The Four Daughters

An Old Postcard of Aylesford, Nova Scotia

“The Four Daughters” is a cute story about how one man managed to bring up his daughters alone. It takes place back in the time of the stage coaches and shows how inventive our valley residents can be.

When the coaches started running steady between Halifax and Annapolis Royal the roads were not like they are today. Many were nothing more than rutted and rocky paths, passing over swampy and hilly lands. Today the trip takes only a couple of hours, but not so back then, it always required nights spent along the way.

Most of the little villages along the way did not have a motel or guest house in them, so accommodation was a problem for the guest on the stage coaches. To help solve this problem the government offered a one-time bounty of 25 pounds cash to any family willing to open up their homes to these travelers for food & lodging.

It is said that one very enterprising clergyman from the Aylesford area, who’s wife had passed away came up with a plan to use this money to solve the problem with his four daughters. The daughters were all of the age to be married, but as yet no young beaus had been calling.

So he took his oldest daughter with him on a trip to Halifax where he applied and received this money. He then took her and the money shopping in the big city and bought her all the finest of the day. He bought her firm pointed high heeled shoes, pretty lace collars and a beautiful dress of the latest style.

Back home he cut a hole in the wall between the kitchen and dining room so the youngest girls in the kitchen cooking could hear what the customers were ordering as the oldest girl was taking their orders. This way while the oldest daughter was flirting and taking orders from men she was interested in, the others daughters would already be getting the food ready in the kitchen.

It was not long before a cattle buyer from Halifax stopped in for his lunch while passing through on his way to Annapolis Royal. He was so impressed with the pretty waitress and fast service he stopped in on his way back through also. He had time to think on his trip to Annapolis Royal and proposed to the girl on the return trip. The girl, of course said yes and they were married and off to Halifax to spend their lives together.

Next the second oldest daughter wore the new clothes and worked out front with the guest. Again it was not long before she was married off and the next daughter inherited the new clothes. This went on until all four daughters were married off. The father then sold the business and moved to Halifax himself.

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