"We'd never have got through if I had n't been so
strong. I've always had good health, thank God, and I was able to help him
in the fields until right up to the time before my babies came. Our
children were good about taking care of each other. Martha, the one you
saw when she was a baby, was such a help to me, and she trained Anna to be
just like her. My Martha's married now, and has a baby of her own. Think
of that, Jim!
"No, I never got down-hearted. Anton's a good man, and I loved my children
and always believed they would turn out well. I belong on a farm. I'm
never lonesome here like I used to be in town. You remember what sad
spells I used to have, when I did n't know what was the matter with me?
I've never had them out here. And I don't mind work a bit, if I don't have
to put up with sadness." She leaned her chin on her hand and looked down
through the orchard, where the sunlight was growing more and more golden.
"You ought never to have gone to town, Tony," I said, wondering at her.
She turned to me eagerly. "Oh, I'm glad I went! I'd never have known
anything about cooking or housekeeping if I had n't. I learned nice ways
at the Harlings', and I've been able to bring my children up so much
better. Don't you think they are pretty well-behaved for country children?
If it had n't been for what Mrs. Harling taught me, I expect I'd have
brought them up like wild rabbits.
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