The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-08


TO- There were four of US. l was
the eldest. Then there were girl Of
10. one of 81, and boy of Z. In Oc-
tober we had moved to the house on
the shore of Lonesome lake, which was
very lonesome indeed. 1t was soil
tary little sheet of water on the top OF
hill, almost mountain. There We're
no neighbors nearer than mile. Fa-
Their had moved to this farm ON Lone
some lake because his father had died
that fall, and the property had to be
divided between him and his brother.
Uncle William. Uncle William was
not married. though he was older than
father, and he and father and grand
father had always lived together and
worked the home farm. sharing the
profits.
After grandfather's death father and
Uncle William had some difference.
never knew what it was about. One
night after had gone to bed heard
them talking loud, and the next morn
ing father and Uncle William looked
very sober at breakfast, and mother
had been crying. That afternoon she
told us that we were going to move
because the property was to be divid-
ed. and we were to have the farm on
Lonesome lake, near Lebanon. Leb-
anon is little village about ten miles
from Wareville. where we We're living
then. Mother said she was sorry to go
away because she had lived there so
long, and she was afraid she would be
pretty lonesome in the new home, but
she said we must make the best of it.
Uncle William was the eldest son and
had a right to the first choice of the
property, and of course since he was a
bachelor it would be very hard for
him to go to live at Lonesome lake.
We children rather liked the idea OF
moving and began packing at once
Flory and fancy had their dolls and
their wardrobes all packed within IN
hour. Flory was the sister next to
me, and thought her rather old to
play with dolls. | had given up dolls
long before was as old as she.
Two weeks after grandfather died
we were all moved and nearly settled
in our new home. There had been no
one living in the house for several
years. except when father and Uncle
William Went up there every year in
having time to cut and make hay. Ev-
erything seemed pretty damp and dis
NAL at first but when we got our
furniture set up and the fires started it
looked more cheerful. The house was
large. with TWO front rooms looking
on the lake. which was only about 2C
feet distant One of these rooms was
our sitting room; the other was oul
parlor Back of these rooms was
very large one. which was our kitchen
and dining room. There were dark
bedroom in the middle of the house. 6
father and mother slept. out OF thu
sitting room and four chambers.
Thanksgiving came about weel
after we had moved. and we had {
rather forlorn day. We all missed
grandfather and Uncle William. l an
sure mother cried little before we sa
down to the table. and father LOOKED
sober.
When Thanksgiving was over. W
began to think about Christmas
Mother had promised us Christina
tree. The year before we had all ha
the measles and been disappointed
about going to the tree at the Sunda
school, and mother had said, mex
year you shall have tree Of you
own If nothing happens" OF cours
something had happened. Poor CRANE
father had died. and we had moved
and we wondered If that would put
stop to the tree. Mother looked Ii
tie troubled at first when we spoke {
It, Then she said If we would not |
disappointed if we did not have man
presents and the tree did not hay
much on it except popcorn and apple
she would see what she conid do
Then we children began 10 De full
little secrecies. Mysterious bits
wool anu silk and oolored paper al
cardboard were scattered about Il
house, and we were always shuttil
doors and jumping and hiding thin
when a door was opened, Each or
was making something for father al
mother, even Charles Henry He WI
working a worsted motto. God Bile
Our Home" Then. of course. we we
all making presents for one another
1t was week and one day befo
Christmas. We had our presents ,
most done and mother had promis
to take two Of us the very next d
and go down to the village to do sol
shopping-we had been saving mon
all the year for some boughten pre-
ents-when the news about Uncle w
liam came man rode over frC
Wareville quite late at night a
brought word that Uncle William W
dangerously sick and father and mo-
er must come at once il they want
to see him alive Mother said the
was nothing for ii but tiey must
She said il they had not come aw
Just as they had with hard words
tween father and Uncle William. 5
would have let father so alone a
staid VIII as ol.ldlpn: Int, M it W
she fell hat she m;.sl 80 700. $