Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-01-26

/
/ fore the fire could be brought into sub
lection, and a larg- portion of the city
was burned, a great many people froze
to death and 64S houses and stores
! burned, with over SIS, 100000 worth of
| property-that one of our neighbors'
houses caught fire and burned down.
The children were at school that day.
| When they reached home the mother
sent girl down in the cellar to get
some potatoes for supper. AS it was
SO extremely cold that winter, the
father lad carried quantity of straw
in the celler to keep them from freeZ-
ing. By some means the girl let the
candle come In contact with the straw.
which ighited and soon spread all
through the house, and in few min
utes what had been a happy home was
| reduced to ashes. But very few of the
| clothes and household goods could be
saved. The meat, vegetables, bread
stuff, were all destroyed the family
on and nothing to eat and no shelter.
The next day the neighbors met at the
schOolhouse and formed committees o:
relief. Some to look after building,
some for the comforts of the family
such as clothing, bedding, food, etc.
My mother was appointed to canvass
one of the school districts. Each
school district was a field. Mother
was assigned the 10th district. Now
my mother bad been sick and got to
just to that stage that every thing look
ed dark. We were going to starve, 60
ing to the poor-house; In fact, she was
just ready to give up and die. The
next morning my father made me his
confidant for the first time. and you
may he sure it made me feel good to
have my father take me in his conf
dence; and what child does not love to
have parent repose confidence in him?
My father said, Theodore, you hitch
up old Cloudy (that was the name of
by that name) and take your ma and
60 up into the 10th district and go to
every house, and be sure you go in ev-
cry house to arm, for it is cold, and
don't be in any hurry to leave, for
want your ma to see the poor-those
that are poor" It was with the great
est reluctance We got mother started,
and that with many protests and tears.
And did carry out the wishes of my
father? Yes, to the very letter. took
hor 70 ri
one house we called, way up i'm the
mountains, just at dinner. The table
was set with one large dish of roasted
potatoes and a large johnny-cake.
What's that? A johnny-cake is made
of cornmeal, wet up with hot water,
and the dough spread out on a board
and set up to bake before the fire.
When the foreside is cook ed, you turn
it around and cook the back side.
That's a johnny-cake; and when fell
low is real hungry, after good days
hunt, like to-day, it tastes pretty good
I can tell you. And don't you think
those folks invited US to take dinner
with them; and don't you think they
donation? AT every place we called
they gave or subscribed something,
and when night came, and drove up
to the house, father came to help moth.
er out. She could not wait to be help
ed out, but just jumped out AMI ran in
the house, and said, "Oh, I am
so glad to get home again. / did not
know there was SO many poor folks in
the world" And when we sat down
to supper, she said, ''Ah. I am SO
thankful we have so many comforts.
didn't know we were so we'll off," /
never saw my mother get down-heart-
ed after that trip; but just ask her to
go missioniDg and she would look on
the bright side. Yes, every cloud has
silver lining if We will only turn 1t
over and look for it, and who was it
said, HE tempereth the wind to the
shorR lamb?" IT. p r.