"LEST WE FORGET", by John A. Hogg Jr.

In looking over the trunk full of photographic productions accumulated over the past fifty years, a postcard-size photo of all seven of our children made its appearance, to my happy surprise. All were posed in a row from Jean down to Billy with clearness of delineation and with pleasant expressions, suggesting the probability of enlargement, one for each of our children. Thereupon the discovered photograph was mailed to the family photographer with a request that he forthwith might print a dozen or so, if he thought it might be successfully done. He was further asked to look over the photos of mother and father, which might be found among Billy's collection and select one of each for each group picture and print them in oval shape and affix them above the group of their children. Under separate cover you will receive a sample of his work for your very own, framed with glassine a neat black container with hanging tape attached at the back, a wall hanging hook enclosed herewith. Also enclosed herein is an envelope to be attached to the back of the photo in which to preserve this page, "Lest we Forget" and also the sheet entitled "Family History", this for the enlightenment of your posterity should they become interested in their ancestry. Your father, now in his 81st year, knowing the uncertainty of life, feels that you will appreciate his desire to be helpful while here, and that you will follow up with his suggestion.

Only one of you chose to remain in the city in which you were born, the rest of you following the course of events as they fell before you, taking you hither and yon. All of you have chosen well your life associates, and your homes have enticed children, boys and girls, which fill your lives with the joy of living, - a sensation which in after years will brighten your lonely hours as memories of long past hours fleet past your inner vision. Your father recalls that his mother, your grandmother, told him, in her later years, that she was the very happiest when her children were small, filling her home with childish chatter, -a home that was at all times most poverty stricken and wholly lacking in the modern conveniences which all of you believe to be most essential for your family health and safety, cost what they do, as from time to time you choose to purchase them. A large family is seemingly best for children, wherein they undergo all of the selfish whims and share what they have as best they can, —a wholesome preparation for the contact with life when they are going out to mix with the varied classes of men and women, all struggling to survive. Your father's mother gave birth to 12 children, all but two of which lived to maturity, four, of us still alive: Irwin 72, Rose 75, John 80, and Lizzie 85 years.

The fact that all seven of you were healthy and very intelligent provides us with a deep satisfaction not found in numerous families. All of you were very considerate of each other's desires and especially were you most helpful toward your parents who often underwent the strain of poverty. As our thoughts drift back over those times how well it is recalled how your sister Jean did not have a chance for college training but found work and from her meager earnings helped to carry the household expense. The opportunity then for a girl to work her way through college seldom was offered. Your sister Betty once confided with me that she believed that Jean was the most unselfish person she had ever known. You three boys, with your paper routes, you girls with such earnings as you received, not one of you ever was provided with a monetary allowance, as were many of your playmates. Lad and Bob worked their way through the University of Washington, and little Billy said, "If they were able to do it, I can too." and she did it. Nancy did the same at the State college at Pullman. Jean and Betty did much the same at Bellingham, and Jean is still, trying to get her university degree, studying while she teaches.

How often have your former teachers, in chatting with me about their experience as your teachers, remarked that in their opinion they knew of no other family of children with what they chose to call so very high I-Q. In every instance it has been my honest belief and so expressed by me to them, that your high I-Q was inherited from your mother who measured up fully to your own standards. She came from a very intelligent ancestry, and although only a high school graduate, possessed a keenness of perception and a most wonderful memory of things worthwhile. Your father's youth was mid the solitude of Nebraska prairie, an 8th grade schooling at 20 years, followed by academic studies and correspondence courses, until at 26 he received admission cards to mining engineering at both universities of Oregon and Washington, never used. Your mother, at 71, is still active as a practical nurse.