Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-12-08
CHI APT Err v.
Lose My Brokerage. 1915.

Measured by the calendar, my board:
life was six weeks; but
measured by it's pleasant memories, IL
was as many years. Mother wrote for
me to come home; and in going I1saw,
by sunlight, the scene Of our adven-
ture that dark night going out. It
was a lovely valley, walled in by steep,
wooded hills. Two ravines Joined,
bringing each its contribution Of run.
ming water, and pouring 1t Into the
larger stream Of the larger valley
a veritable meeting of the waters"-
in all Of natures work, beautiful ex-
ceedingly.
The house, which stood in the CEN
ter Of a large, green meadow, through
which the road ran, was built in two
parts, of hewn logs, with one great
stone chimney on the outside, pro-
tected by an overshot in the roof, but
that one in which the log-heap burned
that night was inside. One end had
been an Indian fort when Gen. Brad
dock tried to reach Fort Pitt by that
road. The other end and stone barn
had been built by it's present propfi-
OtVAs n AVG A4AAAS tA0 OAuO6t III <4AV-
ghany county, stood below the barn,
and to it the French soldiers had come
for meal from Fort Duquesne. The
stream crossed by the bridge was the
mill-race, and the waterfall made by
the waste-gate. twas the homestead
Of soldier of the Revolution, one of
Washington's ieutenants-theo old man
we had seen. The woman was his
second wife. They had a numerous
family, and an unpronounceable name.
At home I learned that, on account
Of a cough, had been the object of
a generous conspiracy between moth
er and Mrs. Clever, and had been
brought home because I was worse.
Our doctors said I was in the first
stage of consumption, that Elizabeth
was to reach that point early in life,
and that our only hope lay in plenty
of calomel. Mother had lost her hus-
band and four vigorous children; there
when death again threatened, she re-
solved to conduct the defense on some
new plan.
She had gained legal possession of
our village home, and moved to it.
Our lot was large and well supplied
with choice fruit, and the place seem
ed paradise after our starved lives
in the smoky city. My apple tree still
grew at the east end Of the house
There was willow tree mother had
planted, which now swept the ground
with it's long, graceful branches. There
were quantities of rose and lilac bush.
es, a walled spring Of delicious water
in the cellar, and whole world 81
wealth; but the potato lot looked UP
in Despair patch of yellow clay
Mother put q twelve years accumu
latfon OF coal ashes on it, and thus
proved them valuable both as fertil
izer and preventive. Of potatoTot
though at first her project met gen
eral opposition.
William did the heavy work and
was proud of it. He was in splendid
health, for his characterization had
from very early age, saved him from
drugging either mental or physical
The lighter gardening became part OF
my treatment for consumption. By
having me each day lie on the floo1
on my back without a pillow, anG
gentle use of dumb-bells, mother
Strengthened my spine and developed
my chest-my clothes being CAREFUL,
adapted to its expansion. Dancine
was strictly forbidden by our church
but mother was educated in IRELAND
and danced beautifully. She had {
class Of girls and taught us, and will
plenty of fresh air, milk and eggs, eff
fectually disposed of hereditary con
sumption in her family. But while
attending to US, she must also make :
living, so she bought q stock Of goods
on credit, opened a store, and soo1
had paying business. In this wa
her special assistant. But the worl
supplied to William did not satisfy tn
holy men Of the church, who furnishe,
us advice. He still made fire engines
and a brook in a meadow presente,
irresistible temptation to water-wheel
and machinery. One of his tilt-ham
mers made very good ghost, haunt
ing the meadow and keeping off tres
passers. He had foundry, where h