BOYHOOD AND YOUTH IN NEW YORK STATE 2 1 



at the center of the household. It was she who 

 made it possible for me to go forth strong in body 

 and of purpose, to work patiently and bravely for 

 the farmers for science, for justice and for 

 truth. As I look upon the picture of her strong, 

 rugged, placid face, I recall her self-sacrificing life 

 for the good of everyone within the sphere of her 

 influence; and I know that she was a Christian, 

 although she belonged to no church and seldom 

 attended one. 



Soon after marriage at twenty years of age, her 

 toils began, and as the years passed, griefs and 

 burdens followed on one another's trail; but she 

 bore them all quietly, lovingly, even smilingly. I 

 see her now, the central figure in that numerous, 

 growing family commanding, handsome, but 

 not beautiful, with that large benignity which 

 comes to middle-life and age, from a well-spent, 

 unselfish life. From the youngest to the oldest 

 child, we all looked to her for comfort in trouble, 

 for instruction and advice in all our undertakings, 

 and for appreciation in our successes. After all 

 these years I cannot forgive myself for having 

 wantonly disobeyed her when she forbade me to 

 attend a dance at a tavern of doubtful reputation. 

 This was the more inexcusable since I was allowed 

 to do almost anything that was not positively bad. 



