The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-09-04

das supported by wooden posts, all
facing on this courtyard. The doors all
stand open, and the whole quadrangle
towards the verandas is bordered with
gay blooming flowers. Marigolds, dou-
BILE balsams, larkspurs, blue and pink,
lavender and dill, with its tall fragrant
heads of seeds; white jasmine and
damask roses in their season perfume
the air. On one side OF the cour--the
Waikiki side-were the apartments for
Mrs. Cookies family, with the general
dining room and culinary arrangements
in the rear. On the other three sides
were the school room, the apartments
of the beloved helpers, John Ii and his
noble wife, Sarai, and the living rooms
of the royal scholars. The place was
always happy with the joy OF youth,
sometimes busy with the regular work
of the school room, again with sports
or the charms of vocal and instrument
tai music. Daily exercise was taken,
either on foot or on horseback, unGer
the care and supervision of Mr.. or Mrs.
Cooke or one of their assistants.
Here We find Mrs. Cooke, the Mother
and presiding genius OF this interesting
group: Moses Kaikioewa, Lot Kane,
hameha, Alexander Liholiho, Victoria
Kamamalu, William c. Lunalilo, Ber-
nice Pauahi, Jane Loeau, Elizabeth
Kekaaniau, Emma Rookie, Peter Young
Keao, James Kaliokelani, David Kala-
kaua, Lydia Kamakaeha, Mary Paa-
alma ond Kir1air I oil
these fifteen children varying. in ages
from thirteen to two years she had
TO love, control and train, besides q
rising family of four of her own.
l we'll remember the very crowded
state of her own rooms, the piles and
piles of sewing that passed under her
eye-that was before the day of sewing
machines. OF course there were an
abundance of servants, for each child
had haiku" or attendant devoted to
his or her welfare; and often great per-
pleXity arose from that very fact. But
they all needed watching and training,
almost as much as the children. Her
own little children suffered in learning
their own tongue, from the constant
intercourse with these Hawaiians,
speaking broken English Often Mrs
Cooke was Frustrated with headache
from the constant nervous strain. Very
seldom did she leave the precincts of
home, for eternal vigilance was the
price of safety" In every respect this
was Christian home. Morning and
evening they met at family prayers.
On, do
ed the morning service at Kawaiahao
Church, and sat in special large en-
closed pew under one of the galleries.
They sometimes attended the foreign
worship in the old Bethel, and it was
always pleasant sight to watch them
come in and to note their perfect be-
havior during the services. 1 well re-
member their dignified, handsome APP
pearance. The older boys were princely
in their bearing and the girls queenly
in youthful beauty The most striking
of these was Bernice Pauahi, and her
manners and lovely disposition were as
marked as her beauty. l remember one
public examination of the Young
Chiefs School, held in Kawaiahao
Church, crowded with interested spec
tators and friends, which was of SUI
perior excellence. The singing was led
by Mrs. Cooke, who had no instrument,
and raised the pitch by her tuning fork.
She had voice of singular power and
| clearness, that scared above all others
in our assemblages, especially when
she sang the tenor. or counter" as
our dear old-fashioned singers called
it. To this day l can seem TO hear the
peculiar heartiness and harmony of the
singing at this examination, in the sim
pie pieces, one of which was:
Before all lands in east or west,
love my native land the best;
With Gods best gifts It's teeming;
No gold or jewels here are found,
But men of noble race abound,
And eyes of joy are beaming."
Mrs. Cooke had a happy vein of hui
NOR, and habit of looking on the
bright side of things. She often con-
trolled the large family of youth by
some merry way of causing little trou-
bic or alteration to turn quickly from
the serious to the ludicrous.
All the pupils but two had preceded
her to the Silent Land. Her affection
for every one was deep and sincere
through their whole lives, and many
times her heart was cheered by their
steadfast affection evinced to her. They
invariably called her Mother" and
none but herself could tell the unwrit-
ten history of how much they acknowl-
edged their love and Indebtedness to
her.
Let me close in her own words, with
an extract from her Paper OF Rem
iniscence, read at the Jubilee Celebra-
ton of the Arrival of the Reinforce
ment of 1897:
There is a wide difference between
the spirit of heathenism and the spirit
of the Gospel. The former teaches self
ishness. Its tender mercies are cruel.
The delicate infant is strangled by its
own parents. Helpless aged people are
buried alive. Woman is treated as an
inferior, enslaved and abused. The
spirit of the Gospel teaches love and
kindness to all, even to enemies. 1t
builds hospitals for the sick poor, Civ
ing them care, kindness and medical
aid 1t builds homes for the aged who