Don’t Take Any Wooden Nickels: Prairie Memories from 1916-1946

This collection of creative non-fiction from a ninety-three year old Saskatchewan writer describes many aspects of early prairie life. Essay topics include house and home, berry picking, the harvest, and experiences attending and teaching in one-room schoolhouses. The chronicle of Old Jones, for example, a deaf-mute who relied on neighbours for his sustenance; a personal connection to a war bride; the early days of musical theatre; the history of the Orange Home Orphanages near Indian Head, Saskatchewan: these are tales that sweep the universal from a personal connection. Many of these essays have been previously published in magazines and newspapers, but though they may stand alone, their inclusion in this collection serves as an indepth exploration of time and place from an author whose storytelling ability is personal, enlightening, and thoroughly delightful.