07.03.2003 | 3:25 pm

This last week end, when we were in New Mexico, my niece, Jessica, gave birth to her second son in Auburn, Alabama. She and her husband have named him Joshua Sailer Higginbotham (the middle name is pronounced siler with a long i sound) As I have thought about the significance of that name, I decided to share a bit with you about his middle name, Sailer.

Sailer is a German name. It is also the maiden name of my second Grandma Gold, the best grandma ever! The reason she is the second Grandma Gold is because she was the second wife of my maternal Grandfather, Helaman Gold.

Back long ago, in the black and white time of 1925, Helaman Gold and his wife Marie

were busy parents. (Marie as a teen) They had just become parents for the fifth and sixth time... twins, my mother and her twin brother Donald. Grandpa was not an educated man, but he was a tremendously skilled carpenter. Often, he would leave Salt Lake City for the nether regions of Utah to work construction, leaving Grandma to tend to the home, farm and six children, the last of whom were the twins. My mother recalls stories, told to her by her father later on in life, of Grandma telling the older brothers how to do all the household and farm chores from her bed, after the birth of the twins. Although they were poor, they always had plenty to eat, clean clothing, a roof over their heads, and strong family unity.

Tragedy struck in 1927 when Grandma Gold (Marie) became ill with acute appendicitis. Grandpa did not have money or insurance to take her to a doctor. He went to the local Bishop, who did not help either. It took many years for Grandpa to forgive the bishop for his lack of compassion. Soon, it was too late to help Grandma, and she died of peritonitis, leaving six children and a grieving husband. Grandpa was beside himself. He had no way of tending to two small toddlers and trying to run the home, farm and carpentry. The twins were sent to Grandpa�s sister, Aunt Sarah.

The twis at age 2 1/2, as they left to be with Aunt Sarah. There they remained until almost the age of five years. It was at that time that Grandpa had found and married Louise Sailer. Thus the second Grandma Gold came to be.

The twins at five years. My mother, Lucille, is on the left with Donald on the right.

Louise Sailer had come to America shortly after the end of WWI. The time between the great wars in Germany was a time of famine and hardship. Louise and her family had lived through a famine, being able to acquire only rutabagas for food, for six months. They had also been taught by Mormon Missionaries and had joined the church. They were persecuted, fired from all employment, and shunned for this act. When they immigrated to Salt Lake City in 1918, they felt certain their lives would be better; changed for the good in every way. Louise was about 16 years old at the time. None of the family had any English. Louise�s memories of this time were painful. She and her family were shunned and silenced in Salt Lake City because they Germans. Germany was hated and despised at that time. Grandma recalled in later years that she went to church for almost three years without once being approached in friendship. War does strange things to people. One Sunday, little Louise Sailer, who was by this time in her twenties, was introduced to Helaman Gold. Grandpa was beginning to make a serious search for a new wife. Grandma Louise recalls feeling so sorry for Grandpa, that she accepted his proposal of marriage, knowing and hoping that she would grow to love the man.

Try to imagine a young woman in her early twenties, taking on the responsibilities of six children, a home, and farm. That is what Grandma Louise Gold did. Through the years, she and Grandpa had another four children, bringing the total to 10. I think it was more difficult for Grandma Gold than anyone will ever truly know. I also think she must have had a great deal of faith to take on such an awesome responsibility!

Unfortunately, some things of love and nurturing were set on the back burner in those early years. One of those things was my own mother. She was relegated to sleeping with her 5 brothers on the sleeping porch while her half sister, Margaret, got the use of the only other bedroom in the small, two bedroom home. Mom was a bit of a mischief-maker and �tom boy�, so she was somewhat in her element. Later, when mother�s older brothers married, it was their wives who helped bring out a more feminine side in my own mother.

Here is a picture of Grandma Louise and Grandpa Gold at my parent�s wedding

At the time of my parent�s wedding, Grandma and Grandpa had many grandchildren from grandpa�s first set of kids.

Little Grandma Gold grew to become the most generous and giving of souls. She was short in stature; only 4� 10�. I can remember it was always a BIG deal in all our lives when one of the grandchildren would surpass Grandma Gold in height. Her kitchen was always welcome and open. As soon as one entered, it was so natural to head straight to the refrigerator to make a sandwich, get a glass of milk, or just rummage till you found something yummy. Grandma would always go to her cedar chest and produce something fun to play with, color or read.

By the time I was in elementary school, in the mid-fifties, the entire family had moved to the suburbs of Salt Lake City to form a greenhouse business. (Grandpa and all my uncles) Grandma and Grandpa were housed right next to the greenhouses in a beautiful new home. They never wanted and were generous with time resources and love. Grandpa passed away in the late seventies, but Grandma remained to love and cherish all her family. I think, in total, there were almost 50+ grandchildren and uncounted numbers of great-grandchildren.

Grandpa and Grandma visiting us in Arizona.

My own children have very fond memories of her sweet and loving nature. She always had homemade cookies and a big smile to greet you as you entered her home. In one corner of her living room was a miniature, cast-iron iron stove which my girls would play with for hours on end. When Marie, (named for first Grandma Gold) my own daughter married, she found for her little girls a cast iron stove, almost identical to the one in her memories. There was never a need to knock when you arrived, but she always worried untill she received a call from us in Arizona, making sure we had arrived home safely.

Circ 1986...my four children with Grandma Gold. Yes, I am in there too.

After Grandpa�s death, Grandma remained on, living alone in the home by the greenhouses. She finally learned to drive when she was 65, and took great pride in getting herself places on her own. She made many trips to Arizona to visit, as we did likewise to Utah.

So, little Joshua Sailer Higginbotham, it is a proud heritage you receive... Learn and emulate.

catsnapples~ feeling rich beyond anything

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