Witless Bay historian brings old local tale to life for children
An old anecdote about Witless Bay’s past has come alive in the form of a children’s book about a pig who eats a scalding hot dumpling, causing havoc throughout the community.
The Pig and The Dumpling, written by Bonnie Johnstone and illustrated by Veselina Tomova, is a playful embellishment on a true story that is over 100 years old.
In the original tale, a man working on the grounds of the Holy Trinity Convent and Chapel is given a steaming bowl of stew with a dumpling on top, and disliking dumplings, throws it into the pig pen.
A pig named Ignatius immediately gobbles the dumpling, but knocks over the gate in a big ruckus due to the steaming mass of dough burning his poor little throat.
Eventually he coughs it up, the gate is repaired, and all is well.
This story, which didn’t make it to Johnstone’s previous non-fiction book Bygone Days of Witless Bay, which was compiled with Maureen Walsh and published by the Witless Bay Heritage Committee, finds new purpose in connecting children of today with the days of old.
“My knowledge of what went on in the old days of the outport was honed by writing that first book,” Johnstone said.
In classic children's book fashion, the commotion is extended throughout the town as the pig makes his way down to the beach to soothe his throat with the cool open air.
As the original story has a happy ending, she thought it was perfect to adapt for young audiences in an illustrated form.
Johnstone enjoys documenting the past, even in fictionalized form, so that it doesn’t fade away forever.
“I really enjoy opening their minds to what went on not so long ago,” she said. “I’m really interested in bringing history to life.”
The book's launch is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4th, at the Puffin Centre in Witless Bay, where there will be refreshments, children's activities, books for purchase, and Chris and Claire Dowden performing some children’s music.
Colleen Hanrahan and other members of the Witless Bay Heritage Society will be there to support the book's release.
Hanrahan, as it turns out, owns and lives in the very building that was home to the convent.
“As community members we try to keep history alive and this is certainly part of that,” Hanrahan said. “That’s why we’re involved because we want to promote what we do here at the Heritage Committee.”
Chad Feehan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Shoreline News
