The Central Canadian told a condensed story in one of their issues about two children who grew up farm by farm on 7th line of Drummond. Each was well favoured physically and mentally, and the mutual friendship of infancy and youth grew into a warmer feeling with added years.The young man, Peter Archibald McLaren, went west to earn a position that should match Sadie Cullen, which was one of ease and opulence. Now let us quote:“It was Jacob’s tedious footsteps he was treading”.
He came back three times to Drummond, but in each case her father, turned him down and out, and he went back to his Dakota lands with a sorrowful heart. Months later he returned, but the old gentleman was still obdurate, harder than flint this time, and warned him to begone forever.
But hearts will speak to each other in spite of locks or laws, and these two met at a schoolhouse one night. It was said there was a large meeting of good size at the Drummond schoolhouse. Sadie, heavily weighted from the wardrobe, with her father and sister, was there. Peter gave the Masonic tap on the window, and the bird arose and flew while the father’s mind was enrapt with a piece of elocution at that moment on the boards. The two retired to a friend’s house within half-a-mile: as this was as safe as a cave in the mountains.
Meantime the parental sentinel, baffled on the very parapet of duty, took on a noble rage at the close of the festival, and divining that their flight was in the direction of Carleton Place, secured a friend, and was there early in the morning. He telephoned to outlying posts in the hope of intercepting the marriage, and did all an earnest father could devise to save his daughter from Nature’s foreordination.
Now let us return to the lovers. Next morning they drove to Perth and were married without much ceremony, and the same evening returned to the beauteous haven in the country of the night before. On Wednesday they came to Carleton Place, and that night took the midnight train for the west, she sad yet in the sweet ecstasy of her lover’s embrace; he in the very acme and pitch of epic joy.
The father was courteously counselled to withdraw the dreadful sting of his anger, and dispatch a note of forgiveness and blessing. No doubt he did. In conclusion, why should we suppress names in such a perfectly delightful romance; one, moreover, that will end, we are sure, in a sweet reunion ?
The groom’s name was Peter McLaren; the bride’s Sadie Cullens; the haven of refuge was at Mr. Flintoff’s. No doubt that the 13 year age difference was a huge factor in the father’s wrath. In researching I only found the following information. I would hope they had eternal happiness.
Read in The Almonte Gazette– Read the Almonte Gazette here
8315-97 Peter Archibald McLAREN, 34, farmer, Drummond, same, s/o Jane (sic) & Christena, married Sadie CULLEN, 21, Drummond, same, d/o Arthur CULLEN & Mary MOORHOUSE, witness T. KENNEDY & Janet ROCK, both of Perth, 30 March 1897 at Perth
| Name | Peter Archibald Mclaren | |||
| Event Type | Marriage | |||
| Event Date | 30 Mar 1897 | |||
| Event Place | Perth, Lanark, Ontario, Canada | |||
| Gender | Male | |||
| Age | 34 | |||
| Birth Year (Estimated) | 1863 | |||
| Father’s Name | Jane | |||
| Mother’s Name | Christina | |||
| Spouse’s Name | Sadie Cullen | |||
| Spouse’s Gender | Female | |||
| Spouse’s Age | 21 | |||
| Spouse’s Birth Year (Estimated) | 1876 | |||
| Spouse’s Father’s Name | Arthur Cullen | |||
| Spouse’s Mother’s Name | Mary Moorhouse | |||
| Name | Sarah Ellen Cullen | |||
| Gender | Female | |||
| Birth Date | 25 Mar 1876 | |||
| Birthplace | Drummond Township, Lanark, Ontario | |||
| Father’s Name | Arthur Cullen | |||
| Mother’s Name | Mary Moorhouse |
|||
Related Reading
Would You Duel Anything For Love?
lindaseccaspina 