Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-11-15
SHE CONQUERED.

| NOrlnern ONO, Wnefc the ILLINOIS
Central railroad now passes from
Dubuque to Sioux City, lived a VIC.
man whose experience speaks the
truth that inherent forces, ready to
be developed, are waiting for the
emergencies that life may bring.
She was born and brought up in
New England. With the advant-
ages OF country school and a few
terms in neighboring city, she be-
came fair scholar. She was mar
ried at twenty-one to young far
mer, poor, but intelligent and am
bilious. In ten years, after the
death of their parents, they emigra-
ted to Iowa, and invested their
money in land that bade fair to in
crease in value, but far away from
ueighbors. Here they lived, IA hap
py family. for five years, when he
died, leaving her at the age of 35.
with four boys, the eldest nearly IA
and the youngest 8. The blow came
suddenly, and at first was over
Whelming.
Alone, in what seemed almost u
wilderness, she had no thought of
giving up the farm. A little mon
ey had been laid by. Daniel, the
hired man, who had come out with
them, she had determined to keep.
Hitherto the boys had gone regu-
larly to school, Il mile or two away;
they were bright and quick to learn.
Newspapers, magazines, and now
and then good book found their
way into this household. Jerry and
Thede, the two oldest, must now Ee
kept at home during the summer to
work. Nate and Johnny could help
at night and morning. They had
always been trained to habits Of obe-
dience.
One evening, alone in her bed
room, she overheard Theodore say:
81 don't mind the work, if L could
only be learning too. Father want
ed me to be a civil engineer"
"If father was here" said ll-year
old Nate, 'yOu could study even
ings, and recite to him. | wish
mother could help"
Desolation fell upon that poor
woman for the next hour. Like
knife, Mates remarks had passed
through her heart. Father could
have helped I" Could she not help
her boys? Was she only "mOther"
who prepared their meals and took
care of their clothes? She wanted
IL part of the very best OF their lives.
She thought it all over sitting up
far into the night. IL she could
only create an interest in some
study that should bind them all
and in which she could
lead! Was she too old to begin
Never had the desire to become the
very center of interest to them taken
such hold upon her.
A few weeks after, she said one
at the breakfast table
Boys, pve been thinking that we
might begin geology this summer
and study it, all of us together. /
have found text book by and by |
rhede can draw a chart, perhaps. |
Jerry will take hold, know, and
Nate and Johnny can hunt for
specimens. We have an hour or
.wo every night"
The children's interest awoke III
| flash, and that very night the
Inestion was one brought up by
Nate: "What is the difference be-
ween limestone and granite?"
A simple one, but ii opened the
way for her, and the first meeting
proved a success. She had to study
,ach day to be ready and wide
wake for her class. They lived in
limestone region. Different forms
# coral aboRnded, and other fossils
we're plenty. An old cupboard in
he shed was turned into cabinet.
Question after question led them
,ack TO the origin Of the earth. She
ound the nebular hypothesis, and
IardIy slept one night trying 10
it clearly enough TO
'ut before others in a simple fash
On. Her books were always at
and. BY and by they classified
ach specimen, and the best of their
ind was taken to shelve, In the sit
ing-roOm.
Her own enthusiasm in study was
reused, and far from hardship, it
ecame "a delight. Her spirit was
ontagious. The boys, always fond
t "nother," wondered what new
lie possessed her. She found that
he could teach and also inspire her
upils.
Winter came. Now Daniel could
ee to the work but these habits of
tudy were not TO be broken.
Boys" let US form a history ,
Iub," was the proposition, "it
han't interfere with your lessons
t school,"
They took the history OF the Uni
ed States, which the young chill [
rem were studying. Beginning
,ith the New England settlements,
nd being six in number, they cali {
d each other, for the time, after the {
tx States, persuading old Daniel to [
axe his native Rhode Island.
"That woman beats all CREATION"
e was heard to exclaim; "the way
he works all day and goes on at
light over her books"
The mother said she hardly knew
she were any older than her boys
phen they were trying to trip each
ther with questions. The teacher
{ the district school came one Sat
rday afternoon.
"I never had such pupils," said
e, "as your sons In history; ana,
indeed, they want to look into ev-
rything."
Time rolled by. A railroad pass
d through and village sprang up. ,
he land was ready 10 sell. She
ould keep enough for her own use,
nd the boys could prepare for col
ege. Thede and Maize went away .
D school. The old home was kept ,,
right and pleasant, and now there ;
yas visiting and social life.
Jerry stayed on the farm Theo-
ore became an engineer; Nate a {
minister; johnnie went into busi-
ess, Theodore used to say; Moth I
r, as ] travel about the stones and '
overs make me think of you,"
Nate said Mother, when / am
eading a psalm in the pulpit, there q
lways comes to me picture Of ,
hose evenings, with you in the 7