Such fetters as he was bound with are never broken. They become the mainspring of life's actions, the foundation of devotion and reverence. VII. Ingalls owned a tract of land below Atchison. Much of it overlooks the Valley of the Missouri. Growing on it were groves of fine forest trees. It was his wish to erect there a residence in which to live. He despised "the foolish wrangle of the market and forum". It was his inclination to live apart from the world, an esthetic dreamer. The gratification of this whimsical desire the good sense of Mrs. Ingalls prevented. Had it not been for the practical and stirring qualities of his wife, Ingalls would have died an obscure country lawyer or editor, a real-estate agent, a petty and unsuccessful tradesman, or an employe in some department of government without a dollar. and more than likely HOME LIFE HIS CHILDREN I. To Ingalls and his wife were born eleven children. They were a source of unending pleasure. He was very proud of them. Once he caught sight of one newly escaped from the nursery, all washed, combed, and primped: he seized it and carried it before his guest, Albert D. Richardson, and exhibited it with fond pride. The children were an inspiration, and he wrote his Kansas Magazine articles with them about his knees, with, sometimes, one sitting on his table. He referred to this feature of that work in his note to Mrs. Ingalls written on a proof-sheet of "Blue Grass" which by accident came into his hands in Arizona: Dearest Wife: "Blue Grass" seems to be one of those compositions that the world will not willingly let die. Those were happy days when it was written, in the little cottage on the bluff looking out over the great river, with a room full of babies: ob scure and unknown, waiting for the destiny, so soon to come-(that was to make me one of the conspicuous figures of the country for so many years). How far away it seems! Ingalls had great solicitude for the health of these little ones, and believing prunes conducive thereto, insisted on having a supply constantly at his disposal: meritorious actions were rewarded with prunes. He obtained much satisfaction and great amusement in constituting himself a judge to hear and determine the grievances the children might find against one another in their daily intercourse. II. Ingalls had much comfort from his correspondence with his children, especially his daughters. He was paradoxical and eccentric. Men never could understand him. But women could readily comprehend his whims and his fancies. Perhaps this is another instance of a strong masculine character with feminine traits and tendencies of thought. In a letter to Constance, away at school, he described an entertainment for young people then |