Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

OUR SPRINGTIME 123
to go after father, as we were not sure a letter would reach
him. It was arranged that Sam was to stop at Morrow and
inform Uncle Joseph, and then proceed toward Clinton County
after father, hoping that he would soon learn of his exact
locality- Uncle Joseph left at once for our house, and found
grandfather glad to see him; and to his beloved "Josie" he
told his own story, saying he had been sick five weeks, when
in reality it had been but five days.
Night and day the neighbors came and stood about our
grandfather's bed, while he held on to life with a surprising
tenacity. We children could hardly endure the strain of the
first real suffering we had ever known or seen. We kept out-
doors all that the weather would permit. The last day of
his life Reuben VanZandt and Uncle Jimmie McCash remained
with us while he was sinking and it seemed every breath would
be his last. I remember Mr. VanZandt 's commenting on his
long life and making the observation that it would be a mere
speck in comparison to eternity. How long the nights were!
Mother would have us retire early so as to give the watchers
room about the open fire. Often in the darkness we would
be conscious of the preparation of a midnight lunch, the odor
of coff"ee and of fresh meat frying in the kitchen would cause
us to be aroused, and for hours, children as we were, we would
watch for the dawn of day. I would crouch by the east
window to catch its coming and when I saw the morning star
rising over Bruin's barn I had a thrill of joy for I knew the
train of stars were winking out one by one, and soon the
King of Day would outshine even "the bright and morning
star."
One morning not long after midnight our mother, worn
and weary, came to our room to retire and to tell us that
grandfather was gone, and now she wished to rest while the
neighbors were busy in the front room. Later we found Mrs.
Preston and Mrs. Bruin in charge. How peaceful our aged
one looked as the calm of undisturbed repose was clearly depicted
on his dear old face. All could but rejoice that he had
entered upon eternal blessedness. Such were the last days of
one who through a long life had helped to make Ohio a de-