Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-03-23

ion." Her brother would often COM
fort her with the assurance that If not
handsome she was at least smart,
while her father would often remind
her Of that well worn adage, "Hand-
some is that handsome does"
After five years OF study in Oberlin
College, Mr.. Willard's health was so
impaired that.a change of climate was
thought advisable, and he decided to
go west. The journey was made in
large covered wagons, and as they
never travelled on Sundays, it took
them over three weeks to reach their
destination.
When they passed through Chicago
they found SO many mud holes with
big signs up, "No bottom here" that
they decided that they could not be
hired to live in such q place. They
finally reached the banks of the Rock
river, near GAINESVILLE, Wis, about four
teen miles from Beloit.
The house on the farm where they
located was christcned "Forest Home's
aud must have been most attractive
and picturesque cottage. surrounded by
groves of evergreen and oak. and look
ing out over the prairie stretching away
towards the east till it almost seemed
to meet the sky. Twelve happy years
were spent by Frances and her brother
and sister in study. work, and play.
There was no district school 90 they
were taught at home and having no
near neighbors. they were compelled to
depend upon their own resources for
companionship and amusement.
They made their own toys using their
fathers chest Of carpenter tools, and
Frances cared much more for employ
ment Of this nature than for house,
work, as she says IA needle and q
dish cloth / could not abide" Oliver.
the brother, was very good to his sisters
and allowed them to go with him
wherever he went. Frances used to
go hunting with him and he would
even let her load the gun, and she adds
II can also testify that he made not
the slightest objection to me CARRYING
the game" The children used to ssplay
Indian" dressing up in various peculiar
costumes, and divide their forces into
two parts, one part holding the fort i'm
the house. and the other attacking from
the outside
On Sunday all was changed Their
parents had the old Puritan training,
and believed that the Sabbath was a
day holy unto the Lord.
They were not allowed to read any
books or papers except those of relig-
ious nature, and to go nowhere but to
church.
Miss Willard relates little incident
OF her mothers tact. and her own inCe-
nuity in evading these rules: One Sat-
urday she had been given slate, some
thing which she had long desired, but
she could not use such week day art
icle on Sunday. At last she hit upon 4
plan, and going TO her mother, she did
not dare even suggest such a thing
TO her father. she said in a plead
ing voice "Mayn't have my new slate
II promise won't draw anything but
nleetin' housess" Her mother laughed
in spite of herself, and said Eyes, YOU
may, my little girl, and will make You
pattern to 20 by" So there was peace
and quiet and the long afternoon pass
cd only too quickly.
One summer they were visited by the
minister's daughter from GAINESVILLE,
who took exception to the distance
from town, and gave the children the
idea OF founding town of their own.
Many consultations were held regard
ing the plan of a city, and who should
be the officers, who edit the papers, and
how the streets should be named.
The paper was 1.-THE Fort City Tri-
bune" and was edited by Franoss, who
showed tho same skill and executive
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