Bart and Rindy Harrison Part 3
Written by Eveard T. Harrison
Mother worked as tirelessly as did Dad. In the home or in the field, she was there when there was work to be done. I remember seeing her maneuver four frightened, runaway horses and the grain drill into the soft plowed field to bring them to a stop without damage to the machine nor harm to the horses. She found beauty in every thing that grew. The small house plant in a tomato can, the vegetable garden by the kitchen door, and the waving fields of grain were gifts from a kind Heavenly Father. From the things around us and by their example we were taught faith in God. We were a happy family.
The seventh child joined our family circle but she did not stay long. As the spirit passed from the little body, Dad turned to Mother and asked, "Shall I call her back?"
"No," Mother answered. "God’s will be done." It was a testimony I shall never forget. I knew that by the power and authority of the Priesthood Dad could call her back and so did Mother. But Mother knew what the little one would have to face in this life and she was willing to let God’s will be done.
They say mortals are here to be tried. Low prices ("depression" it is called) and water shortages made going tough. Income dwindled until we were lucky to get our board from the thirsty soil. I worked off the farm to help pay some of the bills. It soon became evident that if I finished college I would have to make a try for it without waiting to get rich.
In the fall of 1935, with no more resources than I had eight years before, I resigned my position as Ward Clerk and went back to the University of Idaho. I feel like a deserter leaving the family in such a condition, but for some reason they seemed to get along better without me. After eight years layout the rust was pretty thick on the mental machinery. It was "nip and tuck" from both the academic and the financial angle. Blanche staked me to a few months board and I used a hoe and pitchfork as well as a pen and pencil, until they finally gave me my sheepskin.
Mother and Dad and Edris came in June to see me get my diploma. To the best of my knowledge, I was the first of Grandfather Harrison’s family to get a college degree. The trip back by way of Grand Coulee, Spokane, Glacier Park and Yellowstone will long be remembered.
The Soil Conservation Service offered me a three month’s job at Emmett, Idaho which I gladly accepted. I found leaving home so soon to be very hard. While my few threadbare belongings were being reconditioned and packed, Mother and I had one of those heart-to-heart talks you read about but seldom experience. Our exact conversation cannot be recalled but in substance she said, "We have done the best by you that we knew how. We would like to have done better, but we feel that you are now able to carry on as we have tried to teach you. We know you will."
To myself I said, "You must." She must have heard because she smiled approvingly. She knew what I did not. This leave-taking was to make an empty place at the family circle that would be filled only and at long intervals. It must be said that Father and Mother guided their family with intelligence and skill far greater than would be thought possible from their educational and financial resources. At this writing I am not doing as well with much more.
At this time I all but bow out of the picture. From here on all I know about the family is what I have heard. At Emmett, Idaho I met Miss Irene Davis, a promising young high school teacher. After that I secured an appointment as Junior Soil Surveyor, U.S.D.A.—S.C.S. I worked in sunny California and romantic Arizona. After paying my debts I saved a little money and bought a used Ford. Then it happened! I asked Miss Davis to be my Lady Irene forever; which she did on July 10, 1940 in the Logan Temple. Mom and Dad were there to witness the beautiful sacred ceremony.
While all this was going on, Blanche went on a mission for the Church, and it was my turn to act as banker. Stanford graduated from the B.Y.U. and started teaching; Blanche, Edris and Anna also became school teachers. Now I was surrounded by school "marms." Fred enlisted in the armed forces and served in the Pacific theater. More could written of these events; but they deserve an eye witness account.
At one time Mom and Dad had four unmarried children 25 years or older, and in less than one year after I fell off the deep end, the three others did likewise. Talk about sheep following the goat to the slaughter. The folks would have been very lonely had it not been for Fred and Anna and their clarinets.
Fred and Anna soon married and the folks were right back where they started. They point with pride to three college degrees, two Junior college certificates, one vocational certificate, one missionary, and one soldier. They find immense satisfaction in their six trips to the temple with their children to see each sealed to husband or wife for time and eternity—and bragging about 28 grandchildren!
