This story of my mother's family was set down by her originally only to
recall it to my mind when I might no longer listen to it as it fell so
often from her own lips. It was written in the intervals of her
ill-health, without copying or revision, and was not intended for
publication. For this reason, she has dwelt more at length upon the
history of her own family life than upon that of her sisters, and has
purposely omitted all but a slight reference to the grandchildren and
the events of later years, her intention being to record only what was
outside my memory, leaving the rest to some other pen. The story,
however, has proved to be of so much interest to the other members of
the family that she was expecting to review it with me as soon as
possible, in order to prepare it to be printed for them. Her sudden
illness and death cut short her plans; but I have carried them out as
closely as I could, and the little book is printed very nearly as she
wrote it. Any errors or inaccuracies are mine and not hers.
It has seemed to me that there could be no more fitting memorial of my
mother among ourselves, than this story. Its style is appropriate to the
subject and characteristic of herself--forceful, yet full of tender
sentiment, ready wit and apt quotation of Scripture; while through it
all, quite unconsciously to herself, there shine her cheery hopefulness,
her rare unselfishness, and her beautiful faith in God. Since my
father's death her health had been very much better, and she was looking
forward to years of comfort; but, in December, 1908, she was suddenly
seized with a serious heart trouble, and after a distressing illness of
about three months, which she bore with her own brave patience, on the
morning of February 27, 1909, she went to join her beloved.
For those of us who have known her wonderful personality, no memorial is
needed to increase our love and admiration of her; but to the younger
members of the family, whose memory of her may be slight, I hope that
this little book may give a glimpse of the beauty of her life, as well
as of the noble souls whom she so worthily represented and whose blood
we are proud to share.
"They climbed the steep ascent of Heaven
Through peril, toil and pain;
O God, to us may grace be given
To follow in their train."