"Peter!" I cried again, trying not to choke up with the sudden sense of deprivation battering my heart to pieces.

Image Not Available for "Peter!" I cried again, trying not to choke up with the sudden sense of deprivation battering my heart to pieces.
"Peter!" I cried again, trying not to choke up with the sudden sense of deprivation battering my heart to pieces.
Image Not Available for "Peter!" I cried again, trying not to choke up with the sudden sense of deprivation battering my heart to pieces.

"Peter!" I cried again, trying not to choke up with the sudden sense of deprivation battering my heart to pieces.

Date1920
Illustration Citation"Prairie Mother," by Arthur John Arbuthnott Stringer, in Pictorial Review, April 1920
MediumCrayon, graphite, and gouache on illustration board
Dimensionscomposition: 18 1/8 × 19 3/8 in. (46 × 49.2 cm)
sheet: 19 7/8 × 24 3/8 in. (50.5 × 61.9 cm)
Credit LineGift of the estate of Frieda Becher, 1971
Object number1971-25
On View
Not on view
Label TextStringer's fiction often explored the tensions experienced by a person of refined Eastern sensibility who is exposed to harsh Western prairie life. In Prairie Mother, a New England socialite married to a Scots-Canadian wheat farmer arrives on the Alberta plains with hope for a happy family life. Instead, she endures financial losses and personal trials that eventually end her marriage and force her into independence. In this scene, a man to whom she has grown close has announced that he is leaving her household.

Image Not Available for I have lost my place -- that, I thought, should kill you.
I have lost my place -- that, I thought, should kill you.
Arthur E. Becher
1911
Image Not Available for She left off counting and looked at me, and I took particular care she should see my arm.
She left off counting and looked at me, and I took particular care she should see my arm.
Arthur E. Becher
1917
Image Not Available for I heard one of my "friends" say, "she certainly made a good bargain." "Yes, she must have married him for his money and even if he is a Jew..."
I heard one of my "friends" say, "she certainly made a good bargain." "Yes, she must have married him for his money and even if he is a Jew..."
Arthur E. Becher
1914
Image Not Available for "He is the best I have, highness. I wish to offer my best." The dog was lifted through the open window of the carriage.
"He is the best I have, highness. I wish to offer my best." The dog was lifted through the open window of the carriage.
Arthur E. Becher
1917
Image Not Available for We always wake up to find the prison clothes - and hot, smelly, dirty Aden!
We always wake up to find the prison clothes - and hot, smelly, dirty Aden!
Arthur E. Becher
1916
Image Not Available for I never liked the boy so much before -- and yet I had a kind of unreasoning jealousy of him.
I never liked the boy so much before -- and yet I had a kind of unreasoning jealousy of him.
Arthur E. Becher
1918
Image Not Available for "There is no use saying you will not see me, grandfather. For here I am."
"There is no use saying you will not see me, grandfather. For here I am."
Arthur E. Becher
1917
Image Not Available for "Is there any end?" she wailed, "What harm can he do here on Monaki?" "None," Said I.
"Is there any end?" she wailed, "What harm can he do here on Monaki?" "None," Said I.
Arthur E. Becher
1919
Image Not Available for You wouldn't take pay just for picking up a pocketbook, would you?
You wouldn't take pay just for picking up a pocketbook, would you?
Arthur E. Becher
1914
Image Not Available for She thought that Theodore would surely have finished his breakfast by this time. But when she came downstairs he was at the table.
She thought that Theodore would surely have finished his breakfast by this time. But when she came downstairs he was at the table.
Arthur E. Becher
1916
Image Not Available for She was bossing those Chinks with a few words of pigden and keeping an eye on our decks.
She was bossing those Chinks with a few words of pigden and keeping an eye on our decks.
Arthur E. Becher
1917
Image Not Available for "You were happy!" said the king. "You were disobedient. You were causing grave anxiety and you were happy! The first duty of a prince is to his country."
"You were happy!" said the king. "You were disobedient. You were causing grave anxiety and you were happy! The first duty of a prince is to his country."
Arthur E. Becher
1916
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