Lanterna Rally

Author: Julia Watkins Frost

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 120

ISBN-13: 9781230257761

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII OUR SPRINGTIME HE early days of March bring to southern Ohio freeze and thaw in close succession. There is a certain day, March 2, 1844, the weather of which I well remember, though I was not six years old at the time. It was during the visit of Cousin Mary Jane Skinner and a rainy afternoon when our parents decided to fulfil a promise to us of some standing. This took us children, then three in number, and Cousin Mary Jane to spend the night at our neighbor VanZandt's. It was something out of the ordinary for us to make a visit of this duration. To be with the large family of VanZandt children for any time was an event to be anticipated, and the four of us went with joy. We stayed not only that night but into the afternoon of the next day, March 3, when father came over and announced the birth of a fine little daughter, our sister. It took but a moment for us to get on our coats and wraps and start for home. The rain of the day before had been checked by a cold wave; the mud had frozen and the walking was very rough. Our eagerness to see the little sister sent us with all haste down the road, breaking through the deep horse tracks, mud and water flying over shoes and stockings and up on coats and dresses; but what cared we -- a wonder and a gladness awaited us at home! Upon the arrival we found some good neighbor women still lingering and ministering to our mother. Julia Bruin, as nurse, gave signals indicating that we were to keep quiet as we neared the door of mother's room. We went in on tiptoe, to find mother in the "big high bed" and little sister in the rocking chair on a pillow. Here we three, Will and little Joe and I, knelt down as close to the baby as we could get to wonder and admire. First we looked into the...