H-5(1)

AMANDA WAS CALLED MANDY. SHE HAD VERY DARK BROWN EYES AND BEAUTIFUL DARK AUBURN HAIR WHICH TURNED BLACK SHORTLY AFTER SHE WAS FOURTEEN. SHE WAS A VERY PRETTY GIRL, THE NICEST LOOKING ONE OF THE FAMILY AND WAS A VERY ATTRACTIVE WOMAN.(H59)

SHE WAS SHY AND DID NOT TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN CHURCH OR CIVIC AFFAIRS. SHE WAS VERY KIND AND COMPASSIONATE AND WAS THE FAVORITE OF HER FAMILY, NIECES, NEPHEWS AND THEIR FAMILIES.(H59)

SHE LOVED CHILDREN AND WAS KIND TO EVERY CHILD. SHE HAD AN INDIAN WOMAN AND HER NAKED BABY COME BEGGING. SHE TOOK THE BABY AND DRESSED IT IN A LITTLE DRESS AND BONNET AND HUGGED IT. THE MOTHER WENT AWAY SMILING AND VERY PROUD.(H59)

ONE TIME A POOR, DIRTY, LITTLE BOY WAS THROWN FROM A HORSE AND HURT QUITE BADLY. MANDY FELT SORRY FOR HIM. SHE OPENED A JAR OF PEACHES, PUT A LARGE PIECE OF CAKE ON A PLATE, PICKED A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS AND SENT THEM TO HIM. SHE SAID SHE NEVER SAW A MORE HAPPY CHILD AND HE WAS SO EXCITED TO THINK SOMEONE REMEMBERED HIM.(H59)

SHE RAISED A LOT OF FLOWERS INDOORS AND OUT. WHEN SHE HEARD OF ANYONE IN TOWN BEING SICK SHE WOULD SEND THEM A PRETTY BOUQUET. SHE HELPED OTHERS OUT BUT DID IT QUIETLY.(H59)

SHE BEFRIENDED EMILY ROLPH(H-l) WHO WAS ALONE AND WOVE CARPET AND RUGS FOR A LIVING. SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE IN TOWN THAT EVER INVITED HER TO DINNER AND SHE WAS GIVEN FOOD TO TAKE HOME. AS LONG AS THEY HAD COWS AND SOLD MILK SHE SENT HER MILK EVERY MORNING THE YEAR ROUND. WHEN EMILY'S BROTHER CAME THEY NEVER WENT ANYWHERE. HE WAS VERY SHY AND DIDN'T LIKE TO BE AROUND ANYONE. HE WAS A WIDOWER AND THEY SPENT A LONG HAPPY TIME TOGETHER. WHEN HE DIED SHE STARTED COMING TO DINNER AGAIN.(H59)

WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THAT AMANDA JANE HAD DIED SHE SAID "I'VE LOST THE BEST AND TRUEST FRIEND I EVER HAD IN THIS WORLD." NO GREATER TRIBUTE COULD BE PAID A PERSON THAN THAT.(H59)

EMILY ROLPH WROTE THE FOLLOWING POEM IN MEMORY OF AMANDA JANE HESS HOFF:

TO THE MEMORY OF SISTER AMANDA HOFF

ANOTHER WE LOVED IS CALLED AWAY

TO HER HOME ON THE OTHER SIDE.

OUR LOVING SAVIOUR HAS CARRIED HER SAFE

ACROSS THE DARK AND SULLEN TIDE;

AWAY FROM THE SORROWS AND TOILS OF LIFE,

ON THE FALLEN AND SIN DRENCHED EARTH;

AWAY TO A LAND OF LIGHT AND LOVE,

WHERE OF PEACE AND JOY THERE IS NO DEARTH.