Before the ice came in the fall father took us all in our boat across to
the Point so mother could do some shopping. Mr. McKinley was a very kind
and pleasant man and would have us go to his house for dinner. He wanted
us to get acquainted with his family. Father took us over to their nice,
large and comfortable home. Mrs. McKinley was very kind and seemed
pleased to see us. She was a pretty, bright-faced woman, slender, with
dark hair and eyes. She had three little girls, Sarah the eldest, Effie
and Mary. We children were soon acquainted, playing with the dolls and
having tea with the children's little dishes. Mr. McKinley had a sister
living with him whom the children called "Aunt Ann." She was very kind
to us, giving us many slices of bread and butter with cups of milk.
I remember the children had such beautiful hair, which I admired so
much. Mother helped to set the table and get the dinner on the table, as
they boarded several of their help. Our boys were out exploring the
Point with some Mormon boys. When we were ready to go home Mrs. McKinley
filled a great basket with large red apples for us to take home. Father
thanked her, saying he ought not to take them, as he had two barrels at
the store for winter use. She said, "Do take these apples, they came
from home in Ohio and are better than the apples at the store. Now I
want you to have them." We children played together until the last
moment. The little girls gave me large packages of candy. Kissing them I
promised to come again sometime. Mrs. McKinley was very kind, wanting us
all to come again. Father told me afterward when I was older how lonely
she was, missing her Ohio home so much. She asked father what he thought
about our Mormon neighbors. He said he knew very little about them, so
far they had been very kind and pleasant. She told him her fears,
saying. "I have no faith in Strang at all. I fear he is misleading those
people and I am afraid they will cause us all lots of trouble before
long, but my husband thinks they are a well-meaning people. We have
invested considerable money, which I feel quite sure we shall regret."
Father tried to encourage her to feel more hopeful, but she said she
could not feel they were true. She liked Mrs. Strang, as everybody did
who knew her.
Soon after this the cold snows of winter were upon us, ice made very
fast. We heard no more the whistle of the boats, and saw no more the
white sails of the vessels and fish boats that sailed in and out of the
pretty harbor. I was young, yet I remembered and missed all these
things.