Life went on very happy with us children, our home was comfortable.
After all the years that have passed so rapidly, methinks I can see us
all as we were then around our pleasant fireside on many of those winter
evenings. Little mittens had to be made for our hands. Little jackets
and caps for the boys, in which all took an interest, and grandpa, too,
did his share. He made little fur suits for the boys, caps and all.
Father would read to us from the big family Bible and explain to us as
he read. Then he would sing the hymns he loved so well, mother joining
in. Then grandpa would sing with mother their French glee songs, while
us children would join in. Then grandpa would rock me in the low cradle
and the boys grew impatient because it kept the fur suits from being
made so fast. Then old grandpa would tell us stories of his travels, and
when he told us about them we forgot all about fur suits, for we loved
to listen to his old French and Spanish songs and stories. He would tell
us of his travels and hardships.