Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-24


much the same in love affairs so II
seems. and like to hear Of them and
read about them. and of course in holt
day time II is expected there VIII be
lots OF stories OF love and adventure
written for the newspapers and maya
zines OF home production. Nowadays
writer's usually begin in the middle of
the story instead of a preamble or ex-
PLANTATION In detail. Old fashioned
story telling was different when 1 was
a little girl then all stories began with
"A long time ago" and similar phrases,
but now that would be old style, and
one must conform to the taste of the
present day, as far MS possible. even in
telling stories.
In an obscure part of the state OF
New York dong ago by the way, when
my story opens there was much hard
work to be done by men and boys land
women had their share, too, only II
was differenO clearing away the woods
to get room to live, men were com
PEELED to cut down the magnificent old
trees, ''monarchs of the forest" that
had stood for generations, not only to
get material to build with but land to
build on. And SO the forefathers OF
many OF the present generation lived
in the woods $50 to speak) and oecu-
pied their time in subduing the earth
and making the land fertile: gathering
up the stones and building walls
around their broad acres. that they
made productive with much toll and
a,.I M
cities and towns now stand We're once
great forests of oak. hickory, pine,
maple and other trees indigenous to
the country. The boys and girls of
today know very little of the industry
and thrift 1t has taken to settle the
land now SO prosperous and full of
wealth and of people. The country
folks had to depend mostly upon their
own exertions. instead of fortunes left
them from rich ancestors; they had
come away from their ancestral homes,
or their fathers had, and the only leg
acy they counted upon was the honor
and honesty of those whose names
they bore; and men rose as 1t were up
on their merits, TO be leaders of the
people, or heroes in the strife" instead
of being doomed by political bosses. 1
guess that must be why we hear people
talk of "the good old days" But 1
must launch into my story or my read
ers will think this is a preamble.
In very old house, old for those
primitive days, in central New York.
widow with her family of daughters
and one son, was living contentedly, 1t
seemed. but the Western fever came
and the young man wanted to seek his
L.. H. L.. lts..
fided to his mother his idea of leaving
York state. but she scarcely thought
he could be in earnest so determined
when they were alone one day to sound
him on the subject. And addressing
him she said, And so you've made up
your mind, have you, to go further
west, George?" and she looked up Mt
her tall boy who measured six feet
without his boots. Yes, decidedly.
I've tried teaching here, and working
the farm as well. and I'm not getting
on fast enough. and even II j were. l
have the Western fever, 1 want to do
more, work on larger scale than one
can In small town. prefer prairies
to woods, l think, there's more room
to breathe in"
Il can't see anything you have to
complain of here" said his mother.
You are highly respected according to
your years. George, think how young
you arc, though you do seem much
older, because of your manner quite
as much as your height 1 fancy. / do
think your cares have been too many;
If the girls had married and had homes
OF their own, your responsibilities
would have been lighter"
I'm not complaining of anything
and especially of my sisters: they are
provided for by their fathers will, ex.
cept one, and l shall always care fol
her until she marries, and watch ovei
nftarNtTn rft la Il AL
that, but that's neither here nor there
I'm going West, shall start out alon,
as soon as spring opens. If you are un'
willing to leave the homestead, mother
so that's settled"
Mrs. Fleming knew II was no use re-
monstrating when George made up his
mind. so she said no more but wen
about with n sober face and downcas
look. for she loved the old home. ana
sometimes she fancied sentiment lac
died out in the new generation. She wa,
aware that the girls would object Il
her going, but she must go with he
boy. he was the pride OF her life, ant
she felt disappointed more on his ac
count really that the girls had no
married when they Were younger
New they were decidedly too particu
lar and their opportunities for choos
Ing were not so good as they had beef
formerly; though taoy stiil cnter1aine,
some OF their old heaus, HI had bee
coming In the SAM way ;or years
Mrs. Fleming was not a match make
ana consequently lot things take thei
course, much the wlsest plan.
The weather was extremely cold am
the family always sat together in III
evening in the long dining room an
enjoyed each others society; 1t save
fire and work to do this and then the
liked II better and the parlor fire wa
only lighted on state occasions, no
the best chamber used either for tina
matter that was reserved for peopl
from distance Albany or New Yor
city, or some grand visitor, for tn
family We're well connected. and coul
entertain royalty, and We're rather fon
OF II. especially in winter time whe
days were dun and they were tired Z
indoor occupations. There was pier
~ Of linen, too, In the high chests q
drawers, and flannel In abundance, n
homemade, packed away in musk an
lavender; all the women folks kne,
how TO spin and weave in those day
and every girl was expected To max
her own OUTFIT OF linen and the Xix
when she was going TO be marie,
and the five daughters OF Rachel Elem
Ing, born while she was the wife
the Rev. Erastus Gilman, were NJ
behind hand with their stock OF ht
ana table linen and flannel and iinse,
woolsey, nor of their own personal az
parel. But aside from all this cor
paratiyely new material-there wei
closets and presses filled with tnoi
things made at Il still earlier period
Mrs John Fleming's day (she who WI
Hettie Warner) and though Il was m