A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the MormonsWilliams, Elizabeth Whitney
History
A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons
Williams, Elizabeth Whitney
Beaver Island (Mich.); Latter Day Saints -- Michigan; Strang, James Jesse, 1813-1856
Soon the lamps were lighted and the men came in to supper. The young
lady, Mr. Frankle's sister, had gotten the supper with mother's help. I
remember the long table and white table cloth. The men were all seated
at the table when Mr. Frankle came in the room with the little wee baby
in his arms. He took the baby to the men and some of them took it in
their arms and kissed it, tears rolling down their faces. Father told me
later it made them think of home and their own little ones, for most of
them had families in their far away homes. Mother took the baby to its
mother. I was put into a high chair and sat near the head of the table,
heads were bowed and Mr. Frankle asked a blessing. As soon as it was
ended I said "Amen" and made the sign of the cross, just as grandpa
always did. When I saw them smile I looked serious and got down, telling
mother I wanted to go home. I could not eat, but fed my doll, after
which mother took me in her arms and rocked me to sleep, singing one of
her sweet old songs.
A LONGING FOR HOME.
Next morning I could not eat any breakfast, but kept calling for brother
Charley, Bob and grandpa. Everything was so still and silent here in the
big house. Oh the longing in a child's heart for the old familiar faces
and home! Child that I was it seemed to me all that made life sweet had
gone out of my life. I grew sick, I could not eat, and for several days
lay on my little bed. Little Lilly tried to amuse me with her dolls and
music box, but my heart was longing for grandpa, Charley and Bob. One
morning father came and took me up and carried me into another room.
There was Charley and Bob. It was a happy meeting with us all, but I
felt too weak to play. At night father took Bob home and left Charley
with us, but Charley, too, was not happy, he could not whittle his
sticks or spin his top like he could at home. Mother, too, missed her
home. Here everything was silent, and still all were very kind to us.
But mother missed our noise and singing. Little Charley, too, began to
droop. At night he went to look out of the window, and when he saw the
lights in our windows at home across the river he began to cry, saying
to mother, "I want to go home to grandpa." Next day we were both sent
home, and grandpa and Bob were so happy. Lewis and Toney, too, were
anxious for us all to be home again. At night we were taken again to the
big house, as mother wanted us with her. We three children played to
amuse ourselves, but all seemed so quiet to Charley and me. Charley was
more at home now. Miss Harriet let him spin his top and whittle in the
kitchen. After about two weeks mother was ready to go home and we were a
happy family.
HAPPY HOME LIFE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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