i6 



THE BLESSED BEES. 



us all. Probably we should be able to give my 

 sister the culture which had been planned, but our 

 own education must be given up, so far as college 

 and association with other students, were concerned. 

 The thought was very bitter. More bitter than this, 

 however, was the thought that mother must continue 

 her severe toil. We had hoped that in another 

 year she might have rest from the self-sacrificing 

 care she had for many years given her family, go for 

 a long visit among early friends in Massachusetts, 

 and take up many of the threads of life that had 

 been dropped since she had been a pioneer in the 

 backwoods. This hope, also, must, for the present, 

 be given up. She could not leave her family. If 

 she could have done this, there was no way to get 

 the money for her expenses. She must go on for 

 years in the old way. Nay, perhaps her labors and 

 self-denials would be increased. 



The prospect, certainly, was not bright. I shrunk 

 from no hard work. I was willing to struggle 

 against difficulties and endure poverty. But for 

 mother, rest and change were necessary. Will and 

 Lucy were worthy of the best culture the schools 

 could give. My own hopes seemed to me honorable 

 and worthy of accomplishment. To give all these 

 up was a grievous disappointment. It was far into 

 the night before I could quiet myself for sleep. 



In the morning I began with Will the farm-work. 



