OUR STORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 90, 16 July 1943, Page 6

OUR STORY

\ GRANDFATHER TRUMAN'S NUTS It hardly seemed po.s.sible lo Dorothea that tall, Avhite-haired grandmother was once just a little, redhaired girl like herself, but named Abigail Truman. Dorothea liked it best when grandmother told this story about her little girl days: "The greatest thing that ever happened to my brother' Dan and me was ■when father decided to move way out Avest. We helped to pack I the covcred wagon. I was sorry to leave my biggest toys behind, but sorrier still that grandfather Avasirt coming with us. Everyone, said that I lie was too old to take, such a long, hard journey and live in a log cabin in the Avoods. He Avas going to live now with Aunt Annie. "But. granfather AA-as sure he could cut firewood for mother when father was chopping down big trees to clear the land. And keep her company Avhen father had to go very far in the new country lo find a store at Avhich to buy sugar and coffee and calico and Avoollen cloth. So grandfather just packed lip his clothes and was all ready to go too. E\ 7 eryone Avas so surprised. "Aunt Annie had said to mother, 'I know j'ou'll see that Abigail learns to read and write, eA'en if there aren't any schools out there. But it's too bad you are leaving the church behind. Tve heard that out there in the Avilderness people hardly know when it's Sunday.' Grandfather just smiled at that, because he knew the right time came. Grandfather kept lots of little plans to himself until the right time came to tell them. "Our wagon joined the long line of other Avagons. Grandfather had scA 7 en nuts in his left-hand pocket, and every morning he changed one to his rii>ht pocket until all seven were in that pocket. Then he asked father to gel the drivers of the Avagons to stop a little earlier than usual to make camp. And. he took j Dan and Avent hunting something. And Avhen they came back grandfather said, 'To-morrow is Sunday. We've found a nice, sheltered glen to have a meeting in. God. has been taking carc of us on this hard journey. We ought to .worship Him as much as though Ave'd been able to bring a fine church building with us.' "Dan and I invited the people ol the Avholc camp, and every one was glad to come. And when grandfather had changed his seven nuts again, one each morning, and it was Sunday again, Ave had another meeting. This time it Avas on the top of a high hill, and we could jsei little dots of buffaloes far away. "Once grandfather chose, a roekv valley where there were caves. Anc a big thunderstorm came up, but there Avas room for everybody in the caA*es. And the singing sounded, all the liner with an echo. And grand-

father talked about God protecting His people, in many ways. Grandfather could preach about God even though he wasn't minister, but. had always been just, a fai-mer.