The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

without focus and expresses her sadness about Frances Willard’s death. Martha begins to teach the women how they can create change within their homes and their towns. She believes that the mother’s work holds great importance: “It is generally understood that a mother’s work must begin at home. Madam Willard said it was only as a mother did her full duty in her own home that she is capable of doing anything of great value elsewhere.” Martha talks about the spiritual side of a mother’s work. She says that the most important thing a mother can teach a child is to fear the Lord. She writes, “Teach a child to pray as soon as it can lisp its mother’s name. Teach it to love and reverence the Bible. Teach them little texts. Teach them obedience.” She shares stories of John Newton and young men in the country who remembered their mother’s words about God at a young age and stresses the importance of teaching children to fear the Lord. By understanding the beliefs and platforms of the WCTU, Martha’s political stance becomes clearer. Readers have the ability to understand what issues were important to her and how she believed in a solution to those issues. Throughout her journals, Martha’s faith and love for her family are apparent. It should not surprise readers to know that she was involved in the WCTU because the organization focused on the things that Martha cared for the most. After looking into the values of the WCTU, the theme of faith and family in Martha’s life becomes clear. While she travelled in Indiana, she recorded every letter that she received from her children and often notes how anxious she is to get back to them. Throughout her journals, she makes references to Florence, who passed away at the young age of two, mourning the loss of her precious child for many years. These instances are scattered throughout her journals and are easy to miss among the daily farm records at times. But, Martha’s involvement in the WCTU 164