Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-10-15
The Pioneers Wife
ByJ. CHRISTIAN BAY

eau of north central Wisconsin. the
forest retreats within itself and hides
its beauty beneath dead foliage and
messy turf. The farmers have gath
cred home their harvest.
MY forest-friends, the quiet men and
women with whom | live every sum-
mer, inform me that their crops turned
out well. They remember how shared
with them the anxious days Of long
drouths. Every one was doubtful, ex-
pectant, uneasy. Now they face win
ter with quiet content.
But as one harvest was gathering,
another ripened quietly.
They tell me that Mrs. johnson went
home that Death reaped the life of
one Of the harvesters.
1t then becomes my duty to record
the fact that in this case, also, the har-
vest turned ont well.
This woman was unknown to the
world. She lived as one of the millions
that never are considered individually.
For this once, for this first and last
time, | lift her from her place, viewing
her not as an individual but as type.
| set it down here. 1t should not be
forgotten.
One day last summer walked across
the meadows to her home. Her chair
had been moved from the bedroom into
the parlor, and she sat by an open door.
The sweet air from the fields and for
est touched her with its balmy calm
ness. But every breath she drew was
painful and labored. The slightest Eff
fort of speech or movement gave her
keen distress.
There she sat, her quiet, serious
glance meeting mine with touching,
unconscious appeal. And /, looking at
her, knowing that / might yield sym
pathy but no help-I looked out over
the thirty and some years that had
passed, as this woman, o farmers wife
and nothing more, yea as this strong,
dutiful woman built her share of a
home for coming generation. How
she had suffered in those early, terrible
years of settling the countryl How she
had struggled even during the years Of
plenty--even this last spring. How
she had strained against the weakness
that crept over her, as she gave her
mind to her duties. When the men,
tired, belated, returned from the fields,
supper was ready, milking was done,
rents and tears had been duly mended
Nothing overlooked, nothing neglected
nothing but she herself. ..ss
She collapsed quietly, unexpectedly
without complaint. Neighbors came
gave sympathy and help, and expressed
such hopes as the occasion required
hopes of renewed activity for the in
valid. Nobody saw that a season has
arrived when the home must return t,
mother some of her antiring effort
some of her consuming self-denial. Con
fined to her room, the woman had bu
one thought, that of taking up anew
the duties that hitherto were dali,
care and exercise. She might hav.
claimed at least the prerogatiye of oil
age, a period of rest, a sabbathica
year. IT.
But to those men ond women tina
wore the first roads through the wood
and across the prairies. aquiet and con
templative old age generally nevel
comes. They do not even dream Of it
They cannot fold their hands and rest
They fall in harness.
1t is q modern diversion of philan
tropy to advocate the conservation d
our national resources. Forests, coal
mineral lands, and water power, ar.
objects OF grave concern. While du.
consideration is given to these deas
things, let it be considered that conser
walton is equally applicable, and ever
due, to human life and happiness. Oul
sympathy with better forms of countr,
life might well express itself as move
ment toward the conservation of human
dignity, for preservation against TIL
form of effort that KILLS. The mei
and women that did not recede to tn,
cities, but endured on the homestead
in the lowly days, building homes 70
coming generations, seldom knew
more of rest than the mere sound o
the word. Scarcely have they foun.
time for fostering conscious hope an,
for contemplation of its fulfillment
i The men in overalls, the patient WON
en-, ready to carry every burden. eapa
Bile of enduring every hardship, conten
to miss the very things we consider In
Indispensable, time and again surprise u
by their matchless patience. Tn
woman. my friend. now dead, ofteI
asserted to me that indeed the years D
lplenty were, in q sense, more Difficult
/ To bear, than the first years Of wan
4 and positive suffering. She would de
scribe how happy she was while tn
iehildren were small. Poverty, outward
ly terrible, never failed to be tempere
by mutual helpfulness among the earl