The next was Sunday, and many of the neighbors were in. I was not needed, and I went to Sophie's with the good tidings. The baby was so sweet and cunning. There had been quite a time about naming it. They both decided upon Ruth, but there was grandmother, who would have felt hurt if left out. Elise and Elizabeth were so much alike they could compliment both in the same name. So it was Ruth Elizabeth, but Homer always called her Little Girl. What would Chicago be when she was sixteen? Men would be describing old Chicago as they did now. But the log houses would be gone, and the plain brick houses were not picturesque. Would there be any old Fort Dearborn? And some of the Indians had thought it wiser to move further back. The wheat and oats and corn were trenching upon the ground to which they really had no claim. They still had their ball games and their races, the ambition of every young brave was to own a horse. Work for anything else they would not. The squaws supplied them with clothing. They fished and hunted, but the squaws tilled the fields, did bead work, made curious chains of polished shells, that looked as if they were set with gems. They seemed happy, too, but at middle life they were wrinkled old women.
Saturday afternoon was a gala time. They had games and dances, sometimes such fierce war dances it seemed as if they would scalp each other. There were stringent laws against selling them any quantity of liquor, and the clergymen tried to rouse some moral and intellectual ambition in them, but it was hard work. Were they really the ornamental denizens of the wilderness, and with the passing of that would they disappear?
Homer and Sophie were glad of my good news. I really was in an exultant state. And when Homer took me home we found Ben there, who was delighted and eager.
"I'm so glad," he said afterward, as we stood on the old stoop, that now extended out to the edge of the sidewalk. Father had raised us at least two feet. "I've been thinking what I could do for you, and that I ought to come in often, but I had a splendid chance to learn German, which will take three evenings in a week. And the disturbances in Europe send so many immigrants over here. I don't wonder they love to get to a free land, out of the reach of tyrants, and there is so much to study."
"Oh, Ben," I replied, "don't worry about us. I dare say some one will be in every evening when father is well enough to talk, and when he can go out a little—"
"It's you I am thinking about, and if I can be of any service you will surely let me know."
I promised. How good they all were to me. Does one recall past events more distinctly as one grows older? I could always see myself as father lifted me out of the old wagon, when I was half frightened at such a host of boys.
Father improved very slowly, but his mind was clear, and he had a good hope of being able to get about by spring. I had known that Dan Hayne had been attending to the place, but I was hardly prepared for the accounting he gave father.
"Really, Dan," and father's voice was husky with emotion, "things would have gone to the dogs if you had not come to the fore. I don't know how I will ever get straight with you."
Dan laughed. He had such a jolly, light-hearted ring in his voice, just like his mother's.