The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-10-04

husband in carrying out his pia.ts, anc
encouraging the neighbors to do nu-
| merous little things which served to
make home pleasanter and more at
tractive to its inmates.
A little curly-headed. golden-haired
girl, with the blacklist of black eyes.
and the reddest OF red cheeks. and the
prettiest little mouth one would care
to see. who was now fairly in the fourth
summer of her little life. made up the
balance of Major Andrew Nordrum's
family.
1t did not take long for the two fami-
lies to become quite Intimately ac-
Quaintcd. Their children. Louis and
Mary. often played together, and the
women frequently met at each other 5
houses. and oftentimes planned many
pleasant surprise for those ncighbors
whose circumstances in life were not
SO prosperous.
When Mary was 10 years old her
mother died. Left at this early age
without a mothers tender care. she
naturally looked to Mrs. Patterson as
the person she had the right to love as
a mother. and Mrs. Patterson returned
the love in most generous manner.
Louis Patterson was : YEARS old when
try schoOl-house located about Il mile
from his home. He was quite and
eager to learn. and had no difficulty in
keeping at the head of the class.
There was. however. no one pupil any
more favOrite with the teacher or
with schOolmatcs than another. \
country schoolhOusc filled with farmers
children is an excellent place to find
absolute regularity. No one scholar is
better than another. Not Il shade OF
aristocracy is there. The book and
slate and writing material OF each
pupil is alike. The little tin pals and
willow baskets that contain the din
ncrs. are similar. And in a much
more marked degree than in the city
are the intellects alike. None are dull.
All are bright.
There may be more aWkWartinesS in
the schOOl-roOm in the country than in
the town, but it is awkwardness of
nature. and it has much to do with de-
timing the line between the children
brought up On the farm and those
brought up in the city.
1t is not claimed that this particular
school was made up of children abso-
lutcly good. There were bad boys
there boys who were miscellaneous.
boys who were vicious. and Toys who
were ungOvcrnahle. There were girls
with fiery te,npers. ugly dispositions.
and evil natures. 1t may be that it
takes such children to rob the school
room. of it's dull and prosy monotony
which makes sluggards and idlers. If
directed in the proper channel, and
taken in hand at the right time. and
not allowed too much freedom or too
III !, i,1, tn hn
bad cropping out in Il school-room of
little children may be turned to excel
lent purposes.
At this school Louis Patterson and
Mary Nordrum received their early
book education. There was nothing
peculiar about these children. Their
youthful lives were the lives Of a vast
cOncourse of children who preceded
them in the school-room. 1t happened
i'll their early youth that they became
fond of each other. Together they
walked. hand in hand, to and from their
studies. They had their little quarrels
but they were brief ones. They had
their days and weeks of separation. ard
they We're sad ones. And even in early
childhood when chasing butterflies and
gathering wild flowers. and long before
either knew the meaning of love. they
were lovers devoted. constant. and
true. The love of little children.
When in all the long life is love purcr,
nobler. or dearer::1
AT the age of Is. Mary Nordrum was
sent to Il young ladies seminary in an
Eastern town. She had been diligent
student in the country school, and
found it an easy task to keep pace with
her class in the seminary. From the
grand old school of nature she had
graduated with high honors. and the
lessons learned in the groves and fields
served her well with her new-found
companions. She quickly became ia
vorite with all. An interesting and
fascinating cOnversat:Onalist. always
having at her hand Il fund of practical
information. which she knew how to
use to the best advantage. she drew
arO;,nd her a circle Ofadmiring friends.
Mary Norlrum was now what the
world would term beautiful woman
Her manners were pleasant, and, in
| fact. charming. She dressed with be-
coming taste. and though the only
child Of "a wealthy father. she made no
display of riches. bat prided herself on
being I; farmer daughter. fond OF the
! farmers life.
Louis Patterson. having finished the
| branches usually taught in public
school. and having spent one year at
tending the high school at the county
/ scat. entered the State Agricultural
College for three years course. His
, experience Was not different from most
! students in his class. He was bright
/ and quick to learn: was devoted top9li-
! tics. and took great interest in works
and studies in political economy.
| TO BE CONTE,UED.l