Sod and Stubble (2025)

[bunniefuu]

I love competition.

I like nice things.

Do you?

But at what cost?

We have too much, and we are too poor.

We're too anxious to seem than to be.

We strive for baubles

and gewgaws, gimcracks,

fancy clothes,

and shiny cars rather than for contentment

and fundamental culture.

Not only are we in

economics, politics among

the most unsophisticated

yokels in the world,

but we are precluded

from solving our problems

by the fact that we are so

c*ck and conceited because

we have so many things.

Don't forget chapter eight for Thursday.

- Do you have a minute?

- Yes.

Beautiful dreamer

wake unto me

Starlight and dewdrops

are waiting for thee

Sounds of the rude world

heard in the day

Lull'd by the moonlight

have all pass'd away

Beautiful dreamer

queen of my song

List while I woo thee

with soft melody

Gone are the cares

of life's busy throng

Beautiful dreamer

awake unto me

Beautiful dreamer

awake unto me

Mother?

Mother?

Johnny.

Have a seat, son.

Mother, I've been pestering you for years

about the old days.

I was thinking, could you make some notes?

You know I don't write well.

You have an

incredible memory, mother.

My mother, now,

there was a woman

with a sharp wit and memory.

Maybe you get it

from her then, but you have it.

I'll just tell you my

stories, John.

When thoughts come to you,

simply write them down.

Even a few words.

Then, when I come over,

you can tell me more.

It will help me to put things into order.

I'll try.

When was the first time

you met father?

Your father was patient,

and quiet, and very intelligent.

I was 17.

My brother, Chris, had tried his

luck out in the western part

of the state.

And one time, he came back home,

and he brought a friend, Henry Ise.

Oh, those dear little birds.

What would spring be without them?

Do you have any on your claim?

Any meadowlarks?

Lots of them.

More than here.

And they sing better than the meadowlarks

here in Eastern Kansas.

It's a long song, twice as long,

that winds up with a kind of trill.

I think you're

pulling my leg, Henry Ise.

I can't wait

to get you out there.

You're gonna love it.

- I love you, Henry.

- You do, do you?

Of course, I do.

Well, don't you love me back?

I love you first, I have to.

I'm older.

Hyah.

Remember your family, Rosalina.

Pray for your parents

and we will pray for you.

God, give this couple

in matrimony, and big prayers

for many blessings, and

long lives, many children.

And remember, always keep your eye on God.

Henry, I give you my daughter.

She's a good girl.

A hard worker and strong.

Your mother and I have

done everything we can.

I want you to have this.

My mother gave that to me

in Deutschland, the old country.

Say your prayers.

I am little, but my heart is pure.

Ya, father.

I raised her well, Henry.

I know you did, sir.

Goodbye.

Goodbye mother, goodbye father.

Farewell my children, farewell.

Rosa, your brother

will take care of you.

- I will, father.

- Write to me if you can.

I'll see you soon, Rosie.

Auf Wiedersehen.

Any trouble, Missus?

Did you see a man up the road?

Or three brindle cows?

Yeah, I seen 'em all.

Man was back about a mile or so,

cow's about a mile further.

They'll be along soon, I reckon.

They yours?

He's mine.

Yeah, his cows seemed

much sprier than mine.

They'll come fast when they come.

Right smart morning, ain't it?

Ma'am, this man you say is

yours, is he your husband?

Yes, he's mine.

I don't mean to scare you none.

Name's Schoonover, William Schoonover.

Rosina Ise.

What is it that you want?

Well, you see, my wife died

and I ain't got much or much help.

We're on our way to our claim.

Maybe you should go back towards a town.

Where are you headed?

We was headed for our

claim in Nebraska.

I went back to get my wife and children,

and she was awful sick, and died.

Now a couple of the

little ones, they're ill too.

Maybe you should go back

home where you have help.

I ain't going back now.

Anyway, home's Kentucky.

There ain't nothing for us there.

Home's out here now.

Well, maybe you

need your people.

Ma'am, I ain't hardly

got any people.

- She was all I had.

- I'm sorry.

Can I help you?

No, I was just leaving.

We'll keep you in

our prayers and thoughts.

Thank you.

Woah.

Be right back.

- We need coffee and salt.

- All right.

Why don't you drive

them for a bit?

I'll walk with the cows.

- Giddy up Frank, Sam!

- Ten miles to home, Rosie.

I can't wait for you to see it!

Woah, woah.

There it is.

That's our cabin.

That's our claim.

It starts right there at the creek cross

and goes half a mile to the south,

half a mile to the west.

Doesn't it look like good

land, Rosie, darling?

I pray it's a good home for us.

It surely looks like good land, Henry.

It is good land.

I've plowed and furrowed all around,

and turned up nothing but rich, black soil.

It won't take long with some luck.

Woah.

Who was that? Henry!

That's Frank Hagel.

He's been taking care

of the cabin since I left.

Well, he didn't even wave.

He just ran inside like

something was wrong.

I bet the place is a mess.

Probably hasn't swept it out since I left.

Here Frank, meet my wife, Rosie Ise.

What have you got for dinner?

We're hungry as coyotes.

It's better than what my

family had in Holton at first.

The Bible your father gave you.

Hm, thank you, Henry.

- It's not much.

- It has possibilities.

- Do I?

- No.

You are hopeless, Henry Ise.

- Our home.

- Yeah.

- I'd like to see Chris.

- Of course.

I want you to meet our neighbors too.

I want see them all.

- Chris and Louisa first, please?

- Yeah.

Marriages: Henry C. Ise

of Osborne County, Kansas

to Rosa Haag of Jackson

County, Kansas on May 16, 1873.

- My word, Henry.

- Old man Vietz.

- What is wrong with him?

- He's just different.

I suppose so.

I told you he was

the best single man

in Osborne County.

Was I right?

He's the best in Jackson County, too.

Only the best for my Rosie.

Definitely the best

in Jackson County,

but I don't know about the

Osborne County men yet.

We did see the strangest

man on the way here.

Who was that, darling?

Old man Vietz.

He was nearly naked,

bathing in public.

I thought it was an

Indian except for his beard.

He's harmless, Rosie.

The man's a preacher.

A preacher?

Who is his congregation?

The birds?

No doubt.

He does talk to himself but

he's an honest Dutchman.

They say he eats skunks.

He says he's a preacher

but I'm not certain.

- Anyone could say that?

- Does he have a family?

He says his family

won't come west.

At least, not unless he

builds them a decent home.

Well, I hope you

don't have many like him.

Hm.

He certainly is one of a kind.

- Can I get you some coffee?

- I'm fine.

Mm, I'll have some.

How was your trip?

Good, good.

Creek sure was up.

So glad to see you, Chris.

It makes missing mother

and father so much easier.

We're happy

for the company and family.

I'm glad to see you too, Lou.

I don't know what I'd do

without female companionship.

It does get pretty lonely out here,

but the church is growing.

You'll love the Bartschs, and others.

You're just feeling

a bit homesick, sis.

It will get better.

And who knows, maybe the whole Haag family

can join us before long.

- Here comes Steve.

- Well, hello there.

Here's the beautiful Mrs. Ise.

I've heard so much about you, ma'am.

I'm not sure why you chose to

help out this old, rough German.

There are plenty of good

German men in the county.

German.

He told me he was a Swede.

Mrs. Ise,

this is my wife, Pheobe.

Pleased to meet you.

Likewise.

Now you can see

what I have to put up with.

Ah, welcome to

Rosenthal, er, Rose Valley.

Oh, I'm Chris Bartsch, and this

is my ehefrau, my wife, Mary.

I'm Henry Ise,

and this is my wife, Rosa.

Nice to meet you.

Are you German?

ROSA My Parents-were born there.

Welcome.

If I can help in any

way, please let me know.

Well, I'll be honest,

it has been an adjustment.

Let me tell you,

when we first came out here,

I told Chris I wouldn't stay

unless he repaired the roof,

and he made the place livable.

Truthfully, it is an adjustment.

I'm trying to look

at the bright side,

but Henry is a dreamer.

I think you have

to be to come out here.

I don't know if I'm

a dreamer, Mary.

You believe in that

man over there, don't you?

- I do.

- See, you are a dreamer.

We just dream differently.

That's not a bad thing, you know.

Sometimes, I think over time,

our dreams, they grow together.

Well, we move on now,

let you get back to work.

Leave her.

And Moses, in Exodus 33,

asked the Lord to show him His glory.

He wanted to see the face

and the glory of the Lord,

but that could not be for

the Lord said in verse 20,

"You cannot see my face.

No man sees my face

and lives."

Amen, pastor.

That's why

the word had to become flesh.

I'll go see what they want.

I'm coming with you.

And I will cover you both.

We were having a prayer service.

My people are starving, hungry.

- We don't have much.

- You have more than we.

What about the bread?

Rosie's bread.

Yeah.

Please ask her.

They just want food.

Don't worry, don't worry.

Now, let's not all be frightened

and concerned here.

Let's remain calm, ladies.

- Is that all they want?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Just food.

Just food.

- Bread is no good.

- The bread is good.

And we have more.

- What is this?

- Butter.

- My wife's butter.

- We need meat.

I have nothing to hunt.

All of the hunt has moved away

since your people came upon us.

Take them.

All of them!

Well, we thank

the Lord for our safe keeping.

Quiet, please.

Very good.

Those chickens

were dying of cholera.

It will make them all sick.

Well, I wouldn't worry

about them anymore.

No.

Come, come.

Shall we continue with

the services, everyone?

In the book of Exodus

Henry!

Henry!

Hi there, Henry.

Mart, King.

We got trouble up at Oak Creek.

What kind of trouble?

It's Nebraska Stevens,

the boy who got bit by the rabid wolf.

He went mad yesterday and drove

his folks out the house.

Some of us will have

to help take care of him.

I hadn't heard about it.

His mother, she...

She's beside herself, Henry.

Damn near lost her mind too.

You know his pa.

He ain't doing much better.

Are they sure it's the rabies?

What else?

It was more than just a scare.

He was working down at the south

ranch when he heard a commotion

in the chicken coop and

went to see what was wrong.

People have been talking about a mad wolf

for a long time.

I believe it now.

Anyway, he took a g*n with him

when he went to check out the coop.

But just as he rounded

that door of the chicken coop,

the beast burst out

and tore him up something fierce

before he could even draw the damn g*n.

We thought he was alright for a while.

Yesterday, he went down

to the creek with his dad,

when he saw that

water, he had an awful fit.

Dear God.

Have they sought out a doctor?

No, and they won't.

He's too far gone, Henry.

You know doctors won't go

near a boy who's gone mad.

His pa and John Wise are doing their best

to keep him under control,

but they need somebody's help.

They need someone to dispel him.

Let's go.

How can I help?

Take Bill Stevens' place so we can get

his wife out of here.

The boy is beyond mad.

He'll make sense for a

minute and get close to you.

Stay clear and stay safe.

Mother?

Water.

Water!

Please, somebody give me a drink.

Why won't you give me a drink?

I want a drink.

- God, to hear him beg.

- Water!

I can't listen

to him beg anymore.

Please!

I'll give it to him.

No!

Ma'am, we need you to leave.

Mother, do you have to leave?

I won't bite you.

Please, just give me a

kiss before you have to go.

You shouldn't do that.

Please go with your husband now.

We'll watch over your boy.

No mother, I won't hurt you.

Come mother, we must go.

- No!

- Ma'am, I'm begging you.

We'll do all we can.

I'm fine.

- I'm fine.

- We love you, Nebraska.

We'll take care of your boy.

Please go.

Now!

God bless you.

What are you reading, Henry?

A book about the reformation.

Is it interesting?

Yeah.

It helps me understand.

I want a better education for our children.

Well, speaking of...

That's old man Vietz.

Hello Mr. Ise.

My name is Vietz, I run the post office.

Mr. Vietz,

please come in.

Thank you.

I have a piece of mail here for you.

Thank you.

I can no longer

run the post office.

You see, Mr. Bender,

he finds my services

irritating for some reason.

He can't take your job away.

Oh, no, no.

He can't do that.

No, I just need to take a leave of absence,

so he'll quit worrying about me.

You shouldn't' let

him intimidate you.

Oh, my services are

much bigger than this.

You see, the people around

here don't understand me.

You understand,

don't you, Mr. Ise?

I don't know, but I'll listen.

Good.

Good.

You see, I am a traveler.

We're all travelers in this weary world.

Some of us on the road to salvation,

some on the road to ruin.

I have always tried to be a servant to man

and a disciple to God.

- I understand.

- Yes, yes.

So, you can take over

my position as postmaster,

but from here in your own home, of course.

And by and by, I would

come back and relieve you.

I believe I could do that.

Yes.

Good, good.

Well, God bless this house

and all who dwell here.

Goodbye.

Where will you go, Vietz?

Oh, I don't know.

I'm sure I'll find the

proper field for my services.

Ma'am, sir.

Good luck.

You say yes to

everything and everyone

without asking any details, Henry.

I have to help.

You have to take care

of our family, our needs.

- I am with child.

- You're what?

Really?

Are you sure?

- I'm sure.

- I'm gonna be a father.

- We're gonna be parents, Rosie.

- Yes.

I was gonna go get

supplies, but I can't go now.

Please go.

Take care of things.

And leave you alone?

How?

I'm fine.

I worry you're spreading yourself too thin.

I don't need to go.

The baby won't be

here for several months.

Please, go take care of things.

Let me take you

to your brother's.

I don't need to

be babysat, Henry.

I know.

Okay.

I'll be back by tomorrow.

Yes Rosie, it's good.

It is good.

It is good.

All is good.

All is good.

Just one more time, Rosie.

One more time.

Come on.

Come on.

Louisa and I are here for you.

It is good.

It's good.

Come on, Rosie.

Come on.

Come on.

Yes, yes.

- Good.

- Keep going.

Yes Rosie, yes!

- More, more!

- Keep going.

- All is good.

- Keep going.

We have baby!

We have baby!

Woo, baby is here.

Baby is here!

Oh, good.

Rose, your baby is here.

You have baby, Rosie.

Baby.

Baby is here.

- Henry, it's a boy.

- He has blue eyes, Rosie.

We're going to name him Albert.

Son.

Can you stay for a couple of days?

I'm new to this.

Of course.

I was planning on it.

But we are going to need some things.

I'll need you to go into town, Henry.

I'll stay as well,

if you want me to, Rosie.

What is it?

What's wrong?

I don't know.

I don't know.

Could you please go get a doctor?

When's the last time he fed?

I don't know.

Please go get a doctor.

- I don't wanna leave.

- Go!

Please!

Oh, sweet Albert, papa

went to get you a doctor.

It's okay, Albert.

It's okay.

Where is Henry?

No.

No!

No.

Henry!

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

No.

I love you.

I love you.

I guess it's about time

for dinner.

When I lost sweet Albert,

I couldn't imagine my future without him.

People think when you have other children,

you somehow forget your loss.

You don't.

It's not true, Johnny.

- Loss is loss.

- I know.

So hard not to know what he

would've looked like or become.

As difficult as it was on me,

your father took it even harder.

But he kept it inside.

From John?

- From Kate.

- What does she say?

Things are good in Iowa.

The Brietze's farm's for sale.

I could own that farm if I

hadn't had my $300 stolen.

I've prayed that their

conscience would move

them to return your money.

I guess that only happens in storybooks.

Iowa's good country.

I helped break that farm after the w*r.

The best around there.

This place

Everything dies here.

My corn, my son, everything.

It will rain one of these days.

I remember what it was

like 14 years ago at Holton.

It was worse than this.

It was our first year in this country.

Mother and father didn't

know what to expect.

It's worthless.

It made it all worthless.

Please listen to me.

When my folks came here, we had

no rain from May to November.

We had no wheat, no corn,

no rye, no money, nothing.

Father was ill, so we had nothing to eat.

And poor mother.

She saw that we weren't

gonna make it to spring,

so she started to Atchison,

and got caught in a blizzard.

How old were you?

I was five.

As the days passed,

father realized that

mother might've lost her life,

but he couldn't help.

He was so sick.

One day, he started to cut our hair,

and he began to cry.

I'd never seen my father cry.

What happened to your mother?

Oh, thank God a wagon passed by

and took her to a

reservation and saved her life.

Henry, you have not failed.

You told me it would

get better, and it will.

I'm good at

floating hope out there, eh?

It's more than hope, it's love.

Love for your fellow man,

for me, for our babies.

We will have more

babies, I feel it in my bones.

It hurts to fail.

It's part of life.

You taught me that.

So, maybe you should listen to yourself.

We have no place to go, and

nowhere else to be but here.

This is our home.

Our home.

I will not let you quit.

Lord, we thank

you for our blessings.

We pray for our families and our friends.

We ask all of this in Jesus' name, amen.

Grateful to have

you here, Reverend.

- Glad to be with you.

- This is my wife, Rosie.

Hi.

And my brother

and sister-in-law,

Chris and Louisa Haag.

Nice to meet you.

- This is my wife, Amanda.

- Hi.

- Hello.

- Hello.

It's wonderful news, Rosie. Are you sure?

I'm sure.

How far along

do you think you are?

Two, maybe three weeks.

Two, maybe three months.

Those early years were challenging,

but we were blessed.

And in 1885, with the

help of our neighbors,

we built a new home.

We were so proud and grateful.

We also were blessed

with the sound of little feet.

What once felt like an impossible dream

was now a reality.

We were home.

What do you think, Rosie?

Do you like our new home?

I do, Henry.

I'm grateful to you and

everyone who's helped us.

- We've worked hard for this.

- We've been blessed.

We've had some lean years.

I'm grateful

we did this together.

I wanna get you a gift.

Henry, this gift is

more than I could dream.

You've been laboring

so hard with the sewing

for the children, I wanna

buy you a machine.

The Bartschs have

a machine I could use

or ask them to do some sewing.

You need your own.

We have many children

now, and maybe more to come.

I'm looking

rather seedy now

While holding down

my claim

And my vittles are not always

served the best

And the mice play shyly round

me as I nestle down to rest

In the little old sod shanty

on my claim

Oh the hinges are of leather

and the windows have no glass

And the board roof lets

the howling blizzard in

And I hear the hungry coyote

as he slinks up thru the grass

Round the little old sod

shanty on my claim

Round the little old

sod shanty on my claim

Something's wrong with Joe.

He's fussing and feverish.

What is it?

I don't know,

but I'll sit up with him.

I will, dear.

- Try to get some rest.

- I can't.

I'm worried sick.

What if it is the paralysis?

That's what Linge's baby had.

Steve said she had a

fever, was fretful for days,

and she just died.

Henry, you must

go get the doctor.

He'll know what to do, go.

Go now!

Go as fast as you can.

Wouldn't it be better

to take him to the doctor?

We could get there faster

than he can get to us.

Laura, Billy, come, come.

We're gonna take Joe to the doctor.

Help your mother, I'm

gonna hitch up the team.

Yes, father.

Come, come.

Is the lad sick?

Bad weather for youngins, I'll tell you.

Cross and feverish

since Thursday.

He hasn't been able to move either foot.

Is it the paralysis?

I'm afraid

if it is the paralysis

there's just

not much I can do.

I'm just a country doctor, and I'm limited.

Henry, Rosie, I wish to God

we could get him in to see somebody else.

I'm afraid it's possible that

this boy will never walk again.

No, no.

You have to do something for him.

Okay, okay.

Let's don't get ahead of ourselves, okay?

He might get over it.

He's young and he seems stout enough,

and yeah, he could pull through it.

And besides, he comes

from good stock, that's right.

So, here's what I want you to do.

I want you to give him

a couple of tablespoons

of this every hour.

I want you to bring him

back tomorrow and every day

of this week, if need be, all right?

And above all else,

we've got to feed him

good, nourishing food,

we've got to keep his

strength up, all right?

Henry, you gotta be strong.

That woman's gonna need you.

I know you want answers,

but answers take time

and you're just gonna have

to take one day at a time.

I understand.

Never walk again?

Never walk again.

That's not what he said.

We'll get help.

From where, Henry?

We don't have any money.

Our baby will never walk again.

What will he be?

He can't go to school,

he can't have a regular job.

- He will be a cr*pple.

- You're going too far.

- We need to go to God for this.

- And where is God now, huh?

Our child, our son.

Our little boy needs you,

and so do I.

- I know.

- We'll go to God.

We have a sick one, do we?

He hasn't been able

to walk for some time.

He had quite a

fever and the doctor

at Downs said it might be the paralysis.

Did he ever walk properly?

Well, maybe barely.

But he was playful, though, and healthy.

There's just something wrong.

I see.

I believe this will be of help to him.

What is it?

The names aren't important.

But we have seen some pretty fine reactions

with this medicine.

Of course, improvement or responses

will vary from patient to patient.

When might we see improvement?

As I said,

this will vary from patient to patient.

But he's young and

relatively healthy it seems.

How much will this all

cost, doctor?

Well, let's see.

What did we plan on today?

I have just $300.

As a matter of fact,

that is exactly what my bill is.

I'm certainly glad you

have that today, son.

I bet soon, he'll be as good as new.

That rotten doctor.

Not only did he frighten

us, but he took our money.

Oh, mother, it was meant to be.

But John, the man was

a charlatan and a fake.

I know, but my leg was no good.

Who knew that my boy

would grow to be the great

Dr. John Ise?

Well, whatever I've become,

I have you and father to thank for it.

You set the bar high, mother.

I'm grateful.

Your father was

the intelligent one.

He taught y'all so much.

It's nice

to have you here, Pastor,

and Mrs. Kiplinger.

This community has

been a real blessing to us.

- It feels like home.

- It's our pleasure.

- Cookies!

- After dinner.

Henry, I know you

grew up in Germany.

Wrttemberg.

How old were you

when you came over, Henry?

Seventeen.

I came with my sister.

- And you fought in the w*r?

- 10th Illinois.

I did the same.

48th Indiana.

Henry, I'd like to start a Sabbath school

for the German speaking folks in our flock.

I think that's a good idea.

Everyone says you'd be

a good one to lead that.

Couldn't you lead that, pastor?

Or someone else?

Well, I plan on leading

the English speaking

Sabbath time, but my German

certainly isn't good enough

to lead those that are Germanic.

There are many here

that come from the old country.

Precisely.

And what a wonderful way to minister them.

I just hear from everyone that

Mr. Ise is the exemplary man

and a wonderful Christian gentleman.

No one disagrees with that.

I'm sorry if we intrude, Rosa.

Mother, may we have our cookies?

May you pass around the cookies?

Ma, he's taking two at a whack!

One for you, Billy.

Let's all gather round, please.

Let's all gather around.

The sooner we complete our program,

the sooner we all get to eat.

Now, let's have our children

from the school please come

forth and kindly sing for us.

Oh my darling,

Oh my darling

Oh my darling,

Clementine

You are lost and gone forever

Dreadful sorry, Clementine

Danny Ise,

did you do your homework for today?

Danny, can you hear me?

Once more.

Did you tackle Belle Bowers

this morning during recess?

- Danny Ise!

- Yes, ma'am?

Joe, go get the switch

for me outside please.

And hurry.

Please don't whip me.

You should've thought

of that before you misbehaved.

Let's go.

Go.

Mr. Ise, I suggest you consider

your behavior and your future.

You know I'll have to

report this to your parents.

Ma'am, please don't

tell this to my folks.

If the boy misbehaved,

he'll be disciplined for it.

They say she's

incredibly harsh, Henry.

He must learn.

Not much

trouble when they're little.

Washing a few diapers,

picking up a few messes,

but then they get big,

and they can get into some real trouble.

The kind that keeps me awake at night.

Little children, little troubles,

big children, big troubles.

It's the girls.

They have big mouths.

- Oh, is that right?

- Not you, mother.

- These girls.

- Your sisters?

Our neighbors.

They want attention.

They think it's funny.

- It isn't funny, Henry.

- It's a little funny.

Danny can hardly walk.

And if he's learned anything,

he'll stay away from Slats.

Please don't call her that.

Henry, it's Bartsch.

He's going fast.

Rosie will want to come.

HENRY Bartsch.

My German Friend.

You've been a good Christian.

You have nothing to worry about.

Rosie and I will help Mary.

Was Mary proud.

CHRIS Danka.

You've been a good friend.

Thank you.

HENRY Go in peace, And with our love.

I'll let you be alone.

I'm so sorry, Mary.

We're here.

Whatever you need.

I know.

You always have been.

We could not have asked

for better friends than the both of you.

Beautiful dreamer

wake unto me

Starlight and dewdrops

are waiting for thee

All of the rude sounds

heard in the day

Lull'd by the moonlight

have all pass'd away

Beautiful dreamer

queen of my song

List while I woo thee

with soft melody

Gone are the cares

of life's busy throng

Beautiful dreamer

awake unto me

Beautiful dreamer

awake unto me

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

I'm enjoying watching the children.

They are talented, aren't they?

Yes, they are.

Thanks to their father.

He's very talented, you know.

Don't forget about their mother.

She's the resourceful one.

She made sure they

studied every single say.

Yes, but their father

taught them to read music.

He was generous and he's very intelligent.

- Is it your stomach again?

- Yeah.

Is it the same

feeling as always?

Different.

How so?

Deeper.

The pain, it's deeper.

Why don't you let

the doctor take a look at you?

Henry, for me.

Please.

Let's find out what this is.

All right.

I'll send one of the

boys to get him tomorrow.

Don't we have

corn to husk tomorrow?

Well, he probably won't

be able to be here

until late in the day anyhow.

Wash.

Dinner time.

Not feeling well?

Nein.

Can I get you something?

A little soup?

Tea?

Nothing.

Your stomach?

Does that feel

like a lump to you?

It hurts.

Your medicine.

Doesn't help.

But it has helped.

Maybe.

You cannot work like that.

Not like you did today.

Someone else can husk the corn.

Okay, dear.

Henry, Doc Poole

and Doctor Bailey are here.

Henry, can I have

a look at that side there?

Henry are

you getting enough to drink.

Laura and Rosie

are very good to me.

I know they are, Henry.

I know they are.

And I'm gonna leave

some medicine with Rosie

that'll help with the pain.

If it is cancer

ROSA: No.

And we fear there's

very little doubt that it is,

all you can do is try to make

it as easy on him as possible.

Isn't there anything?

An operation?

No, ma'am.

I could not put him through that.

I wouldn't know where or how to start.

We have hope, dear, and we have prayer too.

- Thank you both very much.

- Yes ma'am.

Good day.

We need to send for Billy,

and to Iowa for Aunt Kate.

I wish I could've

spent more time with father.

I didn't get to work the fields

or help him like the others.

But your father understood.

He knew you would find a

life in education or music.

Oh, Johnny.

He was our rock.

I think father knew how

strong you could be, don't you?

I suppose you're right, son.

Rosie, girl, wanna go

for a ride around the place?

Henry, you're much too weak.

Ask Billy to fix up the surrey.

Remember when we crossed

here for the first time, Rosie?

Only a little while ago,

yet so much has happened.

A lot of good came from

some very hard times.

If we had seen it all before us,

would we have had so much courage?

If we had known all

our work and all our worry

would lead to this.

I'm not quite 60.

Perhaps we could've found more

joy in the years as they passed.

It seems such a short time now.

If we could just start out

with dear old Frank and Sam.

Drive across the prairie

to our new, little cabin.

It was...

So much promise.

It seemed good.

We were hopeful.

We spend most our

lives living in the future,

and now it's all in the past.

It was the third of

June that day, wasn't it?

Third of June.

What a bright, fresh green everything was.

The prairie, little field of wheat.

Frank Hagel isn't here

to welcome us, this time.

Hmm.

Poor Frank.

He's been gone so long.

Okay Billy, we can go.

It is the last

chance you will have,

brother Ise, to do something for the Lord.

The Lord has

blessed you, Mr. Ise.

Mr. Ise, even

renters who don't own farms

are giving more than that.

We can only live

up to the light we have.

I cannot pledge money for

others to pay after I'm gone.

He'll have to rest now.

Good day, gentlemen.

What did they want?

Money for the pastor's home.

- Were they scolding?

- A bit.

I can't pledge money to

be given after I'm gone.

I won't do that to you.

Henry, speak to me once more.

Farewell.

Thank you for everything.

- And love them.

- I will.

You've been the best

woman a man could ever ask for.

Oh no, no.

I spent 30 years sitting

on that porch praying for rain.

And I've been thinking

that y'all would all leave me,

everyone except Will.

I think Will plans to stay.

Mother, if you need to

stay, that would be fine.

But the children are nearly all grown,

and we worry about how

hard you work in the summers.

You all don't

need me any longer.

And there's not much that I can do.

But it isn't a happy thought to know

that you're no longer needed.

Mother.

Joe, sit on the sofa properly.

Yes, mother.

Mother, you are needed.

Don't you know you and

father were so strong?

Yes, you are needed.

As much as ever.

And you could make a home for us

or for yourself in Lawrence

as well as here.

And leave Will?

Will may not stay here

much longer anyhow.

And if he does, he'll wanna

be married someday, likely.

Yes, I suppose he should.

And I would only be in his way.

You could get

a house in Lawrence.

And some of us would

be here for several years.

Dutch and Happy

aren't through high school yet,

and you know more of us are going

to the university next fall.

Joe and Robert wanna go to law school.

You would have a lot to do to help us.

Yeah, I suppose I could.

But those little houses in

Lawrence, the ones with the...

You turn the facet on for the

water and a man brings the ice

to the back porch, another brings milk.

No garden, no flowers, huh?

What would I do?

Cook?

Dust furniture all day long?

We'll get you

a house where there's a garden

and all the flowers you want.

You could have lots of flowers.

I could have lots of flowers.

Yes.

I used to think

it would be so fine

to have lots of flowers.

But when it comes down

to it, flowers just don't seem

that important anymore.

Caring for the children, planting trees,

building up a home, a good home.

That's what mattered to your father and I.

What you and father built

for us was wonderful, mother.

More than you might realize.

You just want me

to walk away from it all

as if it never happened.

As if everything that

your father and I worked

for was for nothing.

No, mother.

That is not what we're saying.

I suppose I could go.

I could be... I could go and

be content somewhere else,

but it will never be my home.

Do you hear me?

It will never be my home.

This, this is my home.

Momma.

This is your father's place.

This was his dream.

He is everywhere here.

He's not here anymore, momma.

He's not here.

We've got a carriage over here,

very comfortable.

I've got a 40, 45, 45, 45?

Sold.

I got this little saddle here,

can I get 5, 10, 10, a 10?

Can I get a 15?

15, 15, 15,15.

Sold to the man in the back

That it would come to this.

Three, three?

Four.

Four going four.

Sold to the lovely lady in the red dress.

Got a nice work horse here that

will complement everybody's

farming practices right there.

Momma?

Momma, he's selling Joe alone.

Twenty, twenty.

One twenty-five.

Twenty-five!

Twenty-five!

What do you want?

- One twenty-five?

- Oh no.

No, don't split them up.

They've never been apart before,

not even in the pasture.

Sold!

Mr. John Kaser, the buyer.

It's time.

Goodbye, Henry.

My poor little Roozer,

I have to leave you, too.

We'll take care of him.

He's always been so faithful.

- Can you stop here for a minute?

- Woah.

Oh, those dear little birds.

Henry always said they

sang their best out here.

It all happened so fast.

I'll make some notes.

I'd appreciate it, mother.

I'll do it for your father.

But it's our story, mother.

And you're the one who can tell it.

Your father

did everything for us.

Our home

Our lives

'Mid pleasures

and palaces

Though we may roam

Be it ever so humble

there's no place like home

No place like home

No place like home

Be it ever so humble

there's no place like home

We had a wonderful life.

John Ise, with Rosie's

help, finished the manuscript,

"Sod and Stubble", that told the story

of the Ise Family pioneering on the plains.

Henry Ise passed away in 1900.

Rosie moved to Lawrence, KS

in 1909, where she lived just blocks away

from the University of Kansas.

She died in 1947.