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XXIX.

A NOBLE MOTHER.

HOW SHE TRAINED HERSELF, AND EDUCATED HER BOYS

Harrietta Rea, in The Christian Union, some time ago, drew a picture of home life in the West, which ought to be framed and hung up in every household of the land.

In one of the prairie towns of Northern Iowa, where the Illinois Central Railroad now passes from Dubuque to Sioux City, lived a woman whose experience repeats the truth that inherent forces, ready to be developed, are waiting for the emergencies that life may bring.

She was born and “brought up” in New England.  With the advantages of a country school, and a few terms in a neighboring city, she became a fair scholar—­not at all remarkable; she was married at twenty-one to a young farmer, poor, but intelligent and ambitious.  In ten years, after the death of their parents they emigrated to Iowa, and invested their money in land that bade fair to increase in value, but far away from neighbors.  Here they lived, a happy family, for five years, when he died, leaving her, at the age of thirty-five, with four boys, the eldest nearly fourteen, the youngest nine.  The blow came suddenly, and at first was overwhelming.  Alone, in what seemed almost a wilderness, she had no thought of giving up the farm.  It was home.  There they must stay and do the best they could.  The prospect of a railroad passing near them, in time, was good; then some of the land might be sold.  A little money bad been laid by—­nothing that she ought to touch for the present.  Daniel, the hired man, who had come out with them, and who was a devoted friend and servant, she determined to keep—­his judgment was excellent in farm matters.  Hitherto the boys had gone regularly to school, a mile or two away; for a settlement in Iowa was never without its school-house.  They were bright and quick to learn.  Their father had been eager to help and encourage them.  Newspapers, magazines, and now and then a good book, had found their way into this household.  Though very fond of reading herself, with the care of her house she had drifted along, as so many women do, until the discipline of study, or any special application, had been almost forgotten.  It was the ambition of both parents that their sons should be well educated.  Now Jerry and Thede, the two oldest, must be kept at home during the summer to work.  Nate and Johnnie could help at night and in the morning.  The boys had all been trained to habits of obedience.  They were affectionate, and she knew that she could depend upon their love.

One evening, alone in her bedroom, she overheard some part of a conversation as the children were sitting together around the open fire-place: 

“I don’t mind the work,” said Theodore, “if I could only be learning, too.  Father used to say he wanted me to be a civil engineer.”