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

Till the winter goes,
he rests from the work Of the land.
But tho willing wife, till LIES closing DAY.
IL the childrcn's and the husbands stay,
FROM Day to day she hos done her best,
Vnul death alooe can rive her resk
For after the test
Comes the rest
With the blest
In the farmers heavenly homo
HIDDEN STRENGTH,
Inone OF the prairie towns of Northern
Iowa where the Illinois Central railroad
now passes from Dubuque to Sioux CITY
lives woman whose experi nee repeats
the truth that inherent forces, ready to
be developed, are waiting for the ener.
gencies chat life may bring. She was
born and brought mp" in New England.
With the advantages Of o country school
and few terms in neighboring CITY,
shs became fair scholar, not at eli re-.
markable. She WAS married at 81 to q
young farmer. poor, but intelligent and
ambitious. In 10 years after the death
OF their parents, they emigrated to low.
and invested their money in land that
bade fair to increase in value, but far
away from neishbora Here they lived
happy family for five years. when he
died, leaving her at the age Of IS with
four boys. the eldest IA and the young.
est 8. Tho blow came suddenly and al
first was overwhelming.
Alone, in what seemed almost a vii.
derness, she had no Thought Of e;v,nc
up the farm. It was home. They mnsf
stay and do the best they could. The
prospect OF Q railroad passing near
them in time was good; then some of
the land might be sold. Alittle money
hnd been laid by-nothine that she
ought to touch for the present. Dan.
lei, the hired man. who had come ont
with them, and who was q devoted
friend and servant. she determined to
keep-his Judgment was excellent in
farm matters.
Hitherto the boys had gone regular.
~ to school, mile or two away: for =
settlement in Iowa was never without a
school house. They were bright and
quick to learn. Their father Red been
eager and willing to encourage than.
newspapers. magazines, and now and
then q good book. had found their way
INTO this household. Though very fond
ct reading herself, with the care of the
house she drifted along, - 80 MANY do
until the discipline of study or any spec.
ial application had been almost forgot.
ten. II was the ambition of both mar.
ents that their sons should be we'll adm.
Gated. y" 80 '>'a
Vow Jerry and Thede. the two oldest
must he kept at home during the sum
mer to work. Nate and johnny could
help at night and morning. The bows
mad always been trained to habits Of
obedience. They were affectionate and
sne knew that she could depend upon
their love. -
One evening, alone in her bedroom.
she overheard some part of . converse
ton, - 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
civil engineer"
IF father was here said eleyen-year
old Nate, You could study evenings
and recite to him. I wish mother would
help but then I guess that's mother's--."
"AnIn- hnvu 81 hn hon~S 4.
sharply, before Nate could finish his
sentence; and she knew at once that
the boy was jealous for her. "Isn't she
the best mother in the world?"
YES, she is, and she likes stories, too.
but ! was thinking, now that you can't
go to school, If she only knew lot
about everything, why, she could tell
you"
"Well," replied Jerry with all the
gravity Of man, i've must Just take
hold and help al we can; IT, going ITO to
be hard enough for mother. I Just hate
to give up school and pitch into work.
Thede. you shall 60 next winter, any
way"
"Shan't We be lonesome next winter ?"
cried little Johnny, who bad taken no
part in the conversation till now; won't
mother 10 afraid? I want my father
back" and without Q word of warning
he burst into tears.
Dead silence for few minutes. The
outburst was 90 sudden, she knew they
were all weeping. II was Jerry again
who spoke first: Don't let mother see
Us crying. Come, Johnny, let's take
Bone and all go down to the trsp;"
then she heard them pass out of the
house.
Desolation fell upon that poor woman
for the next hour. Like q 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, }"
who prepared their meals and took
care Of their clothes? She wanted q
part of the very best of their lives.
She thought it all over sitting up far
into the night. II she could create IN
interest in some study that SHOULD bind
them all together, 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
morning at the breakfast table: "Boys,
I've been thinking that we might begin
geology this summon and study it, ell
Of us together. i have found . text
book , by and BY Thede, can draw .
chart, perhans. Jerry win take hold,
I know, and Nate and Johnny can hunt
Tor specimens. We have an hour Or
Two every night.
The children's interest swoke in 81