You see, children," he went on, "your mother and I arranged before the words were said over us"-- he always put it that way--I never in my life heard him say, "when we were married"; he read so many books he talked exactly like a book--"that we would be partners in everything, as long as we lived.

When we decided the Ohio land was not quite what we wanted, she sent me farther west to prospect, while she stayed at home and kept the baby.

When I reached this land, found it for sale, and within my means, I bought it, and started home happy.
Before I'd gone a mile, I turned to look back, and saw that it was hilly, mostly woods, and there was no computing the amount of work it would require to make it what I could see in it; so I began to think maybe she wouldn't like it, and to wish I had brought her, before I closed the deal.

By the time I returned home, packed up, and travelled this far on the way back with her, there was considerable tension in my feelings--considerable tension," repeated father as he turned the horses and began driving carefully, measuring the distance from Hoods' and the bridge.

At last he stopped, backed a step, and said: "There, mommy, did I hit the spot ?" "You did!" said mother, stepping from the carriage and walking up beside him.