Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-01-08
HIDDEN STRENGTH.

Iowa where the uunols central railroad
now passes from Dubuque TO Sioux City,
lives a woman whose experience repeats
the truth that inherent forces, ready to
be developed, are waiting for the ener-
gencies that life may bring. She was
born and brought up" in New England.
With the advantages of a country school
and a few terms in a neighboring city,
she became a fair scholar, not at all re-
markable. She was married at 81 to a
young farmer, poor, but intelligent and
ambitious. In 10 years after the death
of their parents, they emigrated to Iowa
and invested their money in land that
babe 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 80 with
four boys, the eldest IA and the young
est o. The blow came suddenly aud at
first was overwhelming.
Alone, in what seemed almost a viii.
derness, she had no thought Of giving
pthe farm. 1t was home. They must
stay and do the best they could. The
prospect Of a railroad passing near
them in time was good; then some OF
the land might be sold. A little money
hid been laid by-nothing that she
ought to touch for the present. Dan
! iel, the hired man, who had come out
.-.Al Aha.x al xuhn xxraa N l,.ra4a1
friend and servant, she determined to
keep-his iudgmen. was excellent in
farm matters.
Hitherto the boys had gone regular.
Nv to school, q mile or two away for a
settlement in Iowa was never without o
school-house. They were bright and
quick to learn. Their father had been
eager and willing to encourage them.
Newspapers, magazines, and now and
then a good book, had found their way
into this household. Though very fond
of reading herself, with the care Of the
house she drifted along, as so many do
until the discipline of study or any spec
ial application had been almost forgot
ten. 1t was the ambition of both par
| ents that their sons should be we'll edu-
Gated.
Now Jerry and Thede, the two oldest
must be kept at home during the sum-
mer to work. Nate and Johnny could
help at night and morning. The boys
had always been trained to habits of
obedience. They were a~ffectionate and
she knew that she could depend upon
their love.
One evening, alone in her bedroom,
she overheard some part of a
ton, as the children were sitting to-
gether around the fireplace.
Il don't mind the work" said Theo-
dore, IF / could only be learning, too.
Father used to say he wanted ma to be
a civil engineer"
"If father was here" said eleven-year
old Nate, you could study evenings
and recite to him. / wish mother would
help; but then i guess that's mothers"
Help, how" she heard Jerry ask
sharply, before Nate could finish his
sentence; and she knew at ono that
the boy was jealous for her. isn't she
the hest mother in the world?"
Eyes. she is. and she likes stories, too,
but / was thinking, now that you can't
go to school, II she only knew lot
about everything, why, she could tell
you"
swell" replied Jerry with all the
gravity of q man, Eve must just take
hold and help all we can; it's going TO
be hard enough for mother. j just hate
to give up school and pitch into work.
Thede, you shall go next winter, any
wav."
''Shan't we be lonesome next winter?'
cried little Johnny, who had taken no
part in the conversation till now; won't
mother be afraid? l want my father
back" and without a word of warning
he burst into tears.
Dead silence for n few minutes. The
outburst was so sudden, she knew they
were all weeping. It was Jerry again
vino spoke first Don't let mother zoe
MS crying. Come, Johnny, let's take
Bone and all go down to the trap
then she heard them pass out OF the
! house.
Desolation fell upon that poor woman
for the next hour. Like a knife Mates
remark had passed through her heart.
Father could have helped" Couldn't
she help her boys, for whom she was
ready to die? Was she only mother, J"
who prepared their meals and took
care Of their clothes? She wanted a
part Of the very best of their lives.
She thought it all over sitting up far
into the night II she could create an
interest in some study that should bind
them all together, and in which she
could lead. Was she too old 10 begin ?
Never had the desire to become the
very center OF interest to them taken
such a hold upon her.
A few weeks after she said one
morning at the breakfast table: Boys,
I've been thinking that we might begin
geology this summer and study it, all
of us together. / have found a text
book by and by Thede can draw a
chart, perhans. Jerry will take hold.
1 know, and Nate and Johnny car hunt
for specimens. We have an hour OF
| two every night.
The vhildren's interest swoke in a