CHAPTER IV FARMING AND POLITICS

Vere and Elizabeth could get on with the task of carving

a livelihood from the wilderness. Vere was clearing more and more land making room for bigger and better crops. And with the return of normal growing conditions that year the crop could be expected to be sufficient to assure enough food to get through the next winter. He would also be adding some farm animals by this time. John Herring, (1.4.2.6,7.2.) in his history of the Penny family of Murray Harbour, says that James Penny had a small herd of cattle by 1820. Obviously there must have been farm animals available in the area and Vere would have had some too. Every family needed at least a cow, a pig and some chickens in order to get by.

The new settlers had to be skilled in many ways. Men, women, and children all pitched in to tackle the work that needed to be done. They had to produce everything they needed and all their efforts were aimed at providing food, clothing and shelter. There was no room for luxuries of any kind. Women toiled beside their husbands and chil-

B y 1817, most of the serious problems were behind them and

39