The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-09

1
The boys, always fond of mother"
wondered what new life possessed her.
but they accepted the change Ill the
Same. She found that she could teach
and also inspire the pupils.
They heard Of gully five or six miles
away, where crystals had been found.
Making holiday. for which the boys
worked like Trojans, they took their
lunch in farm wagons and rode to the
spot; and, it the search was not alto
gether uccessful, it left them the mem
DRY of very happy time.
In the meantime the farm prospered.
She did all the work in the house and
oil the sewing, going out, too, in the
and helped to gather few vegetables.
Daniel and the boys were bitterly op.
posed to her helping them.
Mother, " said Jerry, "if You won't
ever think you must 90 out, I'll do an
thing to make up. I don't r..,,,,.y.
look like these wome-. -. ..a ~, ~ ~ :.
in the fields" ''~'"e'
sae generally yielded; her work wa,
enough for one pair Of hands. Through
1t all ran the thought that her children
were all growing up; they would be.
come educated men; she would not le,
them 60 ahead, not 20 a 10 BASS he,
entirely.
Winter came. Now Daniel could re-.
TO the work but these habits Of study
were not to be broken.
Boys let us form a history Stub, u
was the proposition; "it sfan't interfere
with your lessonS ht school,"
They took the history of the United
stases. which the young children were
studying. Beginning with tho New
England settlements, and being sir In
number. they called each other for the
time, after the nix states, persusdint
old Daniel to take Ills native Rhode
Island. ~
THAT woman beats ali creation he
was heard to exclaim, "the way she
works all day and goes on at night over
The mother said she hardly knew IL
she were any older than her bows when
they were trying to trip each other with
questions. The teacher of the district
school came over one Saturday after.
noon.
Il never had such pupils,n said hss
.as your sons III history; and, indeed;
they want to look into everything"
Afterward he heard with delight the
story OF her evenings work. The deep
SHOWS often shut them in, but the red
light shone clearly and bright from that
sitting.room window, and . merry
group was gathered around the table.
Every two weeks an evening was
gwen to some journey. It was laid out
n adysnce and faithfully studied.
once, Theodore remembers, . shout of
laughter was raised when 9 o'clock came
BY Jerry's exclamation:
."Oh! mother, don't go home; We are
oil having such good timei1
Five years they lived in this way, and
almost entirely by themselves. They
studied botany. She knew the names
OF every tree and shrub for miles
around. The little boys made colleo-
ton Of birds eggs, and then began TO
watch closely the habits of the birds.
It was pure. simple life. It would
have been too wild and lonely but for
the charms of this devoted mother.
Her hours Of loneliness were hidden
from them, but she learned in an un-
usual degree to throw every energy in
to the days work OF study, and create,
as 1t were, Q fresh enthusiasm for the
present hour. Her loving sacrifice was
rewarded. Each child made her his
peculiar confdant. She became the
inspiration Of his life.
English history opened wide field
to this family. One afternoon she
brought in Shakespeare to prove some
historical question. It was rainy day
and the boys were oil ct home. Jerry
began to read Hamlet" aloud !; it proved
o treasure that brought them into q
new world of delight. Sometimes they
took different characters for represen-
tation, and the evening ended in frolic,
for good natured mirth was never re-.
pressed.
First Of all q preparation had been
made for the Sabbath. There was q
church in this town, but at Q distance
OF several miles, and during many days
the roads were not passable. She had
leaned upon Infinite strength, gather
ing wisdom through all their expert
ences. The secret of many q promise
had been revealed to her understand
ing and above everything she desired
that the Scriptures might become pre-
cious to her children. She took up
Bible characters, bringing to bare the
same vivid interest, the same power of
making them realities.
These lessons were varied by little
sketches or reports of one Sunday to
be read aloud the next. OF this Nate
took hold with special zest. None Of
this family could sing, but she thought
of substitute. They learned the
Psalms, much of 1saish, and many
hymns, repeating them in concert,
learning to count upon this hour around
the fire as others do upon mmsic.
How many Of these times came to
her in after ife-a vision of the bright
faces of ner boys as they clustered af-
fectionately around her.
Time rolled by. A railroad passed
through; A village sprang up and the
land was ready to sell. She could
keep enough for her own use and the
boys could prepare for college. Thede
and Nate went away to school. The
old home was kept bright and pleasant;
friends, new settlers came in, and now
there was visiting and social life.
Jerry stayed on the farm; Theodore
became an engineer; Nate minister;
Johnny went into business. Theodore
used to say:
Mother, Is I travel about, all the
stones and flowers make me think of
you. I catch sight of some rock and
stop to laugh over those blessed times"
Nate said: Mother, when I am
reading Psalm in the pulpit there al
ways comes to me Q picture of those
evenings, with You in the rocking.c chair
by the freight. and I hear ali your
Johnny wrote: Mother. I think
everything I have has come to me
When Jerry, who had remained
faithful IS always, had listened to bis
brothers. he put his arm around her,
saying tenderly: "There will never be
anyone like mother to me-"
ShA died M Az vorv eu5dnmIv n,1v