The Idaho Republican., 1916-05-26
TRIBUTE TO PIONEER MOTHERS

TRIBUTE TO PIONEER MOTHERS
The following article was read at
/ the Mothers day service at Taber and
: is reproduced here by courtesy Of
] Miss Gertrude Ahrens:
Pioneer Mothers
! We. who have gathered here this
; morning to observe mothers day,
J while we desire to praise all mothers
we wish especially to commend the
: pioneer mothers.
| When our minds go back to the
Pilgrims, who were the first settlers
in this land, we so often think of the
settling, exploring and even dying for
their country; but we do not think
of the mothers, who had courage to
go thru SO many hardships in the
earlier days. Think of them living
among wild Indians, weeks and
months travelling distance from their
friends, no railroads, nor towns
where they could get either clothing
or food supplies. Being also not ia
miliar with the changes in the cli-
mate, their hearts must often have
been broken when sickness entered
their family and one by one would
perish for lack of the right food or
shelter.
Now just think what would the
first Thanksgiving dinner have been
without the dear mothers as cooksl
1t sure took pioneer mothers to
help make the nation what it is.
Whether the pioneer mothers at
Taber have hardships to endure or
not we will see by tracing its history
from beginning to the present time.
Probably the Indians enjoyed their
wild ways, but few years ago the
government saw that this land was
very good and began to give the land
away in 800 acre tracts to white set
tiers. Then after the people have
lived on their claims for thre years
and complied with the laws of this
government the pioneers will have
this land as their own.
The first white settlers that know
of were a number of bachelors. /
am sure If they had not been well
trained by their mothers in their
youthful days they would not now
keep such neat cottages, nor do such
expert patching, nor hang out such
snowy laundry, nor make such light
bread as they all do.
The earlier part of 1914 Taber was
rather thickly settled. The snakes.
rabbits, gophers, coyotes, and above
all, the beautiful fragrant plant,
which people call sage brush, were
the most attractive things.
On account of so many families
coming with children, Andersons
green little residence was rente for
a school house, where soon about 40
little children were learning their les
sens under the aid of their kind
teacher, w. M. Jackson.
We see how deeply interested in
us parents were by sending us to
school, when they certainly needed
our help at home to clear the land
fro mthe sage; but these good pion-
eer mothers would sooner toll few
hours longer and think of the future
Of their children.
In the summer of 1914 the most
important and beautiful building was
built in Taber. This building is our
neat little school which has two large
rooms. The, second years term Is
almost come to close and think
all parents can be proud of the re-
suits of their children,,s efforts. and
of the excellent teachers we have.
What would not many discour-
aged husband have done had not a
faithful mother been by his side,
lending helping hand and whisper
ing encouraging words during the
dark days of adversity which every
pioneer must pass thru.
There is proverb that, "A boys
best friend is his mother" and es-
pecially Is this true when that boy
happened to be girl. There is NO
love this side of heaven like true
mothers love. Mothers toll late into
the Saturday nights after the others
are all asleep to provide little suit
or dress for the child to wear on sum
day. Do you not recall how your
mother did a thousand little things
for you that no one else Thought
about? No one Is so greived when
Inc boy goes wrong as mother. The
[ather may drive the lad from home,
but the mother still loves him and
longs for his return.
Ii your mother is living to day
show her some deed of kindness be
tore this day shall come to close.
Honor her with some tribute. some
act OF love. Go to her to day and
put your arms about her neck and
ell her again that you love her. If
me Is living in some distant state,
write her letter.
"A mothers love-how sweet the
name!
What is mothers love?
noble, pure and tender fame,
Enkindled from above.
70 bless heart of earthly mould:
The warmest love that can't grow
cold;
This is a mothers love-"
MISS GERTRUDE AHRENS,
When man is about to run for
'fhce he goes out and gets some