50 years,
working in the aggregate 110 years in a life of 70. The explanation
is that some people can do two things or more at one and the same
time.

On the 28th of June, 1884, indicating just exactly fourteen years of
our (wife's and my) married life, our youngest child was born. In
the meantime during these fourteen years to us (wife and me) were
born seven children viz: Harry H. April 3rd, 1871. Paul P. October
22nd, 1872. Otho O. April 8, 1874. Wiley W. January 4th, 1876.
Clara C. September 24th, 1877. Edith E. January 31st. 1881, Milo M.
June 28th 1884. Do you notice that the above children each has
double initials. This happened so with the two first, with the
others it was purposed so. All of these children were born in the
same home, Farmington, Atchison County, Kansas. But now the parents
are together, alone and lonesome. Not a child near, only in memory.
Yet the seven are. Four are here-- In St. Louis, Harry. In
Prescott, Paul. In Independence, Otho. In New York, Milo. In
Heaven three. Little Wiley went on the 21st day of July 1877. Jesus
said of him, "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Edith when on the
8th day of November, 1902. Elder H. E. Ballou said of her: "Fallen
Asleep."

Miss Edith Hastings, daughter of Elder Z. S. Hastings, granddaughter
of Pardee Butler, November 8th, 1902. Age twenty-one years. Was
born of water and of the Spirit February 2, 1894. F. M. Hooton,
minister of the house at Pardee, in which her father and grandfather
preached and which services in memoriam were held. Dear old house,
if thy walls could speak how many, how many things thou woulds't say.
Thou woulds't tell what we can feel, but cannot speak of or write of.
Dear, pure Edith. Ten days of unalarming illness--sudden death. A
surprise to all but her. A great shock. Did the Lord tell her
"tonsillitis" is something fatal?

"May heaven's blessings rest on the family, noble, useful family.
Earthly home is sad now. Heavenly home still nearer and dearer. And
on the church she loved, on the Senior C. E.--we will not forget her
pure sweet talks there--on the Junior C. E. she organized and
superintended until death. On her assistant superintendent and bosom
friend, Miss Maude Tucker. On the school she taught, on students of
county Normal at Effingham, who loved her, on one noble young student
of Drake University who came to sit among the mourners as though he
was already one of the family. All lov