The late Adele Townshend wrote an entertaining column for the Eastern Graphic newspaper, entitled Looking Back. This is a story that was originally published prior to 1979.

It is a romantic love story with a happy ending.

It begins in South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, in the late eighteenth century.

Ellen and Roderick, both of Clan Mac Donald, (though not related) were to be married. They had been childhood sweethearts' and planned to remain in the glen where their ancestors had for centuries. But this was not to be.

For some reason, religious or economic, Roderick felt compelled to leave his native land. Many of his friends and neighbors were leaving for a place called St. Johns Island. On Capt. John MacDonald's ship and Roderick went with them. The wedding was postponed until he could make a home for Ellen in the new land.

The sea and ships had been a part of Roderick's life in the Hebrides so it is not surprising that he began a ship- building enterprise at Naufrage on the north shore of the island.After many long months of waiting Ellen received word to join him.She braved the ocean voyage and landed at Tracadie where, no doubt, she was reunited with some of her countrymen. Perhaps she might have waited therefore a vessel going to the North Shore port, but for Ellen the waiting was over. She put her few belongings in a bundle on her back and set out along the shore for Naufrage to meet Roderick. Unable to cross the mouth of St. Peters Harbour, she made her way along the south shore of the bayto the head, crossed a bridge and made her way along the north side to the mouth of the harbour and continued along the coast.. As darkness fell she climbed the cliff to a cleared field. Here she ate her lunch and prepared to spend the night, despite her fear of bears and other wild animals.

Next morning she continued on her journey and discovered to her surprise , that she had spent the night just two miles from her destination.

And so the lovers were reunited! A wedding took place soon after and to Ellen and Roderick Mac Donald were born, five girls and four boys.

The oldest girl, Ellen, married Joseph MacPhee - who had a son Roderick MacPhee, born 1843.

This Roderick married Margaret Kelly and settled at Selkirk.

Betsy married Donald Hector MacDonald and Mary married his brother Allan Hector MacDonald.

Martina married Alex(?) MacLean of Black Bush and

Sarah married Ronald MacDonald and settled at St. Margaret's.

The sons were Angus, Ronald, Capt. John (nicknamed Cody) and Donald.

Mrs Mel MacPhee who related this story, tells me that her husband, Mel,was a grandson of Ellen's daughter, Ellen, who married Joseph MacPhee.

I had heard bits and pieces of this story and was always intrigued by it. When I asked Hughie Joseph MacDonald about it he referred me to Mrs. MacPhee who I had never met.

I had a lovely visit with her and discovered she was born just the third farm over from ours in the house formerly owned by Hughie MacKinnon of Rollo Bay West. Her mother was Mary Jane MacKinnon, daughter of John MacKinnon and Caroline MacRae.

Copyright
Waldron H. Leard