Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-05-26
DIANA: THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1859.


will break the wind, and the loss of
one planting of corn or wheat, i hope
will not PROSTATE us as it does now"
"But how am l ever to get where /
can help myself? Corn spoiled, wheat
blighted, and the cow lost in the prai
ries; the wolves have killed my sheep,
and now my best cow must die. You
may talk of blessings, but don't, and
I'm determined TO sell out to the first
white man that will take it, and then
quit the country"
'Is not this blessing?" she asked.
laying growing baby boy, the very
image of his father in his arms.
The father smiled family; his heart
was really sad. The hardships, trials,
and deprivations of new country
were more than he could bear; but
with his faint smile came q low ac-
knowledgment-
Eyes. Carrie. Dick is a blessing"
"And is not Carrie a blessing?" she
added, as she left the warm kiss of
affection upon his brow.
"Ayc, and Carrie is a blessing"
was his response in lightened tone.
"And is not good health a bless
ing?"
"les. l suppose So" said he, al
most laughing.
"And is not this soft, cool air, this
mellow moonlight. and the star
spangled heavens, blcssing?"
"Of course"
"Sec our beautiful garden; how
softly it sleeps in the moonlight. Did
you not tell me to-day, that you never
saw such bccts and cabbage. such on
ions and squashes? and shall we not
have potatoes for ourselves and our
neighbors, if we should only be so
blessed as to have any,"
"Why, Carrie" said he, taking
the soft hand in his, that was putting
the hair soothingly from his forehead,
lone would think we had had nothing
but blessings, to hear You tell the
story"
"And / am not done vet; I think !
have q blessed little home here in this
clean. sweet, pleasant cabin, and the
blcssedest good, kind husband in this
world, if he would not get the blues,
and threaten to leave this beautiful
land and go back to New York every
time the wind blows the wrong way.
Aye, George, Don't get discour-
aged;' all will yet so well, and we
shall bless the day that we stuck our
stakes on the prairie"
"Wcll, | suppose l shall have to
stay, whether it is best or not, you are
so determined to be blessed by every
thing; but women folks don't have to
suffer as men do"
Carrie smiled to herself, as she took
her babe again upon her breast, and
remembered the hours Of toll and trial
through which she had passed, of the
nights of wearisome watching and
care, Of the days of ceaseless exertions,
often when scarcely able to bear the
fatigue. But she did not feel to mur-
mur. There was to her Joy in duty,
in being true and earnest, in working
out ones destiny, that made all the
hours and days worth living for,
though there were here and there, as
she looked over the past, dark shad-
ows fitting to and fro like the cloud
shades over the billowy prairie, while
the sun gildcd all the rest with bright
ness.
Long and earnestly they sat and
, chatted at their neighbors door, and
her gentle words and kind encourage
ment lifted up his heart, and he rose
on the morrow and went forth to his
work with renewed resolution to
struggle and to conquer.
Let us skip over score of years.
Do you see that fine houris hing vii
lage, with railroad track coursing
through its very centre? Do you see
those fine brick school houses with
: their belfries and clear sounding bells,
calling together the hundreds Of chill
: drcn, to teach them of the mysteries
t of science, AMI put into their hands
that weapon Of defence and power fol
t the future-a good common school
education? Do you see yon imposing
building in the distance, with its mas.
e sive walls and towering roof? Tha,
is college. Mark those church
n spires, that point heavcnwarl; lister
/. to the hum of machinery. the mill ant
: the factory, the hustle of trade. Hav,
o You taken it all in?
S Now look again. See you tha
c matronly woman, upon whose brow
forty summers have scarcely left foo
O print? The glossy hair shows m
r mingling of silver; the rose has no
i faded from her check, though it's bud