1 Bournemouth by the sea

Eliza Brazier Batt (1864–1926) wrote her life story sometime in 1917 or 1918 when she was 53 years old. It focuses primarily on her early life in England before she and her husband accepted the restored gospel, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and immigrated to America. This is the sixth of nine installments (see Batt & Lee Ancestors, 8–9). Eliza was the mother of William B Batt (1888–1959) and the grandmother of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982).

Bournemouth was a beautiful and fashionable place with its long beach and pleasure gardens and the sea. We lived when first married in the Palmesston Road, Boscombe, about two miles from Bourne­mouth. Not having a home of our own, Charles rented two very nice rooms, where I first started house­keeping. We were very happy.

After being married a month, we went to live with a man by the name of Mockridge, whose wife had died and who did not want to break up his home. So we lived there, and I worked as a house­keeper and was very glad to do something to help Charles, as it saved our paying rent. It was a very comfortable little home.

After staying eight months at the Mockridge home, we moved into the lodge at Boscombe Manor to live. Charles was second gar­dener to Sir Percy Basset Shelley, the son of the poet Shelley. Bos­combe Manor Bourne­mouth was one of the most beautiful estates in England. There were two lodges, one east a mile from the manor and one west a mile from the manor. It was a very beautiful and pleasant place to live. I had to let all the carriages through the gate (no tradesmen were allowed through, since there was another en­trance called the trades­men’s entrance). So again I was able to help Charles in a small way by saving the rent.

Sir Percy and Lady Shelley kept a large establish­ment of ser­vants: 14 in the house, five gardeners, a dairy­man, a state car­penter, a state painter, a coach­man and two grooms, a butler, two footmen, and a yacht with eight sailors.

After being married a year, a sweet little daughter came to bless our home, for which I nearly gave my life. Mr. Slessor, my old mas­ter, wanted her named Cecily or Susan, so we chose Cecily. She was born at Bascombe Manor Lodge on 27 June 1885. When the baby was two months old, I took her to Head­bourne Worthy rectory and had her christened at St. Swithun’s church, the same church where we were married. Mr. Arthur Slessor was the godfather. Miss Alethea Slessor and Caroline Drewe were the god­mothers. It was quite a fashionable chris­tening. After the services we all went to the rectory to tea.

2 Quote of the week

When I was first called as a General Authority nearly 50 years ago, we lived on a very small plot of ground in Utah Valley that we called our farm. We had a cow and a horse and chickens and lots of children.

One Saturday, I was to drive to the airport for a flight to a stake conference in California. But the cow was expecting a calf and in trouble. The calf was born, but the cow could not get up. We called the veterinarian, who soon came. He said the cow had swallowed a wire and would not live through the day.

I copied the telephone number of the animal by-products company so my wife could call them to come and get the cow as soon as she died.

Before I left, we had our family prayer. Our little boy said our prayer. After he had asked Heavenly Father to "bless Daddy in his travels and bless us all," he then started an earnest plea. He said, "Heavenly Father, please bless Bossy cow so that she will get to be all right."

In California, I told of the incident and said, "He must learn that we do not get everything we pray for just that easily."

There was a lesson to be learned, but it was I who learned it, not my son. When I returned Sunday night, Bossy had "got to be all right."

This process is not reserved for the prophets alone. The gift of the Holy Ghost operates equally with men, women, and even little children. It is within this wondrous gift and power that the spiritual remedy to any problem can be found.

— President Boyd K. Packer, in the October 2009 general conference

3 This week in our family

Mon, Oct 19: Andrea McAllister's birthday [Kay]
Mon, Oct 19: Shawn Burdett's birthday [Lyle]
Wed, Oct 21: Joshua's birthday [Gail]
Fri, Oct 23: Gena Tully's birthday [Gene]
Mon, Oct 26: Next issue of the newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
Lyle called last Tuesday evening to report that he had been having eye problems over the past month or so, pretty much since Labor Day. On Tuesday, September 29, he had surgery to remove a cataract. The operation was apparently successful, since he now has 20-20 vision in that eye.

Lyle reported that Terry is back working, but Randy is not yet. Randy's wife Valerie teaches school.

Lyle works with single seniors in his stake or ward (I don't remember which), and they were planning to go on a tour of the Owhyee Dam, including going inside the dam and such. On an earlier occasion they took a train ride. He said it was a first train ride for some of the people.

Gail's family
Michelle Duay posted last Tuesday something every mom can identify with: "I really enjoy the quiet of the day when my Melanie and Zander are napping and Michael is off to school. It tends to rejuvinate me. I normally spend this 3 hours running around the house cleaning up the mess the kids spent the whole morning making, only to have it back to their normal mess by dinner, but today I have decided to take a relax day. I am sitting here next to little Melanie and am going to join her for a nap. I love my children and I love sleep."

Kay's family
Like probably all mothers everywhere, Andrea, whose birthday is today, told her children last week that she would love a clean house for her birthday: Andrea wrote: "Every year I tell my kids the best thing they could get me is a clean house, of course this does not appeal to them, but truly would that not be fabulous present. So I made a list of everything I would like done before my birthday. The list is for them and we have about thirty-five things on it." Click here to learn about Operation Happy Birthday at the McAllisters' house.

Nicolle posted last Wednesday: "Today we were able to go on a field trip to a dairy farm for Easton's preschool. Gretchen thought she was pretty cool and I am pretty sure she thinks she is in school now just like Easton. I learned a few things on this field trip:

"1. I am glad that my parents weren't dairy farmers. They both grew up on farms and decided that life wasn't for them I guess. I would have hated it.

"2. I am glad I am human and not a cow. Those poor cows have babies once a year.

"3. My kids aren't huge animal lovers when you are up close and personal with animals. I guess they are more like their mother and prefer them in cages and stuff."

Click here to read more and see pictures of silly faces.

Dean's family
Cade and Rebecca's three-year-old Hyrum was diagnosed with the swine flu this past Wednesday. Fortunately for Hyrum, it was a mild case, and it didn't prevent a subsequent family trip to Hawaii.

Camilla last Tuesday posted: "The other day we decided to go have a picnic at the park. It was pretty busy, and we heard probably four different languages being spoken all around us. We love living in Washington!" She then listed six reasons why she loves Washington. Read more to find out what they are.

And then she adds: "Have we sold any of you on Washington yet? Our next goal is to convince all of you family members to make the move and join us! That would be the best, and make us love Washington even more!"

Dale's family
Keisha posted on Saturday (punctuated as she wrote it): "Monday morning i woke up with a nasty sore throat and a cough...and i was like shoot... no more flip flops...anyway so i thought i was a little cold and i would feel better in a few days...well i go to school come home and go like straight to bed the next day...and then wednesday i had to leave school early cuz i had a fever, was dizzy and had really sore muscles.......so we figured out i had the swine flu! ugh how fun! NOT. Then the DOCTORS told us they were only treating people who had emergencies...like couldn't breath..couldn't wake up (isn't that dead???) or developed a rash...so since i could breath most of the time...wasn't dead or didn't have a rash...i didn't qualify to get treated...it kinda sucks." Read more.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the October 1959 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Oct 19. I came home from work & took Kids to school. Ivard took Jackie & went over to Wallys to help do beets & I went to bed. Ivard brought Jackie home at noon & went back & went to work at 3:30 from there. I went back to bed with Jackie & we didn't wake up until 3:30.

Tues, Oct 20. I came home & took Kids to school & Ivard was gone over to Wally's to do beets. Ray had beds changed & clothes gathered up & I washed 4 batches. Jackie & I went to bed at 11:00, got up at 12:30 & I went to relief Society & gave my Literature lesson. Beautiful day.

Wed, Oct 21. I came home from work & took Kids to school & went right to bed. Ivard & Jackie washed a batch of clothes, finished hauling hay, & took cow to sale. Ray got supper while I iorned & he went to mutual. Got letter from Berniece. Mother has been pretty sick.

Thurs, Oct 22. I came home from work & got ready & we went to Boise & got $100. out of Kays bank account to send him.

Fri, Oct 23. I came home from work & Ivard tended Jackie & I went right to bed. I got up at 12: & had a hot bath and at 1: went in to the Stake House to leadership meeting for relief society, after I got out at 3:30 I went over to Junior High & met Ivard & Jackie & watched Rays team get beat by Caldwell. There last game. Gene played at Caldwell & won. He made 1 T.D & 2 points after. Ray got supper. Gene did chores & got me up at 8: to take him in to foot ball game.

Sat, Oct 24. I came home from work & went right to bed. & never got up until 3: Ray cleaned up house & did a little washing. Gene went over to work for Wally. I made spagetti & we ate late. I went to bed with hot water bottle on my head, ear, & neck. sure hurt. Went to work at 11: & mailed letters. sent Kay a letter.

Sun, Oct 25. I came home from work & ate & went to bed. after I put a roast on. Kids all went to priesthood & sunday school. Ivard tended Jackie & put potatoes on. I got up at 3: & made salad, cooked cauliflower & made gravy & we ate at 4: wrote mother a 12 page letter & wrote to Jerry.

6 What in the world

Football highlights
Boise State beat Tulsa 28-21 last Wednesday night at Tulsa. The undefeated Broncos have won 27 games since the start of the 2007 season. They are ranked number 5 (in the USA Today poll) and number 6 (in the AP top 25 poll).

BYU, in its 38-28 victory in San Diego over San Diego State on Saturday, reached a notable milestone: its 500th all-time victory. The Cougars are ranked number 16 (in both the AP and USA Today polls).

The University of Utah on Saturday beat the University of Nevada at Las Vegas 35-15. Two of the team's most devoted fans, our daughter Mary and her husband Vince, drove from Salt Lake to Las Vegas to attend the game. The Utes are ranked number 19 (AP) and number 20 (USA Today).

More headlines from actual newspapers

A report of a dog attack: Lower Duck Pond, Lithia Park, Ashland. Police responded to a report of two dogs running loose and attacking ducks at about 11:20 a.m. Sunday. The officer cited a resident for the loose dogs. The duck refused medical treatment and left the area, according to police records.

And another report: An Edgewood man reported recently that his wife had gone missing some 18 months ago.

And finally: Debra Jackson said she likes shopping at the Dollar Palace because it is convenient and casual. "I don't have to get all dressed up like I'm going to Wal-Mart or something," she said.

7 A final word

My son Michael and I are driving to Provo every Thursday night for the next eight weeks (except Thanksgiving Day) to attend a class on the prophet Isaiah. We've already gone twice. And paid $90 apiece to do it. That may sound to some of you about as much fun as hitting your thumb with a hammer for ten weeks. Or going to the dentist ten weeks in a row to have a tooth pulled.

Seriously though, it has been a delightful experience thus far. Not only is it nice to spend several hours one-on-one with my son each week, but it has been fascinating to sit at the feet of a Hebrew scholar whose passion in life is the prophet Isaiah. After the first class two weeks ago I wrote, "Somewhere about 45 minutes into our class, the teacher looked up at the clock, and it was already five minutes after nine. Time to quit. And we had actually been at it for two hours, since seven o'clock."

That's an illustration of how quickly the time flew.

The problem most of us have with Isaiah is that we don't understand what he is talking about. Our instructor, Avraham Gileadi, observed that studying Isaiah is like learning a new language, that it takes two years of diligent study to become fluent, for the book to become plain. Searching diligently is a necessity.

But what Isaiah has to say is really important because he is one of a number of prophets, ancient and modern, who have seen in panoramic vision the end from the beginning. He knows how the story ends. He knows the plot. He speaks a lot about the last days and the redemption of the house of Israel. He is talking about us.

And, like all true prophets, Isaiah knows the Savior and bears strong witness of Him and His atoning sacrifice and of the ultimate triumph over death and sin and all the frailties of this mortal world.

Perhaps that is why the resurrected Savior singled out Isaiah by name as the one prophet we are to study: "And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah" (3 Nephi 23:1; see also 3 Nephi 20:11-12).

If you want my insights on what I've been learning each Thursday night, you can go to my blog Interstate 50, where I post four or five days later my notes and insights about each class.