| A Long Way from the Road |
| The Wit & Wisdom of Prince Edward Island |
| David Weale with illustrations by Dale McNevin |
"A good story sends the devil packin' . . . " So the
saying goes in Prince Edward Island. Storyteller David
Weale has the devil on the run with A Long Way from
the Road, a collection of seventy-seven stories from
Prince Edward Island's recent and remembered past.
With characteristic warmth, charm, and personality,
Weale's anecdotes bring the Island's characters to life
and recount their witty and wise takes on politics,
religion, marriage, human foibles, and the Island
community itself. Islanders' humour hits close to home
whether your home is on Prince Edward Island or the
great beyond known as "away".
Weale writes, "From one tip of Prince Edward Island to
the other, the burden of existence has always been
lightened by the droll humour and funny stories that are
the standard fare of daily conversation. In a society
that was often difficult, even grim, humour was the
saving grace: a seasoning of mirth which made life more
palatable. Along with hard work and deep faith, it was
the omnipresent laughter that made survival possible.
There were many lean times, but we had our own
stories, and there was a richness in that."
saying goes in Prince Edward Island. Storyteller David
Weale has the devil on the run with A Long Way from
the Road, a collection of seventy-seven stories from
Prince Edward Island's recent and remembered past.
With characteristic warmth, charm, and personality,
Weale's anecdotes bring the Island's characters to life
and recount their witty and wise takes on politics,
religion, marriage, human foibles, and the Island
community itself. Islanders' humour hits close to home
whether your home is on Prince Edward Island or the
great beyond known as "away".
Weale writes, "From one tip of Prince Edward Island to
the other, the burden of existence has always been
lightened by the droll humour and funny stories that are
the standard fare of daily conversation. In a society
that was often difficult, even grim, humour was the
saving grace: a seasoning of mirth which made life more
palatable. Along with hard work and deep faith, it was
the omnipresent laughter that made survival possible.
There were many lean times, but we had our own
stories, and there was a richness in that."
|
| _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EXCERPTS |
| Two men stepped into the viewing room at one of the local funeral homes. An acquaintance had been killed in a car accident and they had come to pay their respects. They removed their caps, walked to the side of the open coffin, and stood silently for a few minutes, just staring at the remains. Finally, one of them broke the silence. "It's too bad," he whispered, "but one good thing about it, he wasn't badly hurt." |
| Years ago, in North Rustico, the community had gathered to honour one of its eldest residents, Eliza, who was celebrating her ninetieth birthday and was in remarkably good health - except for her partial deafness. Finally, the master of ceremonies, in winding up the evening, asked, "Eliza, in all your life, have you ever been ill?'" It was obvious she didn't get it, so the man decided to reword his question. Speaking more loudly, he asked, "Eliza, in all your life have you ever been bed-ridden?" Well, she brightened right up. "Oh yes," she replied, "thousands of times. Twice in a dory." |
| A Catholic man and a Protestant man were walking together along a road somewhere near Morell. The Catholic man was all bent out of shape over something or other, and finally couldn't hold it any longer. " 'oly everlastin' Mother of God," he exclaimed vehemently. Well! The Protestant man was deeply offended. "I don't know why you call her holy!" he remonstrated, "She's no different than my own mother." "Perhaps not," replied the Catholic man, "Perhaps not. But quite a difference in the boys." |
| _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Apples Tonight Lord's Day Acts The Difference in James This is My House Mick McGuirk One Pile So Much Like Himself Too Much Wait Now's Your Chance Wooden Man The Second Funeral Droll The Undercut The Roundabout Gettin' out the Vote Morning Ryan Mailman's Daughter Alex Isn't Home The Explosion Hell's Bells Not Too Bad Close to the Vest The Emergency Brake Prickly Pride Touchy Sarcasm The Stamp |
The Stamp Hidden Bottles Kitchen Politics Rank Politics Doctor Brehaut Norman's Reverie Brain Drain Born Away The Tenth Load Wipe-out Election Day Treats African Odyssey G'day Tea Dear Faster Please First Night Red, Green, and Orange Badness Father Doyle Those Whitemen Stock Exchange Hold the Meat The Calls The Lemon Caper Come On, Come On So Far from Everything |
Acknowledgements Introduction: "Desperate Funny" A Long Way from the Road The Map The Return Native Stone Never Heard of It Cavendish Pure Islanders Born Here No Signal Needed A Year Like This This is the Roads Boy A Savin' Woman The Mouse in the Buttermilk Too Mean Bibles and Beads Too Bad He's Protestant What's in a Name The Mission The Riposte The Pope's Collar At Great Length Our Bed A Change I Suppose |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Weale |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR Dale McNevin |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ RELATED INTEREST |
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