Transcribe
Translate
Adelia M. Hoyt memoir and photographs
Page 54
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
54 UNFOLDING YEARS entered upon her new duties. Little did she or any of us realise the far-reaching effects of this change in her work. We rejoiced in having her with us all the time and that was enough for us. In the spring of that same year my niece Nettie was married to Mahlon J. Hammer. They had been sweethearts ever since high school days. Mr. Hammer had taken a course in engineering at the Iowa Agricultural College ans was now located with a firm in Chicago. My sister Mary's husband, Otis West, has enlisted during the Spanish-American War and remained wit the army. Mary accompanied her daughter to her new home so we were again separated from her. Now began a new chapter in my ever changing life. I was in full charge of the home for my parents and sister Emma. I had a most devoted and willing helper in the person of my father, who though never very handy about housework, could be eyes for me and that meant a lot. In time mother was able to sit up and even walk about the house or sit on the porch, but she was no longer able to do any real work and needed constant care. Her room became the center of the home. From it she directed me and to her I took all my household problems. To her I took my first loaf of bread and other first efforts in cookery-- and received praise and good counsel. Emma's home coming each evening was a joy to which we all looked forward. She always had some interesting experience to relate or incident to tell, and these brought us something of the outside world. In the evening in mother's room Emma would read aloud; then came the best time of all as we prepared mother for the night. Father and Emma both needed their undisturbed rest, so it fell to me to sleep in mother's room. Those were precious days to look back upon-- filled as they were with those sweet intimacies that bind a family together. I now cared for my mother, washed ,ironed, cleaned and did most of the cooking. At last I was really needed by those I loved best -- and who can ask for anything more satisfying? It was far from all work and no play. I kept up my club work and literary
Saving...
prev
next
54 UNFOLDING YEARS entered upon her new duties. Little did she or any of us realise the far-reaching effects of this change in her work. We rejoiced in having her with us all the time and that was enough for us. In the spring of that same year my niece Nettie was married to Mahlon J. Hammer. They had been sweethearts ever since high school days. Mr. Hammer had taken a course in engineering at the Iowa Agricultural College ans was now located with a firm in Chicago. My sister Mary's husband, Otis West, has enlisted during the Spanish-American War and remained wit the army. Mary accompanied her daughter to her new home so we were again separated from her. Now began a new chapter in my ever changing life. I was in full charge of the home for my parents and sister Emma. I had a most devoted and willing helper in the person of my father, who though never very handy about housework, could be eyes for me and that meant a lot. In time mother was able to sit up and even walk about the house or sit on the porch, but she was no longer able to do any real work and needed constant care. Her room became the center of the home. From it she directed me and to her I took all my household problems. To her I took my first loaf of bread and other first efforts in cookery-- and received praise and good counsel. Emma's home coming each evening was a joy to which we all looked forward. She always had some interesting experience to relate or incident to tell, and these brought us something of the outside world. In the evening in mother's room Emma would read aloud; then came the best time of all as we prepared mother for the night. Father and Emma both needed their undisturbed rest, so it fell to me to sleep in mother's room. Those were precious days to look back upon-- filled as they were with those sweet intimacies that bind a family together. I now cared for my mother, washed ,ironed, cleaned and did most of the cooking. At last I was really needed by those I loved best -- and who can ask for anything more satisfying? It was far from all work and no play. I kept up my club work and literary
Campus Culture
sidebar
