River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-04-09
SOME OF
6hallkfnt Strung
AExPERIENees.. II
BY SARAH wADswoRTH GEToRELL.
BY SARAH wADswoRrn eEroRErL.


1C'ttS9 AiAANR1 etitNA Will II tltNl (OlflC
the soup was so hot that we could
not eat it, and the cream was so cold
and icy that il made our false teeth
ache. While we were blowin' our
soup and waitin' for our cream to
warm, we heard the cry-"AIl
aboard" One very cute old lady
says that she shall regret to her dyin
day that she did not turn the cream
into the soup. However Denver
was not far Olive could see the
hills away in the distance, and would
soon be there. Caleb was excited,
| could see that well enough, and it
seemed to grow on him as we passed
station after station until we came
to our stopping place.
Now, we thought that we felt
considerable travelled and would
not be bit put about when it
came time to gather up our things
at this, our last stopping place, upon
our first trip into the world. OF
course we both came out west once,
but travelin' was so different then
that it seems as though we had never
been any 7Vhere before. But law
sakes! we were all at sea; our heads
were nearly turned, and our minds
were all mixed up with our baggage
and the thought of SEEM our boy so
soon, that we didn't notice any one
until felt arms around my neck,
and voice sayin' "My mother, my
father!" and lookln' up, we saw
could it be-our boy, bearded and
rich and handsome. OF course we
knew that he wore a beard-have
lots of pictures of him-yit for all
that we expected to see the same
smooth-faced boy that we sent out
into the world seven years ago. We
see other peoples children grow old
but can't realize that our own can.
Caleb spoke no word, and | could
only say "My boy and the glad
tears ran down over Joe's cheeks as
he took our satchels and showed us
the way. Every one looked at him
with surprise and one said: 81 won
der who those old people are? guess
they must be Judge Strong's parents.
I've seen him glad good many
times but never saw his face look
like that. ] know that nothing but
that mother that he is always talk
ing about could bring iust that look
of joy into it." He handed us into a
handsome carriage and we drove
rapidly to his home. thought I'd
know the house, he had sent the
plans and all, but found that l
had had no idec of it's beauty. Yit
REILLY i don't think | thought of it
then; | had thoughts only for our
boy, and my eyes were too full to
see only as love sees. Upon the
porch stood Annie-that's his wife.
1t was a kind welcome and made us
feel safe and sure from the first.
Some way she made it easy for us
to talk. As she led the way into the
house she said: 1--WE are very glad
to welcome our father and mother.
don't think that Joe has been as
glad through. all of his successes as
he is to-day" Joe said, "Better take
them right up home, Annie; they
will like that best when they are
tired, feel sure" | wondered what
he meant, but | did not have long to
wait, for just at the head of the stairs
and little toward the right we en-
tered room iuSt like our sittin'
room at home, carpet, chairs, black
hair-cloth sofy, cuttings, and all.
The only difference was the books
and pictures. There want no pic
lures there only mine over his desk,
his fathers on an easel to the right,
Orrilly's was hangin' between the
winders, while upon the table was
that of baby, and Armies was
there too. After we had laid aside
our wraps Annie said that she would
90 and fetch us a lunch. They
seated us close together, | noticed,
and Toe brought stool and sot
down in front of us with his head in
its old place in my lap, and one hand
in his fathers. We didn't hear
nothin' until Annie came up behind
us, and-well, | never was so sur
prised in my life-laid the sweetest
baby down into our laps and said:
ssFather and Mother, this is our
greatest surprise to you. 1t is our
highest joy; so, Grandpa and Grand
ma, let me introduce to YOU your
new granddaughter Miss Thankful
Strong" Joe said, "Do you wonder
now that we could not wait any
longer for you to come" After we
had gotten a little over our surprise,
such nice lunch came. 1t seemed
so much like home that | could not
believe we were not there. Caleb
said: ''How is it, Joseph, that with
ali of your wealth you would furnish
room like this!" swell, father,
I've been afraid sometimes that /
might lose my head with so much
praise and money, so | told Annie
when we builded this house / wanted
enc room Just like the sitting-room
at home and furnished just like it !;
then if | began to grow worldly wise
or was tempted to dishonesty | could
come here and see my father and
mother, and my dear little sister,
then | could only be myself. Here
always study up hard cases, and |
always fancy, mother, that | can see
your eyes looking through those in
the picture, saying always, DO right,
my boy and / could not knowingly
do anything else after that. Men
often wonder why Judge Strong so
seldom misjudges. They could all
do as well if they had mothers like
NINE"
The next day he unfolded his
plans. He was to take months
vacation, for the first time in seven
years. We could &c any where that
we wished in thar time, and / said !:
ssCan it be Yellowstone Park? and
| want to see the Mount of the Holy
Cross" 81 thought that would be
it," he said. "Before | go want to
give banquet to my brethren of
the bar and their wives or sweet
hearts. | want the privilege of
introducing you to them" "Oh,
Iosephm | gasped, ssiust think-do