The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-01-19

Sdu uldW uo q OhdiOs OCllJ VIII eohS
hold, l know, and Nate and Johnnie
can hunt for specimens. Wen have
an hour or two every night
The children's interest awoke IN
flash and that very evening the ques.
tlou discussed was one brought in by
Nate: "What is the difference between
limestone and granite2" A simple one,
but it opened the way for her, aud their
first meeting proved success. She
had to study each day to be ready and
wide awake for her class. They lived
in limestone region. Different forms
of coral abounded, and Other fossils
were plenty, An old cupboard in the
shed was turned into a cabinet. One
day, Nate, VINO had wandered off two
or three miles, brought home a piece OF
rock, where curious, long, finger shaped
creatures were inbedded. Great was
the delight of all to fl d them described
as ortho-cerdtites, and an expedition to
the spot was planned for some half
holiday. Question after question led
back to the origin of the earth. She
found the nebular hypothesis and hard
ly slept one night trying to compre-
bend it clearly enough to put it before
others in a simple fashion. Her book
was always at hand. By and by they
classified each specimen, and the best
of their kind were taken to shelves in
the sitting-room. Her own enthusiasm
in study was aroused, and Tar from a
hardship, it now bt came delight. Her
spirit was contagious, The boys, always
fond of mother" wondered what new
lite possessed her, but they accepted the
change all the same. She found that
she could teach. and also could inspire
her pupils. Thy heard of gully, five
or six miles away, where crystals had
oeen found. Making a holiday, for
which the boys worked like Trojsns
they took their lunch in the farm wagon
and rode to tho spot; and if their search
was not altogether successful, it left
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, in the garden, where she raised {
few flowers, and helping to gather veg
etables. Daniel and the boys were bit
terly opposed to her helping them
Mother" said Jerry, ''if you won
ever think you must go out, I'll do any
thing to make up. 1 don't want you Il
lock like those women we see some
times in the fields. Generally sh,
yielded: her work was enough for on
pair of hands. Through it all now rai
the thought that her children wer
growing up; they would become edu
Gated men; she would not let then
get ahead, net 80 as to pass her en-
Uirely.
Winter came. Now Daniel could Sc
to the work; but these habits of stud
were not to be broken, HBoys, let u
form history club,' was the plopos
tion; sit sha'n't interfere with your les
sons at school," They took the his;or
of the United States, which tine tw
younger children were studying. b.
ginning with the New England settlt
ments, and being six in number, the
called each other, for the time, after til
! SIX States, persuading old Daniel t
, take his native Rhode Island. "Ths
, woman beats all creation" he was hear
to exclaim, the way she works all ds
and goes on at night over her books.
The mother used to say she hard
knew if she were any older than h,
boys when they were trying to trip eaC
other with questions. The teacher
the district school came over one Satu
" day afternoon. 4 never had sdch p
pulls" said ne, "as your sons, in hi
tory; and, indeed, they want to loC
INTO everything" Afterwards he hea
:, with delight the story Of their evening
work. The deep snow often shut the
in, but the red light shone clearly al
bright from that sitting-Ioom windo
N and a merry group were gather
10 around the table. Every two weeks
70 evening was given to some Journey.
X was lail out in advance, and faitefu
studied. Once, Theodore remember
s. shout of laughter was raised VIII
" nine o. clock came, by Jerry's exclam
W tion: "Oh, mother, don't go home no
ID we are having such good time
Five years they lived in this way, a
le almost entirely by themselves. Tn
Id studied botany. She knew the name
oe every tree and shrub for miles arouI
te The little boys made collection
K BIRDS eggs, and then began to wat
y closely the habits OF tie birds. 1t wa
pure, simple life. 1t would have been t
n wild and lonely but for the charm
en- this devoted mother, Her hours
IT loneliness were hidden from them, b
er she learned in an unusual degree
IL throw every energy, into the da.
work of study, and create, as it were
he fresh enthusiasm for the present hol
ey Her loving sacrifice was rewardt
IN Each child made her his peculiar cC
ee Gdante. She became the inspiration
ke his life.
!" English history opened vide tie
he to this family. One afternoon S
brought in Shakespeare to prove so
er historical question. 1t was a rainy q
9's and the boys were all at home. Jei
It. began to read Hamlet" aloud;
1T proved treasure tnat brought them
as to new world of delight. Sometin
;" they took different characters for +
re resentation, and the evening ended il
IN frolic, for good-natured mirth was d
mt er repressed- =
ut. First of all, preparation had b,
in mazda for the Sahhnth Thara yyu