Starlight - Chapter 5+6

 

Chapter EXILE

How long it was since Starlight had spoken her own language, l seemed so

long ago that first her brother had been conscripted into the army finding that

I was controlled already by the power of the Babylonians, it was not until they had been forced to leave their own land and taken on that long trek away to Babylon that she had at last had to accept that she must settle down and make her home here in Susa, yes, the great city of Susa.

What a comfort it had been to her grandfather to see that the name he had given to this tiny squalling bundle of life, 'Starlight' had indeed been inspired by the Source of all life,

They had thought they could never have survived without her beloved brother, but though they had all done their best to keep him hidden from the authorities, the Babylonians were demanding more and more, draining the best of their young men to fight under their command,

Starlight, yes, even her parents had come to accept that was her name, stood now upright beside them, knowing she alone could, and indeed would be their strength in their old age.

She had continued to care for her grandfather, but when her brother had some t0 make his last farewell somehow the old man had realised that it was a closure on the hand that had bound their hearts toget.er,

 'Do not weep, Granddad,'
she sought to comfort the old man.

I do not weep for myself, beloved Starlight, for I have kindled a light in the hearts of you and your brother, and I pray it may never be quenched.'

He seemed to be sobbing quietly, but then he lay quietly. Was he sleeping? But no. He spoke strongly now.

'Come now, then, bring out the precious manuscripts and we will be able to dry our tears, for you are still here to care for me and while I am still able to listen to you reading to me these wonderful words of hope then we have courage.’

And so, in the gloom of that damp, dark cave the girl read clearly and strongly from the precious manuscripts which the prophet Ezekiel had been patiently writing, far away from his homeland in Judah, he too a prisoner of hope.

Meanwhile, Starlight faithfully tended to her parents, then groped her way through the gloomy caves and shared the gruel that was all they had left to share,

CH. 7 HOPE IN A STRANGE LAND

But those were days long gone and it was only on one of those rare days when her brother had been brought to the city because of his prominent position now of authority in the Babylonian army and he would be able to spend a few hours visiting his sister, a matron now in a prestigious household and though they were both well used to conversing in the national language, her beloved brother insisted that they use their own mother tongue.

‘We must not forget our heart language. It is the language of our beloved Grandfather, in which he brought to us the promises of God, that God would bring us back and bless us. We must believe and be ready. Never give up believing.'

'Light of Dawn,’ his sister whispered. 'That is the name Grandfather gave you, isn't it?' With them speaking together the language of their childhood, the memories were flooding back. It was through her brother's wisdom and

protection that she had been protected during that long, terrible march through those long miles taking them at last to the markets of Babylon.

Now living in the great capital city with all its opulence those terrible times of privation back in Egypt were almost forgotten but now, her beloved brother beside her, the memories were flooding back,

How long will this last?' she had often wondered, feeling she had no opportunity or strength left to search for more grain to make a meal.

She remembered how a neighbour had crept out of her house to join her as she made her way to fetch fresh water from the well.

"Your parents are losing the will to live? She remembered how he had whispered to the girl who she still thought of as the Little Mouse, but he was to realise that she was a child no longer and in great need of protection. He knew the army had been looking around for young virgins, especially beautiful ones such as this one who was now a child no longer and despite the hardship of her life was now bursting into bloom and would be useful as of worth in trading with the enemy.

Her brother was enlisted in the army now but made sure that he came to visit his aged parents whenever he could. He had long refused to use the name they had given him, dedicating him to one of the Egyptian gods. Grandfather had named him 'Scribe of the Lord,' but his sister was never sure what she should call him, for the world was full of danger these days and the army seemed to be controlled by foreign powers.

It was after both Grandfather and her parents had been given the traditional burial that she had been sent for by her brother.

They embraced tenderly. 'Starlight' he called her. 'That is your name,' he affirmed, and no one can take it from you.'

'And you?' She questioned.

Her brother hesitated, for those long years of fear had made an impact, then confidently he came out with the name given by their beloved grandfather,

'Beni? Scribe of the Lord.'

He was quiet for a while and then at last he sighed. 'Can I ever fulfil that roll, Little Mouse?'

But now, though they had achieved positions of security in this foreign nation they both had a deep security in their own faith in this God in whom their own beloved Grandfather had taught them to trust.

Starlight - Chapter 3+4

ADDED BURDENS

But her happy visits to her beloved grandfather were long forgotten. His eyes which had been as doors into other worlds had lost their usefulness and since he was of no more use among the scholars at the college, he had been brought to be yet another burden to the struggling family.

"Mousel Mousel' was all the child was hearing all day long, and Yes, yes, lam coming, was all she managed to gasp as she ran in from gathering the eggs to seeing to Grandfather's toilet needs.

Instead of the darling little girl who had taken such joy in responding to his love she seemed to resent these ministries which piled up as intrusions into her already mountainous duties.

It was her brother who seemed to be responding to the old man's needs, so that he was there before he needed to call for help, who had taken on himself the responsibility of continuing the struggle to learn to read and to pass on to his grandfather the news of what was happening in other lands, not the edited versions that came from the Pharoah.

One day they were alone in the house and she was surprised when her brother did not address her as Mouse, but as Starlight. Immediately, their beloved grandparent, lying on his pallet between them, was alert.

1 won't be here much longer, Sister. Any day now I may be called and sent away with the army and that is why I try to spend time with our precious grandfather. Remember, we may call you that, but you are not Mouse but Starlight.

'Egypt is in a dark place and it is only through the light that comes from the heavens that we can have any hope.

'Hope?' the girl asked herself. Is there any hope? Hope which could include her, Little Mouse?

DEEPENING DARKNESS

Starlight lay in the darkness, wondering what it was that had disturbed her sleep, for she knew she would need all her energy to face the demands of a new day. Dawn was yet to break but she slipped on a robe hoping to go outside and make herself comfortable, but nevertheless trusting that she might to be able to return to grab some more sleep. Gradually, however, she became aware of what had disturbed her in the first place.

Her brother was crouched beside her. 'We are having to send Grandfather away,' he told his sister. Starlight's face was like one big question. Why?' it was asking. 'He is an old man. How can he prove any threat to Pharoah?'

'No more questions till we are in a safer place.'

Starlight had to concentrate so that she not only knew how to find her grandfather but how to return to her home too. There was to be no further sleep for her that night, Yes, Grandfather was no longer of use in working with these ancient manuscripts, but a recent letter had come to light that spoke of a recent message from their God to the people of Egypt, 'Pharoah regards it as being against the state and so all those who had anything to do with it are to be thrown into his dungeons,' Ahmed whispered.

Starlight wondered why so many familiar faces seemed to have left them to struggle on alone but now she was glad that it was only she and her brother who knew of this secret hiding place for her grandfather.

Yes, I know you are weary and need to sleep, but remember your name is Starlight, and if we do not keep the light burning it may go out completely in the land of Egypt.'

At last they had reached Grandfather's hiding place, seen to his physical needs and when Starlight saw her brother pull out the precious manuscripts and light yet another lamp she thought this was the opportunity to snatch some much needed sleep. Ahmed, her brother, was usually full of compassion for his hard worked little sister but now he handed her a tablet which she knew was intended to keep her alert.

'Why?' she queried, crossly. 'Am I, a Mouse, to also become a scholar?

'God has given you another name. Are you content to be a little Mouse, or are you going to answer to your new name? Come on now, Grandfather gave you the name Starlignt because he believes the great God wants to use you to shine light on our people, but unless you learn how to read his precious manuscripts, he may die, and there will be no one left alive who is able to bring God's messages to us,

How glad Starlight was that she had agreed to become Grandfather's latest pupil. Yes, her body cried out for sleep but at last the miracle happened and she found that the meaningless sounds began to join up into meaningful phrases so that yes, she did sometimes fall asleep bot not until she had read enough to have satisfied the longing of her soul with these promises sent to them from this faithful prophet living in Babylon but still writing messages as a servant of the God of Israel.

Starligh - Chapter 2

 Dear Reader,

After the passing of our dear Pauline Lewis, we will continue and finish uploading her whole story 'Starlight' over the next few months. Thank you for your support and faithfulness to Pauline.

Chapter 2

The child had been trembling when she had first arrived, but the security of the old man's arms and yes, a few sips of the precious beer too, and she was quiet, content. But the old man realised that she needed a security that would keep her when she was no longer within this safe circle of his arms. He was old. He would not always be there for her.

He set her in front of him so that she had to look into his eyes.

'So, little visitor who comes to me in the night, what is your name?' The child hesitated. 'Little Mouse?' she queried. Certainly that was the name by which she was known. To be named after this, least of all Egypt's many godsshould have been indignity enough, and a diminutive after that! Well, she was a girl, and girls were not good for anything except to serve.

'No, no, no!' She was almost startled by the severity with which he spoke. 'The night you were born it was a night as tonight. Not moon lit, but the stars were twinkling down as if looking on this tiny babe. They were joyful that you were born, and I knew in my heart that this was your name - Starlight.' Once more he reached out his arms and held the child close to his heart. No matter what your family or others call you, always remember that this is your name - Starlight. Know that the stars are shining down on you, and that God has made you to shine for him.

There are many people who study the stars, and there are some who believe that there is a god, greater than all the gods of Egypt, who made the stars and calls each one by name and who has set each one on its course. ...........

Starlight, for so we must call her from now on, had no idea of how she had made the journey home. It is certain that she had not walked it alone. Had grandfather called on one of his young apprentices to carry the sleeping child to her bed, or maybe the same older brother who alone of their household seemed to have some compassion for his little sister, on finding her bed still empty had come to bring her home?

She did not know, but she knew that she must go again to visit her beloved grandfather Old Asim, the ancient scribe, and hear more about the stars and the one who had set them in the heavens to shine light on the people who otherwise would be stumbling about in the dark.

Starlight - Chapter One

 Chapter One – Beer for Grandfather

Starlight should have been delighted when her mother asked her 'Little Mouse' to take the precious beverage to her beloved grandfather for he was the only one who seemed to value her, and at the end of a long day of being at the beck and call of her demanding family she was in need of some affirmation.

The only trouble was, it was dark. They were already lighting the rush lamps in the house when she stepped outside into the blackness of the tropical night.

Cicadas were filling the silence with their shrill chatter, while she longed to brush the midges out of her eyes, but her two hands were full, clutching the pot of the precious beverage.

As she stood, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, her brother came, gently steering her towards the main path and then leaving her with a loving push to set her on her way.

Normally, Little Mouse would have delighted to walk in peace by the side of the canal, listening to the lapping of the waves on the side of the boats, with no insistent voices urging her to do this or that before the last task was complete.

It was the close of the day, and they would all be in bed by the time she returned, but.... 
Little Mouse was afraid of the dark. Truth to tell she was afraid of many, many things, but somehow the dark was worst of all. But she must take her beloved grandfather his beer. Mother had been brewing it all day. It was a very special treat, with its tasty lumps of sweet meat floating on its surface.

Fearfully, she took some faltering steps, and as she went she realised that she was able to discern the way before her. No, there was no moonlighting her path, and yet there was a measure of star light.

Star light! That was the name her Grandfather called her, her special name.

Were the stars shining down on her, helping her? The lapping of the water was warning her away from danger, the stars lighting her way while the darkness itself seemed to be enfolding her, hiding her from danger.

'Hello? Hello?' As if he had sensed her coming, her grandfather stood at the door of his little booth, a lamp in his hand.

Little Mouse dared not run for fear of spilling the precious beer, but it wasn't long before it was set on a stool and she was safe in the embrace of the old man, 'Old Asim' as he was known, but to the child always Grandfather, her own special grandfather who loved her, and yes, believed in her.

 

A FRESH START

At last my ‘adopted grandson has managed, spite of a more than full time job at the Bible college, to publish my latest blog. So just to update you.

I came, by chance, upon a very dear friend who was with her younger brother Mark living with their parents as missionaries when we first met.

Mark had at last found enjoyment in books. No room on the settee. Mark was flat on his back absorbed in his latest book.

Once I had my own house and yes, at last my own car, a donation from ‘green shield ………stamps……….but I had better suggest you read my autobiographyl ‘Wings of the morning.’ Then after I update you maybe you may realise what a miracle it is that I have found my blogspot, without help, and yet without the care and encouragement of so many wonderful friends.

And there is a wonderful dear little roly-poly mother who is preparing a meal that will be just right for each one of us, and before I write any more, I have a poem to write for her birthday. It is four years ago that a room became vacant just when I needed extra loving care, and now everybody knows about Sunday because Pauline goes to church if she possibly can.

18^th Sep It was a special balloon for a two year old that inspired me to write a poem for a two year old and they told me that Grandma was crying – tears of joy I am thankful to say, and so month by month I have asked God to inspire me to write yet another birthday  poem as we have yet one more poem as we all help to blow out the candles for yet another birthday cake.   

 

 Yes, still 18^th Sept, and I am reminded how important 15^th Sept. used to be to us all for 15^th Sept. was our little sister’s birthday. Our dear Joy. Such a lovely name for such a beautiful child, but sadly taken into hospital. I don’t remember the name of her affliction, but she was never the same after that and could never be convinced that she was loved or wanted, - but yes, she did at last find her peace in Jesus and we treasured her ‘Good News’ Bible.

And yes, with the help of many wonderful friends, at last my blogspot is published again, so I do hope you may have been able to find me. When I asked the wonderful Ross is I might adopt him as a grandson ‘Of course’ was his ready response.

But now his circumstances have changed and he now has full employment with the Bible college where he is filling a great need. ‘I have asked Micha to put up your blog for you,’ but Micha was not at all sure that he was capable.

However, Micha, with Liz his wife, who is now very happy and full of enthusiasm to help me as well as being our assistant pastor, so I think the first thing I need to do is to help folk to find me.

Ross says you find me on Facebook. He also wrote this in my email so hope it means something to somebody.

 

 

Starlight - Introduction

Starlight

It was while we were ploughing through reading the prophecies of Ezekiel that I first met Starlight, a young girl growing up in the benighted land of Egypt.

How could I get any blessing in reading through these prophetic messages?

Wonderfully, God met me, giving me a glimpse of his heart of love even for these people who had been used to bring such terrible suffering to his chosen ones. As I read on, with my God-given imagination, I met a little Egyptian girl, named Starlight by her beloved grandfather, though her parents had named, and treated her as Little Mouse, implying that she was to be a servant of one of the lowest of the Egyptian gods.

The days of Egypt's greatness are long gone. The pyramids and other buildings of grandeur are all that remain as evidence of its one-time splendour. There are records of great victories and of their power over other nations, but in those days, there were but few scholars left who were able to read the wonderful hieroglyphics in which they were probably written.

The Egyptian army had been a power to be feared, but now, though they would make a great display of their prowess, it could not be denied that there were troops hired from other nations seen on their streets.

It was not in the heyday of the great nation of Egypt that this story has unfolded, but of a nation that had refused to acknowledge the great Jehovah God. He was the God who had confronted and brought to nought the power of each of their many gods through the plagues. Not only had this eventually brought the great Pharaoh to his knees, but it had also brought those wandering tribes together so that they had been welded into a mighty nation through their suffering and had eventually gone forth to become a people whose God was the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

But Israel now had a commission to bring God's love and light to the nations,

and, hidden away in our Bibles, we find the brave Ezekiel not only prophesying words of hope to Israel, now in exile, but also to the people of Egypt.

 

And so it is that God has shone light on a little Mouse' living in bondage in the benighted land, and her grandfather, a scholar and scribe who had faith to call her Starlight, and who is inspiring me to write this story, that we all might know that, however great our suffering or situation of hopelessness, we can look up to the heavens and find a God who will lighten our darkness and bring comfort to us in our grief.

I pray that as God has been inspiring me to write this story of what it must have been like to live in the land of Egypt when the brave Ezekiel dared, not only to speak out these prophetic words God was giving to him, but to record them and to see that they were sent across the lands, and centuries too, so that they may eventually make an impact on our lives too.

May we, too, find our hearts impacted and changed by the courage and obedience of this great man, Ezekiel, even as we allow our own gift of imagination to touch our lives. Whatever our circumstances, may we all find ourselves prisoners of hope.

Blogspot July

BLOGSPOT (this is an older post)

And now it is 28th, and now many folk are on holiday, and I should have lots of time for writing, but I do not always have strength for writing, or getting to my regular church or social occasions. However, I must get something published so that my wonderful friends, especially those who remember me when I was so privileged to be working with you ‘down under’ may know that I am still alive, - yes, and still productive, - well, still writing poems.  

A birthday balloon for a two year old inspired the first poem I wrote for a precious grandmother on our staff, (I’m told it inspired tears of joy, so with this encouragement I have written for everyone and every occasion} 

30th – yes, still July, but I have found that though my left arm is still black and blue and still very painful, that I am still able to type with two arms. At 4am this morning I pressed my call button and one of our wonderful night staff was bubbling over with how delighted her daughter had been with the poem I had written for her 21st birthday. 

No, it hasn’t taken the pain away, but is enabling me to share the joy and get on with sharing the good things in my life. 

Let me introduce you to Sian, a friend who comes in to minister to some of our friends here with dementia, but now has an added ministry of helping one more elderly than most to get her poems printed and sent for the right occasion. It is she who so wonderfully enabled our 21year old to enjoy her special poem and me to experience the oil of gladness which is helping me to endure the pain. 

So maybe now is a good time to ask my special Sian, who has her own battles with pain, to include the verse I had ready and waiting for our very special Gladys and her very special day.  

I have just read the chapter we share in Grace – so thankful I have had the cataract ops and now able to enjoy sharing our bible reading again, as well as some choice books from the mobile library. Today is about Aaron’s death. But nothing about the illness that carried him away. 

I may be 94, and unable now to walk out with my roll-a-tor, but there is nothing God is unable to heal. I‘ve just been sent a lovely message from my special friends – ‘get well(caps). I am taking it as a word of command – as I do the words another friend told her mother. ‘Remember you don’t have to be ill to die.’ And she wasn’t. She had shared the chores with her mother, enjoyed her dinner and sat back to enjoy her dinner and was gone. Hallelujah!  

 

I am in a wonderful Care Home. There are lots of things I can’t do, but I have washed and dressed myself, been downstairs for breakfast and my calendar is telling me, to delight myself in you Lord, and you will give me the desires of my heart. 

We have all been hoping our precious Gladwys would make it to her hundredth birthday, and of course I had a special poem ready for her, and another dear friend still enjoying independent living with the support of her son and was sent back from hospital insisting she was in need of a care package which she now has. 

One of my most recent poems is a thank-you for my wonderful friends when, so recently widowed many years ago, still insist I am capable of playing Scrabble. I am, with a lot of help from my friends and with our wonderful carers all help to keep me enjoying my life. 

I think it is time I introduced my latest serial story – THE CHILDREN OF THE CITY. God’s call in my life has always been for the children, so I have so enjoyed imagining the re-headed twins who so gladly cared for the needy orphans of Nineveh, but first I am asking Sian to include my latest poem. 

One of my favourite ‘Night watchmen’ was very excited because her firstborn was to be twenty-one that Sunday and they had wonderful celebrations planned. But oh! Was there time for a special poem?  

Demanding pain was forgotten and an email to our wonderful Sian but how delighted I was to find that not only had dear ‘Mum’ survived the celebrations but that her beautiful daughter was treasuring her very special poem as a word from God. 

Yes, I may still be in a lot of pain, but without it I might not be here in this special Care Home and sitting here with all the aid I have to share with you, my many special friends from near and far. 

So, time for another book which I so enjoyed writing – and is inspiring me to pray for God’s special saints in Egypt, and to encourage others of us who may be called to write and share the words God is giving us. 

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STARLIGHT IN EGYPT (first part uploaded soon)

And here I am, seated at my computer and able to begin another page of my blogspot, and maybe the beginning of another biblical novel which I have been so blessed in writing, but first some memories which are from not so long ago. 

Hebron Hall? Anyone remember the days it was in Bryntirion? I was a submissive wife in those days, so Joel could find no excuse not to bring me, but when we found this more convenient venue my chauffeur put his foot down. Maybe because he always relied on his wife to direct him and he might not find his was home? 

Anyway, my wonderful sisters soon sorted out lifts for me and I know I always came home having been specially blessed. I remember I have a very special friendship that was forged in one of those weekends when our speaker spoke of the importance of hugs. But now I am no longer mobile and in need of the nursing care Pinehurst provides I believe God wants me to share some memories of when I had only recently become a widow. 

Yes, I was at Hebron Hall and there was a prophetic word about casting our cares on the Lord. Yes, yes, we knew we all needed to do that, but again God was speaking. ‘I want you to do it now.’ So, did I have any special worry? Well yes, there was the bother of altering the clocks, but did that count? Well, yes, it was a worry, so alright Lord, I’m casting it on you. 

As I put my key into my front door so my solution came into my mind and so I continue to walk through life. I’m sure we all thank God for the many ministries of Hebron Hall. 

I felt I was in desperate need of help with my finances. At last, I had contact with a Christian solicitor who would happily sort me out, but then he died on me. Oh Lord, where are you? Right here, working out my best for you. 

I think it was David Ollerton, our minister who led us so wonderfully in our first months in ‘Grace,’ who put me in touch with this lovely Christian lady who soon got me sorted out.

What a wonderful story she has to tell. Believing God had called her to India how could it be right when her visa was refused, but Mr. Right sailed onto her horizon. Wonderful and fruitful years – two mature sons, a business they ran – and yes, for when her husband died, suddenly and unexpectantly, an invitation through her church to get involved in a work in India. Oh yes, and Pauline was wonderfully cared for too, for when she was too busy to care for Pauline because she was out of the country, she gave Ross a call. ‘Pauline needs to sell her house. Can you look after her for me?’ 

It was a long time before that when I was inclined to feel jealous because I had no grandchildren ( well, I did not marry until I was fifty because God needed me to be the ‘Little Children’s Mother’ first, didn’t He?’ ) 

No more worries for this poor little widow.  I have learned to cast my cares, and now everything was arranged legally by this wise woman who had already worked with Ross and his wife in Care for the Family and now both were delighted to help me settle into my ‘Eagle’s Nest;’ where most unexpectantly dear Bas visited and donated his wonderful painting of the Eagle in flight – still a treasure, even though I am now confined to a room in a nursing home. 

It was around this time that God shone light on the wonderful promise God has given to anyone who has left anyone for His sake and the Gospel would be given back even  to 100%, yes, even in this life 

Even though he is no longer the ‘odd job man’ when Ross took on this commitment he is always available should I need someone to take me for a hospital appointment, and I lovingly call him my ‘hundred percent’. Even though he now fully employed at ‘Union’ Bible college, he will make time to pop me into a wheel chair and rain or shine take me out for a coffee. 

Godliness with contentment is great gain. And now, though I am still in a lot of pain after my most recent ‘drop’ I am so thankful that I am able to sit at my computer and remind myself that ‘I am delighting myself in the Lord and he is giving me the desires of my heart.’ 

‘onyami yea’ Yes, God is good. 

And over in West Wales two darling little boys are growing up to love and follow Jesus, a beautiful reminder of my Joel and his brother David both of whom so joyfully and faithfully followed the Lord.

 

I had reached the great age of ninety and was still welcome in West Park Primary School. Yes, I knew I could not go on for ever, but God was good. ‘Covid’ came along, so no more school visits, or Ladies Retreats, I presume, and an end to my good health. 

When life began to return to normal Pauline was no longer able to go out preaching, or was it that God showed me that my responsibility was now in ‘Grace’ Community church and Hebron Hall no longer an option for me? 

I think there needs to be a pause to tell you about a very special prophetic picture. 

A PROPHETIC PICTURE 

‘Now don’t you go popping off to heaven before me.’ I teased my husband, as I knew his health was not good and he refused to heed the doctor’s warning that he should not drive. 

‘Don’t worry,’ he reassured me. I've a few years in me yet.’ It was easiest for me to believe him. 

We had come to Porthcawl trusting to help to revive the small apostolic church which has father had helped to plant, and we were seeing it doing well. However the church policy at that time was to close the small churches and help to build up the larger ones. We were heart broken when Porthcawl was closed. Joel shared his pain with another mature pastor often used in prophecy and the Lord gave him a picture of a tree cut down to a stump, but out of that stump a strong, fruitful bough was growing. 

At that time Joel and I both suffered from a viral infection. The doctor thought Joel was over it and was more concerned for me, but it was Joel who slipped easily into  heaven, while I who was privileged to see the prophetic dream come to pass.  

It was not many months before Pastor David Ollerton led a small beginning of what has now become a strong fruitful bough where I have always been honoured and accepted and I have been proud to share my Joel’s faith . 

Joel was in his early eighties, and I wondered how he would have the stamina to shoulder such a heavy burden, but he had insisted that he would be there to encourage and help to train the young people. 

But now we are seeing his dream being fulfilled, and Grace community Church a fruitful bough indeed, and those young ones trained by David Ollerton now grown into maturity. 

While I am honoured as a grandmother, and feel I am of little worth, yet at 94 and not at all in good health, am so privileged to remember and tell of our small beginnings.