The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-11-20

like to remember the many girls she
taught to use 1t, and the miles of
seams they stitched on it, that other
wise must have been done YEARLY by
hand.
Shall tell you few of the things
/ came to feel might not be sighted
or crowded out? The essentials that
have weathered the years?
No matter how work filled the
days have been, few have passed in
which have not found time for at
least few pages of good reading.
1t is a joke my grandchildren tell,
that callers once found me peeling
potatoes with my Hawthorne propped
on the table before me.
Know one thing well, no matter
what,-bugs, sonnets, kites, anything
to keep your mind fit," counseled
our old college president. l in
herited love of green things grow
ing, and at first casually and inter-
mittently, and later systematically,
studied and classified the native plans
OF the vicinity. When we went
pioneering to the prairies of the
Southwest found many unrecognis-
ed plants. Last year l received a
book on plants containing descrip-
tions Of three varieties I had dis
covered in this new field. This was
perhaps worth while, but the real
value lay in the habit of observation
and study, and the hours spent in
the open and far afield.
Remembering the old sewing-ma-
chine, have awaited myself of every
labor-saving contriyance obtainable.
Out-of-doors this is considered only
good business. Why stop at the
kitchen door? l did not.
The tradition of hospitality was
carried from the old home to the
new. From the beginning much that
my neighbors considered necessary
for company" was Sighted" The
time-honored formula, three kinds
of cake, pie and preserves l needed
not at all. l gave my family and
guests good, plain country living,
milk, eggs, vegetables and fruit, the
last most often served natural. Shall
tell you how fastidious town
friend responded to an invitation?
"I'll come" she said, eff you'll give
me salt pork fried to a crisp, with
cream gravy"
think the thing / have striven
hardest for has been a family life
hat should make friends and COM
panions of our children. We have
read together, walked, talked, lived
together. remember once when
my girls, returning from party,
curled up on the foot of my sick-bed
and recoUnted all the trivial incidents
of their afternoon When at last
they ended, friend exclaimed, "How
can you stand all that nonsense? I
should think it would wear you out!''
" Twould wear me out if they
didn't" I truthfully answered. A SON.
in-law said to me, do you know this
is the only house in which | ever saw
much Of girls family?" This seems
to me significant commentary.
Problems of Country Living Solved
1 do know if the influence of such
a family life as we have striven for
could be shut with in the walls of
one home. l only know We have a
neighborhood life that has solved
many of the vexed problems of
country living. Does it seem irrever-
ent to you that our minister replied
to the questions of a discouraged
brother: LIT is not the pulpit that
holds my congregation. It's the base
ment, where they foregather for all
sorts of neighborhood festivities"
Does it shock you-it has some
that the Boys Gym Club practise on
one side of the church lawn and the
Girls Basket Ball team on the other?
AS look back down the vista of
the years, see how the balance be-
tween essential and non-essential has
been one of constant adjustment and
REIMBURSEMENT. Life itself would not
be worth while if we did not see
more clearly and Judge more wisely
with the passing years.
l have worried hard; | have seen
many hopes die, and many dreams
fade; l have made many mistakes
Often the things l sought have turn
ed to dust and ashes in my grasp.
Things wept over long ago, l smile
at now, and the memory of some
laughter brings tears. Sometimes
nay, many times-I have wilfully
done and left undone the wrong
things. But through all, and after.
all, have been helped tn bring