gcls_WFP_435

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EXTRACTS FROM
A LABRADOR DOCTOR
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILFRED THOMASON GRENFELL

"In all my childhood I can only remember one single punishment, among not a few which I received, which I resented - and for years I never quite forgot it. Some one had robbed a very favourite apple tree in our orchard - an escapade of which I was perfectly capable, but in this instance had not had the satisfaction of sharing. Some evidence had been lodged against me, of which I was not informed, and I therefore had no opportunity to challenge it. I was asked before a whole class of my schoolmates if I had committed the act, and at once denied it. Without any hearing I was adjudged guilty, and promptly subjected to the punishment of the day - a good birching. On every occasion on which we were offered the alternative of detention, we invariably "plumped" for the rod, and got it over quickly, and, as we considered, creditably - taking it smiling as long as we could. But that one act of injustice, the disgrace which it carried of making me a liar before my friends, seared my very soul. I vowed I would get even whatever the cost, and I regret to say that I hadn't long to wait the opportunity. For I scored both the apples and the lie against the punishment before many months. Nor was I satisfied then. It ranked in my mind both by day and by night; and it taught me and invaluable lesson - never to suspect or condemn rashly. It was one of Dr. Arnold's boys at Rugby, I believe, who summed up his master's character by saying, "The head was a beast, but he was always a just beast."

[Black and white aerial photograph of a harbor.]

Photograph by Jacob Gayer

BATTLE ISLAND AND BATTLE HARBOR FROM THE HEIGHTS OF GREAT CARIBOU, LABRADOR

The Bowdoin lies at the dock, taking on fuel oil for its long run to Etah and return. The white buildings are connected with the fishing industry and general trading. Jutting out behind the general store, in the center, is one of the hospitals of Dr. Grenfell. Against the skyline can be seen the aerial of the northernmost year-round radio station on the east coast of America. Inland from the Bowdoin can be seen a corner of the extensive fish-drying platforms. Battle Island is the legendary scene of early fighting between Eskimos and Indians and is the concert platform for the loudest "husky" dog chorus in the world.

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