A Basket of Chips: An Autobiography

Basket of Chips, page 095

Love md Grief and through the fulfillment of our better selves - her dreams were coming true. "0 beloved little mother, perfect little mother - who gave us the gift of life, as long as we have that gift you will be work- ing through US to make us brave and worthwhile and beauti- ful, too." Her body was cremated at her request and I have her ashes in a copper urn that will accompany me on my "last adventure." If it is possible I want the same ending myself. Oh what a comfort to me to know that her sweet body never passed into that most sickening state of decomposition. What is left is dry and clean; the rest has gone into the elements, where all must go. In place of centuries it is accomplished in but a few moments. That first night when evening came, I could only pace the floor. Ruth said "read to us, Father." What could I read; it would only be a jumble of words. But they put in my hands "The Runaway Cannon on Ship Board" by Victor Hugo.`" And I have always felt that saved me from going mad. It got my attention and after that I was more myself. That day we talked it all over and decided to sell the home and return to Utah." That gave me something to do. But oh, those days of loneliness after Willard returned and the children were at school. Ruth remained with me until the last moment. She was to get her Master's Degree at the University of Cali- fornia. That left me four hours alone every day. No one can imagine my suffering. I built cases and packed all our belongings that were not in daily use. I could keep busy and that helped so much. But those 10 Victor Marie Hugo ( 1802-1885)) one of the great figures in literature, is best known for his novels The Htlnchbuck of Notre Dume and Les Miserables (published in 183 1 and 1862, respectively). 11 Ruth wrote "It was indeed a godsend that during this summer Mr. Har- wood was appointed head of the art department of the University of Utah. So he and the two younger children [June and James] moved back to Salt Lake, where his widowed sister, Rose, mothered the home for them." Hmwood Art Exhibi- tion," 6; Salt Luke Tribune, 3 October 1937. 9s