1891 Journal 4

 Alice and her Papa

 Alice always called herself her Papa’s baby, and he was not a bit more crazy about her, than she was about him.  One night I came in to find her and Ed seated on the foot of the little trundle bed, hymn book in hand, turning from page to page.

“What are you looking for, precious, perhaps Mamma can help you,” I said.

“Oh!” she replied “I heard the sweetest song I ever heard today.  All I can remember is “kept by a father’s hand, love cannot die” and Ed cannot find it.

But Mamma quickly found “There is a happy land” and sang littleAliceto sleep with it for many years after.

*********************************************************

Anna and Sunday

 I tried very early to teach my dear little Anna to keep Sunday holy – till one day she surprised me very much by showing that she had not understood what Sunday meant.

She wanted me to sew a button on her shoe, but I told her “No, it is Sunday, Anna, and Mamma must not sew on Sunday.”  Quickly she ran out on the porch, slammed the windows, then running in joyfully exclaimed “Now, Mamma, sew my button on quick, it is no more Sun-day in this room, for Anna shut out all the Sun.

Anna and Systematic

 Anna was very anxious to learn how to set the table for Mamma.  “Well” I said “put on all the plates, then all the forks, spoons, knives, glasses and napkins.  Just be systematic darling and you won’t have any trouble!”

“I like to know how I can be sister-matic” she replied “when both of my sisters have gone to see Bessie.”  Then asked upon seeing me smile “Mamma doesn’t sister-matic mean to get your sister to help you?”

***********************************************************

Whooping Cough
Summer, 1890

 Anna, Alice and Laura Keene Gleaves all had whooping cough.  Laura Keene had not yet recovered from a very bad spell of Fever that left her a mere shadow of herself and seemingly with lung trouble, but we put her on Cod-liver-oil and took her toChicago, and she became strong and well and heavier than she had ever been.  There we had the lovely picture taken of Anna and Alice with heads touching, and Laura Keene’s holding to her doll.

Anna Chicken-pox etc.

 Anna had chicken-pox when two years old, Scarletana when Sam had Scarlet Fever, mumps whenAlicewas a baby and a very bad case of Typhoid Fever when seven years old.  I thought so certain that she would die, and was so happy when she did not; and made so many heart felt promises.  I hope that God will keep my memory green concerning them, and help me to do some good in the world, both I and my dear, dear little girl. 

***************************************************************

Anna as a Messenger.

 Dear Anna has many a responsibility as the eldest, and also many a sad errand to run upon.  When Mamma ran the machine needle through her finger, Anna ran so fast for her Papa, that the poor child fainted when she got back to me and Anna had to have more attention than Mamma, but dear thoughtful little girl that she is, she had called back, put it in warm water till Papa gets here and that had greatly relieved the pain.

Xmas 1893

 Anna and Alice went to spend a week with Aunt Marie and a very delightful week it proved.  Of course, as usual, “the Rose was not without its thorns”.  Laura Keene had the worse case of croup she had ever had, the night before.  The very night that Mrs. Geo. Sexton had her reception, to which Mamma fortunately refused to go, as the terrible attack came on so suddenly that her poor little name-sake might have choked to death.  Then on account of the Small pox fright, Anna and Alice had both to be

 vaccinated, andAlicehad a very bad leg indeed.  But Aunt Marie petted and played with them and made their hair a nice time never the less.  Then immediately after their return Papa left us to go to New York and every one of my babies got sick while he was gone and young Dr. Sayers had to come so often that the children have ever since called him “the family physician”.  Besides we had the excitement of thieves breaking into the wood house and trying to get into the cellar.  So we are not wishing for Papa to leave soon again.  He brought the children candy; Mamma a handsome l____ & Rosie a sash.

Summer 1890

 The Summer of 1890 we had the new Dining room built.  Mamma had thought to have had a great deal of pleasure watching them build it, but poor little Laura Keene was so sick with fever, that Mamma could only take an occasional peep.  At one time the poor little darling grew so ill, that we thought we would have to stop the work, but we put her on Cod liver oil that she loved so dearly that she licked the cork, and then she commenced at once to improve.

*************************************************************

December 1890

 After our return from Grandma’s,  Mrs.Tebbits of Chicago sent for a photo of Anna and Alice – as she was getting up an Album of the most beautiful children in America, and said, then that she had never seen any more beautiful.  Mamma, at Grandma’s request sent them at once.