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

In one of the prairie towns of North
ern Iowas where the Illinois Central
Railroad now passes from Dubuque to
Sioux City, lived o woman whose expe-
rience repeats the truth that inherent
forces, ready to be developed, are wait
ing for the emergencies that life may
bring.
She was born and drought up" in
New England. With the advantages
of country school, and few terms in
q neighborfng city, she became fair
scholar-not at all remarkable; she was
married at twenty-one to q young
farmer, poor, but intelligent and ambi-
dous. In ten years after the death of
their parents they emigrated to Iowa,
and invested their money in land that
bade fair to increase in value, but far
away from neighbors. Here they lived,
o happy family. for five years, when he
died, leaving her, at the age OF thirty
five, with four boys, the eldest nearly
fourteen, the youngest nine The blow
came suddenly, and at first was over
whelming. Alone, in what seemed al
most q wilderness, she had no thought
of giving up the farm. 1t was home.
There they must stay and do the best
they could The prospect OF q railroad
passing near them in time, was good;
then some of the land might be Sold A
little money had been laid by-nothing
that she ought to touch for the present
DANIEL, the hired man, who had come
out with them, and who was q devoted
friend and servant, she determined to
keep-his Judgment was excellent in
farm matters Hitherto the boys had
gone regularly to school. mile or two
away; for q settlement in Iowa was
never without its school-house. They
were bright and quick to learn. Their
father had been eager to help and en-
courage them Newspapers, magazines,
and now and then good book, had
found their way into this household
Though very fond of reading herself,
with the care of her house she had drift
ed along, as so many women do, until
the discipline of study, or any special
application, had been almost forgotten
1t was the ambition of both parents that
their sons should be well educated
Now Jerry and Thede, the two oldest,
must be kept at home during the sum-
mer to work. Nate and Johnnie could
help at night and in the morning. The
boys had all been trained to habits OF
obedience They were affectionate, and
she knew that she could depend upon
their love.
One evening. alone in her bedroom,
she overheard some part of q converse
ton as the children were sitting to
,gether around the open fireplace:
al don't mind the work, said Theo-
dore, ..n could only be learning, too.
Father used to say he wanted me to be
"a civil engineer"
"If father was here" said eleven
year-old Nate, '.you could study even
ings and recite to him. wish mother
could help; but, then, 1 guess moth
er's--"
"Help. howP" she heard Jerry ask
sharply, before Nate could finish his
Jealous at once for her. "Isn't she the
best mother in the worldP"
"Yes, she is; and she likes stories,
too; but / was Just thinking, now thai
You can't 60 to school, If she only knew
. lot about everything. why, she could
tell you.
ssWen," replied Jerry, with all the
gravity of a man, 1--WE must take holc
and help all we can; it's going to b
hard enough for mother. just hatt
to give up school and pitch into work
Thede, you shall go next winter, any
way"
.'Sha'n't we be lonesome next win
terer said little Johnnie, who had takeI
no part in the talk until now; ''won'
mother be afraida / want my fathe
back" and, without q word of warn
ing, he burst into tears
Dead silence for 3 few minutes. Th'
outburst was so sudden, she knew the,
were all weeping. 1t was Jerry agaiI
who spoke first: "Don't let mother se
rs crying. Come, Johnnie, let's TAX
Bone and all go down to the trap;'
then she heard them pass out of tn
house
Desolation fell upon that poor mothe
for the next hour. Like knife Nate
remark had passed through her heart
"Father could have helpedr' Couldn'
she help her boys, for whom she wa
ready to dieP Was she only .'mother,
who prepared their meals and took car
of their clothesP She wanted a part il
: the very best of their lives She though
1t all over, sitting up far into the night
If she could only create an interest i
some study that should bind them a
together, and in which she could lead
Was she too old to begin? Never ha
the desire to become the very center {
interest to them taken such hold upo
her.
A few weeks after, she said, on
morning, at the breakfast table: "Boys
I've been thinking that we might begi
geology this summer, and study 1t, q
of us together. Your father and
meant to do it some time. I've foun
Textbook; by and by, perhaps, Thed
can draw rs q chart. Jerry Will tax
hold, / know, and Nate and Johnnie ca
hunt for specimens. Wen have an hoJ
or two every night !"
The childrenss interest awoke in
fash, and that very evening the que
ton discussed was one brought in
Nate. ssWhat is the difference betwee
limestone and granite?"- A simple on
but it opened the way for her, and the
first meeting proved q success. 81
had to study each day to be ready an
wide awake for her class. They live
in limestone region Different form
of coral abounded, and other fossl
were plenty. An old cupboard in Il
shed was turned into cabinet. On
day, Nate, who had wandered off tv
or three miles, brought home piece
rock, where curious, long, finger shape
creatures were imbedded. Great w
the delight of all to find them describ'
as 0rtho-ceratites, and an expedition
the spot was planned for some -ha
holiday. Question after question !,
back TO the origin of the earth. 81
found the nebular hypothesis, and har
ly slept one night trying to compr
bend it clearly enough to put it befo
others in q simple fashion. Her boz
was always at hand BY and by th
classified each specimen, and the be
of their kind were taken TO shelves
the sitting-room. Her own enthusias
a. sf,1dv was aroused, and, far from
hardship, it now became delight; d
enirit was contagious. The boys, alwa
fond of ..mother," wondered what ne
1ife possessed her. but they accepted
>aee all the same. She found th