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136 Epilogue he favors me very much. I wish you could see Alice looking at her little treasure. She is the personification of a happy mother. Today is the ninth day and so far we have kept Alice perfectly quiet and will try to continue to do so for some days more until she can leave her rooms. Both she and mother join me in love to you, Tillie and the children—Let us hear from you Affectionately your bro. Robt.3 The Children of Robert and Alice roberT aNd alice went on to have four more children: Henrietta Rosa Kleberg (Larkin-Armstrong), born July 17, 1889; Alice Gertrudis Kleberg (East), born January 9, 1893; Robert J. Kleberg Jr., born March 29, 1896; and Sarah Spohn Kleberg (Johnson, Shelton), born April 12, 1898.4 The family lived in the enlarged ranch home, and often their cousins from the Agua Dulce Ranch would come for a visit along with their parents, Richard and Lizzie King. Minerva King Patch, Richard and Lizzie’s daughter, described the visits. Santa Gertrudis was twenty-five miles from Agua Dulce Ranch, and the family traveled by stagecoach accompanied by a man on horseback who took down fences for the stagecoach to pass and then replaced them. It was a long trip through the sea of grass, mesquite, prickly pear, and occasional clumps of live oak trees. After reaching the Santa Gertrudis, the King and Kleberg cousins would ride horses. The girls could ride side-saddle, but they preferred to ride astride with divided skirts. Each day of the visit usually followed a routine. Everyone was awakened early and served coffee.Then the family gathered for breakfast , a large meal with oatmeal, hotcakes, or biscuits.Then the cousins would mount their horses and ride until noon, when they ate dinner —the largest meal of the day. If anyone missed dinner, there was still always food available; it seemed that the ranch cooks never slept. Dinner was followed by a long nap in rooms shaded by shutters and slats. After the nap there was coffee again, and the grownups would go for a drive in the carriage. At dusk the family gathered for supper, 137 1887–2011 and the evening was spent telling stories and talking about the events of the day. A hunting expedition was an all-day event, with everyone leaving before sunrise and heading out in the buckboard to the designated area. Sometimes the hunters would climb a tree to get a good shot, and ranch workers might rattle a set of deer horns to attract game. The hunting party took food with them and would stay out till dark. They also enjoyed the local version of an English fox hunt—a South Texas coyote hunt—as full of excitement as the traditional ride to hounds.5 The five Kleberg children lived at the ranch until they were sent away to school, but in their years on the ranch they developed a love for the land that was theirs, as far as the eye could see. Alice worked hard as a mother, daughter, and wife. She assumed many of Henrietta ’s duties, which included handling certain business matters and providing hospitality to the many people who came through the gates. Her mother remained in mourning the rest of her life, always dressing in black. She even covered her diamond drop earrings with black enamel and toured the ranch in a mourning-black Rockaway stagecoach . Such was the tone she set. The “Widow King” never allowed alcohol or dancing in her home. Hot as it was, she demanded that the men dress for dinner in tie and jacket, while the women wore corsets, chemises, and heavy gowns. After dinner they would stage family entertainments or sing around the piano, always closing with Grandma King’s favorite, “Rock of Ages,” while she sat stiffly in her horsehair chair, clutching the family Bible.6 Henrietta not only wore mostly black clothing but also kept portraits of Captain King prominently featured around the house, wore a brooch with his picture, and kept an image of his face on the Santa Gertrudis letterhead.7 Alice and Robert made their home a warm and nurturing place for the children. There was also plenty of nourishment: Robert liked to eat and enjoyed good food. According to Helen Kleberg Groves, “Grandfather Kleberg was a great family man and generally sat down to three huge meals a day. For lunch the kitchen usually served...

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