Florence Walrath’s journals were written around the time of her 75th birthday. They were given to me recently by a friend who said Florence badgered her to go swimming when she was 101 years old. Florence Walrath rarely showed emotion in her writing and always projected a tough and decisive veneer – one neighbor said her nickname was “The Boss.” In the anecdote that relates to the end of her education, she showed as much pain as is revealed anywhere in the journals, apart from the death of her husband. A humiliating experience in school led her to some of the most important lessons of her life. Here, we witness her character taking shape and helped her regain her wounded pride.

“School was hard for me and about this time I had to take exams at another school. I went to Shushan. The school was full of boys and girls who I had never seen before. The teacher was also a stranger to me. We took the first test and just started the second when the teacher told me in front of all that I had cheated. A boy in back of me two seats and on the second aisle, had copied each others. The sure shook me. I knew I had not but thought those kids will think I did, every time they ever saw me would think I did. The more I thought about it the more upset I became. I got so nervous Mother took me out of school. She thought I would go back but I never did. It took a long time for me to reason it all out and meet people again. I have been sorry I did not return for further education.

 I soon learned my Mother and the dear Lord had given me something, the will to work. I found there was nothing if I tried that I could not do, perhaps not always well but by trying got better. I got a pleasure in keeping the yard looking nice. I started going to church in Shushan, mostly I found I had to work with myself. The church taught me we each have a gift of something. If we use what we have to the best of our ability and not try to be like someone else, that all would be well. Once my common sense started working, I could once more hold my head high.”