whose whole life was changed by her death; and Mother too, who said that the home was never the same after Florence’s death, that there was a greater resignation and dependence upon God in everything that pertained to the farm and the welfare of the entire family. And Fred, who was away at college, and could not get home for the funeral, has also testified that for various reasons, there has never been a sorrow in his life as deep as the sorrow connected with Florence’s death. All of this bears out the truth of God’s word, that God does work in mysterious ways His wonders to perform, and the other truth often “A little child shall lead them.” The writer of this narrative is well aware that one would have to be a participant in all that has been narrated here, or at least to be in close touch with the family at the time, to fully appreciate this family history. Be this as it may, the writer still is encouraged to hope that this narrative will have its greatest value, not for the participants who are now comparatively few, and if still living have their own memories far richer for them to recall than could possibly be recalled for them, but for those who while not participants, but who in reading this narrative will perchance be able to come to the same conclusion as the writer—that what has been recorded here could not possibly have happened had not our heavenly Father to a remarkable degree been in it all. Only a good God, as good and loving as we know our heavenly Father to be, could have worked so graciously and so effectively in lives where there was so much to forgive and to forget; and it may be that some of those who are to appear on the scene at a later date, may be called upon to learn the other lesson, that in every life as in every family, some rain must fall, and the way we deal with the dark days will largely determine what the main harvest of our life is to be. IV. A HOME OF BOUNDLESS HOSPITALITY Since this record has to do with a single family, and the place where for 125 years it has had its home, and as this family is continuing to grow, and with God’s continued blessing, it is certain to become even more numerous, there should be a place in the narrative to note if there are any traits that distinguish our family from other families which claim a common origin. When 35
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