The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-11-28

9ne cOuiQ teacn, and also 90 tiu lGSN &c
her pupils. They heard of g,i'i,, LIl
or six miles away, where crys' as h&d
been found Making n holiday. ;Or
which the boys worked like 1ro ans,
they took their lunch in the farm wagon
and rode to the spot; and If their search
was not altogether successful, it lett
them the memory Of a happy time
In the meanwhile the farm pros
pered. She did all the work in the
house, and all >the sewing; going out,
too, inthe garden. where she raised a
few flowers, and helping to gather veg
terly opposed to her helping them.
'.Mother,m said Jerry, eff you won't
ever think you must go out, I'll do any
thing to make up. don't want you to
look like those women we see some
times in the fields. Generally she
yielded; her work was enough for one
pair of hands. Through it all now ran
the thought that her children were
growing up; they would become edu-
Gated men; she would not let them get
ahead, not so as to pass her entirely.
Winter came. Now Daniel could see
to the work; but these habits of study
were not to be broken. "Boys, let us
form history club" was the PROPOSE
ton; sit sha'n't interfere with your les
sons at school" They took the history
of the United States, which the two
Younger children We're studying. Be
ginning with the New England settle
ments, and being six in number, they
called each other, for the time, after the
six States, persuading old Daniel to
take his native Rhode Island. THAT
woman beats all creation. he was heard
to exclaim, ''the way she works all day
and goes on at night over her books"
The mother used to say she hardly
knew if she were any older than her
bows when they were trying to trip each
other with questions. The teacher of
the district school came over one Satur-
day afternoon. 81 never had such pu-
pills." said he. '.as your sons, in his
tory; and, indeed, they want to look
into everything" Afterward he heard
with delight the story of their evenings
work. The deep SHOWS often shut them
in, but the red light shone clearly and
bright from that sitttng-room window,
and q merry group were gathered
around the table. Every two weeks an
evening was given to some journey. 1t
was LAID out in advance, and faithfully
studied. Once. Theodore remembers,
a shout of laughter was raised when
n;ne O'Clock came, by Jerry's exclama-
ton: s'Oh, mother. don't go home now;
we are all having such good timeI"
Five wears they lived in this way, and
almost entirely by themselves. They
studied botany. She knew the name of
every tree and shrub for miles around.
The little boys made collection OF
birds' eggs, and then began to watch
- ~ Aal1 Of tho hfrf1a II w a
pure, simple life. 1t would have been too
wild and lonely but for the charm of this
devoted mother. Her hours of loneliness
were hidden from them, but she learned
in an unusual degree to throw every en-
erUy, into the day work of study, and
create, as it were. a fresh enthusiasm
for the present hour. Her loving sacri-
fee was rewarded. Each child made
her his peculiar confidante. She became
the inspiration of his life.
English history opened wide field
to this family. One afternoon she
brought in Shakespeare to prove some
historical question. 1t was rainy day
and the BOYS were all at home. Jerry
began to read Hamlet aloud; it
proved treasure that brought them in
to q new world of delight. Sometimes
they took different characters for rep
resentation. and the evening ended in a
frolic, for good-natured mirth was new
er repressed-
First of all, preparation had been
made for the Sabbath. There was a
church in this town, but at distance
of several miles, and during many days
the roads were not passable. She had
leaned upon Infinite strength, gather
ing wisdom through all these expert
ences. The secret of many promise
had been revealed to her understand
ing, and, above everything, she desired
that the Scriptures should become
precious to her children. She took up
Bible characters, bringing to bear the
same vivid interest, the same power OF
making them realities
These lessons were varied by little
sketches or reports of one Sunday to be
read aloud the next. OF this Nate took
hold with special zest None of this
family could sing. She thought of q
substitute. They learned the Psalms,
much of Isaiah, and many hymns. re-
peating them in concert, learning to
count upon this hour around the fire a
others do upon their music. How many
of these times came to her in after life
"a vision of the bright faces of hel
boys, as they clustered atfectionately
around her.
Time rolled by. The railroad passed
through. A village sprang up, and the
land was ready to sell. She could keeI
enough for her own use, and the boy:
could prepare for college. Thede anC
Nate went away to school. The ole
home was kept bright and pleasant
friends, new settlers, came in, and nov
there was visiting and social life.
Jerry stayed on the farm; Theodore
became an engineer; Nate, a minister
Johnnie went into business. Theodore
used to say: Mother, as travel about
all the stones and the flowers make me
think of you. / catch sight of som'
rock, and stop to laugh over those bless
| ed times" Nate said: Mother, wheI
1 am reading a psalm in the pulpit
there always comes to me picture o
those old evenings, with YOU in tn,
rocking-chair, by the fire-ight, and
hear all your voices again" Johnni
wrote: Mother, / think that everythin:
have has come to me through you.
When Jerry, who remained faithful al
ways, had listened to his brothers, b
put his arm about her, saying, tenderly
There win never be anybody hk
mother to me"
/ She died at sixty-fve, very suddenly
Only a few hours before, she had eS
claimed, as her children all came HON
together: There never were such goo
BOYS as mine. You have repaid me
thousand fold. God grant you all happ
homes" They bore her coffin to tn
grave themselves. They would not Il
any other person touch it. In the ever
ing they gathered around the old hearth
stone in the sitting-room and drew the
, chairs together. No one spoke unit
Nate said: boys, let us prayi" an
then, all kneeling around her vacar
; chair, he prayed that the mantle of the
mother might fall upon them. The
. could ask nothing beyond that.-Henr
eta Ray, ga ChriStida Union
1t was reported short time ae
. Il