Feb. 24 1839- Ellen is born

Less than three years after being blessed by the birth of Waldo my son, I am blessed by the birth of a daugther. Ellen, in memory of my first wife is the name I have chosen for my new child. The grass may have died for the long and lonely winter, but it has returned to me, younger, fuller and greener than ever. My job is to water her and help nurture and provide for her so she can grow into a long healthy summer of a life. As the gardener of the grass, I can trim and cut and control the growth and death of every strand of grass. When weeds and pollution begin to overtake it, I can seclude it and nurse it back to health and well-being.