35. Loizeaux, William's birth 1869

I have several subjects for the year 1869. Since my visit to Milwaukee, we had had the visit of Mr. McEwen. He was very zealous in giving out tracts. He very much liked the family Loizeaux, living in Vinton, Ill. He spoke to me about this family with enthusiasm; and told me that they had a son, named Leon, who wished to learn watchmaking; and who would perhaps be obliged to go to Switzerland to learn it. As we spoke, I seemed to feel it my place to offer to teach him, that the family might be saved this great expense. It was arranged that if Leon came, he would be given board and room, and his washing would be done for him. He was to stay two years; and the second year I should give him one dollar per week. He was to be one of us, and with the complacence that one hopes to find in a Christian, render himself useful upon all occasions which should present themselves.

Leon Loizeaux arrived about the beginning of March. The first day, as I had much to ask him and tell him, and since he couldn't start in at the bench that day, I invited him into the yard to help me in heaping up some wood, and to make an enclosure for our rabbits, and that, as we worked, we might talk. He came, but at the end of a few minutes he said that he had a cold, and that he must go back into the house. Then we noticed, Fanny and I, that each time we asked him for his service, however small it might be, he always had some objection. We could easily see that he was trying to break us of asking him for any service.

I had my conditions of apprenticeship, thinking that I had to do with a Christian; and since it was on my part all devotion, I had had the idea that he would be the same, for his part. However, I had one remedy. It had been arranged that if at the end of one month we should find on one side or on the other, that we wished to break the bargain, whichever wished to do so, could do it with perfect liberty.

Leon' stiff way made me think much, pray much, and gave me very much worry, for having made this offer before God, I could not think of getting out without consulting Him, and having received from Him the conviction that it was His will that I withdraw. In fact, I proposed to make a trial before the month should be up. I would ask Leon to help me to dig eight holes to put in posts for the wall around my garden in the yard back of the building. We should work on those holes only after six o'clock, after supper, and I would work with him to show him that I didn't demand work of him, that I wouldn't myself do.I procured a shovel and a pick axe.

After having prayed, I asked him to come and help me. He came hesitantly and grumblingly. Then while working grudgingly, he told me that he had come to learn watchmaking, and not to dig holes in the earth; and as he talked on at length, I told him not to worry, but to go on with the work.

As the garden was on the rock, we could not dig very deep. We were soon through with our work, and re-entered the house. Then I talked to Leon in these terms, "You see, Leon the arrangement of my home is on principles entirely democratic. I ask nothing of my people that I wouldn't do myself, I feel at liberty to ask of my folks, when it suits me. I must tell you, too, that in my home, obedience is instantaneous, and that one doesn't hear murmurings. It was arranged with your father that at the end of the month, if we didn't get along well, we should separate without more formality. I warn you that I shall command you, as I do other members of my family; and expect to be obeyed by you promptly and without comment. But if you don't care to subscribe to these conditions, you must leave as soon as possible; for the conditions that I make to you are irrevocable."

He answered that he had come to me to learn the watchmaking business; that if he must be subject to me, I could make him dig my garden, or work at other things; that in fact, it would be better to separate. As it was a Saturday, I said, "You shall leave on Monday."

The next day, as we were to break bread, and the question was settled, we made no allusion to the matter. But on Monday, Leon came to the bench, and I asked, "What are you going to do? You know you are to leave." He answered that he had thought the matter over, and that, since God had placed him with me, he would stay and submit. Léon stayed; and we thought it was for two years, since we had arranged with his father. His egotistic and ungrateful character was unchanged; but he felt that he must obey me. He didn't have the interest of the store at heart, which one might have expected. He had no idea what I was doing for him. In that he was like many others whom I sought to benefit; for generally they seem to think they are doing me a favour by accepting my services.

When the heat of summer came, Léon started perspiring in his hands, and the perspiration rusted any steel he touched. He did everything he could to cure himself of this infirmity, but could not succeed. He understood then that he could not be a watchmaker. He left; which to me was a great deliverance.

While Léon Loizeaux was with us, brother Frederic Ponge, and his brother Léon came to pay us a visit. As much as Leon Loizeaux made a bad showing as a Christian, that much the more could I rejoice in the two brothers Ponge. We could read the Word together, meditate upon it, and could find the edification of which all Christians are in need. Their visit was precious.

When the brothers Ponge came, Fanny told them to give us the washing, to put it with our own. They gave very little; but our servant, Minnie, whom we had nursed when she was ill, without deducting from her wages, refused to wash those few pieces, saying that she was not there to do washing for strangers. Naturally, she was put to the door.

While the brothers Ponge were with us, there came another brother, mulatto of race, who arrived with his wife, a white woman. They came from Milwaukee. This brother was dyspeptic, and could digest nothing. He had thought that a change of air would do him good. These two personages had come to us, without having written to us to see if it would be possible for us to lodge them, We bought young pullets for the brother. The extra cooking for him added greatly to the work of the household. Fanny asked the woman to give her a hand with the work; but she didn't wish to. We were seven adults in the family, besides the five children. Fanny was again pregnant -- this time in bad health, too. She had to be the servant for all, and received help from not one of these persons.

While the brothers Ponge were with us we made the acquaintance of an English brother named William Cooper, and his wife, who was a very amiable sister. He was sick, and they had already traveled a great deal, in an effort to regain his health. They had their carriage; and didn't make use of the railway trains. They were staying in the Temperance Hotel in the upper part of the town; and there they were preaching the gospel, without being asked. They came to the meeting, and went to Dr. Post for treatment; as did the mulatto whose name was Cartwright. Toward the end of the summer, our friends left; and then Mr. and Mrs. Cooper came to live on the third floor. We carried them water each day, for their own use and for the kitchen. They were vegetarians. Their diet consisted of graham flour rolls (which they baked in our oven), nuts, raw tomatoes, and all sorts of vegetables without salt. They thought meat unhealthful.

Cooper had been born weak, with a large head. Men so constituted are not robust. Moreover, he had read a great deal, so that the work of the head further enfeebled the body. Under such conditions, it was useless to search for health. He returned to England and died a few years later. The Coopers were with us on the 21st of September when Fanny gave birth to a baby boy, who was named William because of Mr. Cooper.

Had Mrs. Cooper known how to cook, I am sure she would have helped us, for the willingness was there. But, without a servant, the children and I kept the house going, until Fanny was up, which took longer than bthe preceding accouchement, because of the strictness of Mrs. Cooper.

Mrs. Cooper was an Irish lady of the better class. While her husband was cold and proud, she was sweet, talkative, and affable. It seemed that she had a tumor in the womb which made her think that she was about to give birth to a child, so she dared not leave the house, and she took great care of herself. The Coopers had two children, whom they had left in England. According to what their parents said, they must have been prodigies in science and piety. One of the two died young; and they had to give the other one meat, to sustain him.

When the month of October arrived, with its gusts of cold wind, when the leaves were falling, and the birds were flying south, our friends, the Coopers, left us also, looking for a warmer climate. We retained a pleasant memory of their sojourn in St. Paul.