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


ern Iowa, where the Illinois Central
Railroad now passes from Dubuque to
Sioux City, lived 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 EHgland. With the advantages
of country school, and few terms In
neighboring CITY, she became a fair
schoiar-not at all remarkable; she was
married at twenty-one to a young
farmer, poor, but intelligent and ambi-
tisus. 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,
a 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. Tne blow
came suddenly, and at FIRST was ever
whelming. Alone, in what seemed al
most a 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 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 a 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 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 a good book, had
found their way into this household.
{ Though very fond Of reading herself,
D with the care of her house she had diff
3 ed along, as so many women do, until
s the discipline of study, or any special
I, application, had been almost forgotten.
1t was the ambition of both parents thai
I their sons should be well educated
, Now Jerry and Thede, the two oldest
: must be kept at home during the sum
t mer to work. Nate and Johnnie coulG
u help at night and in the morning. The
!, boys had all been trained to habits o.
/ obedience. They were adectionate, anC
e she knew that she could depend upor
}, their love.
One evening, alone in her bedroom
she overheard some part of converse
i ton as the children were sitting to
/. gether around the open fireplace:
Z II don't mind the work." said Theo
s dore, "if could only be learning, too
J Father used to say he wanted me to b
civil engineer"
|. "If father was here" said clever
?. year-old Nate, ''you could study ever
.. lngs and recite to him. 1 wish Inothe
could help; but, then, l guess mott
er's-"
P "Help, how2" she heard Jerry as
is sharply, before Nate could finish h
ts sentence; and she knew the boy Wa
!, Jealous at once for her. 'Isn't she I'll
ar best mother in the world2"
u "Yes, she IL; and she likes storie
ar too; but was just thinking, now thu
We you can't go to school, if she only kne
~ Al lot about everything, why, she coul
q =, tell you.'
g. "Well," replied Jerry, with all Il
as gravity of a man, 1--WE must take hol
ne and help all we can; it's going to |
~ ~ hard enough for mother. 1 just ha
~ ~ to give up school and pitch into worl
4 Thede, you shall go next winter, an.
sl- way"
nd "Sha'n't we he lonesome next wi
ter2" said little Johnnie, who had TAKE
a. no part in the talk until now; "won
IS mother be afraid2 want my faith
de back" and, without word of war
IT. ing, lie burst into tears.
ls- Dead silence for few minutes. IT
We outburst was so sudden, she knew tn
,ol were all weeping, 1t was jerry aga
Is, who spoke first; Don't let mother s
nd us crying. Come, Johnnie, let's tai
ar Bone and all go down to the trap
al then she heard them pass out Of d
y house.
nd Desolation fell upon that poor moth
lie for the next hour. Like knife Nate
set remark had passed through her heal
el- Father could have helpedl" Couldr
or she help her boys, for whom she W
~ ready to diep Was she only 'mother
mt who prepared their meals and took ca
rt. Of their clothes2 She wanted part
ir- the very best of their lives. She thoug
els it all over, sitting up far into the nigl
IN If she could only create an interest
some study that should bind them
art together, and in which she could lea
,ep Was she too old to beginp Never b
et, the desire to become the very center
ts' interest to them taken such hold up
Us her.
an A few weeks after, she said, @
itn morning, at the breakfast table; ''Bo
I've BEEN thinking that We night bes