It was the bright and joyous sunshine of a spring morning, before the bursting of the storm.
Though each year increased my attachment to the people, and apparently added their good-will to myself, there had been coming to the front a difficulty that could not any longer be thrust aside or disregarded.

I was one hundred and fifty miles away from home, and from my wife and children.

On holding a council of war to consider our future tactics, in which Mrs.Butler, was commander-in-chief, and myself, second in command, she said to me, "Pardee, I am willing to go wherever you say, only when we go there we must go to stay.

We must not put our house on wheels.

We must not leave our children without settled employment, exposed to all the hazards of a city life, or a life without a permanent habitation." Under such circumstances the settling on a home in reference to which it could be said, "Here we are to stay," was not an easy matter.