Journal of Mary Phyllis Fisher - Thomas Davies

of boxes with pretty curtains around it. Father had white washed the house inside and out and
we had trees and flowers and a nice garden.
………..my Father, Franklin Pierce Fisher named it Sara and we children went with Father to
the grave yard and Father buried her. The boys helped to cover the coffin. Mother’s next baby
was Jim and he grew to manhood. I gave this talk at a party given at Aunt Mable Gibb’s home.
I think it was when mother resigned as president and Aunt Mabel was made president of Relief
Society in her place.
‘When Aunt Ethel asked me to give a tribute today to my mother I thought that I should
give her life for that in itself is a tribute to her for her life has been one of service, not only to her
family and brothers and sisters but to those in need. When they were in need they came to her
for advice. Aunt Ada, Uncle Lynn, Aunt Ethel, Smilly, Aunt Belle Merrill and other came to
see my mother and she would listen to them and help them. When Aunt Ada [?]was going to
have a baby before she was married, and Uncle Lynn when he was excommunicated from the
church both came for advice and help, she was there for them. Sister Brooks, Edna Draper and
many others came to my mother and she would listen to them and give them advice.
When I think of my mother I think of unselfishness personified. This is exemplified by the large
family she had. Out of the 14 children she had, 12 are now living. One died at birth and was
named Sara. Mother nearly died at that time. Sara was a large beautiful baby girl. Father
brought her home and Aunt Ethel and Aunt Belle, Mother’s sister dressed her and put her into a
little coffin Uncle John Merrill made for her. Father took all of the children and we went out to
the cemetary and buried the baby. We would have so liked to have kept her. She was so sweet.
The other son Jim grew to manhood. He drowned while swimming in Lake Linnet in Waterton.
She has now 24 children counting the in-laws and 59 grandchildren.
She was proud of all her children’s accomplishments in school and in the things they did in
church. It was hard for her when Carol was married and left home to go so far away. It must
have been a great trial too when I was sick with rheumatic fever, but she waited on me, cared for
me and prayed for me. She had so many to care for but was never cross.
Orrin was such a good faithful boy to help at home. He always stayed out of school in the
spring and fall to help Father on the farm. How he made his grades with such good marks I
could never understand. When he went on his mission to Tonga, I remember how mother cried
as he left with Father to go on the train to Salt Lake City. Aunt Ethel was there and tried to
comfort her but she said, “He has never been away from home in his life. He has worked so
hard and been such a good faithful and obedient boy I can hardly bear to let him go so far
away.” She was so proud of him when he returned and went to agriculture school in Raymond
completing a two years course in one year.
Glen worked out and earned enough money to go to Agriculture College in Claresholm.
Mother was happy to hear that he was chosen to go to Eastern Canada to represent the school.
He had just enough money to pay his board and expenses and get him there. I remember mother
said to him, “Don’t you think you should pay your tithing on the money you have earned?”
He said, “If I do I won’t have enough money for school.
But she said, “I think the Lord will bless you so you will be able to get along all right if you do.”
So he paid his tithing. The next day some of the neighbors were going to Claresholm and
offered to give him a ride so he didn’t have the expense of going on the train. Mother felt that
the Lord had blessed him immediately for being obedient.
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