Part 9 (1/2)

six sons and not enough land to go around, so my pa, being

the most adventuresome of the bunch, decided to come out

to Oregon. He bought the land for ten dollars an acre.” Mr.

Westerly laughed. ”I know that sounds dirt cheap now, but

back then it was no small thing to come up with $2,000.”

”But what a good investment for your father.”

”Sure was. I was born a few years later. Then my sister

came along, and another brother. All deceased now. Seems a

mite strange that I'm the oldest and the only one alive.”

”You must be living right.” She looked into his eyes. ”Do

you have any descendants?”

He sipped his coffee, and then nodded. ”My son, Wilmar,

lives down in New Mexico. He's retired now. Wilmar has

two daughters, Jeanette and Linda. They used to come out

here every summer to visit. And oh, how my Nellie enjoyed

those two. Wilmar's girls are both in their forties now, with

nearly grown kids of their own. Jeanette has two boys, both

in high school. And Linda has a daughter just starting col-

lege. I've only seen Linda's girl a couple times. But Jeanette's

been Out here with the boys quite a bit, although not for the

last year or two-the boys are busy now with sports and

whatnot.”

”Do you have any other children? Or just the one son.”

”We had a daughter. Pretty little thing-looked just like

her mother. But we lost her in the winter of '38. Saddest day

of my life.” He shook his head and set down his cup. ”Grief