Elm Tree Farm (cont.)

(The Memoir of my Great Grandmother, Bertha Dodge Nellis)

Part II.  
Early Memories

They were building the sheep shed on the north side of the barnyard in November 1872.    That meant added help in an already large family.  There was Grandfather, Father and Mother, Frank, Minnie, and Tom, beside the help in the house and at the barn.  Uncle Jote had died the year before, and Fred was in Rochester at the University. 

On the 2nd, Mother helped to get the early breakfast that the men might be in work as soon as it was light enough to see.  But as she worked she realized that “the days were fulfilled”, and young Frank was sent post haste to harness the horse and go for the doctor.  Many is the good laugh I have heard, as it was recounted that Frank in his haste and boyish excitement, tried to hitch the horse with his head to the buggy - 1872 was of course long before the day of telephone or automobile, or even very good roads.   Country roads in November can be pretty bad.  It took time to get a doctor in that day.  The doctor, Dr. Solon (?), was already busy on a confinement case.  He cam as soon as he could, but I couldn’t wait for him, so with the assistance the practical nurse could give I arrived first, and mother and child were doing well, thank you. 

No wonder I was a spoiled child.  I suppose I was.  They said Grandfather took me to his heart.  When Father went to tell him that the baby had arrived safely, he found Grandfather crying in the barn. He wiped his tears away, came to the house, and promptly began the business of spoiling me.  Father and Mother lost the two babies within so short a time, no wonder every ache of pain of mine received attention.  The older children no doubt helped in the process of spoiling, but, too, they have been a saving element.