This story any mother will recognize as resembling her own, and any father will certainly be well able to identify with ;) Terri --------------------------------------- Heart Throbs of the West Heart Throbs of the West: Volume 9 Journal of George Cannon Lambert The Lamberts Become Converts of Mormonism The Father On my last previous trip in the south I had been anxious to hurry home to get married; now I was impatient to return for another reason. About one year from the time I was married, an event was expected to occur, the anticipation of which caused my heart to flutter every time I thought of it. Without any definite knowledge as to the processes of gestation, I had the impressions that there was a great maternal danger associated therewith. My mother had not borne fourteen children, with me around home upon most of these occasions, as well as when the numerous false alarms occurred in connection therewith, without my receiving some indelible impressions thereupon. Hadn't I made the marathon run between my home and that of the midwife at all hours of the day and night when called into service? Hadn't I stubbed my toes against every stone that jutted up in the pathway during that entire distance? Hadn't I known of Alf Gunn, running from his home in the 11th Ward clear down past our house to that of the midwife, a block beyond, in the night, and in such feverish haste that he hadn't taken time to put his shoes and stockings on, and then spent the rest of the night picking gravel out of his feet, that had been pounded in during his excited race? How could I afford to be absent when the life of my wife or my expected offspring might hang in the balance? Who in my absence would be at the call of my wife to dash off at the speed of a greyhound and bring to her experienced help? I simply couldn't content myself to be absent at such a time. I could spent every night traveling between settlements and every day from the time I could find anyone up to do business with until the latest hour in the evening at which I could find people astir, doing business in the most expeditious manner; and this I did regularly day after day until my arrival home. With what impatience I awaited that arrival! How I rejoiced at the sight of my wife! When did ever woman's attire appear as becoming to me as the "Mother Hubbard" my wife wore then. How excited I became at every unfavorable symptom. Anxiety— One evening, on returning from the office I found my wife at my mother's, and we remained there until after supper. On our way home my wife complained of pain. "Is it labor pain?" I inquired, without any definite idea of what the term implied. "No, only a touch of the colic," was the confident assurance, but it did not satisfy me, for I doubted whether she knew much more than I did about such matters. I hurried her home, and wanted to leave her there while I sprinted off for her mother, my sister—anyone that she could fancy to keep her company and cheer her up, but no, she would not part with me. The pains were coming faster and more intense. After awhile I declared I would not be alone with her any longer. I threatened to break away without waiting another second. "Will you promise me that I will have no more pain during your absence?" What sublime faith that implied! And what influence I should have with the Lord, the unquestioned source of all power, to be able to make such a promise and have it respected and fulfilled! With a feeling of desperation, and a full sense of the responsibility I assumed, I made the promise, then charged off like a quarter horse to the nearest neighbor's. Arousing John W. Andrew from his first sound sleep, I implored him to run at his utmost speed to my father-in-law's and ask Sister Needham to hurry down to my house. Then rushing back to my home, I found to my relief that my wife's faith had been so strong that she had not experienced a pain during my absence. I mentally but fervently thanked the Lord and gave Him credit for making good my promise; then, as my angelic mother-in-law entered the door, dashed off to "Mother Booth's" in the 17th Ward, a good mile distant, calling on the way at my mother's where I enlisted my sister, my mother not being able to leave her bed, having given birth to a child but a few days before. Mother Booth was too ill to get up, and I ran every step of the way home to learn my wife's wish as to the next move. Mrs. Harrington, a neighbor, only a block and a half distant, was the second choice as a midwife and thither I almost flew. In response to my frantic appeal for her to hurry, she intimated that she could make better time if I would curb my impatience and let her take hold of my arm. I did so, and I guess she had the time of her life trying to keep up with me for the block and a half The First Born— As we entered the house my mother-in-law announced that the child was already born—a beautiful girl. What rapture filled my soul, on being assured that my wife's crisis had passed and seeing the innocent but intelligent looking specimen of babyhood that the Lord had answered our yearning with, is beyond my power to describe.