Mexico Missouri message., 1903-05-07
.DHVID MOSES
THE POEM OF LIFE
IN THE FOOTPRINTS
OF PROVIDENCE.
BY tom BENTON.
CHAP. vI.-BErHEL HOME.
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4
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
How dear to my heart are the scenes Of
my childhood,
When fond recollection recalls them TO
view;
The orchard, the meadow, the deep tan
gled wildwood,
And every loved spot which my infancy
knew.
So saDg,David's father when re-
minded of the joys that had been
tasted in youth. David loved mu-
sic so well that he soon sang This
father IS favorite songs with him;
The Old Oaken Bucket being one.
From 1854 to 1859 David 5
home was abont half way between
Columbia and Providence on the
Missouri River. His father had
been leader in building a plank
road between the two places. this
road was made of gravel, three
miles out to Jewell cemetery, then
graded, aud on one side of the
road was two-inch oak plank,
about ten feet long covered at the
ends about one foot with dirt. This
was a delightful road for year or
two, but the plank began to wear
out and warp and it was difficult
to keep the road in good repair.
There were toll-gates near each
town. The stockholders iu the
road had tickets issued to them
that were used instead of paying
money. AsDavid's father had
expended about one thousand dol
lars, of course he was supplied
with enough tickets for his family.
This road ran by the north yard
fence, aud he had plank fence
built for half mile along the road.
The house in which David spent
| five of his happiest years, from
nine to fourteen, was a story and a
half Lighthouse, weather boarded,
with two large rooms below front
ing the plank-rOad, north of the
house. One large door into the
west room was the entrance. To
this house father had added an ell
of three rooms; first, dining
room, second, boys room, where
David, Jehu aud Jabez slept, also
two white hired hands; then the
kitchen. All around the east and
north of this ell was Il wide COW
cred porch and short distance
southeast of the house, was two
room frame house for the negro
servants, and still another lOg-ca-
bin just south of that.
In the southwest part of the yard
was a milk-hOuse, made of hewed
logs, whitewashed inside and out.
Near the west yard fence was the
ice house. The yard was rather
large, and west of it was large
garden and southwest, the orchard.
In the west part Of the yard were
FIVE or six large eatalpa trees. Iu
the spring these blooming trees
We're delight to all who saw them.
Scattered about in the yard were
Virginia creeperS, honey suckles,
of which David's mother was very
fond, towering almonds, lilacs,
snowballs, dewdrops and roses Of
all eolors.
David's father and mother loved
nature and these Towering shrubs
ana ornamental trees, arbor-vitae,
privet and cedars, looked as tho
they grew naturally. On the gar
deu was a walk bordered with hol-
ly-hOcks, pinks, Ia favorite flower
with David-and other varieties of
beauties, but David and Esther
thought to go to the woods and
gather blue.bells, wild violets,
sweet Williams, nicer than any
garden tlowers, besides, in the
woods they eould find Dutchman's
breeches, Jump up.Johnnies, and
have daisies for a carpet,
Inside the home in the front
room or parlor, were the usual
cane-bottOm chairs, lace curtains
land center table with choice books