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Show Teacher, Club Woman, Mother 187 combined business and pleasure trip. They would spend most of their time in England. Just as they were leaving, however, they learned that Bill Preston, a young man in their ward who had just returned from a mission, had died. Madelyn and Harold had known Josephine and Alexander Preston since their arrival in Denver. The Prestons were associates in the Denver Branch, members of the Jane Herrick Literary Club, members of their Church History Group, and Josephine, being a creative writer, was a close personal friend of Madelyn. The Preston's son Bill had a serious health problem, and, indeed, the Prestons were told that he would probably not live beyond the age of eighteen. But he did live to be nineteen, and the Denver bishop called him to serve a mission, which he was willing to do. As he left for California, he was given a blessing that his health would present no difficulties in his missionary service. This proved to be true. Shortly after his return in 1948, however, he became ill and died at the time Madelyn and Harold were leaving for their journey to England. On the streamliner that took them to Chicago, Madelyn composed on the back of an envelope in her purse a poem of consolation: BILL'S EYES Straight toward the sky he looked, for Heaven was there, Sunshine and heaven bound by the shimmering air. Straight at life he looked, for hope was there, Hope and the need to learn his pain to bear. Straight at a boy he looked, for God was there, God and the strength of life with men to share. Straight now at death he looks, for truth is there. Truth and the Love he sought with every prayer. In England Madelyn and Harold saw an ice ballet and the Albert Memorial Theater, visited Stratford-on-Avon and Ascot, and went to a Gilbert and Sullivan opera. At the Lyric Theater they saw Edward, My Son and at Covent Garden they enjoyed the Sadler's Wells Ballet. They attended Evensong at King's College Chapel, Cambridge, and at Ipswich they went to see the |
