Under Foot

By Mary Davis

 “In many of the finest homes, you will find linoleum in every room. Not gaudy oil cloth, but rich, polished linoleum carpets.” From an early advertisement.

Armstrong Linoleum Rug

What is Linoleum?

 

It’s an inexpensive, durable floor covering that is easy to clean and mass produced. This wonder product is made from flax (linum in Latin) and oil (oleum). Other ingredients were pine resin, cork dust, saw dust, and mineral fillers. This would often be backed with burlap or canvas.

 

Many inventors joined the search for an economical floor covering but struggled to come up with one. Scottish chemist Michael Narin was one such scientist. In 1847, he mixed oily paint with cork particles, producing a slick linoleum-like creation. However, his process was both expensive and time consuming.

 

Around the same time, “kamptulicon” was created by Elijah Galloway, a British chemist. He cooked cork powder and shredded rubber, forming a hard but sticky rubber flooring. In the 1860s, the British House of Parliament had it laid in some of the rooms.

 

Fredrick Walton

Then another British inventor swooped in with a cheaper, more consistent product that Galloway couldn’t compete with. Fredrick Walton oxidized linseed oil (made from flax) with resin and cork dust backed with flax. It was the first successful synthetic flooring that was known as “resilient floor.” Walton obtained a British patent in 1860 for his linoleum making process. He is the one who came up with the name linoleum. He established the Linoleum Manufacturing Company Ltd in 1864 near London. His initial intended use for his product was as warship deck covering.

 

In the same year, twenty-four-year-old Thomas Armstrong, an American, decided to add to his shipping clerk wages by buying a machine that cut cork stoppers for bottles. The shavings from making various sizes piled up. Being a frugal man, Armstrong hated to waste this byproduct. He heard about a new floor covering in England that was gaining popularity quickly which used cork dust (of which he had plenty) and backed with cork. He revamped his business and, in 1908, started selling Armstrong linoleum. Instead of the few somber, solid colors others produced, Armstrong linoleum gave customers a variety of colors and patterns to rival woven carpet. The bright cheery patterns were a way to “beautify the home.”

 

Narin's Art Linoleum

Though a Briton invented linoleum, it was an American who introduced it into every room of the house.

 

William Parnicott patented his method of making linoxyn. His process blew hot air into a tank of linseed oil for several hours then cooled it in trays. This took only a day or two compared to Walton’s that took weeks. However, it was a poorer quality. In spite of that, manufacturers opted for the cheaper, inferior material.

 

In 1872, Walton partnered with Joseph Wild to open the American Linoleum Manufacturing Company on Staten Island. This was the first linoleum manufacturer in the U.S. Soon after that, Michael Narin established the American Narin Linoleum Company in 1887.

 

Armstrong Linoleum

Walton sued Narin over the use of his term linoleum for trademark infringement. However, even just 14 years after its invention, the court deemed linoleum as a generic term because it was so widely used. It was the first product name to be classified as such.

 

Since then, linoleum has been replaced with vinyl.

 

This takes me back to when my mom waxed our linoleum floor. It wasn’t easy to get the wax smooth. I remember her putting a fan on it and pointing the fan in different directions to get it to dry faster.

 

 
MRS. WITHERSPOON GOES TO WAR (Heroines of WWII series)
3rd Place 2023 SELAH Award

A WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) flies a secret mission to rescue three soldiers held captive in Cuba.

Margaret “Peggy” Witherspoon is a thirty-four-year-old widow, mother of two daughters, an excellent pilot, and very patriotic. She joins the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots). As she performs various tasks like ferry aircraft, transporting cargo, and being an airplane mechanic, she meets and develops feelings for her supervisor Army Air Corp Major Howie Berg. When Peggy learns of U.S. soldiers being held captive in Cuba, she, Major Berg, and two fellow WASPs devise an unsanctioned mission to rescue them. With Cuba being an ally in the war, they must be careful not to ignite an international incident. Order HERE!

MARY DAVIS, bestselling, award-winning novelist, has over thirty titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her latest release is THE LADY’S MISSION. Her other novels include THE DÉBUTANTE'S SECRET (Quilting Circle Book 4) THE DAMSEL’S INTENT (The Quilting Circle Book 3) is a SELAH Award Winner. Some of her other recent titles include; THE WIDOW'S PLIGHT, THE DAUGHTER'S PREDICAMENT, “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection, Prodigal Daughters Amish series, "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection, and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads. She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Rocky Mountains with her Carolina dog, Shelby. She has three adult children and three incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at: Books2Read Newsletter Blog FB FB Readers Group Amazon GoodReads BookBub

Sources

Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things by Charles Panati, p. 151

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linoleum

https://inspectapedia.com/interiors/Linoleum_Flooring.php

From the Eyes of a Child—Part 3

Coming to America

by Sherri Stewart

A few months ago, I spent the afternoon with Zofia Zsibinski, (Zosia for short), an eighty-four year old Polish woman who exuded confidence and elegance. From outward appearances, no one could have believed this petite woman with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes could have endured such a tumultuous childhood and lived to tell about it.  Her story couldn’t have been summed up in a single article, so I broke up her story into three parts: The War Years in Poland and Germany, The Years of Servitude after the War, and Zosia’s Life after Coming to America.

From the age of three, the Nazis forced Zosia and her family from their home in Poland onto a train to Germany, where she endured her early years in a dozen different internment camps. One time, her parents, sisters, and Zosia were told to grab all their belongings, strip, and enter a building where they waited for the gas to take their lives, but the conduit for the gas had been destroyed, so they lived to see another day.

When the war ended, life didn’t improve for the Zsibinskis. Nazi soldiers were replaced by German farmers who bid on families to work their fields, and for the next few years, the family lived in a barn loft without heat and little food. Because of Zosia’s cheery disposition and ability to speak a little German, she ingratiated herself to the farmer’s elderly parents, who gave her extra food and freedom to move around the farm.

With little hope of their lives ever improving in Europe, Zosia’s parents made the decision to move to a different country, but in order to do so, they’d need a sponsor from the target country who would guarantee that the family could stay together, find employment, and receive room and board. One such family in Australia agreed to sponsor them, but just as they were about to board the ship, the offer was withdrawn because the sponsors wanted a smaller family.

 

Months later, the Polish Alliance found them a sponsor named Joseph Warjas, an elderly man who worked for Packard in Detroit. After a tumultuous journey across the ocean where Zosia’s mother almost died, they arrived at Ellis Island in the spring of 1951.

Their first view of New York was disheartening. Zosia’s sister Helena said, “Daddy, why did you bring us to hell?” They took the train to Detroit and ended up at 17808 Wexburg. Their sponsor, Joseph Warjas, greeted them with open arms. He told her parents, “As long as I’m alive and I have a dime, your children will be taken care of.” Zosia’s first memories of her new home included the big white box in the kitchen called a refrigerator, two bedrooms, and of all things, something called a bathroom. There were even apple trees in the yard. Zosia had never seen a black person until she ventured out of the house and met her neighbors. They welcomed her and her family with open arms and brought them clothes. She also remembered how meticulous their lawns were. One of their neighbors took Polish lessons so he’d be able to talk to them. Although Zosia and her two sisters had second-hand dresses to wear, they had to share one pair of shoes and a babushka, so they couldn’t attend the same mass.

The family lived there for four years. They walked to church, and Father allowed Mother to sing in the choir. Father got a job sweeping floors at a little factory for five cents an hour. When he received his first two nickels, he broke down in tears. The nickels meant more than money; they meant freedom and a future. Zosia never smiled as a child, and her mother always covered her own mouth when she talked. When Uncle Joe took her mother to get her teeth checked, the dentist cried when he saw her teeth. Her mother said it was “a Hitler thing.”

One bright spot in those first years was Club PNA (Polish National Association) which welcomed newcomers, but it was located three miles away, and the Zsibinskis walked there twice a week. Choir rehearsal, lessons on Polish and American history, and art and drama gave them the center they needed to thrive as a family in the community. They also enjoyed picnics and festivals where they participated in Polish dances.

In the fall, Zosia started school at Corpus Cristi. The nuns showed no compassion to the tiny eleven-year-old who spoke little English. They taunted her and then sent her to Mother Superior when Zosia responded with some bad words she’d picked up. Twin boys who had witnessed the interaction stuck up for Zosia by telling Mother Superior what the nuns had said. She made the nuns apologize to Zosia. School was always hard for Zosia who suffered from dyslexia and the language difference. However, she worked hard and finally graduated from St. Thomas the Apostle School in Detroit. 

 

Zofia got a job at JL Hudson’s as a stock girl. She handled all the stock from the third-floor basement to the 23rd floor. Eventually, she was promoted to millinery buyer. Mrs. Charles Fisher and Mrs. Henry Ford were two of her clients. Zofia loved the glamour of it all and later worked as a rep for a wig company. It was there she learned about upper-class behavior. She bought her mother a $25 dress, which was a lot of money for a young girl who supported her parents for $2 an hour pay. Her indomitable spirit and work ethic enabled her to make her way up to superintendent of cosmetics at Revlon and Clairol with an office in New York. 

 

 

Sherri Stewart is woman of faith who loves all things foreign whether it’s food, culture, or language. A former French teacher and flight attendant, her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food, and visiting the sites. She savored boterkoeken in Amsterdam for A Song for Her Enemies, and crème brûlée in Paris for its sequel, What Hides beyond the Walls. A widow, Sherri lives in the Orlando area with her dog, Lily, and her son, Joshua, who always has to fix her computer. As an author, editor, and Bible teacher, she hopes her books will entertain and challenge readers to live large and connect with their Savior. Join, chat, and share with her on social media. Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Website
If the Nazis stole your house, wouldn’t you be justified in stealing it back?

When Tamar Feldman admits to her husband, Daniel, and mentor, Neelie Visser, that she broke into her former home, they scold her for taking such a risk. Tamar is tired of being careful. She’s tired of living in the present, as if the past doesn’t matter. But the painting of the violin girl in her former bedroom draws her back again and again. She finally steals the painting to return it to its former owner. Now maybe this small act of justice will help Tamar start to heal. When Neelie sees the painting, she reveals a secret about it that will take the three of them on a quest to Amsterdam and Paris to find justice, forgiveness, and new beginnings. What Tamar doesn’t realize is the past isn’t finished with her yet; in fact, it’s as close as the walls in her house and even follows her to Paris. Amazon

Mean Gods part 4 – Will The Real Atheist Please Stand Up

By Liisa Eyerly

In my previous Mean Gods blogs, we discovered the Roman gods' all-consuming and intimate role in daily life. From sunrise to sunset, people honored the gods—praying in the morning, before meals, when sealing a business deal, falling in love, having a child, setting out on a journey, or just buying food. Religious practices were deeply woven into even the smallest aspects of existence. It was your performance before the gods and society that proved your devotion.

And failing to honor the gods wasn’t just a personal risk. Divine wrath could extend to an entire city or empire.
    

Marcus Arelius © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro

This brings us back to the Roman virtue of Pietas, or piety—an unshakable duty to fulfill one’s obligations to the gods. These sacred responsibilities weren’t just personal routines but community-wide obligations carried out by temple priests, elected officials, or government leaders who also held priestly titles. Their duties included elaborate rites of prayers, rituals, sacrifices, and festivals, all meticulously performed to honor a specific god or goddess.

And precision was everything. A single mistake—a priest stumbling over an incantation, incense burning out too soon, or a sacrificial bull resisting its fate—could render the entire ritual invalid, requiring the ceremony to be repeated. Failure to properly honor the gods was no trivial matter; it was an offense that could bring famine, disease, earthquakes, or volcanic destruction.

Vesuvius volcano Pompeii 
RealCarlo, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org
/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Festivals weren’t just about ritual sacraments; they were grand spectacles meant to 

BrankaVV, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

display public devotion. Lavish feasts, music, processions, gladiatorial combat, wild animal hunts, theatrical performances, and chariot races were all offered in honor of the gods, demonstrating gratitude and pleading for continued favor. Because the gods were as fickle in their blessings as they were in their punishments.

This was the world the early Christians lived in—a world where refusing to worship the emperor-god was more than an act of personal belief. It was a public insult, a dangerous rejection of the divine protectors of Rome. To deny the gods of the empire was to endanger not only yourself but your entire community.

John Joseph Kilpin Fletcher, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons 

And so, Christians—who refused to participate in the state-mandated worship—were labeled atheists. Not because they didn’t believe in a god, but because they rejected the gods of Rome. This wasn’t just heresy—it was treason. A crime punishable by death.

The martyrdom of early Christians wasn’t simply an act of persecution; it was, in the eyes of their neighbors, a necessary defense. To Romans, Christians were seen as reckless outliers, risking divine wrath upon everyone by their defiance. Their refusal to honor the gods wasn’t just dangerous—it was unforgivable.

And so, the real atheists of the ancient world were not those who had no gods at all, but those who refused to worship Rome’s.

Mystery, murder, and mayhem aren’t your typical Christian themes—but why should secular authors have all the fun solving crimes in ancient Rome? My love of history, scripture, and whodunits led me to blend faith with intrigue, bringing the world of the early Christians to life. Writing from my home in the woods of northern Wisconsin, I also draw inspiration from my travels to Turkey, Greece, and Italy, where I’ve walked the same streets my characters once did. Through historical mysteries, I explore a time when faith was a matter of life and death—literally.

Step into the shadowy streets of 96 AD Ephesus, where danger lurks around every corner, and the line between friend and foe is razor-thin. The Secrets of Ephesus series, plunges you into a world where faith is tested, alliances are shattered, and one woman's courage could be the difference between life and death.

Sabina, a fierce young Christian widow, is thrust into a deadly game when a young scribe is murdered. With her bishop’s life hanging in the balance, Sabina must unravel a web of lies, deceit, and hidden motives. Every clue she uncovers brings her closer to the truth—and closer to becoming the next victim.

This isn't just a murder mystery. It's a gripping tale of faith, resilience, and the power of one woman standing against the darkness.

Visit me at my website, on my Author Facebook page,

or purchase my books at:
Fortunes of Death
Obedient Unto Death
My Amazon book page

Heroes of the Wild West: Trail Guides

There’s something timeless about the Wild West. Maybe it’s the echo of hoofbeats on prairie ground or the image of a wagon cresting a ridge at sunset. For Christian readers of western historical romance, these wide-open landscapes offer more than scenic beauty—they provide stories of courage, faith, and the kind of love that thrives in hard places.

Imagine such a story with the hero as a trail guide. You know the type—quiet, rugged, full of knowledge and secrets. He’s the one helping settlers cross rivers, scale mountain passes, and make it to the other side of danger. He might not wear a tin star or ride into town with a posse, but he’s brave in ways that count. He leads others through the wilderness—sometimes even when he’s lost inside himself.

And what’s more romantic and evocative--not to mention literary--than a hero on a journey?

Real-Life Trailblazers

While fictional guides have captured our hearts, the history behind them is just as compelling—and even more inspiring. Let's look at three trail guides who truly walked the path, each with a story worth remembering.

1. Thomas “Broken Hand” Fitzpatrick

Thomas Fitzpatrick (1799-1854) trapper and Indian Agent; public domain image

Known as one of the most respected mountain men and trail guides of the 19th century, Thomas Fitzpatrick earned his nickname after a hunting accident, but his legacy runs far deeper. He led countless wagon trains west, including pioneers on the Oregon Trail, and helped guide military expeditions. Later in life, he served as an Indian agent and peacemaker, respected by both settlers and Native American tribes. Fitzpatrick was known for his integrity, fairness, and moral compass—traits that fit beautifully with the Christian ideal of servant leadership. His dedication to justice and peace makes him an excellent model for a trail guide hero grounded in faith and conviction.

2. Sacajawea’s Son: Jean Baptiste Charbonneau

Sacajawea and Jean-Baptiste sculpture in Washington Park, Portland; public domain image

Born during the Lewis and Clark expedition, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau was the son of Sacajawea, a Shoshone woman who was one of the most famous Native American guides in history. Jean Baptiste grew up multilingual and deeply skilled in frontier life. As an adult, he became a scout, guide, and interpreter. What makes his story unique is how he navigated two worlds—Native and European—just like many mixed-heritage trail guides in western fiction. His life reminds us of the deep contributions Native Americans made to westward expansion—and how God works through all people, across all cultures.

3. Medicine Calf (also known as George Bent)

George Bent in wedding attire for the camera in 1867. A survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, Bent continued to translate for peace chiefs and Indian Agents of the Cheyenne; public domain image

Now here’s a story tailor-made for historical romance readers. George Bent, or Medicine Calf, was the son of a prominent Cheyenne woman and a white trader from Bent’s Fort in Colorado. Educated in both white and Cheyenne traditions, he later fought in the Civil War, then returned west to serve as a mediator, scout, and interpreter during a time of immense cultural upheaval. His mixed heritage gave him a unique perspective that helped him guide others—not just across physical terrain, but between two worlds at war. Imagine the kind of quiet strength and identity struggle he must have lived with. A character based on George Bent could easily step off the pages of a novel: scarred, spiritual, and steady in the storm.

These men, and others like them, weren’t just skilled at reading landscapes—they were navigating history, culture, and faith in incredibly complex times. And that’s part of what makes trail guides such captivating heroes in our favorite stories.

Why We Love Them

Trail guides often aren’t the loudest or flashiest characters. They’re the ones who’ve seen too much, said too little, and carry maps in their heads and burdens in their hearts. But in Christian romance, they often become the protectors, the steady hands, and sometimes the prodigals finding their way back to the Father.

They also have a habit of falling in love with strong, stubborn heroines who challenge them—ladies who are just as determined to survive the journey west and make a life out of the wilderness. These relationships aren’t built on ballrooms and pretty words—they’re forged in hardship, patience, and prayer.

And really, what better soil is there for love?

Final Thoughts

Maybe one of the reasons we love trail guides so much is because we’re all on a journey of our own. We might not be dodging rattlesnakes or crossing rivers on horseback, but we are trying to find our way. And just like in the stories, we need guides—mentors, pastors, friends—who’ve walked the path before us and can point us to truth when the trail gets hard to see.

Ultimately, the best trail guide in any story—and in life—is the One who promises to never leave us or forsake us. As Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Whether we’re walking the Oregon Trail or facing a personal wilderness, God goes before us.

So the next time you open a western romance and meet a brooding, Bible-carrying hero with trail dust on his boots and a mysterious past—pause and remember: you’re meeting someone with roots in real history. Someone who reflects the human longing for purpose, belonging, and the faithful God who guides us every step of the way.

Over to You

Which historical trail guide would you love to see as the inspiration for a romance hero?

About Janalyn Voigt

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales "written" in her head. Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. Romance, mystery, adventure, history, and whimsy appear in all her novels in proportions dictated by their genre.

Learn more about Janalyn, read the first chapters of her books, subscribe to her e-letter, and join her reader clubs at http://janalynvoigt.com.

Fall in Love with the Wild West!

Learn More

Thousand Island Park Camp Meetings

 

By Susan G Mathis

The Thousand Island Park Camp Meeting Association was founded by the Rev. John Ferdinand Dayan, in 1875, as a Methodist summer camp with regular meetings, sermons, and public services. They leased spots for tents or cottages and provided most of the conveniences of city living but without its vices. TI Park was called, “The Chautauqua of the North.”

In 1883, the Park moved away from the family-oriented camp and opened it to a more general public. But they still kept several of their rules like observing the Sabbath.

The Park continued to grow, so by 1894, nearly six hundred cottages plus hotels created a summer village that included a library, yacht club, golf course, roque courts, annual tennis tournaments, daily concerts, an art school, its own printer, a needlecraft shop, fishing guides and boats, a book shop, a photographer…and Sunday services.

By the turn of the century, in 1900, the Park had become a full summer community with a library and all the amenities a full-service resort would provide including insurance companies, printer, needlecraft shop, shoe store, hand-blown glass souvenirs, a china maker, hand laundress, hair and manicurist, Japanese bazaar, Persian and Turkish rugs, general store, meat market, milk, ice, plumber, contractors, barber, boat livery, fishing guides, tailor, Indian basket shop, candy store and more. Yet it still retained a tight-knit, small town warmth and vitality.

Besides hundreds of lovely Victorian cottages, the Columbian Hotel and the Wellesley Hotel (which still exists today), and smaller hotels made up of various cottages were open to the public. The smaller hotels such as the Geneva, the Pratt House, and the Rochester as well as boarding houses each had a separate function.

Today, Thousand Island Park is still a lovely summer community full of gingerbread Victorians and friendly people. The community retains its homey, small town feel and offers lots of fun things to do. It’s a great place to visit in the summertime, and it’s a wonderful place to tell the story of the 1912 fires in Mary’s Moment.

Have you been to a Christian camp? Leave your answer or comments on the post below and join me on February 19th for my next post.

ABOUT MARY’S MOMENT:

It’s 1912, and Thousand Island Park’s switchboard operator Mary Flynn is the community heroine saving dozens of homes from a terrible fire. Less than a month later, when another disastrous fire rages through the Park, Mary loses her memory as she risks her life in a neighbor's burning cottage. Widowed fireman George Flannigan is enamored by the brave raven-haired lass and takes every opportunity to connect with Mary. But he has hidden griefs of his own that cause him great heartache. When George can’t stop the destructive Columbian Hotel fire from eradicating more than a hundred businesses and homes, he is distraught. Yet George’s greater concern is Mary. Will she remember their budding relationship or be forever lost to him?

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has fourteen in her fiction line. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan lives in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling the world. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Camp Grant Massacre by Nancy J. Farrier

 

Camp Grant, Photo by John Karl Hillers
United States Army, Public Domain

In the Southwest, particularly in Arizona, in the 1860’s and early 1870’s, there were two types of Apaches. The Chiricahua Apaches chose to fight to try to regain their lands and their freedom, while the Aravaipa and Pinal Apaches chose to seek peace, settling down to farm. This disparity led to what happened on an April morning in 1871.

 

In February of 1871, six Apache women approached Camp Grant, Arizona, located where the San Pedro River and Aravaipa Creek meet. These women spoke with Lt. Royal Whitman about  a son who had been captured and taken prisoner. Lt. Whitman was kind to the women, giving them food and listening to them. Within a short time a camp was set up for the Aravaipa and Pinal Apaches a few miles upstream from Camp Grant. The Apaches settled there, planting food and hunting for game.

 

Meanwhile, the Chiricahua Apaches continued their raids, often killing settlers in their quest to win back their hunting grounds. In March of 1871, A baggage train was attacked and two men killed, a rancher was killed, and a woman kidnapped. Citizens in Tucson were appalled and sent a request for help to General George Stoneman who was in charge of Indian affairs in Arizona territory. Stoneman didn’t take them seriously, brushing off their concerns. (This later cost him his post and position as General.)

 

Tucson in the 1880's

After more attacks in April, some of the citizens of Tucson banded together to settle
the score. The vigilantes included William S. Oury, the mayor of Tucson. They snuck out at night and rode for two days to reach the Camp Grant area. There were 6 Americans, 48 Mexicans, and over 90 Tohono O’odham Indians in the group. When they reached the area, they set a watch at Camp Grant and took a hidden trail to the Apache camp.

 

Before dawn on the morning of April 18^th, 1871, the men entered the camp. They slaughtered 8 men and over 100 women who were all sleeping when attacked. Some of the women were raped. They took captive 30 children, taking them to Tucson and Mexico to be slaves.

 

Eskimizin - Chief of the Apaches
near Camp Grant. Public Domain

Most of the men of the Apache camp were out on a hunting expedition, which is why there were so few men in the camp. By the time the soldiers at Camp Grant were aware of the attack, it was over. They arrived to find the people murdered and mutilated. Lt. Whitman searched for survivors but only found one woman. He and his men buried the bodies.

 

An outcry was made when word got out about what had happened. The Apaches were under the protection of the soldiers at Camp Grant, and thinking themselves safe, were attacked and slaughtered while they slept. The Eastern press called it a massacre. President Grant informed the governor that if the perpetrators weren’t brought to justice, he would declare martial law for Arizona.

 

In October 1871, a Tucson grand jury indicted 100 of the vigilantes on 108 counts of murder. The following trial was a farce and it took the jury nineteen minutes to declare the defendants not guilty. The children who had been sold as slaves were never recovered.

This tragedy took place a few miles from where I live in Arizona. The thought of all those innocents being slaughtered breaks my heart as does the slavery of the children. I still can't understand the murderous intent that would have so many riding such a distance to commit this crime.

 

Have you ever heard of the Camp Grant Massacre? What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear.

Nancy J Farrier is an award-winning, best-selling author who lives in Southern Arizona in the Sonoran Desert. She loves the Southwest with its interesting historical past. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needlecraft, play with her cats and dog, and spend time with her family. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.

The inspiration behind the iconic hymn Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Once again, I’m featuring a beloved hymn and the history behind it. If you missed my last story you can find it here. Naomi Musch has been sharing some wonderful hymn stories too. Her last one is here. 

Today I’m focusing on “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” This song is easy to identify if you love classical music because the music is the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Hymn writers often borrow familiar tunes to accompany their lyrics.

Henry van Dyke jr.

Henry van Dyke Jr was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1852. During his life, he was a prominent Presbyterian minister and leading liturgy figures in the country.  He also served as a professor of literature at Princeton from 1900-1923.  He interrupted his professorship when he served as a Navy Chaplain during the First World War. Then President Woodrow Wilson appointed him ambassador to Belgium and Luxenberg in 1913. After which he resumed his post at Princeton, finding it more to his liking than diplomacy. He was a prolific writer of devotionals along with hymn lyrics and short stories. One of his more memorable short stories was The Other Wise Man (1896) This was a Christmas story of another wiseman who used his gift to help the needy as he journeyed to Bethlehem.

Henry’s best-known hymn is “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.” He is quoted as saying his purpose for writing this iconic hymn and others:

“These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time, hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thoughts of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy their religion or that any revolution on the earth will overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, these are hymns of trust and hope.”  Quote taken from 101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck

“Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee” illustrates a joyful interplay between God’s creation and the same creative spirit in the believer’s life. Each verse paints a vivid picture of how God created the world and the believer’s response to His glory and majesty.

Inspiration for the hymn

Henry wrote this hymn when he was a guest preacher at William College, Williamstown Massachusetts. He handed the finished lyrics to the college president saying “Here is a hymn for you. Your Berkshire mountains were my inspiration. It must be sung to music of Beethoven’s “Hymn of Joy.” It was first published in van Dyke’s Book of Poems, third edition in 1911.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

 Beethoven’s “Hymn of Joy” which is the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was composed somewhere between 1817-1823 and published in 1823. Beethoven never wrote a tune specifically for a hymn text. However, some of his works have been the musical accompaniment to hymns.

The Ninth or the “Choral” symphony was the last and perhaps greatest piece he ever wrote. It took six years to complete the entire symphony. His desire was to create one great symphony that would combine both voice and instruments in one majestic expression of sound. His poet friend Frederick Schiller inspired the work with his poem Ode to Joy.

The musical world was and still is amazed at how wonderful this piece was since Beethoven hearing declined toward deafness by the time he was thirty. There is a debate as to whether Beethoven was totally deaf or only had severe hearing loss at the time he wrote this final symphony. When the Ninth Symphony was first performed in Vienna, Austria, in 1824, the soloist had to come down from the stage and turn Beethoven around from his position facing the stage so he could see all the enthusiastic applause. The joy in the music truly complements the lyrics Henry van Dyke was inspired to write.

 

Joyful Joyful, We Adore Thee

1. Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,
Op'ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

2. All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav'n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!

3. Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

4.Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God's own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

Listen for yourself

Here is a link to a YouTube video.

 

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-iba-3&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-3&hspart=iba&p=performance+of+joyful+joyful+we+adore+thee+youtube&type=smff_10230_FFW_ZZ#id=3&vid=083ff3b4a1ac5c1bdf3fbbfa7d1ec030&action=view

Have you ever heard this hymn before? How does it inspire you?

Cindy Ervin Huff, is a multi-published award-winning author. A 2018 Selah Finalist. She has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her addiction to reading and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50 plus years, Charles. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com.

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