Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-01-14

Edward Lawton was a man of but
few words, and said nothing, although
he looked eagerly in the young face
for some sign of vexation or disap-
pointment, as she looked timidly
around the room. With a woman's
instinct she understood the unasked
question, and placing both her hands
in his, she said, softly:
Il like it very much, Edward ; it
is far nicer than you led me to sus-
pect. l shall be perfectly happy here"
Ten years have passed away, and
we again stand upon the farm of Ed.
ward Lawton.
The fifteen acres of "clearing y
have grown to fifty and others have
crept up and joined it until the coun-
try around looks like that of the older
States, near the sea-board. True, the
forest trees loom up dark and heavy
in the background. But the owners
consider them now as source of
wealth as a railroad makes its way
among those same trees and the
whistle from a steam saw-mill, on the
land of Edward Lawton, answers back
to those on the great thorougfare of
Michigan.
Daily, and almost hourly, cars, are
freighted with tho precious commodity,
for the vast prairics of Illinois, of
which nature has been SO niggardly
to that State. And the returns have
come in bountifully. Neat, commodi-
ous dwellings have sprung up school
houses are not few, or far between :;
and, cleaning through tho trees,
towards the railroad, is the spire of o
church.
True, there are stumps in abun-
dance but it is summer now, and
the waving grain and whispering
corn-lcaves have seemed to enter in.
to charitable compact to, as much
as possible, hide their uncouth pro-
portions.
Fruit trees, that would surprise an
Eastern farmer with their rapid
growth, dance and nod In the sunlight,
with their wealth of fruit. Edward
Lawton is no farmers apprentice, and
all the fruits, known in the Western
States, are represented.
The old house has disappeared, and
on its site stands large, well-con-
structed farmhouse. A running rose
chambers up each column of the piaz-
"a while convolvulus and Allegha-
ny vine creep timidly to its embrace,
and then fringe the caves, as at the
porch of the old log house for Lucy
loves old friends. v
No canary cage hangs among the
vines now, but two beautiful children
make sweeter music to the parents
ears than any birds could, as they
laugh at their play on the grass. But
one shadow has fallen on the house
hold, since Lucy became an inmate.
Good. kind Mrs. Lawton, the loving
mother, is sleeping by the husband
of her youth, back in the state from
which she came. She was great
loss to them all, but to none more
than Lucy; who felt that she had
been twice called to stand by the
death-bed of mother. Time has
dealt carefully with the young mat
ron ; or else happiness has fed the
roses in her cheeks. and the lustre in
her eyes. Mrs. Lindsey is now max.
ing her first visit, in the home of Ed.
ward Lawton and Lucy, in her neat
morning dress, is convcrsing with her
in her usually pleasant tones.
And SO, you never regretted your
choice, Lucy?"
II, auntie !" and joyous laugh
rang ont, that could only come from
one of the happiest hearts in the world.
Why, would not change homes
with the most pampered lady in the
land I"
But how did it all seem to you
when you first came? You have
written me some things, but tell me
more. You never wrote me anything
about your journey"
Did not :" and a smile Of pleas
ant memories came over her face.
"The railroad was only completed to
within thirty miles of where we now
live, and the remainder of our journey
must be made by stage, to the vii
lage.'
And over such roads, aunt, as you
never saw, am sure. Bridges and
causeways, made Of logs, that kept us
in constant jolt when on them and
when off, in mud or bouncing over
low stumps or the roots of high ones.
First one wheel would drop in cavi-
ty Of mud and then the other and
then, perhaps. before We were fairly
righted, wheel would go fitting
over root or stump, and we would
be shook back to our old position, on
ly to be repitched somewhere else in
half a minute more.
80 Don't you drive rather reckless
ly?' said my husband, to our driver,
at one Of our stopping places u
"' Fast, do you mean? Well, per.
haps do. But tho mail must GO
through, sir i
Yes, ! thought. dolefully, and fe
males too, if they live long enough.
:" Why, this is nothing, sir 7! Some
times we have to carry rails to pry
out OF the mud with. But we are
light to-day
Whether he meant the vehicle or
the passenger, did not know, but |
thought it quite as likely to be the
latter for was sure that if it cap
sized into one of those seas Of mud, it
would take. not only rail, but rope,
to get me out.
| AT our first stopping place. an old
lady got in, with a certain basket. that
she handled very carefully and which
she soon took occasion to tell us con.
tanned geese eggs, that she was ia
king to her daughter, somewhere on
the routp