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---Chapter 2: We Move to Ohio---
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These happy days of study-work and childish pleasure were to end soon and in a very unexpected manner. Letters from Ohio informed us that grandmother Lemmon, and her daughter, Miss Mary Lemmon were in failing health. Father being the youngest of three sons was the one preferred by her to manage the home place for her.
Our home was soon leased to a neighbor, Mr. Peter Price, and within a few weeks we stepped aboard the magnificent steamboat that was to carry us from Beardstown to our destination at Cincinnati. A thrill of delight ran through my mind as I viewed the great dimensions and completeness of construction that evolved a structure so complete in every way and so adapted to every need as we journeyed on. These contemplations occupied my mind for many succeeding days and seemed to awaken a great sense of the wonders and possibilities of the human mind when directed in the way of constructive imagination.
Upon our arrival in Cincinnati we were met by some of mother's people by the name of Chase, and after a short visit with them we went to our father's older brother, Uncle Eulic Lemmon, who was to convey us to our destination at Oxford, Ohio. Uncle's strong team of fiery horses and the great wagon well loaded with every thing necessary for our comfort while on the journey to Oxford, was brought out, and we were soon on our way.
The relatives still remained on the old home place where they had settled in the year 1812, and we were to see the progress which time and thrift marks upon a naturally beautiful and desirable landscape. We moved into a good house that had been built on part of grandmother's farm. We were now surrounded by a large number of relatives and they all joined as one in rejoicing over our return. To me the surroundings were as a new world. My lesson hours were interrupted and the talk of school was a new life to me.
I was now turned into my tenth year and on the first day of school with my books and slate I appeared before Mr. White's desk. After a brief examination of my work I was placed in classes with many children of about my age, among them were some related to me by birth. On pleasant days during the Fall and early Winter from our home in Indiana to the school house which stood across the state line in Ohio, but when the weather became severe I made my home with great grandmother Bourne, her home being in Ohio and only a short distance from the school house.
Thanks to dear mother's training I found myself far in advance of most pupils of my age and class. I had the habit which I still follow of looking up the meaning of all new words that occurred in either the text book or any book that I read for instruction or entertainment. In arithmetic and all fundamental work mother had given me such careful drills and had by her own well formed habits of study inspired me to do the best possible work. My teacher, Mr. White, was a very consistent and competent person for the place and my progress through the year was more than usual. One embarrassing thing often occurred. Mr. White would refer to my work as an example of what a pupil could accomplish by dint of effort. On those occasions I would recall my mother's patient care and the drills she gave on the more difficult tasks and I would then feel indebted to her for the kind care and instruction she had given me.
The evenings I spent at Grandmother Bourne's are indelibly printed on my memory by the peculiar characteristics of each individual member of the family and the marked characteristics of the surroundings. The household consisted of Great Grandmother, Aunt Lucy Bourne, Uncle Richard, and Joseph White, the bound boy. Aunt Lucy was a widow and had lived seven years on the island of Nantucket. Her husband died there at their own home, then as soon as suitable arrangements could be made she returned to her mother and ever afterward took the care of her mother's house. Uncle was a very thorough worker and everything on that farm had the look of being there for all time to come. The boy Joseph, went with uncle and worked as a member of the family and was treated as a younger brother.
On my return from school the first thing to be thought of was the preparation of the next day's lesson. For this I usually sat by the fireside seated in grandmother's rocking chair; then as the outdoor work was completed Uncle and Joseph would come into the house and while Uncle would read Jospeh would sit opposite and make hideous faces at the pet dog. The dog was past twenty years of age and had come with the family from Massachusetts. He was so well trained that at no time could he be coaxed into the house without having first carefully wiped his feet on the door mat and made manners. This was done by a series of nods and respectful yelps. As Joseph sat making faces the dog resented by growls and after each of these Great Grandmother would leave her work in the kitchen, come to the sitting room and say in the most earnest way, "Joseph, what be ye doing?" And Joseph would as regularly answer, "Nothin." This dialogue would be repeated many times each evening until I came to think of it as part of the necessary family routine.
Grandmother was past ninety years of age but was always careful to oversee all the work and it was the delight of her children to humor her every suggestion. After we all had retired for the night, she wentthe round of the house and would inquire of each, "Be ye comfortable," and when each had answered she would return to the fireside and work or read until a very late hour of the night.
This commodious house had been built soon after their arrival in that town and was thoroughly furnished and as comfortable as a home could be. Neatness and cleanliness was sure its characteristic. I think Uncle Richard must have been a model farmer. The orchard, the flower gardens and every thing was laid out in such perfect order. Their stock was was of the best, and all the buildings were furnished with every necessary thing for use or comfort and ornament.
The children took pride in extending watchful care over grandmother. She arose as usual one morning in the late Spring and went about her accustomed duties. Seeing her falter they hastened to her side, but the spirit had left its tenement of clay. This occurred in the year 1840. Grandmother was in her ninety-seventh year of age.
These happy school days continued through two years. Occasionally I met with my great uncles and their families, Nathan, Marshal, Lumidu and Richard. It was with feelings of regret that I bade adieu to my kind teacher, Mr. White, and the school mates at Oxford, Ohio. Taking a fond farewell of those scenes that had offered me so much pleasure and stored them as treasures of memory. New scenes and varied experiences awaited my childish footsteps.