American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-04-22

some of it. The provisions had al
been taken, even the strings of drie'
apples that hung In festoons from IN,
rafters OF the upstairs store room
There was hardly enough sweet Il
make a jug Of vinegar left In the grea
barrel of the home made maple suga,
which had been stored away for til,
winter.
A few undug potatoes had escape,
the eyes of the intruders as the vinel
were frozen down. There was no maj
to get to dig them for love or money
so the women went at the task them
selves, and the children carried ant
stored them away in the cellar. They
were roasted and eaten thankfully
even without milk. meat, butter oil
fruit, all of which had always beer
very plentiful with them. A happ,
surprise came to them In a few days
in the form of the old COW. Pink" who
had jumped over the rail fence In her
excitement when the British came
with their uproar. She brought with
her a young calf and it with the milk
served to keep the two families alive
during the winter. The women and
children gathered leaves and grass UNI
til the snow came and stored them
away but everything gave out in Feb
ruary, when the worst snow of the
winter fell. Old Pink was fed the
how from fhA ttalr xnlsal r.A,. -
alive until a thaw came and
ed the grass,
The children were kept busy pull
ing the wool from the sheep pelts. A
share of 1t had hitherto been given to
have the rest of 1t made into rolls for
spinning. But this could moi be af-
forded now, as the sheep had all been
killed, and the only source Of wool
had thus ben destroyed. The rolls
were all made by hand. After the wool
had been washed and picked loose by
the fingers again the hum of the spin
ming wheel was heard.
AS neither of the women we're able
to chop wood the rails from the fence
were dragged in and one cad was put
into the fire. AS 1t burned it was push
ed along until the whole rail was con-
sumed. Even this was laborious work
for the snow was often deep. william
was always on hand to do his part but
try as he would he had not strength
to drag a rail alone.
Everywhere women and children
were eXerting themselves for the great
cause. If wool was scarce they would
go through the brush and along the
fences and gather the bits that had
been pulled from the sheep In passing.
This was spun and knit into socks.
There were enough tears and prayers
woven into these socks to save any
nation. and it was through them that
the half-clad, half-fed soldiers had
strength given them from God to
march on to victory.
The mothers OF the revolution have
never had a monument, yet there was
never a more heroic, self-sacrificing
class of people. They went without
their tea, ate not the butter they made
but sold 1t to the British and sent the
money to the needy soldiers. They
plowed, planted and did the rough
work at home that their husbands
might fight for freedom. They sacri-
their young sons for the cause,
although they would far rather have
persisted themselves.
The old ladies gathered at the Thay-
err home with their knitting to talk
over Aunt Samantha would
say 1T is a long road that never has
any turn"
At last the turn came and the war
was ended. Men who had survived
came home to their families. The
Browns left and ven to live with rela-
in New York.
Mr.. Thayer called his little daught-
pr to him after other things had been
.alked over and said:
There vas a young man In my |
company that got the pair of socks
by a little girl eight years old.
There was a tag pinned on them vita
he name and age. He brought them
me and asked If 1t could possibly be
ny daughter who had knit them. II
your mothers handwriting
tut could hardly think 1t possible that
ny baby had knit the socks. l felt
Ilmost as proud OF them as of winning
battle. The young nan did me many
avors when / was wounded, and has
'romised to visit us after he has fin
shed his school. His father was a
man, and an officer. That boy
an away to join the soldiers, and
ought as b~ravely as any man although
@ was only sixteen.
The damages Of the British were
& repaired and when Mary was ten
ears old her father presented her
nth a beautiful old rose riding habit
I heavy twilled worsted material with
gloss that still remains. She rode
ebind her father on her mothers Pill
to church and occasionally to visit
is parents.