The new era., 1860-03-15
SAUK RAPIDS. MIN. THURSDAY, MARCH Is. 1860.

ture, and waiting for good sleighing to
] bring up from St. Paul appointments for
the parlor and bedroom. Fred was SO
pleased, and expressed so much delight
at their comfortable quarters, that he
was invited to move his goods down at
once into. their. unoccupied room, and
not wait for the completion of our frame
house on the hill. An offer which he
accepted at once, and complied with on
the following day 1t was the fourteenth
of November, 1851, that we moved
down into that log house. Snow had
fallen unusually early and our small
supply of goods were packed in sleigh
used for hauling woodland with Mac
| for driver, Minnie slowed away among
boxes and chairs, and Fred standing on
a protruding board in the rear, we NOV
ed to our first home. 1t was a warm
day for the season, and misty !; and the
roads, TO use an expressive, but far from
Eeuphonious word, sloshy. We had been
striving all the day to resist slowly in
creasing headache-in vain-for launch
ed in the long, low room, instead of the
delight we had anticipated in setting
things straight, the confusion and work
before us, filed us with despair, and
clasping our throbbing temples with
chilled fingers, we sighed for pillow
for rest-rest.
But the stove must be set up, and the
greater work of putting up a bed /; sup
per must be prepared-and every one
can fancy, who knows anything about
such things, how much was to be done.
No one knew of our pain for long
time, and we endeavored to hide it alto
gether-till, at length we could not see
for the blindness that came over us.
Then good Mrs. S., who had all along
assisted, made us lie down on the bed
she had finished making. How grateful
seemed the rest--how refreshing the
sleep that, after some hours, lulled to
forgetfulness until the morning. Vivid
ly do we remember hearing Fred muir
muir, as he sat down to his solitary sup
per, but half prepared: r5
GA fine beginning Of housekeeping
ham half-cooked, potatoes half roast
ed'-and more Of the same import
like all men, impatient at wile's sick
ness commisserating themselves as
sufferers most afflicted But all was
bright in the morning--hcad clear, heart
hopeful and happy and before night
everything had its place. The -four
barrel in one corner. bed in another,
bookcase opposite, and wash-tub in the
fourth. A great wooden box used for
transporting our goods, stood up, serv-
ing as cupboard and pantry, several
wide shelves having been insrted, upon
which rested, in old fashioned dignity.
blue-edged plates-and, coffee cups.
adorned with would-be birds of para
disc, hideous for their gaudy ugliness.
For our crockery we had obtained at
an Indian store, at Watab, few miles
north--and it was quite the reverse of
Wedgewood or Queensware.
The little clock, perched upon the
bookcase, ticked away unsteady, and
the teakettle sung upon the stove, its
old sweet song of domesticity and love.
lid this satisfy us, asks one-this
homely and very humble style of living
lWell-yes-for the time. 1t might not
however, could we have looked forward
to nothing better. But from that time
we did see in the future different
home. 1t was pleasant to begin th,s
land have that witching syren Hon.
all the time telling us such grand bean.
tiful things. which we took good care
should not prove altogether false. u ~
We have often thought that if Ada n n
and Ewes Paradise had not been perfect
at first, leaving them something still 70
struggle and hope for, they might not
have wept' an Eden lost |! tmt 7feGIls5
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