| About the Book Life on the Farm Lawrence in the War Life after the War Teddy |
| About the Family Aileen Rogers Howard Weaver Rogers Lawrence Browning Rogers Janet May Weaver Rogers Roberta Rogers Innes Lawrence Douglas Rogers |
| About the Authors & Illustrator Bios In the Media Speaking Engagements |
| Teachers Lesson Plans and Activities Marking Rubrics |
| Students Downloadable Family Images Downloadable War Images Links to Other Sites |
| How to Buy the Book Bookstores/Online |
Life on the Farm
The Rogers family lived on a small farm in East Farnham, Quebec. When Lawrence Browning Rogers enlisted in the Fifth Canadian Mounted Rifles in 1915, he listed his profession as a farmer. On the farm, the family had ducks, chickens, a cow, at least one rabbit, a horse named Gray, a dog named Derby and several barn cats.
While he was overseas, Lawrence often grew homesick. He missed his wife May, daughter Aileen, son Howard and the animals. In one letter, this becomes very clear:
I sure would like to see Derby and the Rabbit. Could you get a snap of them some time in front of the old place? They would look awful good to me just about now.
The winters were very cold in East Farnham. To keep warm, the family heated the home with a wood-burning stove. In a letter to May, Lawrence gives her some advice for the upcoming winter.
I would suggest that you get in some dry hard wood. Get in a few cords at a time and even if you cannot put it all under cover, have it filled out outside then you will not have any trouble in the winter and I believe you could get it cheaper than later on and even if you should decide to leave the little home it is always salable.
May continued operating the farm, with the help of Howard and Aileen, after Lawrence went to war. It was a lot of work for everyone, but the three family members managed to make it work. Even Lawrence was impressed:
How were you so lucky or I should say successful with the sweet peas this year? I never could make a success of them; perhaps you got them in earlier than I did and took more care of them. If you get anything like a decent offer for the hens, let them go as it will be so much less work for you to do.
The farm grew vegetables and Lawrence also wrote about fruit crops - apple trees in one letter, and some black currants in another.
Hope I get back in time to eat some of those black currants, as I am rather sick of canned jams.
In several letters, Lawrence advises May to grow potatoes to earn money, since these vegetables were hard to find later on in the war:
I don't think you could put in anything more profitable than potatoes for I am afraid they are going to be a scarce article and very high in price. Over in England they are very short of them.
Though Lawrence knew May was already talking about selling the farm as soon as he left for training, he often tried to convince her to stay. In a letter to his wife, he sounds hopeful about returning:
I am awfully glad you had the barn roof fixed as it was in rather bad shape. If you still have the little farm when I get back I'm going to bring back a nice little Shetland pony for the kiddies with me as I can get one for very little over here and the freight won't be very much. At any rate I'm going to save up with that idea in view.
The Rogers family made use of the outdoors when they lived on the farm. Although the children had many chores to do, they were also able to play. In a letter to Aileen, Lawrence talks about some of her winter activities:
Mother tells me you have had a fine time this winter, with skating, tobogganing and your dancing lessons. You will be able to teach me your dances when I get home for we don't have any dancing over here. It is not very polite of the boys to throw snowballs and I hope Howard does not do it. Take good care of yourself for I rely on you and Howard to look after mother.
Life on the farm was hard work and May, who grew up in Montreal, found it lonely compared to city life. But Lawrence thought it was a good place for children to play:
You still have the hay cut on our place so that will be a starter for the horse and if I were you I would not bother with a cow. The villagers may not be very congenial to you but it is a good place for the kiddies to run wild in for another summer, although I would like to have had them go to the Sea Side for a change but perhaps another year we may be able to have you all together.
After Lawrence had been away for more than two years, May decided it would be wise to move. Lawrence wanted to make sure the farm's animals would be cared for, especially their dog:
It will be nice for you all to be able to take poor old Derby with you and I am sure he won't be any trouble. You be sure the old fellow is being looked after and he deserves the best as he has been a good faithful old dog and friend to us all, especially the children.
Finally, the family packed up and left the farm behind. On October 7, 1917, the family was living in a flat on Grosvenor Avenue in Westmount, Quebec.
