As she took the bottom of her apron to wipe the sweat that was determined to drip into her eyes the thoughts of fun and games at their wedding popped into her mind for absolutely no reason. Those days were over that's for sure. Oh it was so hot and she was so sad. She had given birth to twins, but only one of them had survived. The little mite was in a wooden box on the door of the oven to make sure he stayed at a warm even temperature. She had him swaddled in soft blankets. He was so very tiny. The doctor said less than three pounds. He gave her and her husband little hope that he would live but a day or two. Her husband was happy that they had had twins, but seemed too busy to reassure her that the tiny baby in the kitchen would survive.
July was a hot month. Thank goodness for the cottonwood trees that had been planted so many years ago. There were nearly a hundred of them on the farm. They stood tall and their glossy leaves seemed to talk to her as she stood on the porch for a breath of air. She heard a tiny cry and hurried back to the kitchen to tend to her tiny son. His name was LaVerne. She had already added his birth to her Hayes family Bible; July 1898. Hopefully she would not have to add the date of his death.
Her faith in God helped her through the many weeks leading to months of caring for her tiny baby boy. He grew drinking cow's milk and mashed vegetables as he grew older. As he grew up to be a very tall strong man she often shook her head and thanked God for the opportunity to help her tiny boy become the man that he was becoming, but he talked often about leaving Iowa to see the world. She worried so that he would leave her.
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Five years later she gave birth to a red faced strong and healthy baby boy who took the world by the horns and laughed at the warnings of his mother. She added his name to her Bible. His name was Nathan after her father. She worried herself sick as she watched him take risks with his life without a thought of danger. He and LaVerne grew up to be friends. They helped their father in the fields and the farm yard chores. They planted and harvested corn and oats and hay. They both were much taller and stronger than their father. They took after their mother's side of the family.
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In the cold winter of 1912 about nine years after Nathan was born she gave birth to her daughter, Gladys. She again added her name to the Hayes family Bible. She was a little thing and cute to look at, but in her two son's estimation she was a toy for their mother, kind of a nuisance to them. She seemed to always want to tag along after them. As she cuddled her daughter she thought; My family is now complete. I have a daughter to help me with so many things. Little did she know that four years later Glady would have a new baby brother that would grow up to be her best friend. His name was Leslie. His birth was added to the Hayes family Bible.
These four children all had a story. Each one so very different; each one changed the world in it's own small way for generations to come.
Six years after Gladys was born her mother suffered a loss that again led her to her Hayes family Bible. Her brother died of the Flu during the Pandemic of 1918. They said a Pandemic would never happen again...
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The Hayes family Bible is safe and still holds the history of the the Hayes family descendants. What an interesting bunch! Their stories will continue.
1 comment:
Each of the babies were so interesting. I'm so glad I can remember the stories my mother told me. These are not only for your enjoyment but for the children of the children of those Hayes kids. lol
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