342 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



that we are pleased to publish, liberal extracts. Mrs. Hall 

 embodies in her letter, together with many other things, 

 the following: 



4 4 A more delightful task could not have been assigned 

 me than that of attempting to give a brief sketch of the 

 life and doings of Mrs. Sophia Harden, in whom I have 

 found combined the unfaltering devotion of a wife and 

 mother, the trustworthiness of a friend, as well as execu- 

 tive ability, scholarly wisdom and the sweet graciousness 

 of womanhood. * * * My first acquaintance with 

 this family began in 1883 in Juald county, South Dakota, 

 where they took a homestead in what was then a new 

 country. I remember when I first met Mrs. Harden and 

 found a woman of so much culture and refinement, and 

 one so peculiarly adapted to the vocation of teaching, I 

 was puzzled to know why she should bury herself and 

 talents in what was then considered almost a desert. But 

 her now cozy home, delightful for situation in a lovely 

 grove of ash, box-elder and cotton wood, with the library 

 with its scholastic air, revolving book-cases, easy chairs, 

 piano, birds and flowers in profusion, in doors and out, all 

 leave no lingering doubt as to the wisdom of her choice. 

 One would naturally fall deeply in love with farm life did 

 we visit many such country places, with its cheery home- 

 like air, high-grade stock, hennery with its different 

 departments, with heating-stove for the comfort of the 

 fancy fowls; the sleek, well-cared-for horses, the farming 

 implements all in good order, and well-kept grounds, all 

 of which not only betoken thought and care, but has won 

 for Mrs. Harden an enviable reputation as a farmer, which 

 she well merits, because with her husband's unavoidable 

 absence had she not known all the details of farm work 

 and been able to assist by hand or voice, their home and 

 farm to-day would not be such complete source of pride to 

 the county as well as the owners. 



