News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-09-03

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fore coming home, he was dressed and
took few steps and got a chair and
placed it for her, because he wanted
to do something for mother She
tried to get them to grant him a fur
Tough so. he could come home with
her, but they would not, so she came
home and left him. He suffered on a
few months longer and then was dis
and came home broken down
in health to be sure, but alive, and it
was happy day tor US when he came
home and we are thankful he is still
with us.
No doubt we children all remember
Leroy's poplar tree, that he set out
when boy, near the roadside and it
had grown to be a tall tree. While
he was in the army we had a storm
one night with heavy wind, and ia the
morning we discovered that Rows
tree hal been broken by the wind
during the night, quite portion of
the top of the tree having been blown
down. | cannot tell mothers exact
words but she took it like this -
That this tree was still standing, only
the top was broken off which spoiled
the looks of it as a perfect tree but it
was still alive, so Leroy would live to
come home though he might be
broken down in health something like
the tree. How this came true we
have already read. The tree has been
dead for years, but our brother still
lives. | often think what an under
taking that journey to Chicago was
for mother at fifty years of age and
under such trying circumstances.
And poor father, too, how worried be
must have been about Leroy, and
mother too, as she was nearly sick
some of the time, alone in that great
city, and how lonely it must have
been for him at home with only we
children for company, and fear we
were poor company for him. Mr..
Blach carried on the farm that year
and lived in part of the house; Mrs.
Blach was very kind to us while
mother was away and helped me
make bread, which seemed such a job
to me, as it was my first experience in
the business.
1t was during the time that mother
was there that our brothers com
rade, before mentioned, died, and
the sad news of his death touched
tender chord in our hearts and made
still more lonely the home which we
all know is lonely with mother gone.
Later on our brother Wilbur went
to the field of war, enlisting in the
Itch VI. Vol. He, too, had the fever
and when able came home on fur
Tough to recruit shall never'forget
hearing him singing the good old
song "Do they miss me at home"
one evening when coming down the
hill from the place above here. One
touching incident that occurred just
previous to his leaving for the seat of
war, was the d 9ath of alsweet little girl
about two years of age, little Etie,
whom we laid away beside the little
baby sister, who had previously died
at the age of two months, in the
cemetery over the hill. In after years
the mother was laid by their side and
another filled her place in the home
circle, who is with US to-day. One
little son blessed this union and made
the home happy for little while, but
was soon taken by that grim reaper,
Death. Previous to, and during the
years of the war, our eldest sister,
Abbie, engaged in teaching our COM
mon schools and soon after the close
of the war married a returned soldier,
VIM. Fletcher of Waterville, who is
with us to-day. Many homes have they
had for season, but none entwined
in the heart of our sister, by loving
and tender memories, as this old
home. One little boy they laid to
rest in the years long past. We hope
they may carry pleasant remember
ances of our reunion to their Massa-
chusetts home, where their children
await their coming.
Next came my humble self, a few
terms of teaching and l took school
for life. Married one pleasant Octo-
Der afternoon in my fathers house,
this house below us on the old farm.
After the brothers had gone to their
homes (the entire family being pres
at our marriage) we started on our
wedding trip which was a quiet walk
up to this grove, and we have never
been much farther from the old home,
as we soon moved to the place where
we have passed thirty-six years of
welded life and which we still call
home. Joys we have had and sor-
rows. Three times has death taken
loved daughter from our home.
We know what it is to have a lonely
home, but still we have much to be
thankful for. The light of love has
never died out from our Preside; my
boy lover of forty years ago ia still
staunch and true and life still holds
much brightness. One year after my
marriage our dear father was taken
sick and died and the home was
broken up and our poor mother, not
quite as old as am now, was left q
widow. Other changes came, the
farm was sold, and mother, with our
little sister, then fifteen years old
found home elsewhere and strangers