The Salt-box

Jan Hilliard's reminiscences of her girlhood in Nova Scotia bring together a very engaging assemblage of eccentrics. Her brother and her three sisters were normal enough individuals. Her father, however, was a man who lived in a dream, a man who listed his occupation as "gentleman." Propelled by an irresistible drive, he was in constant quest of fortunes which never materialized. His one-man gold rushes and solitary oil and mineral prospectings in out-of-the-way corners of Canada provided considerable amusement and inconsiderable cash for his teeming family.Aunt Belle, who took care of the family during father's frequent absences, is a goodhearted, hardworking and altogether sympathetic character. But her almost pathological sensitiveness, her inability to be comfortable in the face of any variations from the standard rules of social deportment make her an easy foil for her sister-in-law Emily. Emily too is a goodhearted soul--but a rule breaker. She smokes in public and she sees no reason why the visiting Anglican rector should not, on a warm summer's day, be served his tea out-of-doors in the vegetable garden--even though the outhouse is in view and Uncle Harry is disposed to make rather frequent use of it.The people who were closest to the children are warm, interesting, entertaining personalities. They are supported by a number of lesser--but no less entertaining--members of the cast: a bibulous piano teacher, a thoroughly understanding and somehow pathetic grade school teacher, a parrot given to ribald expletive, a band of Total Immersionists--and a fully varied assortment of good and not so good schoolmates and playmates.Miss Hilliard writes of her girlhood with warmth, humour and nostalgic enthusiasm.