’WPCŚ  ›ļ6éD*©BšWŽžŚ’5”C˜:ΦŚķÆŁ·+’3]wĄšCϟ–M 4HÕ”Żõśµ×•~±Būµš{®>Żż=ņk ?ƒCš‘¢Hśš šŖ©Xsł'WsFš ]’ń8,¢›Fk»6õ—ūS‡mhWÓ(ŠH¢‚ī»ņ#« āažõ2”††0_įBTōŪńBēkIpÓĪxmŚK`©‚KŽ8Kéf6Lø½aiŸŲ§Ó6ˆżg Į4Įś AukķģQvc2ŚSüĢEķw‚ócęų¢Õ3åBƒW ‡uIŸ-‡i,©¹4óōSÄ†²ń0—W§8Oi»NMMO 0S 0{T U*Ļ Mł Mż M 0 M M M w@ 4R f u mw MŽ M’ M– Mš Mž M¢ M¦ MŖ M® M² M¶ Mŗ M¾ MĀ MĘ MŹ ^ Ī ˜HP LaserJet 1200 Series PCL 6ČČȐČČČ0(ÖĆ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($””0ll’’.NormalŌ‡ōōōŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌŌ‡XXXŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌ2ll’’0ForwardŌ‡ōōōŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌŌ‡XXXŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌō\  `&Times New Roman<Xl’’: Chapter TitŌ‡ōōōŌŌ?‡ *4Ø Ŗ y`Linus?ŌŌ‡XXXŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌ<ŸŸ’’:Table of ConŌ . ŌÓ&XX„°Č¤Š (#€%&ÓŌ‡ōōōŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌŌ‡XXXŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌÓ&XX„°Č¤Š (#€%&ÓŌ . Ō*4Ø Ŗ y`Linus<Xl’’: Chapter NumŌ‡ŠŠŠŌŌ?‡ *4Ø Ŗ y`Linus?ŌŌ‡XXXŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌ …D†D‡DˆD‰DŠD‹DŒDDŽD0&+3|xŽ9’U‹’ĄĄĄī£w+įŻ ƒ!ŻŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ ÓĢÓ  ÓMemories€of€Old€MexicoĢbyĢGladys€Pratt€YoungĢedited€byĢBenson€Young€ParkinsonĢŠ  Ą  ŠForewordĢÓ  ÓGladys€Pratt€Young€was€born€March€24,€1895,€in€Colonia€Ō_ŌJurezŌ_Ō,€Chihuahua,€Mexico,€theĻyoungest€child€of€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€and€Ō_ŌEmalineŌ_Ō€Victoria€Ō_ŌBillingsleyŌ_Ō€Pratt.€Victoria€was€born€to€a€pioneerĻfamily€in€Salt€Lake,€and€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō,€a€son€of€Parley€P.€Pratt,€was€born€in€1846€on€the€MormonĻtrail.€Victoria€and€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€helped€pioneer€the€Muddy€Mission€in€Nevada€before€being€sent€toĻthe€colonies€in€Mexico.€(For€their€story,€see€Mary€Pratt€Ō_ŌParrishŌ_Ō,€ņņLook€to€the€Rock€from€Which€YeŠ 8 ˆ ŠAre€Hewnóó€[privately€published,€ca.€1984;€available€in€the€Ō_ŌLDSŌ_Ō€Church€Historical€Library].)Š $ t ŠGladys€spent€her€childhood€in€a€second€colony€near€Ō_ŌJurezŌ_Ō,€Colonia€Ō_ŌDublnŌ_Ō,€and€on€the€familyššsĻranch€in€the€Sierra€Madre€Mountains.€Her€father€died€when€she€was€thirteen€and€her€motherĻwhen€she€was€fourteen,€after€which€Gladys€moved€to€Mexico€City€to€stay€with€her€brother,€Rey,Ļwhere€she€witnessed€events€of€the€Mexican€Revolution.€She€moved€with€Rey€and€his€family€toĻŌ_ŌManassaŌ_Ō,€Colorado,€then€probably€attended€teacher€college€in€Salt€Lake,€then€went€to€Ogden€toĻteach€gym€at€Mound€Fort€Junior€High.€She€married€S.€Ō_ŌDilworthŌ_Ō€Young€in€the€Salt€Lake€TempleĻMay€31,€1923,€and€raised€two€children,€Ō_ŌDilworthŌ_Ō€Randolph€and€Leonore,€in€Ogden.ĢGladys€was€know€for€her€dances,€dramas,€haunted€houses,€dancing€dinner€parties,€and€puppetĻshows€all€over€northern€Utah.€She€directed€pageants€on€the€side€lawn€of€the€Young€home€atĻ1506-24th€Street,€on€the€mountain€and€pond€at€Camp€Ō_ŌKieselŌ_Ō,€and€at€the€Ogden€Stadium.€TheĻlargest€of€these,€for€Ogdenššs€Pioneer€Days,€had€a€budget€of€$12,000€and€a€cast€of€1,500€actors,Ļdancers,€and€extras,€recruited€from€every€Ō_ŌLDSŌ_Ō€and€non„Ō_ŌLDSŌ_Ō€congregation€and€civic€group€inĻtown.€Her€husband€Ō_ŌDilworthŌ_Ō€was€called€to€be€a€General€Authority€in€1945,€and€Gladys€served€asĻmission€mother€in€the€New€England€Mission€from€1947š!š1951.€The€Ō_ŌYoungsŌ_Ō€moved€to€575€„J„ĻStreet€in€Salt€Lake€in€1956.€Gladys€traveled€with€her€husband€on€various€mission€tours€untilĻparalyzed€by€a€stroke€in€1959.€Ō_ŌDilworthŌ_Ō€cared€for€her€until€she€died€on€April€3,€1964.€(For€theĻdetails€of€Gladysššs€later€life,€see€Benson€Young€Parkinson,€ņņŌ_ŌS.š  šDilworthŌ_Ō€Young:€GeneralŠ ¼  ŠAuthority,€Ō_ŌScouterŌ_Ō,€Poetóó€[Covenant,€1994].)Š Øų ŠThe€stories€in€this€book€were€given€to€me€by€Gladysššs€niece,€Mary€Pratt€Ō_ŌParrishŌ_Ō€(Reyššs€daughter),Ļin€about€1985.€Mary,€whom€the€family€calls€Ō_ŌNenaŌ_Ō,€told€me€Ō_ŌDilworthŌ_Ō€gave€them€to€her€rather€thanĻthrow€them€out€after€Gladysššs€death.€She€said€he€had€offered€them€to€Leonore,€who€didnššt€wantĻthem,€though€when€I€asked€Leonore€she€had€no€memory€of€it.€No€doubt€the€misunderstandingĻgrew€from€the€normal€grief€for€Gladysššs€loss€and€the€confusion€of€settling€her€affairs.€The€storiesĻare€handwritten€for€the€most€part,€on€yellowed,€lined€notepaper.€Most€of€them€exist€in€two€orĻthree€drafts,€disagreeing€in€wording€and€often€in€detail€(my€experience€as€a€biographer€tells€meĻthatššs€the€norm€in€Ō_ŌlifewritingŌ_Ō).€The€papers€include€a€few€other€stories€set€at€her€home€in€Salt€LakeĻor€in€the€mission€field,€a€poem€or€two,€and€page€after€page€of€tortured,€stream„of„consciousnessĻwriting,€often€in€the€form€of€prayers,€written€after€her€stroke.€Itššs€possible€she€began€the€MexicanĻstories€before€the€stroke,€but€dates€and€details€in€the€other€papers€place€them€in€or€around€theĻsummer€of€1960,€and€Leonore€and€one€or€two€of€the€grandchildren€have€memories€of€her€writingĻfrom€her€wheelchair.€One€entry€that€may€refer€to€the€Mexican€stories€goes:ĢÓ XÓÓ XÓAnd€now€I€am€going€to€try€something€that€may€work.€I€must€have€an€absorbingĻexperience€to€help€me€to€stop€this€infernal€concentration€on€myself.€So€I€am€goingĻto€try€to€write€as€interestingly€as€I€can€about€the€main€events€of€my€motherššs€life,Š @-(, ŠŌ_Ōher€joys€and€sorrows,€her€responses€to€all€the€pioneer€life.€I€shall€do€my€best€toĻkeep€it€coherent.€However,€if€it€goes€off€at€angles,€Iššll€pull€it€back€and€get€on€theĻtrack€again.€I€need€something€absorbing€and€I€canššt€do€dramatics,€gardening,Ļhouse€decorating€as€yet€but€I€can€write€with€this€good€right€hand€and€a€pen,€soĻhere€goes.€Maybe€some€of€it€will€be€untrue.€Some€of€it€will€be€only€half€true.€ButĻall€of€it€will€be€most€sincere.€Iššve€got€to€save€my€emotional€life,€and€as€I€save€myĻemotional€life€I€save€my€soul€and€my€physical€life€as€well.€I€will€not€work€at€thisĻtoo€hard€but€only€when€I€need€good€absorbing€thought€to€soothe€the€self„¼indulgence€of€my€emotion€concerning€myself.€Heaven€help€the€venture.€Please€letĻthis€therapy€work,€Lord,€and€save€me€from€horror€and€disgrace€with€Dil€and€all€myĻfriends.ĢÓ XÓÓ XÓThis€book€includes€just€the€Mexican€stories,€because€they€form€a€whole.€The€originals€of€theseĻand€the€others,€plus€some€she€wrote€of€her€parentsšš€experiences€pioneering€and€accounts€of€herĻown€spiritual€experiences,€I€have€in€my€files€and€would€be€happy€to€make€available€to€familyĻmembers.€For€this€book€Iššve€combined€the€different€versions€of€the€Mexico€stories,€smoothed€upĻthe€transitions,€standardized€spelling€and€punctuation€(though€not€allš"šsome€of€the€eccentricitiesĻare€expressive€of€her€character),€and€trimmed€the€wordiness€some,€making€every€effort€not€toĻdilute€the€natural€charm€of€her€prose€style.€(I€have€precedent€for€the€trimming.€Leonore€says€thatĻwhen€Gladys€wrote€plays€and€pageants,€š šShe€always€wrote€very,€very€flowery,€and€much€tooĻmuch,€and€my€father€was€the€one€that€cut€themšš€[ņņŌ_ŌS.š  šDilworthŌ_Ō€Youngóó,€191].)€Iššve€been€obliged€toŠ  p Šfill€in€various€gaps.€In€particular,€the€three€paragraphs€in€Chapter€10€describing€how€to€brand€aĻcalf€and€break€a€horse€were€not€written€by€Gladys€but€by€me,€based€on€my€wife€RobinššsĻmemories€of€ranch€life€in€New€Mexico€in€the€1960s.€Iššm€quite€sure€the€techniques€are€similar€andĻthat€this€is€close€to€what€Gladys€wrote,€though€I€have€no€way€of€knowing.€Additionally,€theĻaccount€in€Chapter€10€of€Gladys€having€a€tooth€pulled€is€missing€from€the€papers€Ō_ŌNenaŌ_Ō€gave€me.ĻIššve€reconstructed€it€from€the€abbreviation€Ō_ŌNenaŌ_Ō€gives€in€ņņLook€to€the€Rockóó,€pages€60š!š61.€Š Øų ŠŌ_ŌNenaŌ_Ō€paraphrases€several€of€these€stories€in€ņņLook€to€the€Rock,óó€though€where€Gladys€writes€Carl,Š €Š ŠŌ_ŌNenaŌ_Ō€gives€her€fatherššs€name,€Rey.€I€donššt€know€whether€she€heard€these€stories€from€her€father,Ļor€Gladys€told€her€she€was€taking€artistic€license€to€get€the€stories€to€fit€a€single€narrative,€orĻwhether€the€license€was€on€the€part€of€Ō_ŌNenaŌ_Ō.€It€would€have€been€a€simple€thing€to€ask€Ō_ŌNenaŌ_Ō,€butĻby€the€time€I€noticed,€she€had€passed€away.€Gladys€gives€her€own€age€in€the€stories€as€ten,€whichĻwould€put€them€in€1905.€Rey€married€in€1900€but€continued€to€work€the€Pratt€ranch€with€hisĻbrothers€Carl€and€Ira.€(Iššve€called€the€ranch€Cliff€Ranch€here,€after€one€of€the€drafts€and€Ō_ŌNenaŌ_ŌššsĻbook,€though€another€draft€calls€it€El€Rancho€Grande.)€Rey€continued€on€the€ranch€until€1906,Ļwhen€he€was€called€as€a€missionary,€then€soon€after€as€president€of€the€Mexican€Mission,€thenĻfinally€as€a€General€Authority.€Carl,€two€years€younger€than€Rey,€never€married€and€died€in€theĻwinter€of€1905€at€the€age€of€25.€I€imagine€him€living€at€home€and€helping€care€for€his€mother€andĻlittle€sister.€Certainly€it€makes€sense€for€him€to€be€driving€the€wagon€in€the€early€chapters.ĢAnyway,€here€are€the€stories,€written€for€Gladysššs€grandchildren,€reaching€them€just€in€time€forĻsome€of€their€own€children€to€hear€them€while€still€young.€I€was€a€baby€when€these€stories€wereĻcomposed,€and€can€barely€remember€my€grandmother,€and€then€as€someone€withered€by€illnessĻand€age,€her€voice€slurred€and€gravelly,€though€after€editing€them€I€feel€like€Iššve€heard€her€trueŠ @-(, Švoice€now.€One€thing€I€knowš"šmy€children,€who€range€in€age€from€five€to€sixteen,€like€themĻquite€a€lot,€and€so€do€I.Š  œģ ŠÓ  Ó1ĢThe€Call€to€Mexico¹ÓČ#ÓMy€name€is€Gladys€Pratt€Young.€I€live€with€my€husband,€S.€Ō_ŌDilworthŌ_Ō€Young,€in€Salt€Lake€City,Ļin€a€beautiful€house€on€Myrtle€Hill.€I€am€an€old€woman,€and€I€have€to€stay€in€a€wheelchair€now,Ļbut€I€am€going€to€tell€you€about€the€time€I€was€a€little€girl.ĢÓH4XX°` ø hĄpČ xŠ (#€%°œXHÓMy€father€was€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€Pratt.€In€his€day,€Heavenly€Father,€through€the€President€of€the€Church,Ļasked€some€of€the€men€to€have€more€than€one€wife.€Now€the€Lord€has€said€that€the€day€for€that€isĻpassed,€and€that€men€should€only€have€one€wife€now.€But€at€the€time,€my€father€had€two€wives,ĻDora€Ō_ŌWilckenŌ_Ō€Pratt,€whom€I€called€Aunt€Dora,€and€Ō_ŌEmalineŌ_Ō€Victoria€Ō_ŌBillingsleyŌ_Ō€Pratt,€myĻmother.ĢIn€1887€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€was€called€by€the€prophet€to€take€his€two€families€and€go€to€Old€Mexico,€toĻbuild€a€home€there,€and€to€stay€there€all€his€life.€This€was€called€a€ņņlifeššs€mission.óó€Many€men€in€theŠ „Ō  Šearly€days€were€called€like€this€to€go€to€different€places€and€start€colonies,€to€preach€the€gospel€toĻthe€people€around€them,€and€to€teach€them€how€to€live€like€Latter„day€Saints.€Now€this€was€aĻhard€thing€to€do.€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€had€built€a€house€at€the€mouth€of€City€Creek€Canyon€in€Salt€Lake€CityĻfor€Aunt€Dora€and€Aunt€Victoria€and€his€families€of€boys€and€girls.€It€was€a€beautiful€home,€withĻa€running€stream€and€many€lovely€trees€and€shrubs€and€Ō_ŌwildflowersŌ_Ō€all€around.€But€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€wasĻan€obedient€man€and€loyal€to€all€the€priesthood€asked€of€him,€so€he€went€home€to€Dora€andĻVictoria€and€told€them€what€they€had€been€called€to€do.€ĢRight€away€they€sold€their€beautiful€home€and€their€other€possessions€and€began€to€pack€theĻthings€they€needed€to€take€with€them€on€the€trip€to€Old€Mexico.€It€was€decided€that€Aunt€DoraĻshould€go€first,€because€Victoria€had€a€very€young€baby,€and€it€would€have€been€hard€for€her€toĻtravel€so€far€with€such€a€little€one.€So€Victoria€stayed€in€Salt€Lake€one€year€longer,€but€Aunt€DoraĻand€her€children€went€with€my€father.ĢFirst€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€and€Aunt€Dora€and€the€children€boarded€a€train.€The€train€moved€slowly€and€theĻjourney€took€many€days€and€Ō_ŌnitesŌ_Ō.€Finally€they€came€to€the€place€where€the€United€States€endsĻand€Old€Mexico€begins.€These€two€countries€are€divided€by€a€river€called€the€Rio€Grande.€On€theĻbanks€of€this€big€river€they€made€a€camp€and€camped€out€until€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€could€find€a€big€coveredĻwagon€to€buy€and€some€horses€so€the€wagon€could€be€pulled€over€the€road.€Finally€he€found€andĻbought€the€wagon€and€the€team,€then€Aunt€Dora€and€her€family€packed€their€things€in€the€bigĻwagon€box€and€climbed€in.ĢThere€were€no€bridges€in€those€days.€The€horses€had€to€walk€right€into€the€deep€water€and€pullĻthe€heavy€wagon€after€them.€In€places€the€river€was€so€deep€that€the€horses€had€to€swim.€ThisĻmade€all€the€children€very€frightened,€and€they€screamed€a€little.€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€made€them€keep€veryĻquiet€because€he€said€they€were€frightening€the€horses,€and€if€they€got€too€frightened€they€wouldĻquit€pulling,€and€then€the€wagon€would€float€down€the€river€and€they€would€all€be€drowned.€SoĻthe€children€were€very€quiet€and€the€horses€swam€well€until€they€got€to€the€other€bank€of€theĻriver.€Then€the€mud€was€so€deep€that€the€horses€slipped€and€slid€all€around€and€almost€fell€down.Š @-(, ŠThey€pulled€and€pulled€until€finally€they€got€their€feet€into€good€hard€ground.€Then€they€pulledĻthe€wagon€up€onto€the€hard€bank€of€the€other€side€of€the€river.€All€the€children€let€out€a€great€bigĻyell€and€ran€all€around,€glad€and€happy.ĢThey€traveled€in€this€covered€wagon,€camping€out€at€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō,€for€many€days.€They€didnššt€knowĻexactly€where€they€were€going€to€build€their€new€home,€but€they€did€know€where€the€Apostle€thatĻwas€in€charge€of€the€mission€was€staying.€His€name€was€Moses€Thatcher.€They€found€ElderĻThatcher€and€learned€that€from€him€they€could€buy€a€big,€big€piece€of€land€way€up€in€the€highĻmountain€country.€So€they€bought€three€thousand€acres€and€decided€to€make€their€first€new€homeĻon€this€big€ranch.€They€called€it€Cliff€Ranch.€Some€folks€called€it€Pratt€Ranch€because€the€PrattĻfamily€lived€there.ĢOff€they€started.€The€roads€were€very€rough,€and€in€many€places€there€werenššt€any€roads€at€all.ĻŌ_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€and€his€sons€had€to€make€little€bits€of€road,€a€few€miles€at€a€time,€ahead€of€them€so€theĻhorses€could€get€the€wagons€over€the€ground.€They€camped€at€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€under€the€wagon€box,€withĻblankets€and€canvas€covers€spread€out€and€more€blankets€to€cover€them.€Aunt€Dora€and€theĻlittlest€babies€slept€in€the€covered€box€so€they€could€be€more€comfortable.€At€long€last€theyĻarrived€at€the€mountain€ranch,€very€tired€from€the€journey.€They€decided€to€build€a€log€cabin€on€aĻbeautiful€little€hillside€covered€with€tall€grasses€and€Ō_ŌwildflowersŌ_Ō€and€standing€between€twoĻmountain€streams€that€flowed€down€into€a€big€river.€The€cliffs€on€either€side€of€the€river€wereĻvery€steep€and€covered€with€green€moss,€so€they€called€the€river€the€Piedras€Ō_ŌVerdesŌ_Ō,€which€meansĻš šgreen€stonesšš€in€Spanish.ĢTo€make€the€cabin,€they€cut€down€trees€with€their€axes,€and€trimmed€off€the€branches€to€makeĻthem€smooth.€They€laid€these€trees€together€on€top€of€one€another,€then€filled€up€the€cracks€withĻmud€mixed€with€straw.€This€was€to€keep€the€cabin€warm€and€the€wind€and€rain€out.€In€one€end€ofĻthe€cabin€they€built€a€great€big€chimney€with€a€wide,€deep€fireplace.€This€rock€chimney€was€tallerĻthan€the€cabin€and€so€wide€that€you€could€walk€behind€the€fire€on€each€side€and€not€get€burned.ĻThe€fireplace€was€their€heater€and€their€cooking€place.ĢThere€were€several€other€families€that€came€to€live€near€the€Pratt€family,€all€with€little€children€toĻplay€with.€One€of€the€mothers€knew€how€to€teach€school,€so€she€became€the€teacher,€and€theĻchildren€six€years€old€or€older€went€to€school€every€day.€They€didnššt€have€desks.€The€benchesĻwere€logs€of€wood€like€a€big€tree€cut€in€two€down€the€middle€and€wooden€pegs€stuck€in€the€endsĻto€make€legs€so€they€could€stand€up.€They€used€slates€to€do€their€writing€and€their€arithmetic,Ļbecause€they€didnššt€have€paper€and€pencils€or€blackboards€either.€They€had€only€a€few€books,€soĻthey€took€turns€practicing€their€reading.€They€had€many€good€times€playing€together€at€recess,Ļand€often€after€school€they€would€go€on€a€long€hike€together€up€over€the€mountains€or€take€aĻswim€in€the€big€river.€Afterwards€they€would€race€each€other€to€their€homes,€very€hungry€andĻtired.ĢNow€all€the€mamas,€knowing€they€would€be€coming,€would€have€nice€things€cooking€in€theĻfireplaces.€They€made€a€kind€of€hot€cornbread€called€johnnycake€in€a€Dutch€oven,€a€big,€blackĻiron€pot.€The€Dutch€oven€sat€right€down€in€the€glowing,€hot€coals€and€had€red€coals€piled€on€topĻof€its€lid€too.€In€another€Dutch€oven€would€be€cooking€vegetables,€and€in€another€a€roast€of€beefŠ @-(, Šor€deer€that€the€bigger€boys€had€brought€home€to€the€cabin€after€the€hunt,€or€in€a€frying€pan€troutĻfrom€the€streams.€The€children€ate€the€hot€johnnycake€with€lots€of€butter€and€molasses€syrup.ĻSometimes€they€had€hot,€round€biscuits,€fluffy€and€sugary€and€covered€with€cinnamon,€which€theĻchildren€called€puffballs.€It€was€all€so€good€cooked€over€the€open€fire.ĢŌ#``ddŌFor€several€years€they€lived€on€Cliff€Ranch,€except€for€one€year€sŌ#dd``Ōpent€on€a€ranch€farther€down€theŠ L œ Šmountain.€Then€more€and€more€people€began€to€settle€in€the€valley€below,€and€most€the€familiesĻin€the€mountains€left€to€live€among€them.€Finally€Ō#``ddŌŌ_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€decided€to€move€his€families€to€theŠ $ t Švalley€settlementsŌ#dd``Ō.€He€decided€not€to€sell€Cliff€Ranch€but€to€keep€it€and€come€to€it€in€theŠ  ` Šsummertime.€The€family€lived€first€in€Colonia€Ō_ŌJurezŌ_Ō,€and€in€that€Ō_ŌcoloniaŌ_Ō€(that€is€what€the€townsĻwere€called)€I€was€born€on€March€24,€1895.€I€was€Victoriaššs€ninth€child€and€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ōššs€eleventhĻdaughter.€Soon€Ō_ŌHelamanŌ_Ō€bought€farmland€in€Colonia€Ō_ŌDublnŌ_Ō,€another€settlement€nearby.€HeĻmoved€his€families€there€and€built€two€beautiful€and€well„made€homes,€one€for€Victoria€and€oneĻfor€Dora.€These€homes€were€built€of€brick€with€high€ceilings€and€big€windows€and€beautifulĻdoors.€They€were€furnished€with€lovely€old„fashioned€furniture€that€they€had€been€able€to€haveĻshipped€in€to€them.€They€had€beautiful€fireplaces€that€made€the€homes€warm€and€cheerful.€HereĻthey€lived€the€rest€of€their€lives.ĢŠ  H˜ ŠÓ  Ó2ĢOur€Homes€in€the€Valley¹Ó§GÓThe€valley€home€had€many,€many€fields€of€wheat€and€corn€and€potatoes.€It€had€many€cherry,Ļpear,€and€peach€trees.€It€had€lawns€and€vegetable€gardens€and€very€big€shade€trees.€Aunt€DoraĻplanted€purple€Concord€grapes€and€white€muscats€and€white€seedless€grapes.€Mother€and€AuntĻDora€planted€rose€bushes,€and€because€the€water€was€very€scarce,€they€would€carry€water€to€theĻgrapevines€and€roses€in€buckets.€First€they€would€draw€the€water€up€from€the€well€by€a€rope.ĻThen€they€would€lift€it,€although€it€was€very€heavy,€and€pour€it€all€around€the€roots€of€the€rosesĻand€the€tender€plants.€This€made€everything€grow€and€live,€and€the€homes€became€very€beautiful.ĢWhen€the€grapes€bloomed,€a€horrible€bug€called€a€June€bug€would€get€on€them€and€eat€them€soĻfast€that€they€would€almost€destroy€them.€Then€Father€would€gather€up€all€the€children€of€bothĻfamilies€and€take€us€to€the€vineyard.€There€he€would€leave€buckets€of€water€with€some€poison€inĻit€that€would€kill€the€bugs.€It€was€now€our€job€to€pick€and€scrape€the€June€bugs€into€the€poisonĻfrom€the€grape€vines.€It€wasnššt€a€pleasant€job,€and€sometimes€when€we€would€see€the€handfuls€ofĻbig,€ugly€bugs€struggling€around€in€the€poison,€finally€dying,€we€would€cry€and€try€to€stopĻworking.€But€Father€taught€us€that€if€we€wanted€anything€that€was€worthwhile€in€life,€we€had€toĻwork€for€it.€Sometimes€the€work€was€hard€and€disagreeable,€but€we€always€had€to€finish€what€weĻbegan€to€do.€And€when€the€grapes€grew€and€ripened€and€got€big€and€juicy€and€firm,€then€weĻwould€feast€on€them€and€believe€that€our€father€was€right€and€that€the€pay€for€honest€work€wasĻvery€rewarding.ĢWe€had€six€pretty€little€jersey€cows.€They€looked€all€brown€and€yellow€with€big,€soft€eyes€andĻlong,€graceful€tails.€They€gave€us€very€much€rich,€creamy€milk.€When€they€were€all€lined€up€inĻthe€stable,€I€had€to€put€on€some€old€Leviššs€and€sit€on€a€stool€in€the€stall€and€milk€the€cows€one€atĻa€time.€We€would€separate€the€cream€from€the€skim€milk€with€a€machine€we€called€a€separator.ĻThen€we€would€let€the€milk€and€the€cream€get€very€cold€in€the€north€window€with€a€net€clothĻaround€the€outside€of€the€pans€and€buckets.€Just€before€bedtime,€we€would€pour€out€a€bowl€ofĻmilk,€then€pour€into€it€a€lot€of€good,€rich€cream.€Into€this€we€would€crumb€some€lovely,€crustyĻbread€and€sprinkle€sugar€over€all.€Perhaps€there€would€be€a€platter€of€little€new€green€onions€onĻthe€table,€and€a€platter€of€rich,€golden€homemade€cheese.€This€bread€and€creamy€milk€with€onionĻand€cheese€made€a€supper€that€was€fit€for€kings€and€queens,€and€kept€us€very€well€and€healthy.ĢWe€always€had€plenty€of€cream€left,€and€every€two€or€three€days€we€churned€it€into€butter.€TheĻchurn€looked€like€a€wooden€barrel€with€a€lid€on€it.€The€lid€fit€tight€and€had€a€round€hole€in€theĻvery€center€of€it.€Up€through€this€hole€came€the€long€handle€of€the€dasher,€which€was€pushed€upĻand€down,€up€and€down,€and€dashed€the€cream€into€butter.€I€loved€to€watch€the€butter€when€itĻfirst€came€from€the€churn€and€the€whey€would€be€pressed€out€of€it€before€Mother€stuffed€it€into€aĻbutter€mold.€The€mold€held€exactly€one€pound€of€butter€and€pressed€a€pretty€design€in€the€center,Ļlike€a€flower€or€a€pineapple€or€something€interesting.€We€kept€all€the€butter€we€wanted€to€eat€andĻto€make€cakes€and€pies€and€cookies.€The€rest€we€sold€to€the€village€store,€and€they€would€sell€itĻto€other€people.Š T,¤'+ ŠWe€also€had€a€chicken€coop€full€of€hens€and€roosters€and€little€chickens.€Every€day,€part€of€myĻwork€was€to€gather€the€fresh€eggs€for€Mother€to€make€good€things€to€eat€like€omelets,€bacon€andĻeggs,€ham€and€eggs,€and€Ō_ŌpopoversŌ_Ō.€We€always€had€our€own€bacon€and€ham,€because€FatherĻwould€kill€a€pig€in€the€cold€months€of€the€year,€cut€it€up,€and€hang€it€in€the€smokehouse€forĻseveral€days€until€it€was€dried€out€and€smoky„flavored.€We€ground€all€the€scrap€meat€after€weĻhad€shaved€and€cured€the€hams€and€bacon€and€roasts.€We€flavored€the€ground€pork€with€gardenĻsage€and€salt€and€pepper,€just€right,€and€stuffed€it€tightly€into€small,€round€cloth€bags.€SometimesĻwe€didnššt€have€bags,€so€we€had€to€use€one€of€the€intestines€of€the€pig,€after€cleaning€itĻthoroughly.€This€held€the€sausage€very€well.ĢAnother€favorite€meat€we€made€was€called€head€cheese.€We€would€clean€the€head€very€well,€thenĻboil€it€many€hours€in€water€to€which€we€had€added€spices,€until€the€meat€was€very€tender.€ThenĻwe€would€scrape€it€off€the€bones,€grind€it€up,€season€it€with€sage€and€salt€and€pepper,€then€press€itĻdown€into€a€round€ball.€We€children€were€allowed€to€slice€off€a€piece€when€we€were€hungry€for€aĻsandwich€or€some€warmed„over€lunch€meat.ĢThe€part€that€I€looked€forward€to€the€most€was€the€tail.€Always€Father€would€cut€it€off€and€give€itĻto€Mother.€She€would€clean€it€good€and€put€it€into€a€hot€oven€and€leave€it€there€until€it€was€veryĻcrisp€and€brittle€and€well€done.€Then€she€would€let€me€have€it€to€eat.€I€sprinkled€it€with€salt.€AsĻsoon€as€I€bit€into€it,€the€tail€would€break€off€in€crisp,€tender€bits.€I€thought€it€the€best„tasting€thingĻin€the€world.€We€called€it€piggy€crackling,€and€each€child€had€to€have€turns€and€share€theĻprivilege€of€having€and€eating€this€pioneer€delicacy.ĢThe€school€in€the€valley€was€a€very€good€school,€almost€as€good€as€you€have€today.€We€had€goodĻteachers€who€taught€us€how€to€read€and€write€and€spell€very€well.€We€would€choose€sides€and€seeĻwho€could€go€the€longest€time€without€missing€a€word.€If€anyone€missed€one,€that€person€had€toĻsit€down,€and€the€side€that€had€the€most€standing€in€the€spelling€line€at€the€end€of€the€contestĻwon.€We€had€good€desks€like€your€school€desks€in€this€school,€and€pencils€and€pens€and€ink€toĻwrite€with,€and€the€teachers€had€blackboards€and€chalk€to€show€how€to€do€our€problems.€AtĻrecess€we€played€hard„running€games€like€pomp„pom„pull„away,€steal„stick,€prisoners„base,€andĻlast„couple„out.€We€played€ball€games€like€one„old„cat€and€rounders€and€Ō_ŌkickballŌ_Ō.€It€was€all€suchĻfun.ĢThen€there€were€holidays€also.€The€best€one,€I€think,€was€one€called€ņņŌ_ŌCincoŌ_Ō€de€Mayoóó,€which€is€theŠ #l! Šcelebration€of€the€Mexican€Independence€Day,€almost€like€the€Fourth€of€July.€We€would€come€toĻthe€school€ground€early€in€the€morning€when€the€school€bell€would€ring.€Sometimes€we€wouldĻgather€in€the€park€where€there€would€always€be€a€band€playing€lovely€music,€and€I€can€rememberĻthat€my€heart€would€always€take€a€little€jump€as€I€looked€up€to€the€steeple€of€the€schoolhouse€andĻsaw€the€flag€waving€in€the€breeze.€It€was€not€the€stars€and€stripes,€nor€the€flag€of€the€red,€white,Ļand€blue,€but€it€was€a€red,€white,€and€green€flag,€and€on€its€white€middle,€instead€of€stars,€thereĻwas€a€huge€eagle€sitting€on€a€cactus,€holding€a€snake€in€its€claws.€We€felt€we€were€in€a€foreignĻcountry,€but€the€Mexicans€had€let€us€come€to€their€land€and€share€it€and€make€comfortable€homesĻhere,€so€we€were€proud€and€grateful€for€the€new€Mexican€flag.ĢAfter€the€flag€had€been€raised€on€high,€we€all€went€into€the€assembly€room€of€the€schoolhouse,Š @-(, Šand€there€we€listened€to€a€program€of€songs€and€speeches€about€the€history€of€Mexico.€Much€ofĻthe€program€was€given€in€the€Spanish€language,€but€we€were€beginning€to€understand€it€andĻspeak€it€a€little.€Mother€sang€a€beautiful€Spanish€song€called€ņņLa€Ō_ŌGolondrinaŌ_Ōóó.€Then€she€wouldŠ ˆŲ Šsing€the€Mexican€national€anthem.€When€she€came€to€the€chorus€of€this€song,€all€the€peopleĻwould€stand€and€sing€with€her.€The€band€would€join€in,€and€everyone€felt€very€happy€and€gay.ĢAfter€the€program,€we€would€go€outside€on€the€playground€and€be€grouped€by€age€and€run€racesĻagainst€each€other.€If€we€won,€we€got€a€small€prize.€The€races€I€loved€the€best€were€the€horseĻraces.€Two€horses€would€be€matched€and€we€would€ride€to€the€starting€line,€where€two€of€theĻjudges€held€a€string.€Then€a€judge€would€count,€š šReady,€set,€go!šš€and€the€other€judges€wouldĻdrop€the€string,€and€off€we€would€race€to€the€finish€line.ĢNext€came€a€very€exciting€event,€the€greased€pig€chase.€Five€or€six€little€baby€pigs€would€beĻplaced€in€a€pen.€When€the€time€drew€near,€the€men€would€go€into€the€pen€and€chase€the€pigsĻaround€until€they€caught€one€by€the€front€or€hind€leg.€Holding€it€tight,€they€would€rub€grease€allĻover€its€back€and€stomach€and€legs€and€head.€When€the€boys€were€lined€up€on€the€line€and€readyĻto€start,€the€gate€to€the€pigpen€would€be€opened.€Out€would€run€the€pigs,€and€away€would€go€theĻboys€after€them,€darting€this€way€and€that,€trying€to€catch€one€by€the€foot.€If€they€did€get€one,€theyĻwould€have€an€awful€time€trying€to€hold€him,€because€his€skin€was€so€greasy,€and€because€bothĻboy€and€pig€would€be€slippery€from€running.€No€sooner€would€a€boy€have€a€piglet€fast€than€itĻwould€somehow€wiggle€right€up€and€pop€right€out€of€his€arms€and€scramble€away.€Sometimes€aĻboy€hung€so€tight€to€a€leg€and€the€piglet€pulled€so€hard€that€it€dragged€him€right€on€his€bellyĻthrough€the€dirt.€Of€course,€he€would€be€covered€with€dust€and€dirt€and€grease,€and€have€toĻchange€his€clothes€afterwards.€Finally€one€or€two€of€the€boys€would€catch€and€hold€a€pig€longĻenough€to€get€him€in€the€pen€again.€They€were€the€winners€and€would€be€given€a€very€handsomeĻprize,€maybe€a€new€mouth€organ€or€a€bat€and€ball€or€a€baseball€mitt.€Or€maybe€the€prize€would€beĻfive€pesos,€so€if€a€boy€won,€he€would€feel€very€rich€for€a€while.ĢWe€all€went€home€tired€and€hungry,€and€all€the€younger€children€were€put€to€bed.€But€the€papasĻand€mamas€and€all€the€older€boys€and€girls€and€young€men€and€women€went€back€to€the€hall,€andĻon€well„waxed€floors€with€an€orchestra€of€violins€and€bass€viols,€maybe€a€banjo€and€a€guitar€andĻan€accordion€or€a€marimba,€the€people€would€dance€the€polka,€the€schottische,€the€two„step,€andĻthe€square€dance€until€Ō_ŌmidniteŌ_Ō.€It€was€all€these€good€times€together€that€made€the€people€forgetĻtheir€difficulties€and€be€happy€together.€It€made€them€learn€to€love€one€another€better.ĢAnother€holiday€that€I€loved€was€our€May€Day€celebration.€We€would€pack€a€picnic€lunch€andĻclimb€onto€Ō_ŌhayracksŌ_Ō€piled€soft€with€new€straw,€or€we€would€ride€in€a€big€covered€wagon€or€in€aĻtwo„seated€buggy€that€we€called€a€buckboard.€Some€of€us€rode€on€horses.€We€all€went€to€theĻsame€place,€usually€a€large€grove€of€shady€cottonwood€trees.€Because€it€was€May,€all€theĻcottonwood€trees€had€buds€on€them.€These€would€pop€and€scatter€white,€cottony€fluff€all€over€theĻground.€It€was€fun€running€through€these€fluffy€bunches€of€cotton€and€kicking€them€in€featheryĻclouds€in€the€air.ĢSoon€we€would€see€the€older€boys€running€to€the€clearing€in€the€grove€with€a€tall€pole,€whichĻthey€would€fasten€securely€into€the€ground.€The€pole€had€a€beautiful€wreath€of€flowers€on€top,Š @-(, Šand€wound€all€down€its€length€were€garlands€of€beautiful€garden€flowers€picked€in€the€dawn.ĻLong,€colored€silk€streamers€hung€from€a€round€wheel€at€the€top€of€the€pole.€A€man€would€beĻcalling,€š šCome€to€the€May€Queen€booth€and€vote€for€the€one€you€want€to€be€Queen€of€the€May.ššĻEveryone€would€go€over€and€write€on€a€piece€of€paper€whom€they€wanted,€and€when€all€hadĻvoted,€the€man€in€charge€would€announce€who€the€Queen€was€to€be.€He€would€find€the€maiden,Ļtake€her€arm,€and€lead€her€to€the€throne.€This€was€usually€just€a€chair€on€top€of€a€platform€withĻsome€steps€leading€up€to€it.€Little€flower€girls€stood€on€each€step€with€baskets€of€flowers,€andĻother€little€girls€would€follow€the€Queen,€carrying€garlands€of€flowers,€and€still€other€little€girlsĻwalked€in€front€of€her,€scattering€petals€in€her€path.€When€she€got€to€the€throne€the€bishop€wouldĻcome€up€the€steps€and€place€a€beautiful€crown€of€flowers€on€her€head,€and€all€the€little€girlsĻwould€make€a€deep€curtsy€to€the€Queen.€One€would€come€close€to€her€and€give€her€a€beautifulĻmayflower€basket€to€hold€in€her€hands.ĢThen€came€running€to€the€maypole€older€girls€and€boys,€one€for€each€silk€ribbon€streamer.€EachĻgirl€or€boy€would€run€outward€until€the€streamers€were€stretched€straight€from€the€top€of€the€poleĻto€where€he€stood,€girls€facing€one€way€and€boys€the€other.€Then€the€orchestra€played€beautifulĻwaltz€music,€and€the€boys€and€girls€waltzed€around€the€maypole,€weaving€the€ribbon€streamersĻover€and€under.€Thus€the€streamers€would€weave€in€a€pretty€design€around€the€pole.€Then€theyĻwould€rewind€it€and€start€all€over€again.€This€is€called€š šdancing€the€maypole.ššĢWhen€the€dancing€was€finished,€all€the€lads€and€maidens€bowed€and€curtsied€to€the€Queen.€TheĻman€in€charge€would€say,€š šTime€for€lunch,šš€and€everyone€would€go€to€their€own€families.ĻSometimes€two€or€three€families€would€spread€their€lunch€out€and€eat€together.€There€were€manyĻgood€things€to€eat,€such€as€fried€chicken,€strawberry€shortcake,€strawberries€and€cream,€andĻchocolate€cake,€and€always€after€lunch€the€children€were€treated€to€free€pink€lemonade€and€freeĻhomemade€ice€cream€cones.€It€was€a€most€happy€springtime€holiday.€After€lunch€the€papas€wouldĻmake€great€high€swings€in€the€trees€and€put€good€swing€seats€in€them.€Then€they€would€let€theĻchildren€take€turns€having€a€swing.€The€papas€and€the€big€brothers€would€push€the€swings€veryĻhigh€in€the€air,€and€sometimes€it€was€scary,€but€we€liked€to€see€how€brave€we€could€be€and€wouldĻsqueal€with€glee€as€we€almost€touched€the€lower€branches€of€the€trees€with€our€toes.ĢŠ  D!” ŠÓ  Ó3ĢLife€in€our€Villages¹Ó{|ÓOne€day€when€I€didnššt€have€anything€to€do€and€no€playmates€to€play€with,€I€thought€I€would€goĻfor€a€long€walk.€I€started€walking,€and€by€and€by€I€came€to€the€railroad€track.€Now€it€was€quiteĻsafe€to€walk€on€the€railroad€track€in€those€days€because€the€train€only€came€along€once€a€week,€soĻI€didnššt€have€to€worry€about€being€run€over.€I€did€have€to€watch€for€little€handcarts€that€the€menĻpumped€up€and€down€to€make€them€move€along.€But€those€were€easy€to€see€and€hear€in€plenty€ofĻtime€to€jump€off€the€track€and€out€of€the€way.ĢNow,€it€was€fun€to€jump€on€the€ties€that€lay€under€the€rails€of€the€track.€These€were€big,€bigĻboards€that€were€quite€far€apart,€and€you€had€to€leap€a€long€ways.€They€are€called€ties€becauseĻthey€tie€the€big€iron€rails€of€the€track€together.€After€a€while,€when€I€was€quite€tired€of€jumping,€IĻsaw€way€down€on€one€side€of€the€track€in€the€borrow€pit€a€pool€of€muddy€water.€So€I€ran€downĻnear€it,€took€off€my€shoes€and€stockings,€and€waded€in.€It€was€such€fun€to€let€the€soft,€oozy€mudĻcome€up€between€my€toes€and€to€let€my€feet€sink€down€into€the€mud€up€to€my€ankles.€Pretty€soonĻI€grew€tired€of€making€tracks€in€the€mud€and€leaving€my€footprints€all€around€the€edge€of€theĻmuddy€pool.€Just€when€I€thought€I€would€get€out,€I€felt€something€wiggle€against€my€foot€andĻslide€between€my€toes.€I€looked€down€in€the€water,€and€there€I€saw€many€little€wiggling€thingsĻthat€looked€like€little€tiny€frogs,€only€with€very€long€tails€and€very€short€legs€and€feet.ĢI€was€tickled€to€death€to€see€such€funny€little€creatures€swimming€all€about€in€the€pool.€I€thoughtĻIššd€like€to€catch€some€of€those€cute€little€things,€so€I€looked€around,€and€pretty€soon€I€found€anĻold€tin€can.€I€took€this€to€the€pool€and€reached€in€with€my€hand€and€tried€to€scoop€some€up.€ButĻthey€didnššt€want€to€be€caught€and€carried€from€the€pool,€and€they€would€swim€every€time€quicklyĻout€of€the€can,€and€all€I€would€have€would€be€muddy€water.€I€tried€and€tried€over€and€over,€andĻone€time€I€picked€up€my€can€out€of€the€water€so€quick€that€I€caught€six€tadpoles€in€it.€I€was€soĻhappy,€because€now€I€could€carry€it€home€with€me€and€keep€the€tadpoles€on€my€own€porch.ĢBefore€I€started€home,€I€decided€to€use€this€beautiful,€soft,€sticky€clay€around€the€pool€to€makeĻsome€pretty€little€mud€dishes€and€some€good€mud€pies.€So€I€gathered€the€mud€that€was€just€right,Ļnot€too€wet€and€not€too€dry,€and€had€lots€of€fun€shaping€pies€and€cakes€and€little€cups€and€saucersĻand€plates€and€even€little€sugar€bowls€and€cream€pictures€and€tiny€little€spoons.€As€I€made€theseĻthings,€I€put€them€in€a€wooden€box€I€found€near€the€pool,€so€that€I€could€carry€them€home€withoutĻbreaking€them.ĢAfter€I€had€made€all€I€wanted€and€had€worked€so€hard€that€I€was€very€hungry,€I€decided€to€goĻhome€to€dinner.€So€I€put€my€can€of€tadpoles€in€the€box€with€my€mud€dishes,€picked€up€the€box,Ļand€started€off.€This€time€I€didnššt€try€to€jump€the€rails€but€rather€walked€along€the€edge€where€itĻwas€smooth.€I€watched€very€carefully€that€I€did€not€let€the€water€from€the€tadpole€can€spill€overĻon€my€clay€dishes€and€spoil€them,€and€also€that€I€didnššt€let€my€clay€dishes€slip€and€crash€oneĻagainst€another.ĢWhen€I€got€home,€I€put€my€tadpoles€in€the€shade€where€it€was€cool,€and€my€dishes€in€the€sunŠ @-(, Šwhere€they€would€dry€and€get€hard.€Mother€put€me€in€the€tub€for€a€bath,€because€I€was€coveredĻpretty€well€all€over€with€mud.€When€I€got€out€of€the€tub€I€put€on€some€nice€clean€clothes,€andĻthen€I€had€a€nice€hot€lunch,€and€then€I€lay€down€on€the€floor€and€went€sound€asleep€because€I€wasĻvery€tired.€But€for€many€days€afterwards€I€played€happily€with€my€dishes€and€tadpoles.ĢOnce€an€old€Mexican€man€came€to€our€house€and€knocked€on€our€door.€When€I€answered,€I€said,Ļņņš šBuenos€Ō_ŌdasŌ_Ō,€Ō_ŌSeorŌ_Ō,ššóó€and€he€said,€ņņš šBuenos€Ō_ŌdasŌ_Ō,€Ō_ŌNiaŌ_Ō.ššóóI€could€see€that€he€had€many,€many€birdŠ 8 ˆ Šcages€piled€one€on€top€of€the€other,€and€he€was€carrying€them€on€a€long€pole.€Inside€each€birdĻcage€was€a€bird.€Some€of€the€cages€had€pretty€grey€birds€in€them,€and€some€had€red€birds.€TheĻred€birds€had€little€top€knots€on€the€top€of€their€heads€and€very€sharp€red€beaks€with€which€to€eatĻseeds.€The€Mexican€man€took€the€bird€cages€off€the€pole€one€at€a€time€and€set€them€upon€theĻporch€floor.€Then€he€said,€š šAll€my€birds€sing.€They€all€have€a€beautiful€song.€Will€you€buy€one€ofĻmy€birds€to€sing€for€you€each€day?€My€birds€sing€most€all€day,€and€while€they€are€singing,€youĻnever€get€lonesome.€Will€you€buy€one,€please?ššĢš šJust€a€moment,šš€I€said.€š šI€will€call€my€mother€and€ask€her.šš€So€I€brought€Mother€to€see€the€oldĻMexican€man€and€all€the€birds€he€had€in€the€cages.€Mother€asked€him€which€one€was€the€prettiestĻsinger.€He€said€that€they€all€had€very€pretty€songs,€one€just€as€pretty€as€the€other.€So€then€MotherĻasked€him€how€much€they€cost.€The€old€man€picked€up€one€bird€after€another€and€told€my€motherĻhow€much€each€one€was.€After€thinking€about€it€for€quite€a€while,€we€picked€one€we€liked,€a€greyĻmocking€bird,€and€paid€the€old€man€one€peso.ĢWe€took€the€little€bird€in€the€house€and€hung€its€cage€on€a€hook€near€a€lovely€sunny€window.ĻPretty€soon,€when€all€was€still,€the€little€bird€began€to€sing€a€sweet€little€song.€Its€little€song€gotĻlouder€and€louder€until€the€song€filled€the€whole€house.ĢOne€day€when€we€were€putting€some€seed€and€water€in€the€cage€for€the€bird€to€eat€and€drink,€weĻforgot€to€close€the€door.€The€little€bird€saw€the€door€opened,€so€he€hopped€out€and€went€hoppingĻall€about€the€house.€He€would€fly€up€onto€the€cupboards€and€then€he€would€try€to€fly€onto€theĻtable.€Once€he€saw€the€window€and€tried€to€fly€out.€But€the€window€was€closed,€so€he€bumpedĻhis€little€head€against€the€glass€so€hard€that€he€fell€to€the€floor.€This€frightened€him,€but€whatĻfrightened€him€even€more€was€the€great€big€cat€he€saw€coming€to€eat€him.€Now€we€had€tried€forĻthe€longest€time€to€coax€the€birdie€back,€but€when€he€saw€that€cat€coming,€he€flew€with€all€hisĻmight€right€back€into€the€cage.€And€there€he€stayed€happily€ever€after,€even€if€we€left€the€doorĻopen.€Ever€since,€I€have€always€loved€the€beautiful€song€of€the€mocking€bird,€for€each€day€ourĻlittle€bird€tried€his€best€to€sing€us€the€prettiest€songs€he€knew.ĢThe€village€Primary€organization€taught€the€children€of€the€Colonies€many€beautiful€lessonsĻevery€week€and€also€gave€them€beautiful€and€fun€parties.€The€party€I€remember€the€best€was€heldĻin€the€early€spring.€They€told€us€in€advance€that€the€next€Friday€there€was€going€to€be€a€PrimaryĻdance€and€party€with€treats.€About€Monday€afternoon,€a€little€boy€friend€of€mine€named€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_ŌĻcame€to€call€on€us€at€our€house.€He€was€very€bashful,€and€as€he€sat€down€on€the€edge€of€his€chair,Ļhe€kept€twirling€his€hat€around€in€his€hands€and€dropping€it€and€picking€it€up€over€and€over€again.ĻI€couldnššt€help€giggling€because€he€looked€so€red„faced€and€bashful.€Š T,¤'+ ŠFinally€Mother€came€in€and€asked€him,€š šWhat€can€we€do€for€you,€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō?šš€ĢHe€said,€š šSister€Pratt,€I€came€to€ask€you€if€I€could€take€Gladys€as€my€partner€to€the€Primary€danceĻnext€Friday€afternoon.šš€Of€course€this€made€me€feel€very€grown€up€to€hear€someone€asking€meĻfor€a€date,€and€my€heart€did€little€flip„flops,€I€was€so€excited.ĢMother€stood€thoughtfully€quiet€for€a€few€minutes,€then€she€said,€š šI€think€it€will€be€alright,ĻŌ_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō.€What€time€shall€she€be€ready?ššĢš šIššll€be€here€about€5:30€to€call€for€her.ššĢOf€course€the€time€passed€very€slowly,€but€finally€the€day€of€the€party€arrived,€so€Mother€curledĻmy€hair€in€ringlets,€put€a€sweet€new€party€dress€on€me,€all€shiny€and€white€with€a€pink€slipĻshowing€through,€and€put€a€pink€bow€of€ribbon€with€a€pink€rose€pinned€to€it€in€my€hair.€Then€IĻsat€down€to€wait€for€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō€to€come.€I€waited€and€I€waited.€I€wouldnššt€eat€any€supper€because€IĻdidnššt€want€to€get€my€dress€dirty,€and€I€knew€they€were€going€to€have€nice€things€to€eat€likeĻcookies€and€candy€and€lemonade€at€the€party.ĢThe€clock€struck€6:00,€then€6:30,€and€still€no€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō.€When€the€clock€struck€7:00€oššclock€andĻstill€no€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō€I€began€to€cry,€because€I€thought€he€had€forgotten€me,€and€I€knew€that€the€partyĻwould€soon€be€over€and€I€would€have€missed€it.€So€mother€said,€š šNow€donššt€cry.€Iššll€take€you€toĻthe€party.šš€So€she€wiped€my€face€of€tears€and€fixed€my€hair,€and€we€walked€down€to€the€churchĻhall€where€the€party€was€going€on.€We€went€in€and€sat€down€on€a€bench€and€looked€around.€WeĻcould€not€see€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō€anyplace,€so€this€made€me€very€worried,€because€I€began€thinking,€ņņWhat€ifŠ ä4 Šhe€goes€up€to€my€house€and€doesnššt€find€me€home.óó€I€knew€that€then€I€would€probably€lose€aŠ Š  Šfriend.ĢOne€of€my€favorite€teachers€saw€my€troubled€look,€so€she€came€over€and€said,€š šWhat€is€theĻmatter,€Gladys?šš€So€I€told€her.€She€said,€š šWell,€come€on€with€me.€It€is€only€a€little€ways€toĻŌ_ŌElwoodŌ_Ōššs€house.€Let€us€go€there€and€find€out€what€is€the€matter.ššĢThis€seemed€a€silly€thing€to€me€at€the€time,€but€I€finally€said,€š šAlright,€Iššll€go.ššĢSo€Teacher,€Mother€and€I€walked€down€the€sidewalk€to€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ōššs€house.€When€we€got€to€hisĻgate,€we€all€stopped€and€looked€into€the€front€room€of€the€house.€The€door€was€open€because€itĻwas€a€warm€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō.€There€we€saw,€standing€by€a€lighted€lamp,€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō€in€his€underwear€and€hisĻbest€shirt€and€new€necktie€on.€His€hair€was€all€combed€and€sleek.€His€shoes€were€shined,€but€noĻpants.€Then€we€saw€that€his€mother€had€his€pants€under€the€needle€of€the€sewing€machine.€SheĻwas€sewing€a€big€new€patch€on€the€seat€and€the€knee€of€his€only€pair€of€best€pants.€Little€boysĻhad€only€one€pair€of€best€pants€in€those€days,€and€when€they€wore€out,€they€had€to€be€patched.€ByĻthis€time€we€were€at€the€door€and€had€knocked.€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō€scampered€out€of€sight€and€his€motherĻopened€the€door€for€us.€She€said,€š šO!€I€am€so€sorry€about€making€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō€so€late,€but€I€justĻcouldnššt€get€to€mending€his€pants€before€now.€Iššve€been€so€busy€canning€cherries€today.ššĢBy€this€time€it€all€seemed€so€funny€to€me€that€I€had€to€put€my€handkerchief€in€my€mouth€to€keepŠ @-(, Šfrom€laughing.€Teacher€and€Mother€laughed€a€little€politely€and€said,€š šOh,€that€is€alright,€SisterĻCall.€There€is€still€time€for€the€children€to€have€some€fun€at€the€party.šš€By€this€time€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_ŌššsĻmother€had€finished€pressing€the€new€patched€pants€into€nice,€smooth€creases,€and€so€she€tookĻthem€in€the€bedroom€for€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō€to€put€on.€He€soon€came€out€looking€very€dressed€up€and€wellĻfixed€up,€but€his€face€was€even€more€bashful€than€when€he€came€to€ask€me€to€be€his€partner,€andĻmine€was€a€little€redder€also.€Soon€the€wonderful€teacher€was€kidding€us€and€we€were€laughingĻand€talking€together€and€went€off€skipping€hand€in€hand€toward€the€place€where€the€party€wasĻgoing€on.€We€mingled€with€the€rest€of€the€children,€and€the€teacher€helped€us€all€evening€to€learnĻthe€games€and€dances€and€to€forget€to€be€bashful,€even€little€Ō_ŌElwoodŌ_Ō.€And€when€all€was€said€andĻdone,€we€had€a€wonderful€time.ĢSometimes€Father€would€take€me€on€a€nice,€long€ride€over€to€the€next€town.€We€did€not€travel€inĻcars€because€we€had€none,€but€we€had€a€buckboard,€which€was€a€four„wheeled,€horse„drawnĻbuggy€with€a€white€top€cover€and€big€pieces€of€white€material€to€roll€down€if€it€got€too€hot€andĻwindy.€I€had€to€most€always€sit€on€the€back€seat,€because€my€father€usually€had€a€visitor€that€heĻtook€along€with€him€to€talk€to.ĢWe€rode€through€a€long€valley€where€wheat€was€grown.€We€crossed€over€deep€rivers€where€theĻwater€splashed€into€the€buggy€when€we€went€through€it,€and€the€horses€had€to€pull€very€hard€toĻget€the€buggy€up€and€onto€the€bank€again.€We€climbed€tall€hills€when€the€road€went€up€over€theĻŌ_ŌdugwaysŌ_Ō.€After€traveling€all€morning,€we€would€come€to€the€town€and€stop€at€Sister€HarperššsĻsmall€hotel.€The€hotel€was€just€like€a€large€home,€only€Sister€Harper€got€money€for€letting€peopleĻsleep€and€eat€there.€After€we€were€taken€to€our€room,€my€father€told€me,€š šNow€you€will€have€toĻstay€here€and€play€while€I€go€to€my€meetings.šš€ĢFirst€of€all€I€went€out€into€the€yard€to€see€all€the€animals€that€Sister€Harper€kept€there.€She€had€aĻgoat€that€liked€to€eat€tin€cans€and€also€sometimes€clothes€hanging€on€the€line.€She€had€someĻgeese€that€would€chase€one€another€and€make€an€awful€racket€honk„honking.€She€had€one€old€fatĻturkey€with€a€long€red€and€blue€tail,€and€when€I€went€near€him,€he€stretched€out€his€long€neck€andĻgobbled€very€fast€and€came€running€to€peck€at€me.€This€frightened€me,€so€I€ran,€laughing€andĻcrying€at€the€same€time,€towards€the€house.€Still,€I€thought€it€was€a€good€game,€and€so€did€theĻturkey,€so€we€chased€each€other€for€quite€a€while.ĢThen€Sister€Harper€called€me€into€breakfast,€and€what€a€breakfast€it€was,€waffles,€brown€andĻfluffy,€and€sausages,€and€cereal€with€rich€cream€and€honey,€and€stewed€pears.€Just€as€I€finished,Ļmy€little€friend€Linda€came€in€the€door.€We€hadnššt€seen€each€other€for€a€long€time,€so€we€ran€toĻeach€other€and€put€our€arms€around€one€another€and€gave€each€other€a€great€big€squeeze.€ThenĻwe€squeezed€again€and€danced€around€one€another€so€fast€that€we€both€fell€down€on€the€floorĻlaughing.ĢAs€soon€as€we€got€on€our€feet€again,€Linda€said,€š šLetššs€go€play€on€the€swinging€bridge.šš€So€offĻwe€ran€through€the€grove€of€trees€towards€the€river.€The€river€was€full€of€water€and€the€water€wasĻdashing€down€the€channel€so€fast€that€it€looked€angry€and€all€ruffled€on€top.€Stretching€from€oneĻside€of€the€river€to€the€other€were€strong€cables,€and€attached€to€these€was€a€floor€made€ofĻwooden€boards.€Some€of€the€boards€had€come€loose.€It€was€very€scary€to€look€down€these€holesŠ @-(, Šand€see€the€swift€river€rushing€by.€But€we€decided€to€try€walking€across€anyway.€ĢAs€soon€as€we€stepped€on€the€bridge,€it€began€to€swing€very€high€this€way€and€that.€But€we€heldĻon€tight€to€the€cables,€and€we€watched€very€carefully€where€we€were€stepping€so€that€weĻwouldnššt€fall€down€through€the€holes€into€the€river.€When€we€were€halfway€across,€we€foundĻourselves€being€swung€very€high,€up€and€down,€and€up€and€down,€and€we€began€to€be€dizzy.€So€IĻcalled€to€my€friend€and€said,€š šDonššt€teeter€the€bridge.šš€ĢShe€said,€š šIššm€not€teetering€the€bridge.šš€We€looked€in€back€of€us,€and€there€we€saw€some€boysĻabout€six€years€old,€and€just€for€fun€they€had€snuck€up€on€the€bridge€and€were€jumping€up€andĻdown€to€make€it€sway€and€teeter.€They€wanted€to€make€us€squeal€and€holler€like€we€were€afraid,Ļbut€we€decided€it€was€great€fun€to€hang€on€tight€and€let€the€boys€teeter€the€bridge€more€and€more.ĻSo€we€just€laughed€and€said,€š šDo€it€some€more!€Thatššs€fun!ššĢAfter€a€while,€when€they€found€they€werenššt€scaring€us,€they€stopped€shaking€the€bridge,€and€weĻwalked€off€safely€and€started€playing€ball€in€the€park€with€the€boys.€We€played€ball€all€morningĻuntil€we€were€hot€and€tired.€Then€we€went€to€the€bridge€for€one€more€teeter€on€the€way€home.ĻNext€we€ran€to€the€pump€behind€the€house€and€pumped€us€a€nice€bucketful€of€good,€cool€water.ĻAfter€we€had€all€had€a€big€drink,€Sister€Harper€brought€us€a€basketful€of€cookies,€and€we€satĻdown€in€the€cool€shade€and€ate€them€and€told€each€other€stories.€Then€the€boys€and€Linda€wentĻhome,€but€they€said€they€would€come€tomorrow€to€play€again€on€the€swinging€bridge.ĢŠ  ųH ŠÓ  Ó4ĢVacation€Timeš"šWe€Leave€for€Cliff€Ranch¹Ó:»ÓAll€the€autumn€and€winter,€we€lived€in€the€valley€and€I€went€to€school.€In€the€springtime,€whenĻthe€days€began€to€grow€warm€and€everything€was€greening€and€blooming,€it€was€much€harder€forĻa€ten„year„old€girl€like€me€to€stay€inside€all€day.€I€wanted€to€be€free€to€run€and€race€and€play€orĻjust€lie€in€the€sun.€But€I€also€knew€that€it€would€not€be€long€until€we€would€begin€to€pack€the€bigĻcovered€wagon€for€our€trip€to€Cliff€Ranch.ĢWhen€I€came€home€from€school,€I€smelled€the€most€delicious€odors€coming€from€the€kitchen.ĻMother€kept€busy€making€cakes,€sweet€cinnamon€rolls,€and€also€ham,€deer€meat,€and€beans€forĻthe€trip.€My€brothers€rubbed€grease€on€all€the€leather€harnesses€so€they€would€feel€easy€on€theĻhorses.€They€greased€each€of€the€wagonššs€wheels€with€axle€grease€so€they€would€not€squeakĻwhen€they€turned€round€and€round.€They€put€new€boards€in€the€bottom€of€the€wagon€box€where€itĻhad€broken€through,€then€put€the€canvas€cover€over€the€top€the€wagon.€That€was€the€hardest€jobĻof€all.€ĢFirst€they€had€to€get€five€or€six€slats€of€a€certain€kind€of€wood€that€bends€easily,€and€soak€them€inĻwater€so€they€would€bend.€They€secured€them€on€one€side€of€the€wagon€box,€then€bowed€themĻover€almost€into€hoops,€so€that€the€other€end€of€the€slat€met€the€other€side€of€the€box.€Here€theyĻfastened€them€so€tightly€they€couldnššt€move.€Now€they€lifted€a€big€canvas€cover€up€and€over€theĻtop€of€the€bows€and€stretched€it€very€tight.€The€front€was€left€open€so€we€could€see€out€to€drive.ĻThe€back€was€partly€closed€to€keep€out€any€cold€winds€or€rain,€but€partly€open€so€that€we€couldĻsee€out€and€also€get€fresh€air.€If€the€day€got€very€hot,€we€could€untie€the€canvas€cover€on€the€sideĻand€roll€it€up€to€let€more€air€blow€through.ĢThere€were€three€little€steps€that€fit€right€at€the€back€of€the€wagon€so€we€could€climb€in€and€outĻquite€easily.€Also€on€the€back€there€was€a€large€wooden€barrel€with€a€tight€spigot€near€the€bottom.ĻThis€barrel€was€filled€to€the€top€with€nice,€fresh€water,€so€that€we€could€always€have€water€toĻdrink,€even€if€we€didnššt€make€it€to€a€spring€or€river€by€the€time€noon€or€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€came€on.€When€youĻturned€the€spigot,€the€water€ran€out€and€filled€your€cup€or€bucket€or€cooking€kettle.€On€the€side€ofĻthe€wagon€was€secured€a€large,€long,€deep€box.€This€box€had€a€lid€that€could€be€fastened€downĻvery€tight.€This€was€called€the€grub€box,€and€into€it€went€all€the€food€Mother€had€prepared€for€theĻjourney,€also€all€the€things€that€we€would€need€to€cook€with€when€we€got€to€the€big€ranch,€likeĻsalt,€sugar,€flour,€and€baking€powder,€because€there€were€no€stores€to€buy€them€from.€Always€in€aĻglass€jar€with€a€good,€tight€lid,€we€brought€a€start€of€fresh€yeast.€We€could€not€buy€bread€on€theĻranch,€neither€could€we€buy€yeast€cakes,€so€Mother€used€the€good€foam€yeast€to€make€bread€andĻbake€it€every€time€we€needed€it.€Mother€never€used€up€all€the€yeast€at€any€time.€Always€she€savedĻa€little€in€the€bottle€to€make€a€new€start.€To€this€she€added€sugar€and€potato€water,€and€more€yeastĻwould€grow€in€the€bottle.€Then€we€would€have€enough€for€our€next€loaves€of€bread.€We€guardedĻthe€yeast€very€carefully€so€it€wouldnššt€spill€nor€spoil.ĢWe€hung€our€iron€pots€and€pans€and€Dutch€ovens€to€cook€our€food€in€from€hooks€and€goodĻstrong€nails€inside€the€grub€box.€We€used€the€heavy€iron€pots€and€pans€and€Dutch€ovens€becauseŠ @-(, Šwe€cooked€over€an€open€fire.€We€had€no€stove€on€the€ranch.€The€boys€made€a€wooden€frame€andĻcovered€it€all€over€with€chicken€wire€for€a€chicken€coop€and€fastened€it€to€the€other€side€of€theĻwagon€box.€It€had€a€small€door€that€would€open€and€shut.€We€put€hens€and€roosters€and€a€fewĻbaby€chicks€inside.€The€hens€were€taken€along€to€lay€eggs€for€us€each€day,€since€we€could€buyĻnone€at€the€ranch,€and€the€baby€chicks€were€taken€to€feed€and€fatten€so€we€could€have€friedĻchicken€once€in€a€while.€We€took€the€wooden€churn,€which€rode€up€near€the€front€seat€of€theĻwagon.€We€had€along€our€roast€deer€or€beef€or€maybe€a€good€boiled€ham,€so€that€we€could€haveĻsandwiches€as€we€traveled€along€without€stopping€to€make€a€fire€and€cook€any€more€often€thanĻfor€breakfast€and€supper.€We€took€some€fruit€along,€too,€but€we€didnššt€have€to€take€vegetables.ĻInstead€we€brought€vegetable€seeds€and€seed€potatoes€and€seed€corn€so€that€we€could€plant€aĻgarden€as€soon€as€we€got€to€the€ranch.€It€would€always€grow€well€in€the€good,€rich€soil,€and€weĻcould€have€fresh€vegetables€all€summer.ĢNow€one€lovely€morning€I€woke€up€before€sunrise.€The€early€dawn€breezes€had€awakened€all€theĻmocking€birds€where€they€slept€in€the€branches€of€the€umbrella€and€locust€trees.€As€soon€asĻmocking€birds€hear€the€wind€rustling€the€leaves,€they€wake€right€up€and€begin€to€sing.€At€firstĻtheir€songs€are€sleepy€little€twitters,€and€one€can€hardly€tell€them€from€the€leavesšš€rustling.€ButĻvery€soon€the€mocking€birds€are€singing€not€only€their€own€songs€but€the€songs€of€every€otherĻbird€they€have€ever€heard.€That€is€why€they€are€called€mocking€birds.€I€could€hear€the€voices€ofĻmy€brothers€coaxing€and€scolding€the€horses€from€their€stalls,€and€the€clatter€of€chains€and€strapsĻas€they€fitted€the€harnesses€on€their€backs€and€hitched€them€to€the€wagon.€That€made€meĻremember€there€would€be€no€school€bell€ringing€for€us€today.€And€I€heard€Mother€calling,€š šGetĻup,€Gladys!€We€must€get€an€early€start€to€the€ranch.€Itššs€a€long,€long€journey,€you€know.šš€I€leapedĻout€of€bed,€combed€my€hair,€washed€my€face,€and€almost€fell€down€the€stairs€in€my€hurry,€soĻanxious€was€I€to€get€started.€ĢAs€soon€as€I€could€eat€my€breakfast,€I€began€helping€Mother€carry€things€out€to€the€wagon€box.ĻWe€took€our€clothes,€which€we€packed€in€a€big€trunk€and€tied€the€lid€on€tight€so€it€wouldnššt€flyĻopen.€We€took€our€bedding€and€pillows,€too.€These€we€piled€on€clean€canvas€in€the€bottom€of€theĻwagon€box,€then€spread€another€clean€canvas€on€top.€Mother€always€packed€her€feather€bed,Ļwhich€she€made€from€the€soft€feathers€of€the€ducks€and€geese€the€boys€had€brought€home€for€herĻto€cook.€When€the€boys€saw€that€the€geese€were€flying€south€for€the€winter,€they€would€goĻhunting,€and€when€they€found€a€duck€or€a€goose€resting€or€fading,€they€would€try€to€shoot€it€andĻbring€it€home€for€dinner.€We€would€help€Mother€pick€off€all€the€feathers.€Some€were€beautifulĻcolorsš"šgreen€and€blue€and€brown€and€grey.€Often€I€would€save€the€prettiest€duck€ones€and€wearĻthem€in€my€hair€with€a€beaded€band€and€play€that€I€was€an€Indian€princess.€We€especially€savedĻthe€goose€feathers,€because€these€were€the€very€softest€feathers€of€all.€The€finer€feathers€weĻstuffed€into€other€pieces€of€cloth€to€make€soft,€fluffy€pillows.€And€the€little,€tiny,€soft€feathersĻthat€cover€the€duckššs€breast€and€back€were€called€down.€These€we€would€stuff€into€pretty€coloredĻcloth,€sometimes€silk€if€we€could€get€it,€and€make€warm€down€quilts.€These€are€the€softest,Ļlightest,€warmest€quilts€in€the€world€and€cost€very€much€to€buy,€but€if€you€make€them€yourself,Ļyou€could€have€several,€perhaps€one€on€each€bed.€The€large€feathers€we€tucked€into€ticking,Ļwhich€is€a€coarse,€strong€material,€to€make€a€feather€bed€mattress.€Mother€loved€to€sleep€cozyĻand€warm,€tucked€down€in€her€feather€bed,€especially€at€the€ranch,€where€the€Ō_ŌnitesŌ_Ō€were€chilly.ĻWe€children€thought€it€was€very€nice€to€roll€around€on€when€we€got€tired€of€sitting€and€bouncingŠ @-(, Šin€the€wagon€box.ĢSoon€all€was€snugly€settled.€Mother€climbed€up€the€steps€and€found€a€comfortable€seat€near€theĻfront€of€the€wagon€close€to€the€boys,€her€back€resting€against€the€side.€I€got€in,€and€my€brotherĻCarl€tossed€little€Star,€my€pet€Chihuahua€dog,€up€into€the€wagon€box€beside€me.€He€was€so€littleĻand€fragile€that€he€couldnššt€run€like€the€sheep€dogs,€Tiger€and€Snap,€who€were€very€big€andĻstrong€and€could€follow€along€behind€the€wagon€all€day.€I€held€Star€and€stretched€out€flat€on€myĻback€on€the€feather€bed.€From€where€I€lay,€I€could€see€the€boys€climb€up€over€the€wagon€wheelĻonto€the€big,€high€seat€anchored€to€the€wagon€box€in€front€of€the€great€canvas€cover.€Carl€first€feltĻwith€his€hand€along€the€seat€to€see€if€his€double„barreled€shotgun€was€safely€tucked€along€theĻcrack€in€the€seat€so€it€couldnššt€wiggle€off€or€get€caught€and€fire€a€shot€when€a€shot€wasnššt€needed.ĻThen€he€took€in€his€hands€all€the€reins€that€reached€from€the€horses€heads€to€where€he€sat.€ThereĻwere€four€horses€hitched€to€the€wagon,€and€each€horse€had€a€rein€on€each€side€of€its€head.€ThisĻmade€eight€reins€that€Carl€had€to€have€in€his€hands€at€one€time€and€learn€to€pull€the€right€line€toĻguide€each€horse€each€time.€This€takes€practice,€but€Carl€was€a€good€driver.€He€held€a€big,€blackĻsnake€whip€that€was€long€enough€to€reach€from€his€hand€to€the€ear€of€the€farthest„away€horse.€HeĻuncoiled€it€and€gave€it€a€quick€snap€that€just€ticked€the€ear€of€the€lead€horse€without€hurting€him.Ļš šŌ_ŌGittiupŌ_Ō,€Don!€Ō_ŌGittiupŌ_Ō,€Joe!šš€he€said,€and€the€horses€gave€a€quick€lurch€and€a€strong€pull,€and€theĻgreat€iron€wheels€began€to€turn,€and€the€heavy€load€moved€forward.€One€of€my€other€brothers€hadĻto€run€in€front€of€the€team€and€open€the€big€yard€gate.€He€closed€and€fastened€it€once€we€rolledĻthrough,€then€jumped€up€on€the€seat,€and€the€horses€stepped€lively€in€the€morning€air.ĢThe€stars€still€shone,€and€only€the€rosy€lights€of€morning€were€in€the€eastern€sky.€We€could€seeĻout€of€the€back€of€the€wagon€that€only€here€and€there€were€people€awake.€This€we€knew€becauseĻmost€of€the€houses€were€dark,€but€in€some€of€the€houses€lamplight€shone€through€the€windows,Ļwhere€the€men€were€up€early€to€go€to€the€fields€before€the€day€got€hot.€The€noise€of€our€wagonĻwoke€up€the€dogs€of€the€neighborhood,€and€they€ran€out€and€barked€at€us€as€we€passed€along€theĻdusty€street,€and€nipped€at€the€heals€of€our€eager€horses.€The€dogs€woke€up€the€chickens€inĻpeopleššs€yards,€so€some€roosters€began€crowing,€š šŌ_ŌCockŌ_Ō„a„do„Ō_ŌdooleŌ_Ō„do,šš€and€the€hens€beganĻcackling€and€scolding,€š šca„ca„ca„Ō_ŌcackitŌ_Ō.šš€Such€was€our€farewell€from€the€village€animals.€MotherĻhummed€softly€and€Carl€whistled€a€jolly€tune.€We€all€loved€the€big€ranch€and€each€summer€wereĻso€glad€to€be€starting€to€go€there.ĢSoon€we€were€past€the€last€village€home,€and€the€sun€came€up€gold€against€the€blue€Ō_ŌParajutoŌ_ŌĻMountains€in€the€east.€Around€us€the€prairie€grass€was€greening,€and€clouds€of€thick,€white€dustĻfollowed€behind€us€along€the€road.€It€grew€thicker€as€we€rolled€along,€so€we€had€to€keep€moving.ĻBefore€long€the€day€began€to€be€very€warm,€so€we€rolled€up€the€sides€of€the€canvas€cover€and€letĻthe€morning€air€whip€through€the€wagon€box€to€cool€us.€I€got€tired€of€sitting,€so€I€thought€ofĻsomething€that€would€be€fun€to€do.€I€climbed€out€of€the€back€of€the€wagon€box€and,€clinging€toĻthe€dashboard,€I€would€run€along€in€the€soft€dirt.€If€the€horses€started€to€trot,€I€had€to€run€with€bigĻsteps€to€keep€up,€but€it€was€fun€and€rested€my€tired€legs€that€had€been€curled€up€under€me€soĻlong.€When€I€got€tired€I€would€jump€up€on€the€dashboard€again€and€climb€in€and€roll€over€on€myĻback€and€rest€awhile.€ĢThings€warmed€more€and€more.€Every€time€the€wagon€stopped€for€a€few€minutes,€the€dogs€wouldŠ @-(, Šlie€down€flat€on€their€stomachs€in€the€shade€of€the€wagon.€They€would€pant€very€hard,€lettingĻtheir€tongues€hang€out€of€their€mouths,€and€their€tongues€would€get€covered€with€a€white€foam.ĻWhenever€we€came€to€a€stream€or€water,€even€a€shallow€pool,€the€dogs€would€jump€in€and€lieĻdown€in€the€water.€Sometimes€they€would€roll€over€on€their€backs€and€get€wet€all€over.€TheyĻwould€shake€themselves€a€little€when€they€got€out,€but€not€too€much,€so€that€as€they€ran€along,Ļthe€water€in€their€hair€would€get€cool€by€the€air€passing€over€them.€The€day€grew€extremely€hotĻfinally,€and€we€all€became€very€thirsty.€I€began€to€tease€for€a€drink.€Carl€gave€me€a€nice,€coldĻdrink€from€the€water€bag€hanging€under€the€wagon€in€the€shade.€Mother€would€only€let€me€take€aĻlittle€swallow€at€a€time,€because€she€said€that€when€one€is€very€hot€and€drinks€too€much€coldĻwater,€one€often€gets€very€sick€to€oneššs€stomach.€In€just€a€few€minutes€I€started€teasing€forĻanother.€Carl€said,€š šYou€know,€Gladys,€we€have€to€make€the€water€last€until€we€find€new€water,Ļso€you€are€only€allowed€one€sip€every€hour.šš€Now€I€thought€I€was€choking€to€death,€so€I€keptĻwhining€and€teasing.€At€last€Carl€said,€š šThat€is€the€last€drink€you€can€have€until€we€get€to€campĻand€new€water.€You€just€make€up€your€mind€to€endure€it€and€donššt€tease€nor€whine€anymore.ššĻThis€was€my€first€lesson€in€getting€thirsty€on€a€trip€and€about€making€do€with€what€we€had€andĻnot€being€able€to€have€everything€I€wanted€just€when€I€wanted€it.€All€pioneers€had€to€learn€thisĻlesson.ĢWell,€we€went€along€this€way€through€all€the€hot€day.€When€the€evening€shadows€began€creepingĻup€out€of€the€valley€and€onto€the€foothills,€we€were€just€coming€near€to€where€the€tall,€tallĻmountains€began€rising€up.€Cool€breezes€came€down€from€the€canyon€and€we€all€began€to€feelĻrelieved.€I€could€see€through€the€front€that€we€were€coming€to€a€large,€grassy€meadow,€and€CarlĻcalled€š šWhoa,€Don,€whoa,€Joe.šš€I€heard€the€squeak€as€Carl€pulled€on€the€big€wagon€brake,€andĻfelt€the€wheels€grind€to€a€stop.€Carl€said,€š šEverybody€out!€This€is€where€we€camp.šš€He€wrappedĻthe€reins€of€the€horses€around€the€brake,€then€jumped€down€and€went€to€the€back€of€the€wagonĻand€helped€Mother€out€of€the€wagon€box.€I€scrambled€over€the€dashboard€and€leapt€to€the€ground.ĻCarl€lifted€down€little€Star,€who€chased€after€me€through€the€tall€meadow€grass.€We€played€for€aĻminute,€then€ran€over€to€the€pure€mountain€stream.€I€lay€down€on€my€tummy€and€put€my€mouthĻand€lips€and€some€of€my€face€right€into€the€water.€I€had€learned€to€drink€lying€on€my€tummy.€IĻtook€a€long,€cool€drink,€and€Star€drank€too.€Next€I€ran€around€as€far€as€I€could,€picking€up€sticksĻand€piling€them€near€the€cooking€place€the€boys€had€built€from€some€large,€flat€rocks.€I€knew€thatĻmy€first€job€when€we€got€to€camp€was€to€gather€firewood.€Mother€got€the€food€out€of€the€grubĻbox€and€got€it€ready€for€the€boys€to€cook,€while€the€boys€looked€after€the€tired€horses.ĢThe€boys€took€off€their€sweaty€harnesses,€then€combed€them€all€down€with€curry€combs€to€restĻtheir€tired€muscles.€Then€they€brought€some€knapsacks€of€oats€and€tied€one€on€each€of€the€horsesššĻnoses.€The€horses€chomped€and€pressed€their€bags€against€the€earth€and€pushed€their€noses€downĻdeep€and€licked€and€sucked€up€the€oats€with€their€tongues€and€lips.€The€boys€brought€buckets€ofĻwater€from€the€spring€and€put€a€bucketful€before€each€horse.€They€were€very€thirsty,€so€theyĻdrank€all€the€water.€Next€the€boys€brought€hobbles€of€tough€leather€and€fastened€them€around€theĻhorsesšš€front€legs.€With€hobbles€horses€can€only€walk€on€their€hind€legs€and€jump€forward€a€littleĻways,€so€they€canššt€run€off€and€not€be€found€next€morning.€The€boys€put€a€bell€around€the€neckĻof€Old€Don,€as€he€was€the€leader€of€the€horses,€and€whenever€we€heard€the€bell€ringing€on€OldĻDonššs€neck,€we€knew€that€the€rest€of€the€horses€were€not€far€away.€Then€they€untied€the€horsesĻand€let€them€hop€off€through€the€meadow€to€eat€the€green€grass.Š @-(, ŠNow€the€boys€were€able€to€get€the€supper€ready.€First€they€built€a€big€campfire€in€the€middle€ofĻthe€big,€flat€rocks.€When€the€fire€was€burned€down€to€red€hot€coals,€they€put€the€Dutch€oven€onĻthem,€also€the€frying€pan.€They€put€red€hot€coals€under€the€Dutch€oven€and€on€the€top€of€the€lid.ĻNext€they€put€some€bacon€slices€in€the€frying€pan€and€let€it€fry€until€it€was€nice€and€brown€andĻcrisp.€Into€the€bacon€they€sliced€some€peeled€potatoes€and€some€green€and€red€peppers€and€someĻbig,€sweet€onions€and€a€little€piece€of€garlic.€Then€they€let€all€of€this€fry€until€it€was€nice€andĻbrown.€They€added€water€and€put€in€some€salt€and€pepper,€covered€it€with€the€tight€lid€of€theĻDutch€oven,€and€let€it€cook.€This€dish€is€called€hunterššs€stew,€and€it€is€very€good.€We€also€got€theĻbean€pot€out€and€set€it€near€the€fire€so€the€beans€could€get€nice€and€hot.ĢWhile€they€cooked,€the€boys€made€hot€biscuits.€They€took€a€pan€and€measured€out€two€cups€ofĻflour,€some€salt,€and€five€tablespoons€of€grease,€and€put€into€the€flour€also€three€teaspoons€ofĻbaking€powder.€Then€they€crumbled€the€grease€into€the€flour€and€salt€and€baking€powder€until€itĻlooked€like€cornmeal.€Then€they€added€a€cup€of€cold€spring€water.€They€stirred€it€quickly€with€aĻspoon€and€spread€it€thin€in€a€reflector€oven€pan€that€had€been€greased.€They€set€the€pan€near€theĻfire€where€it€could€get€the€heat€in€front€and€under€it€very€well.€Soon€the€biscuits€were€rising€upĻnice€and€high€and€then€began€to€brown€off.€O!€how€good€they€smelled.€Sometimes€instead€of€theĻreflector€oven,€the€boys€dropped€the€biscuits€into€the€hot,€greased€Dutch€oven,€put€the€lid€on,€thenĻburied€the€Dutch€oven€in€the€coals.€The€biscuits€puffed€up€like€toadstools€and€were€as€light€asĻfeathers€and€golden€brown.€Mother€and€I€had€spread€a€canvas€on€the€green€grass€and€then€a€nice,Ļclean€tablecloth€on€top€of€the€canvas.€I€brought€the€Ō_ŌkniveŌ_Ō€and€forks€and€spoons€from€the€grubĻbox,€the€salt€and€pepper,€a€jar€of€cane€syrup€or€molasses€to€spread€on€the€hot€biscuits,€and€a€jar€ofĻbutter.€I€ran€to€the€spring€and€dipped€up€a€brass€bucket€of€water€with€the€dipper€and€set€it€near€theĻtable€where€I€had€placed€the€tin€drinking€cups.€Now€supper€was€completely€ready.ĢWe€all€gathered€around,€and€after€the€prayer,€Mother€served€each€of€us€a€bowl€of€hunterššs€stewĻand€a€plate€of€biscuits.€We€opened€them€while€they€were€hot,€spread€them€with€plenty€of€butterĻwhich€Mother€had€packed€in€a€large€crock€jar€with€a€light€lid,€and€sprinkled€them€with€molasses.ĻIt€tasted€yummy€and€we€all€came€back€for€more.€Afterwards€we€burned€all€the€scraps€of€food€thatĻthe€dogs€wouldnššt€eat,€and€then€I€picked€up€some€clean,€white€sand€and€scoured€the€plates€andĻknives€and€forks€until€they€were€shining€clean.€The€boys€cleaned€the€Dutch€ovens€and€heatedĻsome€fresh€water€in€them€on€the€fire.€I€rinsed€the€dishes€in€the€stream,€then€dipped€them€into€thisĻboiling€water.€Now€they€were€ready€to€be€wiped€dry€and€put€back€in€the€grub€box,€nice€and€cleanĻfor€the€next€meal.ĢBy€now€it€was€dark,€except€for€the€moon€that€came€up€over€the€mountain,€big€as€a€washtub,Ļgolden€as€a€big,€round€cheese,€and€bright€almost€as€a€sun.€It€was€so€bright€that,€if€I€had€wanted€to,ĻI€think€I€could€have€sat€up€and€read€a€storybook€in€its€light.€Carl€told€me€to€get€undressed€andĻcrawl€into€bed€because€it€was€late€and€we€had€a€hard€day€coming€up.€He€made€my€bed€under€theĻwagon€box€so€the€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€dews€wouldnššt€get€me€wet.€He€taught€me€to€put€my€clothes€and€shoesĻunderneath€the€covers€so€they€would€stay€dry€too.€He€then€tucked€the€covers€around€me€closely,Ļand€the€last€thing€I€can€remember€of€our€first€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ōššs€camp€was€the€lovely€sound€of€my€motherššsĻand€my€brothersšš€voices€singing€together€there€by€the€firelight€under€the€beautiful€moon.€TheyĻsang€all€the€Spanish€songs€they€had€learned€in€Mexico,€and€they€were€lovely€songs,€like€ņņLaŠ T,¤'+ ŠŌ_ŌGolondrinaŌ_Ōóó,€ņņLa€Ō_ŌPalomaŌ_Ōóó,€ņņŌ_ŌCielitoŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌLindoŌ_Ōóó,€and€the€ņņFandangoóó.€I€believe€I€will€never€hear€any€moreŠ @-(, Šbeautiful€music€than€I€heard€those€Ō_ŌnitesŌ_Ō€as€they€sang€together€to€the€music€of€Carlššs€guitar.ĢSometimes€the€dogs€howled€because€of€the€music€hurting€their€ears.€After€the€singing,€sometimesĻthey€would€dash€off€into€the€bushes,€thinking€they€heard€a€fox€or€a€rabbit€or€something€to€chase.ĻLittle€Star,€who€was€cuddled€down€in€my€arms,€would€dash€up€and€out€of€the€warm€covers€andĻrun€a€little€ways€out€into€the€darkness€and€howl€little,€short€barks€as€if€he€were€going€to€catch€andĻkill€a€mountain€lion.€He€would€be€so€frightened€that€his€hair€would€be€standing€up€straight€fromĻhis€head€to€the€tip€of€his€tail,€and€he€would€be€trembling€all€over.€I€would€call€him€and€say,Ļš šCome€here€to€me,€Star.šš€He€would€come€and€would€settle€down€under€the€covers€again€for€aĻlittle€while.€And€finally€I€would€drift€off€to€sleep.Š  ü L  ŠÓ  Ó5ĢThe€Ō_ŌDugwayŌ_Ō¹Ó£ Óń…ńĢń…ńLong€before€I€was€ready€to€wake,€the€boys€called€me€to€get€up,€because€we€had€a€long,€hard€climbĻbefore€us€up€the€Ō_ŌdugwayŌ_Ō€this€day.€So€up€I€got,€dressed,€and€washed€in€the€cold€water€of€theĻstream.€I€ate€my€breakfast€and€was€very€wide€awake€and€ready€to€go€by€the€time€the€boys€climbedĻup€and€started€the€team€up€the€red€dirt€road.€The€dawn€sky€was€just€beginning€to€fill€with€rosyĻlight,€and€a€moist€hush€hung€over€the€green€meadows,€where€I€could€hear€the€quiet€echoes€of€theĻmocking€birdsšš€early€morning€songs.€Before€long€the€sun€was€up€and€the€day€grew€warm€again,Ļthough€not€nearly€as€hot€as€on€the€desert€floor.€Today€I€could€have€all€the€drinks€I€wanted€becauseĻthere€were€plenty€of€springs€and€streams€to€fill€our€water€bags.€ĢNow€a€Ō_ŌdugwayŌ_Ō€is€a€special€kind€of€road€dug€straight€up€a€hill€or€mountainside.€The€horsesĻcouldnššt€go€as€fast€in€the€foothills€when€we€were€just€starting€out.€The€road€grew€steeper€andĻsteeper€and€bumpier€all€the€time,€with€more€and€more€ruts€and€holes,€and€sometimes€the€horsesĻhad€to€stop€and€rest.€Before€we€knew€it,€the€foothills€grew€into€the€great€Sierra€Madre€Mountains.ĻNow€the€hills€grew€so€steep€and€the€Ō_ŌdugwayŌ_Ō€so€rough€that€the€horses€couldnššt€pull€the€wagonĻwith€all€of€us€in€it,€so€we€had€to€walk€alongside.€Sometimes€on€the€steeper€slopes€the€boys€wouldĻhave€me€carry€a€block€of€wood€that€we€kept€in€the€back€of€the€wagon,€so€that€when€the€horsesĻlunged€forward,€I€could€quickly€slide€the€block€up€under€the€back€wheel,€so€the€wagon€couldnšštĻroll€back€again.€Star€trotted€right€behind€me,€or€alongside€me€when€the€grade€was€smoother,Ļchasing€after€every€grasshopper€or€sparrow,€sticking€his€nose€under€every€bush€and€in€every€hole.Ļš šYou€be€sure€to€take€good€care€of€Star,€now,€Gladys,šš€Carl€had€told€me,€š šand€donššt€let€himĻcorner€a€rattler.€I€donššt€think€heššd€come€out€the€winner.šš€There€were€many€rattlesnakes€in€theĻmountains.€They€were€mostly€shy,€but€they€could€hurt€you€if€they€bit€you,€so€one€must€always€beĻvery€careful€and€not€make€them€feel€cornered€or€threatened.€So€whenever€I€wasnššt€blocking€theĻwheels,€I€kept€after€Star€and€played€with€him€by€the€wagon€and€wouldnššt€let€him€run€too€farĻafield.ĢOn€and€on€we€went,€all€the€long€day,€till€finally€we€came€to€the€steepest,€hardest€pitch€of€all.€CarlĻtold€me€we€had€to€be€very€careful€and€not€spook€the€horses,€because€it€was€very€difficult€for€themĻto€pull€a€wagon€up€such€a€steep€slope.€He€told€me€to€keep€Star€from€underfoot€and€to€stand€clearĻif€the€wagon€started€to€roll,€because€a€loose€wagon€can€be€a€very€dangerous€thing,€like€a€movingĻcar€today,€and€something€that€children€must€be€careful€to€avoid.€Carl€drove€the€team€right€up€toĻthe€base€of€the€hill€then€called€out,€š šŌ_ŌGowanŌ_Ō,€Joe!€Ō_ŌGittiupŌ_Ō,€Old€Don!šš€and€cracked€his€whip,€butĻdo€you€know,€those€horses€would€not€go€another€step.€š šŌ_ŌGowanŌ_Ō!šš€Carl€yelled€all€the€louder,€andĻcracked€his€whip€all€the€more.€The€horses€began€to€kick€and€whinny€and€jump€up€a€little€ways€onĻtheir€hind€legs€and€became€entangled€in€their€lines.€š šOh,€not€this!šš€Carl€shouted.€š šWeššll€never€getĻup€the€hill!ššĢHe€set€the€brake€and€jumped€down€to€get€them€untangled,€and€the€other€boys€came€to€help€too.€IĻgot€so€frightened€I€began€to€cry,€because€I€knew€that€if€we€didnššt€get€over€this€hill,€we€would€notĻget€to€the€sawmill€that€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō.€Carl€saw€I€was€worried,€so€he€came€over€and€gave€me€a€big€squeezeĻand€said,€š šDonššt€cry,€Gladys.€Donššt€you€know€that€when€we€have€Old€Joe€on€the€wheel€team€andŠ @-(, ŠOld€Don€on€the€lead€team,€weššll€always€make€the€grade?šš€So€I€dried€my€tears€and€listened€to€himĻtalk€gently€to€the€horses.€They€stopped€jumping€and€kicking€around,€and€when€he€gave€theĻcommand€to€Joe€and€Don€to€steady€down€and€pull,€they€did€so,€and€up€and€over€we€went.€WhenĻwe€were€on€the€level€again,€he€let€the€horses€rest€and€gave€me€some€lumps€of€sugar€to€give€toĻthem.€I€gave€one€lump€to€each€horse,€and€that€was€so€funny€to€watch€them€take€the€sugar€withĻtheir€big€lips€and€chew€it€up€and€seem€to€enjoy€it€so€much.ĢAfter€started€again,€we€had€only€gone€a€little€way€on€the€road€when€we€met€a€Mexican€manĻcoming€down€the€Ō_ŌdugwayŌ_Ō€towards€us.€The€road€was€so€narrow€that€there€wasnššt€room€to€pass€ourĻbig€wagon.€His€wagon€was€just€a€lumber€wagon€with€loose€lumber€boards€laid€along€it.€He€wasĻsitting€on€a€loose€box€on€top€of€the€loose€lumber€planks,€so€his€seat€was€not€steady.€He€had€beenĻdrinking,€so€he€didnššt€realize€that€he€shouldnššt€try€to€pass€us.€He€just€kept€coming€on€very€fast.ĻHe€turned€his€team€way€up€on€the€side€of€the€mountain€to€pass,€and€as€he€did,€his€box€seat€startedĻto€slide€off€the€wagon,€and€he€started€to€slide€with€it.€He€couldnššt€catch€himself€but€fell€to€theĻground.€The€wagon€almost€tipped€over€and€actually€went€along€for€a€moment€on€just€two€wheels.ĻHis€horses€had€become€frightened€and€started€to€run€away€from€him€down€the€Ō_ŌdugwayŌ_Ō.€ThisĻfrightened€our€horses,€too,€but€the€boys€held€their€bridles€very€tight€and€patted€their€heads€andĻnecks€and€talked€kindly€to€them€so€they€wouldnššt€run.€The€Mexican€man€held€firmly€to€the€reinsĻof€his€team€and€dug€his€heels€hard€in€the€dust€and€so€finally€got€his€runaway€team€stopped.€HeĻclimbed€on€his€wagon€and€went€along€his€way.€We€were€very€glad€nothing€very€bad€hadĻhappened.ĢMother€and€I€and€Star€got€back€into€our€own€wagon.€The€cool€shadows€were€coming€under€theĻthick€timbers€of€the€long„needled€pines,€and€the€soft€evening€breezes€were€beginning€to€blow,Ļand€we€felt€refreshed.€Soon€we€could€look€down€into€the€valley€where€the€sawmill€stood€and€seeĻthe€blue€smoke€of€the€cabins€curling€up€through€the€green€trees.€The€horses€had€an€easy€timeĻpulling€us€down€the€Ō_ŌdugwayŌ_Ō€to€the€green€meadow€where€the€people€living€at€the€sawmill€hadĻtheir€houses.€ĢThe€children€saw€us€coming€first€and€ran€out€to€greet€us.€I€jumped€out€of€the€wagon€when€theyĻdrew€near,€and€then€ran€with€them€to€the€cabin.€Inside,€the€mamas€and€the€papas€shook€our€handsĻand€welcomed€us.€They€told€the€boys€to€put€the€teams€in€the€stable€and€feed€them€and€then€toĻcome€into€supper.€We€all€went€to€the€washstand€and€dipped€up€splashes€of€water€from€the€brassĻbucket€and€washed€the€heavy€dust€from€our€faces€and€necks€and€hands€and€arms.€Then€we€wentĻinto€the€big,€roomy€kitchen.€This€kitchen€had€a€coal€cookstove,€so€the€mama€had€made€someĻrhubarb€pie€in€its€oven.€We€had€roast€chicken€and€new€peas€and€potatoes€and€hot€rolls€and€hotĻrhubarb€pie€with€a€big€slice€of€cheese.€My,€but€it€did€taste€good,€for€we€were€all€very€hungry€afterĻthe€long,€hot€climb€up€the€Ō_ŌdugwayŌ_Ō.ĢAfter€the€supper€things€were€washed€up€and€put€away,€the€boys€and€girls€said,€š šO!€look€outsideĻand€see€how€bright€it€is€in€the€moonlight.€Let€us€go€out€and€jump€on€the€sawdust€hill.šš€So€awayĻwe€all€ran,€leaving€the€papas€and€the€mamas€sitting€around€the€fireplace€cozily€talking€andĻlaughing€together.€Now€the€sawdust€hill€was€a€big€hill€that€had€been€made€by€the€piling€up€of€theĻsawdust€as€it€came€from€sawing€up€the€lumber€in€the€shed.€It€was€about€as€big€as€a€house,€and€theĻsides€were€very€steep.€We€raced€over€and€tried€to€scramble€to€the€top.€The€moon€was€so€brightŠ @-(, Šthat€we€could€see€very€well,€but€the€sawdust€was€so€deep€and€slippery€that€we€had€a€hard€timeĻclimbing.€Our€legs€would€sink€in€so€deep€that€we€would€be€standing€up€to€our€knees€in€it.€WeĻwould€pull€our€legs€out,€laughing€all€the€time,€because€sometimes€we€would€lose€our€shoes,€andĻthen€we€would€have€to€scramble€all€around,€scratching€like€dogs€to€find€them.€The€hill€was€quiteĻflat€on€top,€so€when€we€finally€reached€it,€we€danced€around€on€it,€singing€all€the€songs€we€knew.ĢThen€one€of€the€boys€said,€š šLetššs€try€rolling€down€to€the€bottom€and€then€climb€up€again.šš€We€allĻshouted,€š šAlright,€letššs€do€it.šš€So€first€one€and€then€another€started€rolling€over€and€over€downĻthe€hill.€It€was€fast€rolling,€because€the€slope€was€so€very€steep.€We€shouted€and€laughed€as€weĻrolled,€half€in€glee€and€half€in€fear.€As€soon€as€we€got€to€the€bottom,€we€started€back€up€to€do€itĻall€over€again.€Pretty€soon€someone€said,€š šLetššs€try€rolling€two€of€us€together.šš€So€we€paired€offĻin€twos,€put€our€arms€around€one€another,€and€rolled€over€and€over,€first€one€on€top€and€then€theĻother.€This€was€more€fun€than€ever,€because€we€had€to€bump€over€each€other€as€we€rolled.€WeĻdid€this€again€and€again,€changing€partners,€until€we€were€all€very€hot€and€tired.€So€we€climbedĻto€the€top€and€lay€down€on€our€backs€to€rest.ĢWhile€I€was€lying€still,€looking€up€at€the€moon€and€stars,€I€heard€a€most€beautiful€bird€singing€asĻit€soared€over€the€tops€of€the€trees.€Its€call€was€as€clear€as€the€mountain€air€through€which€it€flew,Ļand€as€I€listened€I€could€hear€the€sound€like€it€said,€š šWhip„Poor„Will,€Whip„Poor„Will.šš€I€said,Ļš šWhat€is€that?šš€and€the€boys€laughed€and€said,€š šO!€havenššt€you€ever€heard€a€whippoorwill€singĻbefore?€They€sing€every€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€after€dark,€and€always€they€sing€better€when€there€is€a€bright€moon.ĻTheyššre€called€whippoorwills,€because€that€is€what€their€song€seems€to€say.šš€I€listened€andĻlistened€as€the€bird€flew€from€tree€to€tree,€calling€out€with€its€beautiful€voice,€breaking€the€goldenĻmoonlit€shadows€into€fragments€of€sheer€beauty€that€seemed€to€linger€in€the€treetops€all€aroundĻus.€I€had€never€heard€such€a€lovely€song,€not€before€or€since,€and€I€didnššt€want€to€play€anymore.ĻOur€parents€called€just€then€and€said,€š šCome€in,€children.šš€We€all€went€back€to€the€cabin€and€gotĻquickly€into€bed.€But€I€didnššt€go€to€sleep€for€a€long€time.€I€just€lay€there€quietly€and€listened€toĻthe€beautiful€song€of€the€whippoorwill.ĢŠ  l¼ ŠÓ  Ó6ĢThe€Corduroy€Road¹ÓF3Óń†ńĢń†ńThe€next€morning€we€all€woke€up€early,€because€the€mocking€birds€were€so€happy€in€the€treesĻaround€us€that€they€all€sang€away€as€loudly€as€they€could.€When€we€came€into€the€kitchen,€theĻkitchen€stove€was€glowingly€warm,€and€bacon€was€frying€in€the€big€frying€pan.€Sister€Ō_ŌHurstŌ_Ō€wasĻstanding€over€the€hot€stove,€where€another,€huge€frying€pan€was€heating,€and€into€this€pan€sheĻdipped€spoonfuls€of€pancake€batter.€Soon€the€kitchen€smelled€wonderfully€good,€with€bacon€andĻbrowning€batter€of€pancakes.ĢWe€all€scrambled€to€the€wash€basin€and€splashed€our€face€and€hands€with€soap€and€cold€water.ĻThen€we€all€came€running€to€the€table€and€sat€down€in€our€seats.€As€soon€as€the€blessing€wasĻsaid,€we€were€served€our€Ō_ŌhotcakesŌ_Ō.€We€doused€them€well€with€butter€and€syrup,€and€ateĻravishingly€of€the€good€food.€We€all€drank€a€tall€glass€of€good,€warm€milk€brought€in€by€theĻboys,€who€had€just€finished€milking€the€cows.ĢWe€had€hardly€finished€when€Carl€said,€š šCome€on€out€in€the€wagon.€Itššs€time€to€move€along.ššĻLittle€Star€gulped€his€share€of€pancakes€and€came€running€after€me.€Carl€helped€Mother€up€theĻsteep€steps€at€the€back€of€the€wagon€but€let€me€climb€up€alone,€because€he€knew€I€liked€to€do€it.ĻHe€gently€lifted€little€Star€and€tossed€him€into€my€lap.€I€picked€him€up,€and€then€we€both€gotĻclose€to€the€opening€in€the€back€of€the€wagon.€Little€Star€put€his€two€little€front€feet€on€the€edgeĻof€the€wagon€box€and€then€nestled€close€to€me,€and€we€both€hung€our€heads€away€out€of€the€backĻopening,€so€we€could€see€our€playmates€and€wave€goodbye€to€them€as€we€drove€off.€š šGoodbye,Ļgoodbye,€weššve€had€a€lovely€time,šš€we€called€out€to€them.Ģš šGoodbye,€goodbye.€Come€back,€come€back,šš€they€called€back€again.€This€had€been€a€mostĻpleasant€stop,€and€the€friendships€made€that€day€and€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€have€lasted€many€years.€Carl€swungĻhimself€up€over€the€front€wheel€and€into€the€seat€and€felt€to€make€sure€his€gun€was€safe€andĻhandy.€Then,€hearing€his€loud€š šŌ_ŌGittiupŌ_Ō!šš€and€the€pop€of€his€whip,€the€horses€lunged€forward,€andĻwe€set€out€rolling€over€the€soft€sawdust€road,€damp€from€the€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€dews,€and€out€upon€the€main„¼traveled,€red„soiled€mountain€road.ĢThe€horses€were€fresh€and€rested€and€well„fed,€so€they€trotted€briskly€and€made€the€wagon€rockĻand€roll.€It€was€great€fun€to€sway€with€it.€Sometimes€the€motion€threw€little€Star€over€onto€hisĻside€and€almost€to€his€back.€Then€he€would€scramble€up€on€his€little€white€feet€again,€shakeĻhimself€well,€whine€a€little,€bid,€and€I€would€call€softly€to€him.€Then€he€would€rush€over€near€meĻand€lick€my€hands€and€try€to€lick€my€face,€and€I€would€say,€š šItššs€alright,€little€doggie,€youššre€safeĻin€the€wagon.šš€Then€he€would€jump€around€gleefully€and€bark€happy€little€barks,€and€we€wouldĻplay€the€game€all€over€again.ĢAfter€a€while,€in€a€place€where€the€road€led€through€a€beautiful,€green€mountain€meadow,€I€feltĻthe€wagon€give€a€big€lurch€forward.€Then€I€heard€the€horses€floundering€around,€up€to€their€kneesĻin€mud.€The€mire€was€so€deep€that€the€horses€couldnššt€pull€the€wagon€anymore.€There€had€been€aĻlot€of€rain€up€here€in€the€high€mountains,€and€the€rainwater€had€run€down€into€a€low€place€in€theŠ @-(, Šroad€in€the€meadow€we€were€crossing.€Carl€urged€Old€Joe€and€Don€to€pull€very€hard,€but€noĻmatter€how€hard€they€pulled,€they€slipped€and€stumbled€down.€One€horse€lost€his€balance€and€fellĻright€down€on€his€belly.€He€slithered€and€slathered€and€got€himself€all€tangled€up€in€the€harness.ĻCarl€jumped€out€of€the€wagon€and€went€to€the€head€of€the€horse€and€patted€him€and€talked€gentlyĻto€him.€The€other€boys€helped€Carl€get€a€strong€rope€and€tie€it€around€the€horse,€and€then€theyĻpulled€on€him€hard€so€he€could€stand€up€again.ĢCarl€told€me€I€had€to€get€out€of€the€wagon€so€the€load€would€be€lighter.€He€said€they€were€goingĻto€have€to€build€a€road€over€the€bog€hole€so€the€horses€could€pull€the€wagon€out.€He€lifted€MotherĻout€of€the€wagon€box€to€where€the€huge€pines€and€oaks€came€right€down€to€the€edge€of€theĻmeadow,€where€the€ground€was€drier.€Then€he€lifted€me€and€carried€me€with€Star€in€my€armsĻright€through€the€mud€bog€hole.€He€had€big,€big€boots€on,€so€he€could€wade€in€the€muddy€waterĻand€not€get€himself€wet.€Mother€sat€down€on€a€log€of€wood€in€the€cool€shade€of€a€tree,€where€theĻpine€needles€were€firm€and€fragrant,€but€Star€and€I€ran€around€exploring.ĢWe€first€gathered€a€sackful€of€acorns€from€under€the€oak€trees€where€they€had€fallen.€Then€StarĻand€I€started€to€race€together,€and€as€we€trotted,€out€from€behind€a€great€big€rock€ran€a€papa€and€aĻmama€quail,€calling€their€little€ones€to€follow€after€them.€Each€of€the€brood€of€fifteen€little€chicksĻhad€a€spotted€back€and€two€swift€little€red€feet€and€a€cunning€topknot€on€its€head.€They€marchedĻlike€little€soldiers€in€a€row€and€watched€the€papa€and€mama€scratch€and€hunt€for€food,€then€theyĻscratched€and€hunted€for€food,€too.€The€mama€scolded€them€if€they€went€very€far€away.€SheĻmade€a€very€pretty€call€to€call€the€babies€back€to€her.€ĢThe€mama€and€the€papa€led€their€brood€underneath€some€thick€oak€brush,€where€they€scratchedĻthemselves€out€a€nice€little€bed€to€rest€on€awhile€in€the€cool€shade.€But€the€little€quail€wereĻhungry,€so€instead€of€resting,€they€walked€around€putting€their€little€heads€near€the€ground€everyĻonce€in€a€while€to€listen€if€some€worms€were€crawling€in€the€soil.€When€they€thought€they€heardĻone,€they€would€scratch€vigorously€in€the€dirt,€first€with€one€little€leg€with€its€sharp€claws,€andĻthen€with€the€other€little€leg,€until€they€had€found€the€worm€or€grub.€Then€they€would€joyouslyĻpick€it€up€with€their€beaks€and€gobble€it€down.€They€almost€seemed€to€chuckle€as€they€did€thisĻover€and€over€again.€Sometimes€they€would€reach€up€to€the€shrubs,€stretching€their€necks,€andĻsnap€off€some€delicious€ripe€berries€or€seeds€and€gobble€them€down€too.€They€were€having€aĻgrand€time€hunting,€racing,€trying€to€beat€one€another€to€a€tasty€morsel,€then€eating€down€andĻhunting€again.€Mama€and€papa€lay€contentedly,€half€asleep,€knowing€their€little€ones€were€quiteĻsafe€in€under€the€thick€shrubs€and€bushes.ĢStar€and€I€were€sitting€resting€on€a€big€rock€in€the€nice€morning€sunshine€when,€across€theĻmeadow,€I€saw€something€that€made€my€heart€almost€stop€beating.€Out€from€the€deep,€dark€greenĻof€the€pines€came€a€little,€spindly€fawn,€covered€all€over€its€neck€and€shoulders€with€white,€roundĻspots.€Its€mother€had€just€finished€washing€it€all€over€with€her€rough,€juicy€tongue,€so€that€theĻslick€tan€of€its€new€baby€coat€glistened€in€the€sun.€It€had€come€to€the€meadow€to€get€a€drink,€andĻas€soon€as€it€stepped€with€its€long,€slender€leg€into€the€little€pool,€round€circles€came€into€theĻsmooth€surface€of€the€water,€then€got€bigger,€and€bigger,€until€they€were€clear€out€to€the€edge€ofĻthe€pool.€When€the€fawn€had€lapped€up€all€the€water€it€wanted,€it€stepped€out€into€the€grassyĻmeadow.€All€of€a€sudden,€it€gave€a€great€leap€straight€up,€and€after€coming€down€stiff„legged€onŠ @-(, Šits€four€little€hoofs,€it€leaped€again€three€times€in€a€row€and€started€running€around€the€meadow.ĻThe€mama€deer€leaped,€too,€and€in€two€high€jumps€was€running€right€by€the€side€of€the€littleĻfawn.ĢMy€brother€saw€them,€and,€thinking€it€would€be€nice€to€have€fresh€deer€meat€for€supper,€heĻgrabbed€his€gun€and€started€creeping€up€on€the€mother.€I€was€so€frightened€that€he€would€hurtĻthem€that€I€began€to€cry€and€call,€š šO!€Carl,€donššt€shoot,€donššt€shoot!šš€My€crying€frightened€theĻmother€deer,€and€with€one€high€leap€in€the€air,€she€jumped€high€over€a€nearby€shrub€and€dartedĻaway.€The€little€fawn€was€so€frightened€too€that€he€leaped€almost€as€high€and€fast€as€the€mother.ĻThey€leaped€and€they€jumped€and€they€ran€so€high€and€fast€that€in€just€a€very€little€minute€theyĻwere€up€and€over€the€hill,€and€Carl€couldnššt€see€them€anymore.€I€was€still€crying,€but€now€I€wasĻcrying€for€joy,€because€the€mammy€deer€and€her€little€spotted€fawn€had€gotten€safely€away.€I€wasĻvery€glad€to€have€something€to€eat€that€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€for€supper€besides€deer€meat.ĢNow€I€went€back€to€see€what€the€boys€were€doing.€They€had€cut€down€many€little€straight€pineĻtrees€with€their€axes,€about€as€bit€as€an€arm€and€long€enough€to€reach€across€the€part€that€was€soĻwet,€and€trimmed€off€all€the€branches.€They€had€started€on€the€dry€side€of€the€bog€hole€and€wereĻlaying€one€pole€straight€against€the€other.€They€had€taken€some€long,€narrow€strips€of€Ō_ŌdeerhideŌ_ŌĻthat€they€had€cut,€and€bound€the€poles€tightly€together,€as€though€they€were€making€a€raft.€This€isĻwhat€is€called€a€corduroy€road.€When€they€had€laid€enough€poles€together€to€reach€from€the€wetĻside€of€the€bog€hole€to€the€front€wheels€they€gathered€bunches€of€tall,€tough€grass€that€grewĻnearby€and€spread€them€with€the€pine€boughs€they€had€cut€from€the€trees€thick€on€top€of€theĻpoles.€They€also€put€much€of€this€tough€grass€behind€and€under€the€back€wheels.€ĢThey€coaxed€the€horses€one€at€a€time€to€get€into€place€on€this€rough€road.€The€horses€were€afraidĻof€it€because€it€made€them€feel€like€their€feet€were€going€to€get€caught€between€the€logs.€ButĻfinally€Old€Joe€had€the€courage€to€get€up€on€the€logs€and€back€up€into€a€place€near€enough€to€theĻwagon€so€that€he€could€be€hitched€up€in€his€harness.€Then€Old€Don€took€courage€from€Old€Joe,Ļand€stopped€dancing€and€kicking,€and€got€into€his€harness€also,€and€finally€the€other€two€horsesĻdid€likewise.€When€all€were€hitched€up,€Carl€leaped€up€into€the€wagon€seat€and€took€the€reinsĻinto€his€hands,€and,€talking€softly€and€soothingly€to€the€horses,€he€gave€the€command€to€pullĻsteady€and€to€pull€hard.€So€Old€Joe€and€Don€pulled€together€steady€and€hard,€and€the€heavyĻwagon€wheels€came€up€onto€the€tough€grass€and€then€out€of€the€mud€up€onto€the€log€road.€TheĻheavy€wheels€turned€slowly€and€stayed€on€top€of€the€log€road,€and€within€a€few€moments€theĻwagon€was€out€of€the€bog€hole€and€up€onto€the€dry€red€road€again.€The€boys€and€I€gave€a€shout,Ļand€Mother€cried€a€little€bit€for€joy,€because€it€looked€for€a€while€that€we€might€be€stuck€there€forĻa€long,€long€time.ĢWe€were€all€very€hungry€by€now,€as€it€was€a€long€time€past€noon.€So€we€opened€the€grub€box€andĻgot€out€some€baked€beans,€some€good,€nippy€cheese,€and€some€of€motherššs€good€cinnamon€buns,Ļand€ate€a€hearty€lunch.€There€was€a€cool€spring€nearby,€so€we€had€good,€cold€mountain€water€toĻdrink.€Mother€had€made€some€molasses€candy€before€we€left€to€come€on€the€trip,€so€she€nowĻgave€us€a€big€piece€of€it,€and€we€sucked€it€and€enjoyed€it€most€all€afternoon€when€we€continuedĻour€journey.€I€remember€thinking€how€nice€it€was,€when€you€sank€into€a€high€mountain€meadowĻbog€hole,€to€know€how€to€build€a€corduroy€road€so€you€could€get€out€again.ńˆńŠ T,¤'+ ŠńˆńŠ  @-(, ŠÓ  Ó7ĢThe€Big,€Big€Rock€in€the€Road¹ÓQ^Óń‡ńĢń‡ńAfter€lunch€and€a€big€drink€of€cold€spring€water,€the€boys€hitched€the€horses€to€the€wagon,€andĻwe€all€climbed€in€and€started€jogging€along€the€red€ribbon€road€in€the€warm€afternoon€sunshine.ĻAll€of€a€sudden,€the€wagon€stopped.€I€was€kneeling€up,€and€it€jerked€me€so€hard€that€I€tumbledĻover€onto€the€feather€bed.€When€little€Star€saw€me€rolling€around€on€the€bed,€he€thought€I€wantedĻto€play,€so€he€came€bouncing€on€top€of€me,€and€we€romped€and€shouted€a€moment.€Meanwhile,€IĻcould€hear€the€scraping€of€the€wheels€of€the€wagon€against€something€very€hard€and€slippery.€IĻfelt€the€horses€pulling€and€straining€and€heard€the€boys€coaxing€and€urging€them€to€pull€harder,Ļthen€felt€the€wagon€backing€up€a€little€ways.€I€looked€out€through€the€front€of€the€wagon,€andĻthere,€right€in€the€middle€of€the€road,€was€a€huge€rock.€In€fact,€it€was€the€biggest€single€rock€I€hadĻever€seen.€It€had€probably€rolled€down€the€side€of€the€mountain€when€the€gravel€had€beenĻloosened€around€it€with€the€spring€rains,€and€had€stopped€rolling,€partly€burying€itself€in€the€roadĻbed€directly€in€front€of€where€the€horses€had€to€pull€us.ĢCarl€guided€the€horses€up€on€the€uphill€side€of€the€rock,€but€the€uphill€side€was€too€steep.€TheĻhorses€couldnššt€pull€the€wagon€up€onto€it,€and€even€if€they€could,€there€would€have€been€a€dangerĻof€tipping€the€wagon€box€over.€So€he€backed€the€horses€down€and€tried€to€go€on€the€downhillĻside€of€the€rock.€But€the€rains€had€made€the€ground€so€wet€that€it€was€very€soft,€so€the€wagonĻbegan€slipping€and€sliding€off€the€road.€Carl€told€the€horses€to€hold,€and€pulled€backwards€on€theĻreins,€and€the€horses€backed€carefully€down€until€the€wagon€was€again€on€the€solid€road.Ģš šWeššll€have€to€go€up€over€it€after€all,šš€Carl€said,€and€he€urged€Old€Joe€and€Don€forward€again.ĻThey€pulled€as€hard€as€they€could,€but€every€time€the€big€wheels€got€close€to€the€big€rock,€and€theĻhorses€tried€to€pull€them€up€and€over,€the€horsesšš€feet€slid.€They€had€iron€shoes€on€their€feet,€andĻthe€iron€shoes€would€not€dig€down€into€the€rock€and€hold€them,€so€they€would€slip€and€stumble.ĻThe€big€wheels€were€made€of€wooden€spokes€and€an€iron€rim€around€the€spokes,€so€when€theĻwheels€came€up€against€the€slick,€hard€rock,€they€too€would€skid€and€slide,€and€the€horses€simplyĻcould€not€pull€the€wagon€up€over€the€rock.ĢHere€we€were€stuck€in€the€road€again.€I€was€frightened,€because€I€knew€that€if€we€didnššt€get€overĻthe€rock€somehow€and€make€our€camp€where€we€planned€to€make€it,€our€food€would€run€outĻbefore€we€got€to€the€ranch,€and€we€would€be€very€hungry€and€maybe€have€to€turn€back.€CarlĻlaughed€at€me€and€said,€š šNow,€Gladys,€donššt€be€a€baby.€Donššt€you€know€that€we€know€what€toĻdo€about€this?€We€will€soon€be€unstuck.šš€I€was€still€frightened,€so€I€slipped€away€and€was€soonĻhidden€by€the€big€trees.€When€I€felt€safely€out€of€sight,€I€knelt€down€and€prayed€to€HeavenlyĻFather€that€he€would€let€us€find€a€way€to€get€around€or€over€the€big,€big€rock.€ĢSoon€I€stopped€crying€and€came€back€to€see€what€my€brothers€were€going€to€do.€First€they€hadĻunhitched€the€horses€and€led€them€a€long€ways€away€from€the€big€rock€to€where€there€was€someĻnice,€green€grass€to€eat,€and€tied€them€fast€to€a€tree.€That€way,€even€if€they€jumped€around,€theyĻcould€not€get€loose€and€run€away.€Next€the€boys€went€to€the€tool€box€on€the€wagon€and€took€fromĻit€a€big€iron€spike€and€a€very€heavy€sledge€hammer.€One€of€them€carried€the€chicken€coop€way€upŠ @-(, Šon€the€side€of€the€hill,€and€Carl€told€the€dogs€to€go€way€over€away€from€the€wagon€and€lie€down,Ļwhich€they€did.€I€took€little€Star€and€held€him€tightly€in€my€arms€so€he€couldnššt€go€where€theĻdanger€was€to€be.€He€was€very€curious€and€tried€to€wriggle€out€of€my€arms€and€go€and€see€whatĻwas€going€on.€He€wanted€to€scramble€over€to€the€rock,€and€sniffed€around€with€his€little€nose€toĻdetermine€what€it€was€all€about.€But€I€didnššt€let€him€get€away.€The€boys€began€pounding€deepĻholes€in€the€big€rock.€One€held€the€sharp€spike,€and€one€raised€high€the€sledge€hammer€and€let€itĻfall€again€and€again€on€the€spike.€This€made€the€spike€sink€little€by€little€into€the€tough€rock€untilĻthere€began€to€be€a€small€hole€made€in€it.€Drilling€the€holes€was€hard€work,€and€the€boys€had€toĻrest€very€often€between€Ō_ŌpoundingsŌ_Ō.€I€had€to€stay€a€long€ways€away€from€the€rock€because€littleĻpieces€of€it€would€fly€off€and€go€in€all€directions,€and€I€didnššt€want€any€of€the€pieces€to€fly€intoĻmy€eyes€or€hit€me€in€the€face€and€cut€me.ĢThe€boys€kept€working€until€they€had€six€holes,€each€of€which€was€six€inches€deep.€The€rockĻlooked€like€a€big€beehive€now,€all€pitted€with€the€holes.€Next€they€took€some€queer€looking€stuffĻthat€looked€like€sticks€of€licorice,€and€partly€filled€each€hole€with€them.€I€said,€š šWhat€is€that?ššĻand€they€told€me€it€was€dynamite,€that€it€was€very€dangerous,€and€that€I€must€stay€away.€AttachedĻto€each€stick€was€a€long€piece€of€string,€like€a€candle€wick,€that€reached€out€beyond€the€rock€forĻabout€five€feet.€When€all€was€ready,€the€boys€told€Mother€and€me€to€go€way€back€up€on€the€sideĻof€the€hill,€at€least€fifty€feet€or€more€away.€This€we€did,€and€I€held€onto€little€Star€all€the€tighter.ĻHe€was€a€very€nervous€little€dog,€and€he€seemed€to€sense€that€there€was€danger€in€the€air,€so€IĻstroked€his€little€head€and€trembling€body.€ĢThe€boys€checked€the€horses€to€see€that€they€were€very€securely€fastened,€then€called€a€warningĻto€us€one€more€time.€Carl€took€some€matches€and€very€quickly€lit€one€to€each€piece€of€string.ĻThen€the€boys€ran€quickly€away€from€the€burning€string€way€back€up€on€the€hill.€The€stringĻburned€very€rapidly€along€until€it€came€to€one€of€the€holes,€where€it€spluttered€and€flashed,€andĻthe€dynamite€caught€fire€and€exploded€with€a€voice€like€thunder.€Many,€many€fragments€of€sharpĻrock€flew€in€all€directions,€and€dust€rose€in€a€mighty€cloud.€The€horses€leaped€with€all€four€feetĻinto€the€air€and€when€they€came€down€again€tried€to€pull€and€break€the€rope€so€they€could€runĻaway,€but€the€rope€was€new€and€strong€and€they€could€not€break€it.ĢThe€different€holes€kept€exploding€one€after€the€other,€and€as€they€did€so,€the€big,€big€rock€wasĻtransformed€into€a€pile€of€little€rocks€instead.€I€was€scared,€and€so€was€Mother,€and€so€was€Star.ĻHe€shook€so€hard€in€my€arms€that€I€had€to€hold€him€very€close.€He€licked€my€face€and€cried€withĻa€little€whine,€but€I€just€talked€gently€to€him,€and€even€though€I€was€crying€a€little€myself,€I€knewĻthat€soon€everything€would€be€alright.€After€the€last€explosion,€Carl€went€over€to€the€horses€andĻtook€hold€of€their€bridles€and€stroked€their€necks€and€heads€and€talked€softly€to€them€until€theyĻwere€calm€again.€The€chickens€cackled€and€leaped€about€all€through€the€noise.€We€just€let€themĻgo€ahead€and€crow€their€protest,€because€they€could€not€get€out€and€we€could€not€do€anything€toĻhelp€them.ĢThe€boys€made€sure€that€all€the€explosions€were€over,€then€they€took€rakes€and€shovels€from€theĻtool€box,€and€smoothed€the€little€rocks€into€a€very€good€piece€of€roadbed€that€the€horses€couldĻpull€their€load€over€quite€easily.€Then€they€hitched€the€horses€onto€the€wagon€again.€Mother€and€IĻclimbed€into€our€places.€The€chickens€were€securely€fastened€to€the€side€of€the€wagon,€and€weŠ @-(, Šjogged€on€our€way.€The€horses€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€a€good€rest,€so€they€were€fresh€and€traveled€nice€and€fast.ĻBefore€dark€we€came€to€the€cool€spring€where€we€were€going€to€make€camp€that€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō,€and€I€beganĻhelping€with€the€evening€campfire€chores.€Dinner€tasted€good€after€such€an€adventurous€morningĻand€a€hazardous€afternoon,€and€so€now€we€were€ready€for€prayers€and€evening€songs€to€sootheĻthe€cares€of€the€day.€Sleep€came€soon€and€deep€and€sweet€to€a€tired€little€girl.Š  `° ŠÓ  Ó8ĢWe€Arrive€at€Cliff€Ranch¹Ó3}Óń‰ńĢń‰ńJust€one€more€morning€of€travel€along€the€smooth,€red„soiled€road€brought€us€near€Cliff€Ranch.ĻFinally€we€came€to€the€last€meadow€before€the€hill€where€the€cabins€stood.€Carl€spotted€severalĻhorses€off€in€the€distance.€One€of€the€horses,€when€he€heard€our€wagon,€stiffened€and€pointed€hisĻears€and€raised€his€head€and€gave€a€long,€low€whinny.€Carl€rose€up€and€stood€upon€the€wagonĻseat€and€whistled€a€long,€rhythmic€whistle,€then€called€out,€š šMonte,€come€here,€you€little€devil.ššĻMonte€lifted€his€beautiful€head€and€twitched€his€long,€flowing€tail€and€started€coming€towards€usĻon€a€gallop.€His€forelocks€and€long€mane€waved€out€behind€him,€and€when€he€drew€near,€CarlĻstopped€the€wagon.€Monte€came€close€up€to€him€and€nuzzled€his€head€against€Carlššs€shirt.€CarlĻpatted€him€and€gave€him€a€lump€of€sugar€to€eat,€then€started€the€team€trotting€toward€the€ranchĻhouse€again.€Monte€fell€behind€the€wagon€but€followed€along,€just€like€a€pet€dog€would€do.ĢAs€we€crossed€the€bridge€over€the€stream,€the€wheels€and€the€chains€made€a€loud€racket,€and€ourĻbrother€Rey,€who€was€already€at€the€ranch,€heard€it€and€looked€out€the€window€to€see€us€coming.ĻIn€his€hand€was€a€big€wad€of€dough,€and€Mother€said,€š šO!€look,€Rey€is€making€hot€rolls€for€ourĻdinner.šš€It€took€only€a€few€minutes€to€get€across€the€bridge€and€up€the€slight€hill€to€the€cabinĻdoor.€We€all€climbed€out€and€were€so€glad€to€greet€each€other€and€stretch€our€legs€after€the€long,Ļlong€ride.ĢWhile€the€boys€were€unpacking,€I€took€Star€and€started€running€down€the€little€path€through€theĻtall€grass€and€wild€daisies€to€greet€my€little€Mexican€friends.€On€the€way,€I€saw€an€old€Indian€ladyĻsitting€on€the€ground.€She€had€spread€out€in€front€of€her€a€large€deerskin.€It€was€rough€and€hard,Ļbut€she€was€pounding€it€and€scraping€it€with€a€sharp,€jagged€rock.€This€was€to€soften€up€the€skinĻso€it€could€be€cut€into€strips€for€rope€and€heavy€cord.€She€had€to€use€some€water€and€some€acid€toĻsoften€it€a€little,€but€it€was€done€mostly€with€just€pounding€and€scratching€with€the€sharp€rock.ĻAll€the€hair€had€been€removed€from€the€skin,€so€she€worked€first€one€side€and€then€the€other.ĢWhen€the€Mexican€children€saw€me€coming,€they€came€out€to€meet€me€with€gay€calls€of€ņņš šŌ_ŌQuŌ_ŌŠ X Ø ŠŌ_ŌhuboleŌ_Ō,€amiga€Ō_ŌmaŌ_Ō!ššóó€They€took€me€by€the€hand€and€led€me€into€the€cabin.€There€the€mamas€andŠ D!” Šthe€older€sisters€were€busy€grinding€parched€corn€into€a€fine€meal.€They€ground€it€by€pushingĻback€and€forth€the€corn€between€a€long,€smooth,€partly€round€stone€called€a€Ō_ŌmanoŌ_Ō,€and€a€rough,Ļpartly€hollow€stone€called€a€Ō_ŌmetateŌ_Ō€that€looked€something€like€a€bowl.€The€corn€was€warm,€andĻso€they€scooped€up€a€handful€of€it€and€gave€it€to€me€to€eat.€This€is€called€Ō_ŌpinoleŌ_Ō.€They€gave€meĻalso€a€big€piece€of€sweet€cane€sugar€that€is€called€Ō_ŌpiloncilloŌ_Ō.€I€thanked€them€and€wandered€backĻtoward€the€cabin,€eating€my€Ō_ŌpinoleŌ_Ō€and€Ō_ŌpiloncilloŌ_Ō.ĢI€saw€that€Aunt€Dora,€who€had€come€onto€the€ranch€about€a€month€before€us,€was€busy€makingĻcheese€in€the€shed.€I€loved€to€watch€cheese€making,€and€never€was€there€such€good€cheese€madeĻas€Aunt€Dora€made€at€Cliff€Ranch,€so€I€ran€swiftly€to€the€shed€to€watch.ĢIn€the€shed€there€was€a€large€vat€that€held€about€fifty€gallons€of€milk.€All€the€evening€andĻmorning€milk€that€had€come€from€the€milking€of€the€cows€had€been€poured€into€this€vat.€ColdŠ @-(, Šspring€water€poured€into€a€compartment€under€the€vat€had€kept€it€cool€all€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō.€Now€that€itĻcontained€the€morning€milk€also,€the€boys€had€cut€wood€around€the€place€and€built€a€fire€in€aĻfirebox€underneath€the€vat€to€heat€it€to€the€right€temperature.€Aunt€Dora€kept€a€large€thermometerĻin€the€milk€to€see€when€it€was€time€to€go€on€to€the€next€step.€The€boys€kept€stoking€the€fire,€andĻas€some€of€the€wood€burning€was€cedar€wood,€the€shed€had€a€most€pleasant€odor€of€warm,Ļcreamy€milk€and€cedar€smoke.€Aunt€Dora€stirred€the€milk€all€the€while€to€keep€it€from€scorching.ĢWhen€the€milk€was€just€the€right€temperature,€the€boys€scraped€all€the€ashes€and€coals€out€of€theĻfirebox,€and€the€vat€was€allowed€to€cool€down.€Just€at€the€right€moment,€Aunt€Dora€took€fromĻthe€shelves€above€the€vat€two€mysterious€looking€bottles€of€liquid.€She€opened€the€corks€of€theĻbottles€and€dropped€a€few€drops€from€each€bottle€into€the€milk.€She€told€me€the€bottle€with€theĻwhite€liquid€was€rennet,€which€made€the€milk€coagulate€into€heavy€curd,€almost€like€a€big€vat€ofĻclabber.€The€other€bottle€contained€golden€coloring€to€turn€the€milk€the€color€of€cheese.€NowĻAunt€Dora€took€a€long,€thin€knife€with€a€long,€wooden€handle,€and€slide€this€knife€through€theĻcurd.€First€she€ran€the€knife€lengthwise,€then€she€ran€it€crosswise,€and€cut€it€into€one€inch€squares.ĻNext€she€added€salt,€then€let€it€stand€for€a€little€while€as€the€whey€began€rising€to€the€top.€AuntĻDora€opened€a€little€tap€on€the€outside€of€the€vat€to€drain€off€the€whey€to€give€to€the€pigs€to€eat.ĻShe€pressed€the€curd€gently€to€get€all€the€whey€out.€Now€she€put€some€of€the€curd€in€a€large€bowlĻto€give€to€me.€It€was€so€fresh€and€warm€and€sweet€tasting€that€I€gobbled€almost€all€of€it€up.€IĻpoured€some€good,€thick€cream€over€the€last€little€bit€and€ate€it€with€a€spoon.€I€shall€never€forgetĻhow€tasty€were€those€good,€warm€curds€and€cream.€ĢNow€the€curd€was€put€into€a€grinder€and€broken€up€into€fine€pieces€until€it€looked€something€likeĻcottage€cheese,€just€like€we€buy€in€packages€now,€only€much€more€of€it.€While€the€grinding€millĻbroke€up€the€curd,€Aunt€Dora€prepared€the€cheese€presses.€These€were€buckets€made€of€woodĻthat€had€a€top€and€a€bottom€that€could€be€taken€out.€Aunt€Dora€had€cut€out€some€nice,€cleanĻpieces€of€cheese€cloth,€big€enough€to€fit€down€into€the€press€and€leave€enough€to€come€up€overĻthe€cheese€at€the€top.€Cheese€cloth€is€a€loosely„woven€cotton€net,€to€keep€the€curd€inside€whileĻthe€whey€is€squeezed€out.€Aunt€Dora€put€the€pieces€of€cheese€cloth€in€the€cheese€presses,€thenĻused€a€great€big€wooden€ladle€to€fill€the€presses€nearly€full€with€the€golden€yellow€curd.€Then€sheĻfolded€the€cheese€cloth€over€the€top€and€put€on€the€wooden€lid€of€the€press.€Next€she€turned€aĻhuge€screw€which€pressed€the€wooden€lid€down€on€the€curd,€squeezing€out€the€whey€and€pressingĻthe€cheese€into€nice,€solid,€round,€cylinder„shaped€cheeses.€It€took€the€strong€arms€of€the€boys€toĻgive€the€last€hard€twist€to€the€screw,€but€finally€Aunt€Dora€would€say,€š šThat€is€enough,šš€and€thenĻthey€would€start€on€the€next€one€and€leave€that€one€alone.€They€would€press€about€three€thirty„¼pound€cheeses€each€day€and€would€let€them€stand€in€the€cheese€presses€all€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€before€puttingĻthem€on€the€shelves€in€long,€golden€rows€to€ripen.€When€the€cheeses€had€been€sitting€for€severalĻweeks,€Aunt€Dora€would€begin€the€rubbing€process,€and€would€turn€and€rub€each€cheese€daily€soĻthey€would€cure€better.ĢThe€fireplace€back€in€our€cabin€was€as€big€almost€as€the€end€of€the€cabin€itself.€It€was€built€ofĻlarge€rocks€and€had€a€shelf€like€a€mantle€running€all€along€the€front€of€the€open€part€where€logsĻare€burned.€It€was€so€big€that€a€little€seat€could€be€built€on€one€end€of€it€where€one€could€sit€nearĻthe€fire€on€very€cold€Ō_ŌnitesŌ_Ō€or€frosty€mornings.€It€takes€a€long€time€to€prepare€a€hot€meal€over€anĻopen€fire,€so€early€in€the€afternoon,€after€the€cheese€vat€and€milk€pails€had€been€cleanedŠ @-(, Šthoroughly€and€cleared€away,€Rey€built€up€a€large,€lapping,€orange€fire€in€the€fireplace€of€oak€andĻcedar€logs.€Then€he€left€it€to€burn€down€to€a€nice,€glowing,€red„hot€bed€of€coals.€Rey€had€placedĻthe€dough€he€mixed€that€morning€on€a€bench€just€close€enough€to€the€fire€that€it€would€puff€upĻand€get€very€light.€Now€he€took€out€some€big€round€loaves€just€the€size€of€the€Dutch€oven,€andĻgreased€the€ovens€good€and€put€the€dough€in€them€to€rise€again.€Then€he€took€the€Dutch€ovenĻover€and€mixed€out€some€biscuits,€just€the€size€of€toadstools,€to€make€puffballs.€He€greased€theirĻpan€well€also€and€put€the€biscuits€in€to€get€light€and€puffy.€ĢThe€boys€heated€the€large€Dutch€oven€for€our€meat.€When€the€coals€had€heated€it€top€and€bottom,Ļthey€put€the€roast€of€deer€meat€in€and€left€it€to€singe€all€over€to€a€rich,€golden€brown.€Then€theyĻcut€up€some€green€regular€onions€and€some€green,€sweet€Spanish€onions,€and€spread€these€allĻover€the€top€of€the€meat.€Next€they€put€the€lid€on€and€let€the€meat€simmer€and€cook€very€slowlyĻin€the€coals.€I€donššt€believe€anything€can€smell€so€good€when€you€are€hungry€as€meat€cooking€inĻa€Dutch€oven€over€the€nice,€red€coals€of€a€sweet„smelling€wood€fire.€The€boys€who€came€up€earlyĻhad€planted€a€garden€in€the€ground,€so€they€prepared€our€new€potatoes€and€new€peas€and€newĻears€of€corn.€They€baked€the€potatoes€in€the€same€kettle€as€the€meat.€They€opened€the€corn€to€seeĻif€it€was€clean,€then€put€the€husks€back€up€on€the€ears€again€and€wrapped€them€as€tight€as€theyĻcould€at€the€top€with€a€piece€of€the€husk.€Then€they€put€the€corn€right€into€the€red€coals€of€the€fireĻand€covered€them€all€up€with€ashes€and€let€them€steam€and€cook€that€way.ĢIt€was€almost€dark€before€the€meat€was€cooked,€so€they€lit€the€candles€and€lamps.€The€candlesĻstood€in€iron€holders€on€the€mantle€piece.€The€lamps€were€coal€oil€lamps€that€stood€high€on€aĻglass€stand,€and€on€the€stand€was€a€bowl€which€held€the€coal€oil.€A€brass€holder€held€the€wick,€aĻpiece€of€knit€string,€which€dipped€into€the€coal€oil€on€one€end€and€stuck€up€into€the€lampššsĻchimney€on€the€other.€This€wick€could€be€lighted€and€screwed€up€and€down€to€make€the€flameĻburn€high€or€low.€We€couldnššt€turn€the€flame€too€high,€because€that€would€make€the€flameĻsmoke,€and€that€would€blacken€the€lamp.€If€we€had€it€just€right,€we€could€see€to€eat€our€dinnerĻand€even€to€read€stories€also.€They€spread€a€clean€cloth€on€the€table€and€then€set€the€lamps€on€itĻto€make€it€seem€cheerful.€Then€they€set€the€plates€near€the€fire€to€get€good€and€warm€to€serve€ourĻdinner.€When€the€meat€was€almost€ready,€they€took€the€heavy€lid€of€the€Dutch€oven€off€and€putĻthe€bread€inside€and€the€lid€back€on€again.€They€set€up€the€reflector€for€the€biscuits€near€the€fireĻand€tipped€it€a€little€so€that€all€the€heat€from€the€fire€would€get€to€it€quickly.€Well,€in€just€a€fewĻmoments€the€biscuits€puffed€up€high€and€began€to€brown.€They€browned€so€fast€that€they€had€toĻbe€moved€back€from€the€fire€so€they€wouldnššt€burn.€Then€they€took€the€meat€out€of€the€DutchĻoven€and€placed€it€on€a€large€platter€to€keep€warm€while€the€gravy€was€being€made.€TheyĻsprinkled€flour€into€hot€grease€and€stirred€very€quickly,€then€poured€some€good,€rich€milk€into€theĻmixture,€stirring€swiftly€all€the€time.€Soon€it€was€bubbling€up€and€dancing€around€in€the€pot,Ļseeming€to€say,€š šIššm€the€best€brown€gravy€in€all€the€land.€Stir€me€quick€so€I€canššt€be€burned.ššĢWhen€the€gravy€was€done,€the€boys€called€us€all€to€come€to€dinner.€I€loved€the€roast€venisonĻsmothered€in€onion€served€on€a€warm€plate,€the€hot€baked€potato,€the€corn€on€the€cob€with€plentyĻof€melted€butter,€the€hot€biscuits€and€butter€with€strawberry€jam€that€Mother€had€brought€alongĻwith€her.€What€a€feast€it€was.€The€corn€had€just€browned€a€little€and€tasted€almost€like€popcorn,Ļand€the€potatoes€were€so€fluffy€and€hot€and€crisp.€The€biscuits€just€melted€at€the€slightest€touch€ofĻthe€tongue,€and€the€meat€and€gravy€were€something€one€dreams€about€and€cannot€believe€canŠ @-(, Šhappen.€I€was€so€hungry€because€I€hadnššt€eaten€anything€since€the€curds€and€whey€that€Aunt€DoraĻhad€given€me€when€I€first€arrived€at€the€ranch€house.€It€seemed€very€cozy€to€be€eating€by€fire€andĻlamplight.€We€had€a€good€dessert€because€they€had€made€rhubarb€brown€betty€in€the€reflectorĻoven.€And€we€always€had€good,€rich€cream€to€pour€over€the€top€of€our€desserts,€if€we€liked€it€thatĻway.ĢCarl€went€over€to€the€wall€where€his€guitar€was€hanging,€the€one€with€pretty€colored€ribbons€tiedĻonto€the€handle.€He€took€it€tenderly€down€and€tested€the€strings€as€he€plucked€them€to€see€if€eachĻgave€the€right€tone.€Then€he€began€playing€a€soft,€pretty€tune€and€singing€a€lovely€melody.ĻMother€pulled€her€chair€a€little€nearer€to€him,€and€together€they€sang€in€Spanish€all€the€folk€songsĻand€fandangos€that€they€had€learned€from€the€Mexican€people.€I€grew€so€sleepy€that€I€beganĻnodding€and€almost€fell€off€my€chair.€So€Carl€stopped€long€enough€to€take€my€shoes€and€myĻclothes€off€and€toss€me€on€the€feather€bed.€He€said,€š šLittle€girl,€you€are€tired€after€a€long,€hardĻday.€Good€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€and€go€to€sleep.ššĢThe€last€thing€I€can€remember€of€the€first€day€of€the€vacation€on€the€ranch€was€the€soft€glow€ofĻthe€fire€as€it€leaped€and€danced€around€the€oak€logs,€and€the€twinkling€of€the€candles€on€theĻmantle,€and€the€sweet€voices€of€my€mother€and€my€brother€singing€the€songs€of€Old€Mexico.ĻThese€were€the€sweetest€tones€and€the€sweetest€voices€this€side€of€heaven.€I€felt€very€happy,€and€IĻslept€long€and€hard€and€restfully,€because€the€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€was€fresh€and€cool.ĢŠ   \ ŠÓ  Ó9ĢThe€Jealous€Rattlesnake¹ÓŖ±ÓńŠńĢńŠńWhen€morning€came,€it€was€so€filled€with€glorious€mountain€sunshine€and€fresh€air,€and€the€firstĻthing€I€heard€was€the€leaves€of€the€oak€trees€as€they€fluttered€gently€in€the€dawn€breeze.€The€littleĻbirds€awoke€to€the€light€of€day,€and€they€began€to€twitter€sleepily€but€happily€to€one€another.ĻVery€soon€one€lovely€little€warbler€could€not€contain€himself€any€longer€but€began€to€pour€out€hisĻheart€in€glorious€song€to€the€sky€and€the€rising€sun.€The€others€joined€in,€and€a€most€beautifulĻŌ_ŌhalleluiaŌ_Ō€of€song€was€raised€by€many€little€throats€towards€the€throne€of€God.€It€made€me€feel€soĻglad€that€I€jumped€out€of€bed€and€ran€to€the€wash€basin,€and€with€clean,€cold€spring€water€IĻdashed€my€neck€and€arms€and€face€and€hands€until€I€felt€all€tingly,€and€if€I€could€have€sung€asĻbeautifully€as€the€birds,€I€would€have€done€so.€But€I€could€sing€a€little,€so€with€Star€I€rushed€outĻto€the€corral€where€the€calves€were€eagerly€sucking€their€morning€breakfast€from€the€motherĻcows,€and€as€I€ran,€I€sang€the€songs€I€knew.€I€paused€under€a€pine€tree€to€smell€something€veryĻlovely.€Needles€had€fallen€from€the€branches€and€covered€the€ground€by€the€tree,€and€as€I€trod€onĻthem,€they€expelled€a€sweet€smell€into€the€air.€I€noticed€two€golden€yellow€bulbs€of€somethingĻgrowing€on€the€trunk€of€the€tree.€I€broke€one€open,€and€from€this€bulb€of€resin€and€pine€tree€juiceĻthere€came€a€fragrance€like€exquisite€perfume.€I€took€long€breaths€of€it,€and€as€I€did€so,€I€noticedĻthat€just€above€my€head€on€a€limb€of€the€pine€tree€were€two€parakeets.ĢThey€were€skipping€back€and€forth€from€one€another€as€if€they€were€doing€a€little€dance.€EveryĻtime€they€came€close€together,€they€touched€their€little€yellow€beaks€together€two€or€three€timesĻas€if€they€were€kissing€one€another.€Sometimes€they€would€fly€around€one€another€and€changeĻplaces,€then€continue€the€dance,€always€kissing€one€another€on€the€beak€or€on€the€neck.€MotherĻtold€me€these€birds€had€two€names.€One€was€parakeet€and€the€other€was€lovebird.€SometimesĻpeople€catch€them€and€put€them€in€cages€in€their€houses,€but€I€liked€to€watch€them€better€in€thisĻbeautiful€big€pine€tree€where€they€could€fly€from€branch€to€branch€or€even€down€and€scratch€forĻbugs€and€grubs€among€the€dead€pine€needles.€They€had€such€pretty€colors€in€their€feathers,€greenĻand€gold€and€blue€and€red€and€yellow€and€a€little€grey€and€brown.€I€loved€to€watch€the€parakeetsĻand€the€calves,€but€just€now€I€was€called€to€breakfast.€So€Star€and€I€ran€back€to€the€cabin€and€satĻdown€to€bacon€and€eggs€and€golden€brown€Ō_ŌhotcakesŌ_Ō.€Yummy,€how€good€they€tasted€on€this€cool,Ļcrisp€morning.ĢAfter€breakfast€I€did€my€chores,€because€everyone€on€the€ranch€had€chores€to€do.€Mine€was€to€fillĻthe€big€brass€buckets€with€water.€I€carried€them€by€their€handles€to€the€spring,€which€gushed€outĻof€a€crack€in€a€big€rock€just€above€the€cabin.€The€spring€was€shaded€by€two€tall€oak€trees€that€hadĻstarted€growing€there€many€years€ago€from€little€acorns€that€had€dropped€into€the€damp€soil.ĻTheir€roots€had€gone€down€deep€in€the€ground,€and€more€and€more€and€bigger€and€bigger€rootsĻhad€grown,€until€they€stood€very€firm€and€could€send€out€and€up€little€green€shoots€that€had€leafĻbuds€on€them.€These€leaf€buds€opened€and€gathered€sunshine€and€rain€and€grew€bigger€andĻbigger€until€now€the€trees€were€very€large€and€made€beautiful€shade€for€the€spring.€The€water€wasĻvery€cool€because€it€came€from€deep,€deep€down€where€it€had€been€stored€in€a€solid€bed€ofĻgravel,€as€the€water€from€snows€and€rains€oozed€into€the€earth.€When€the€gravel€bed€was€so€full€itĻcould€hold€no€more,€the€water€came€up,€up,€higher€and€higher,€towards€the€surface€of€the€ground.Š @-(, ŠWhen€it€found€the€crack€in€the€big€rock,€it€gushed€up€and€out,€and€that€became€our€spring€forĻdrinking€and€for€cooking.€I€took€a€small€dipper€with€me€which€had€a€long€handle€on€it.€With€thisĻdipper,€I€would€dip€carefully€into€the€water,€trying€not€to€stir€up€the€mud.€If€I€wasnššt€careful,€I€gotĻleaves€or€dirt€with€the€water€in€my€ladle,€and€I€threw€it€out€again.€But€if€I€was€careful€and€hadĻpicked€up€a€clear€Ō_ŌdipperfulŌ_Ō€of€water,€I€emptied€it€into€the€brass€bucket,€over€and€over€until€theĻbucket€was€full.€I€could€only€carry€one€bucketful€of€water€at€a€time,€so€as€I€finished€filling€one,€IĻcarried€it€into€the€house€and€then€came€back€and€filled€the€other.€By€this€time€I€was€good€andĻthirsty,€so€I€laid€down€on€my€stomach,€just€where€the€water€came€trickling€over€the€top,€and€thenĻput€my€mouth€and€nose€and€chin€into€the€water,€and€drank€and€drank€my€fill.ĢWhen€I€had€brought€the€water€in€and€placed€it€on€the€water€bench€and€hung€the€dipper€from€itsĻnail€in€the€wall€nearby,€I€picked€up€the€great,€huge€wood€basket.€This€I€carried€to€the€woodpile€toĻfill€with€chips,€which€are€small€pieces€of€wood€that€fly€around€when€the€boys€chop€wood.€TheseĻsmall€pieces€help€start€the€fire€easily€in€the€morning€and€help€keep€it€going€after€it€gets€started.ĻThere€on€the€woodpile€were€two€bushy„tail€squirrels,€playing€all€over€the€logs,€on€top€and€underĻand€around€and€around€them.€They€would€hide€from€one€another€and€then€chase€each€other€justĻas€if€they€were€playing€hide€and€seek.€Every€once€in€a€while€they€would€stop€and€put€their€headsĻtogether€as€if€they€were€talking,€and€I€always€imagined€they€were€lamenting€that€they€had€to€quitĻplaying€and€get€their€work€done,€because€they€would€scamper€away€and€climb€the€live€oakĻnearby.€Here€they€got€their€little€cheek€pouches€full€of€acorns,€then€scampered€down€to€the€holeĻin€the€trunk€of€the€tree€that€was€the€door€to€their€little€house.€They€disappeared€into€the€blacknessĻof€the€oak€and€perhaps€stored€their€acorns€in€some€safe€corner€for€their€winter€food.€Then€theyĻcame€out€to€play€hide€and€seek€again.€But€before€they€did,€they€would€stop€for€a€tasty€little€treat,Ļholding€an€acorn€in€their€two€front€paws€and€sitting€on€a€nearby€limb€and€nibbling€away.€I€couldĻtell€they€enjoyed€it€very€much,€just€like€my€granddaughters€Charlotte€or€Annette€or€Wendy€whenĻthey€take€an€orange€roll€from€my€magic€bread€box€and€sit€on€the€garden€wall€to€eat€it.€I€decidedĻthat€during€the€summer€I€would€make€friends€with€these€two€cunning€squirrels€and€get€them€to€beĻunafraid€of€me,€so€that€they€would€come€and€eat€little€snacks€from€my€hand€and€maybe€climb€upĻon€my€shoulder€and€run€across€my€back.€This€takes€a€long€time,€but€I€knew€if€I€were€kind€andĻpatient€that€they€would€learn€to€be€unafraid€of€me.€ĢWhen€I€had€gathered€my€basketful€of€chips,€I€took€it€to€the€cabin,€then€returned€to€carry€bigĻpieces€of€wood€to€burn€in€the€fireplace€and€fill€the€wood€box,€which€stood€almost€as€high€as€myĻother€granddaughter,€Lori,€or€my€grandson,€Parky,€is€tall€off€the€floor.€These€pieces€were€so€bigĻthat€I€could€only€carry€one€or€two€pieces€at€a€time,€so€it€took€me€a€long€while€to€get€enough.ĻWhen€I€finished,€I€decided€I€needed€a€rest,€so€I€remembered€that€the€Mexican€mama€and€the€olderĻMexican€sisters€had€asked€me€to€come€and€help€make€salsa.€I€got€my€motherššs€permission,€andĻaway€I€went€to€the€lower€cabin,€little€Star€tagging€along.ĢThey€greeted€me€with€warm€good„mornings.€I€said,€š šMay€I€help€with€the€salsa€today?šš€and€theĻMexican€mama€and€the€older€sisters€said,€ņņš šŌ_ŌSeguroŌ_Ō,€Ō_ŌSeoritaŌ_Ō.ššóó€Then€they€explained€how€to€do€it.Š )ą$( ŠFirst€they€washed€some€large,€green€peppers€and€gave€them€to€me€in€a€bowl.€They€said,€š šNowĻhere€is€a€long€rod.€Stick€the€rod€through€the€peppers€one€at€a€time€and€set€it€near€the€bright€coalsĻof€the€fire.šš€I€did,€and€then€they€told€me€to€keep€turning€the€peppers€slowly€over€the€hot€coals€soĻthat€they€could€toast€dark€brown.€They€said,€š šThis€will€loosen€the€skin€so€that€you€can€easily€peelŠ @-(, Šit€off.šš€I€did€as€they€said,€toasting€and€peeling€all€of€the€six€peppers€they€gave€me.€When€theyĻwere€all€done,€they€gathered€the€peelings€to€give€to€the€pigs€and€gave€me€the€bowl€again.€TheyĻsaid,€š šNow€the€peppers€are€soft,€so€you€mash€them€up€between€your€fingers€until€they€are€allĻsmashed€into€a€soft,€thin€sauce.šš€This€I€did,€and€it€was€fun€to€feel€the€soft€peppers€oozingĻbetween€my€fingers€and€running€off€the€tips€of€them.€When€they€were€all€soft€and€oozy,€they€gaveĻme€a€piece€of€garlic€and€a€large€tomato,€and€told€me€to€put€the€sauce€into€a€Ō_ŌmetateŌ_Ō.€Then€theyĻgave€me€a€Ō_ŌmanoŌ_Ō€and€showed€me€how€to€smash€the€peppers€and€tomatoes€and€garlic€all€togetherĻin€the€large€stone€bowl€with€the€small€stone€ball,€pressing€and€rubbing€until€it€all€came€out€as€aĻsoft,€runny€sauce.€This€sauce€is€eaten€over€venison€or€over€any€kind€of€meat€or€vegetables,€just€asĻwe€eat€mint€sauce€over€roast€lamb.€It€is€rather€Ō_ŌpicanteŌ_Ō€and€very€tasty€and€gives€food€a€goodĻflavor.ĢWhen€the€salsa€was€done,€the€girls€and€their€mama€began€to€warm€up€the€beans€and€to€hurryĻbaking€tortillas€over€the€fire.€A€piece€of€heavy€sheet€iron€had€been€placed€over€some€round€stonesĻnear€the€hearth€so€that€fire€could€burn€underneath€it€and€make€it€very€hot.€The€girls€had€soakedĻsome€corn€in€water€mixed€with€ashes€to€get€the€hulls€off€the€kernels,€then€thoroughly€washed€it,Ļso€that€now€it€was€soft€and€white.€This€damp,€white€corn€they€took€up€and€ground€two€or€threeĻtimes€on€the€Ō_ŌmetateŌ_Ō€that€was€in€front€of€each€girl.€Each€recited€prayers€of€the€rosary,€which€areĻprayers€used€by€Catholic€people,€as€she€worked.€When€the€corn€was€the€right€fineness,€the€girlsĻwould€scoop€it€up€in€their€hands€and€begin€patting€it€out€into€a€very€thin,€round€circle€about€theĻsize€of€a€pancake.€When€it€was€round€enough€and€thin€enough,€they€would€quickly€slap€it€ontoĻthe€hot€iron€of€the€stone€fireplace.€The€dough€would€puff€way€up€and€brown€all€over€veryĻquickly.€Where€it€had€toasted€faster,€it€would€be€a€golden€yellow€flecked€with€dark€brown.€ThenĻthe€girls€picked€it€up€by€the€edge€and€quickly€flipped€it€to€the€other€side.€All€the€puffiness€wentĻout€of€it,€and€it€turned€into€a€thin,€very€soft,€brown€tortilla.€It€is€the€Mexican€bread€and€very€oftenĻbecomes€the€Mexican€spoon,€too.€When€the€men€came€home€to€lunch,€they€took€off€their€spursĻand€threw€them€in€the€corner,€but€they€didnššt€take€off€their€leather€chaps€because€they€were€goingĻto€ride€again€as€soon€as€they€had€eaten.€They€sat€down€cross„legged€around€a€woven€grass€mat,Ļwhere€the€girls€and€the€mama€brought€them€bowls€full€of€hot€beans€with€cheese€melted€into€them,Ļa€tall€stack€of€hot,€golden„brown€tortillas,€and€a€side€dish€of€salsa.€They€would€break€off€a€bit€ofĻthe€tortilla,€fold€it€into€a€shape€that€could€be€used€as€a€spoon,€dip€up€a€bit€of€beans€or€salsa,€bite€itĻoff€and€chew€it,€then€dip€up€some€more.€ĢThey€drank€lots€of€cold€spring€water€and€a€cupful€of€Mexican€chocolate,€which€is€seasoned€with€aĻcinnamon€stick.€They€wiped€their€mouths€on€their€shirt€sleeves€because€they€had€no€napkins.ĻThey€thanked€the€women€for€the€nice,€hot€dinner,€put€on€their€spurs,€and€walked€out€of€the€houseĻand€over€to€their€horses.€The€bright,€silver€spurs€made€cling„clanging€music€each€time€their€sharpĻcowboy€boots€hit€the€ground.€They€sprang€onto€their€ponies€and,€with€a€š šŌ_ŌyiŌ_Ō„pi„pi„ah,šš€dashed€offĻacross€the€fields€to€their€afternoon€work€with€the€cattle.ĢIt€was€now€about€2:00€oššclock,€and€the€day€was€getting€very€warm.€I€asked€the€Mexican€mama€ifĻher€girls€could€go€down€to€the€river€with€me€and€have€a€swim.€There€was€a€beautiful€swimmingĻplace€right€where€the€streams€from€the€two€canyons,€one€on€either€side€of€the€valley,€cameĻtogether.€The€water€formed€a€single,€large,€beautiful€river€that€flowed€down€between€steep,€moss„¼covered€rock€walls€and€on€until€it€emptied€into€a€big€lake.€I€loved€to€stand€and€watch€the€mistŠ @-(, Šrising€from€the€river€and€circling€and€curling€up€and€over€the€sheer€cliffs€on€either€side.€OneĻplace€along€the€bank€of€this€river€was€covered€with€smooth,€white€rocks.€This€was€the€place€weĻused€as€a€dressing€room€to€get€ready€for€our€swim,€because€the€rocks€were€so€smooth€that€theyĻdid€not€hurt€our€feet,€and€here€and€there€were€a€few€tall€stones€just€high€enough€to€sit€down€onĻand€take€off€our€shoes€and€stockings.€So€we€raced€one€another€to€the€white€rocks€and€then€to€seeĻwho€would€be€first€in€the€cool,€blue€water.ĢWe€swam€and€we€swam.€We€climbed€out€and€dove€off€the€side€and€had€a€perfectly€lovely€time.ĻAfter€a€while€we€grew€tired,€so€we€decided€to€get€dressed€and€come€another€day€for€our€nextĻswim.ĢI€sat€down€on€a€tall€rock€to€get€my€shoes€and€stockings€on,€and€all€of€a€sudden€I€had€a€veryĻuncomfortable€feeling.€I€felt€like€someone€was€telling€me€to€move€away€from€that€rock€veryĻquickly.€I€sat€a€moment€longer,€but€the€uncomfortable€feeling€stayed.€I€finally€looked€back€of€meĻand€saw€in€the€shade€of€that€big€rock€a€huge€rattlesnake.€His€yellow€skin€was€all€marked€withĻdiamonds€of€black,€and€he€was€coiled€up€round€and€round.€His€tail€shook€very€angrily,€making€aĻsound€one€will€never€forget€if€they€have€ever€heard€it€once.€His€little€forked€tongue€was€going€inĻand€out€of€his€mouth€as€if€he€were€spitefully€sticking€it€out€at€me.€He€seemed€to€be€saying€bothĻwith€his€tail€and€with€his€tongue,€š šGet€off€my€rock.€This€is€my€rock€and€you€canššt€use€it.šš€HeĻseemed€to€be€a€very€jealous€rattlesnake€and€didnššt€want€to€share€the€spot€that€he€was€using€to€coolĻhimself€from€the€hot€sun,€especially€with€a€human,€because€humans€and€snakes€are€enemies€andĻdo€not€share€well€together.ĢI€jumped€to€my€feet€and€didnššt€lose€any€time€grabbing€my€shoes€and€stockings€and€moving€as€farĻaway€from€that€spot€as€I€could.€Believe€me,€when€I€sat€down€on€the€next€rock,€I€looked€firstĻbehind€it€to€make€sure€there€was€no€snake€that€would€be€jealous€of€me.€I€am€sure€if€I€had€been€aĻmoment€later,€that€snake€would€have€leaped€up€and€plunged€his€little€poisonous€fangs€into€myĻarm€or€back,€but€I€listened€to€the€warning€that€I€am€sure€was€the€Holy€Ghost€speaking€to€me,€justĻas€he€speaks€to€all€good€children.€When€I€got€home€that€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€and€said€my€prayers,€I€thanked€GodĻfor€his€protecting€care€and€for€the€Gift€of€the€Holy€Ghost€that€all€Mormon€children€receive€whenĻthey€are€baptized€and€confirmed.€I€can€never,€ever€forget€the€white€rocks,€the€blue„green€waters,Ļthe€huge,€grey„green€cliffs,€nor€the€protecting€care€sent€me€this€day€when€I€was€about€ten€yearsĻold.ĢŠ  $X" ŠÓ  Ó10ĢMemories€of€Ranch€Life¹Ó¹źÓń‹ńĢń‹ńThe€cows€on€the€ranch€were€of€two€kinds.€Some€were€milch€cows€that€had€sucking€calves.€TheseĻwe€kept€so€we€could€save€some€of€their€milk€each€day€to€make€the€cheeses.€And€some€were€rangeĻcows€that€we€let€get€fat€in€nice,€green€meadows€all€summer.€These€we€took€to€the€railroad€stationĻin€the€valley€in€the€fall€and€put€them€on€a€train€and€sent€them€to€the€big€city€to€be€sold€forĻbeefsteaks€and€roast€beef.€Now€because€the€range€cows€could€run€loose€over€the€meadows€soĻmuch,€they€were€rather€wild€and€not€easy€to€make€do€just€what€we€wanted€them€to€do.€TheyĻdidnššt€like€to€be€put€into€the€corral€where€we€had€to€keep€them€at€Ō_ŌniteŌ_Ō€so€they€couldnššt€wanderĻtoo€far€away€and€get€lost€in€other€peopleššs€herds€of€cattle.ĢOne€day€Star€and€I€were€hiking€over€the€foothills,€when€off€in€the€distance€I€saw€Carl€ridingĻtoward€me€very€fast.€He€was€trying€to€follow€a€wild€cow€that€was€running€this€way€and€that,Ļfooling€him€at€every€turn.€Carl€had€a€long,€forked€stick€with€six€or€seven€nice€big€bass€fish€whichĻhe€had€just€caught€down€in€the€river.€When€you€carry€fish€this€way,€you€put€one€end€of€the€stickĻright€through€the€fishššs€gills.€These€gills€are€like€our€nose€and€have€an€opening€clear€through€theĻfishššs€cheek.€You€string€the€fish€through€the€gills€onto€the€stick€like€you€string€beads€on€a€string.ĻCarl€galloped€his€horse€because€the€cow€was€running€very€fast.€He€was€trying€to€get€her€into€theĻcorral,€which€was€on€the€other€side€of€a€large€plowed€field€of€very€loose€dirt.€Now€as€Carl€passedĻme,€he€called,€š šCome€on,€Gladys,€give€me€your€arm.€Put€your€foot€in€the€stirrup€and€you€can€rideĻwith€me.šš€So€I€reached€up€and€grabbed€his€strong€arm€and€caught€my€foot€in€the€stirrup