will take them up on it, for I will be able to pocket my wages to give me a fresh start when I leave.  I have decided to move to Montreal.  I can turn my hand to almost anything - working in a restaurant or hotel, anything to be independent at last! 

So for now Heather, Godspeed – I know you will do well in your new life far away in Australia. 

Your loving cousin,

Jean

Autumn, 1904

Autumn, 1904

Thurso, Scotland

Dear Jean;

It seems I am to leave Scotland as well!  Rory’s uncle has a large sheep ranch in Australia, as you know, and a few weeks ago we got a letter inviting us to emigrate there.  Uncle Franklin wants Rory to become his partner, as he is growing old, and take over from him when he is no longer able to work.  We talked and talked about it.  I could see how eager Rory is for new adventure, and to be truthful, I find the whole idea very exciting! 

Now Hinny, don’t fret over wee Mary, I’ll not take her out of this country!  She is going to live with your mother and her Uncle Henry and go to school in Wick.  They are very excited about the prospect, and in the spring, when we leave for Australia, she will go to her Granny.

Last week we went to the steamship agent’s office and managed to get some brochures about Australia.  It seems to have a very interesting past, since for many years convicted people were shipped there instead of sending them to jail.  Although there are a few towns, much of the colony is sheep and cattle ranches.  There is a lot of desert, and it gets very hot and dusty.  There are a lot of very strange animals there, seen nowhere else on Earth, such as Kangaroos and Koala Bears.  Enough wild game that no one ever has to go hungry.  Imagine, just walking outdoors and shooting dinner right there on the spot! 

We both think we will do well at being sheep ranchers.  Jimmy will grow up in a country where he can become anything he can set his mind to.  It looks like a bright future for us, in a new land.  Imagine, you are at the top of the world and soon I’ll be at the bottom!

Everyone is well here.  Your mother sends her love, as do I.

Heather

June,1904

35 Gordon Street

Sherbrooke, Quebcc

June, 1904

Dear Heather,

I had such a shock the other day.  Mrs. Stein had one of her women’s groups in for a meeting, and I was asked to serve them tea.  When I came into the parlour they were having a heated discussion about women being denied the right to vote, and how it was unfair, that women were not even considered persons under the law.  One of the women asked me how I felt about not being allowed to vote, and I had to tell the group I had never even thought about it, it was not my place to express an opinion.  “This is precisely what I mean,” she was saying as I left the room, my face burning with embarrassment. “Most women have never considered that they have no rights – property is all in the name of their husbands and fathers, they have no money of their own, they have no rights except through the generosity of some man.”  Heather, to tell you the truth, I really never have thought about it, but I tell you this – once I have served my indentureship, I will never be anyone’s skivvy again.  I will work for myself, and hold my own purse strings.  I think the right to vote will only come when women are independent and earning their own money.  Now I’ll get off my soapbox!

Tell me, how does my little Mary?  By my reckoning she must be almost five years old by now, and will be going off to infant school next year.  Have you taken her to visit her Granny again?  I should really write a separate letter to her, and also to my mother, but I really don’t know what to say to either of them.  Mary will not remember me, and Mam gets all my news through you.  But please tell them both How much I miss them! 

And Henry too – I do miss those old days when we were growing up together and used to whisper to each other at night, from our box beds in the kitchen.

Let me see, what’s new in Canada?  We have a new holiday called Empire Day, celebrated on May 24, with parades, and picnics, followed by fireworks at night.  Mr. Stein treated us all to a new drink at the picnic, called Canada Dry – very, very fizzy!  It tickles the nose at you drink it.  Automobiles are becoming quite numerous now.  Mr. Stein has ordered a touring car to fit the whole family in from the new automobile factory in Ontario.  The car is called a Ford, after the man who designs and builds them.  He told us, when he ordered it, that Mr. Ford says he can have any colour of car, as long as it is black!

That’s all for now, Heather.  My love to all under your roof, especially my little daughter, and a special big hug to yourself.

Love,  Jean

Summer, 1903

Summer, 1903

Thurso, Scotland

Dear Jean,

Hinny, I’ve some bad news for you–I have heard from my Mam that your dear father died this last winter.  He was very ill with the bronchitis, but he would go to work on the docks until he dropped.  He died just before Hogmany, and is now buried in the little churchyard, quite near my own dear grandfather.  Your brother Henry has moved back home to be with your mother.  His apprenticeship is over, and he is working for a building firm in Wick.  My but he has grown! He is very tall now, almost reaches six feet and no sign of slowing down.  He will be a real comfort to your mother.

I know you want to know more news of your family.  My Mam told me your mother decided to forgive you now that your Da is gone.  He took your news very hard, and forbid the mentioning of your name.  She and Henry both decided they wanted to mend things, and even though you are far away and not likely to ever see them again, they wanted to meet your daughter and perhaps be part of her life, if that was something you wanted as well.

Last week my Mam decided to travel to Wick and visit your mother, and she asked me to come along and bring the babies (although they are not babies any more, they are real children, walking and talking and playing.)  I was very nervous, but I dressed Mary in her best, and brushed her little curls (her hair is long, now) until they shone. 

When your mother saw Mary tears came into her eyes, and she held out her arms.  Without thinking I put Mary into them and she held her grand-daughter on her lap as if she would never let her go. 

I promised your mother I would let you know she wants to see more of Mary.

So out of the sadness of your Da, something good has happened.  Your mother and brother do want to hear from you.  Eventually you will want to bring Mary to Canada to be with you, but until then, she will have kin who love and care for her.

Your loving cousin,

Heather 

Hogmany, 1903

35 Gordon Street

Sherbrooke, Quebec

Hogmany, 1903

Dear Heather;

Happy New Year to all under your roof!  Just imagine, here in Canada Hogmany takes a back seat to Christmas.  The Steins say that even though they are non-observant, they celebrate a form of Christmas called Hanukkah, with lots of presents and a big feast.  And they even invited Cook and me to join them for dinner!  Even I got several presents, mostly warm things to wear.

You cannot believe how cold it gets here – some days the children can’t get to school, the snow is so deep the sleigh-horses can’t get through.  I enjoy those days, for Madam frees me up from some of my duties so I can read with the children, which I love doing.  The twins, Esther and Joseph, are nothing like each other in looks, but often they act as if they have one mind–always coming up with schemes to amuse themselves with, without even talking about it!  They are four, and full of mischief, let me tell you!  Next is Benjamin, who is seven, very serious and wants to do nothing but read.   He struggles with some of the big words, but manages to read such serious books, such as Oliver Twist and Treasure Island.  It’s a pleasure for me to help him with his reading, a nice change from the twins’ everlasting Peter Rabbit books.  Nathaniel is nine and loves building things with his little carpentry set.  He is not at all studious and only reads to understand the directions of what he wants to build.  He puts me in mind of my brother Henry.  Rachel, the eldest, is musical, and plays the violin like an angel.  Sometimes Mrs. Stein puts her workbasket aside in the evening and plays the piano while Rachel gives us a recital.  It’s lovely and at times like that, with the whole family gathered in the parlour, I can almost imagine I am the eldest daughter of this wonderful family, who treat me so well. 

It’s funny, but when I tend to the little two-year old baby, I can almost image she is my own Mary, although Lillian is nothing like her in looks.  Where Mary is fair, with blue eyes and curly light brown hair, Lillian is rather dark in complexion, with brown eyes and black hair.  Rachel dotes on her, and often helps me in the nursery.

Tell me, do you ever hear from my Mam?  You would let me know, would you not, if you or Auntie heard anything from Wick?  I miss it all so dreadfully, almost as much as I miss my own wee Mary.  Give her a hug and kiss from me, won’t you?

Much love from Canada,

Jean

June, 1902

35 Gordon Street,

Sherbrooke, Quebec

Canada

June, 1902

Dear Heather;

Here I am, all settled in a town called Sherbrooke, not far from the American border.  Let me tell you what has happened since I left you, so long ago. 

I met my employers in Montreal, a lovely family by the name of Stein.  They have five children, and were actually worried I would not be warm enough, and they were right.  Even with a borrowed shawl and mittens the April weather was cold, compared with dear old Scotland.  The Steins are Jewish but told me they are not what they call “observant.”  They are much more relaxed about having servants than the people I have been in service with, and started treating me almost like one of the family right away.  Mrs. Stein told me she loves my Scottish accent, which surprised me – I thought our way of speech quite normal, and their way of talking flat and almost no expression at all.  The children are darling, from two to eleven years.

And here’s the big surprise.  When I had my birthday the family celebrated it with a special cake that Mrs. Stein baked herself!  Not only that, they gave me a lovely box of stationary, and some stamps for overseas mail.  I was so grateful-especially since I won’t see any wages of my own for three (yes, three!) years. (If I’m lucky, and find employment when I am done here.

Sherbrooke has a population of just under 10 000 but it has its own hospital and a few schools.  There are mountains and lakes all around the city.  The biggest mountain, Mount Bellevue, is right in the middle of the city, and it is going to be used for downhill skiing someday soon.  And this is a funny thing – Most of the people in Quebec are French-speaking, but because the English are so powerful that English is spoken in all the shops and other businesses, and here in Sherbrooke it is the same.  Those English - not regarding anyone's ways but their own!

I do hope this finds you well.  I often think about how you are coping with the babies.  I don’t worry at all about Mary’s welfare, I know she is safe and happy with you and your family.  Please give her kisses and hugs from me.  By next year she will be old enough for you to read a letter from her mother.

If you should hear from my mother, please share my news with her and give her my address if she asks.

Much Love,

Jean

P.S.  We are heading into very hot, humid summer weather.  It’s a land of such extreme weather-I’m not looking forward to winter here, I can tell you that!