The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1866-12-06
GILBERT ~AND:I,:
From tie CHICAGO Post. .

From the Chicago Po.t. ,..~...; !.
Shall I tell you Of the night when
Gilbert and danced in Squire Haines'
barn, and what came of it?
I am an old woman now, and Gil
bert's hair is white, and the dreams I
dreamed then are almost forgotten yet
can tell you how it came about.
1 remember we stood at the gate,
Gilbert and I, when he asked me to 90.
"Mattie,'' said he, esquire Haines'
new barn is finished, and Tomorrow
night he will give US dance in it, and
the city people are coming to it, and if
you will 20 1 will come for you at
dark"
"And," said ;,"I will be ready and
waiting, Gilbert" Then + ran in. =. to-
tell mother. I was only country girl,
and was proud of Gilbert !; he 2vwi;iiii was in
advance of our country beaux, and
handsomer than any Of them.
"Mother," said 1, "tbere is to be a
great dance in Squire Hsines' barn TO-
morrow night, and Gilbert has asked
me to CO."
Mother looked up, pleased, from her
ironing, and said !: ''Mattic, you and
Gilbert have kept company some time
now maybe you will be mistress at
the stone house yet"
My face didn't keep an even color
when she looked at me, for I had
thought the same thing myself, but 1
answered.
"Mother, you are always guessing so
far ahead! Can't We think up some-
thing new tor me to wear? l am so
tired Of the everlasting pink cheek and
the pink ribbons"
"Why, Matte, you thought it fit for
a queens wear the night your father
brought it home-dvn't you mind how
fine you called it?'' ..~
Yes, / remembered how father work.
ed that summer, and how he went to
the city one may when the cattle stood
ggesntiin'g pa II 81 knee, ,deep II Me live, tpd the
sun seemed to sco,ch and ywither every
tsteen: thing; snd ). wagea bis hand at i me
and called out, .~'ei~,: r.,~
"Mat, I'll bring you, back a bcs aty,
sure,'' and how I stood in. the door and
watched him out Of sight, mounted on
kthe great pile:o Of golden grain, aud won
dered what he would buy mes.
+ Aud when he :, came: :at night and
held2i' upssbefore me, how grand
thought it, and.father said 7 looked like
a city girl with it on me.
I ayes, I know, mother; but 1 have
worn it so long, and the city people will
not fancy it as I did then, and I want
to look my best"- and I didn't say 70,
Gilbert's sake, but that was it, you see
Mother only ironcd i little harder, and
said: "Well, I will try and think"
! I knew this thinking of mothers
would end in something grand for me
for mother never forgot her younger
days and the fine things she had seen
She hadn't always been as poor a:
she was now-she had lived in the
city and seen and known the grea
folks and when she married fathc,
she left all behind and took the llttl.
farm for her home, and I have heart
Fher say she liked it better than her cit,
home, for all things didn't look soy6a'
: and have such. a grand sir.
. + So / waited for her to think and a
last -s:'Mattie,''' said She, "there IS on
' dress l can tix over tor you, and tn
city folks can't outshine you"
"What is it mother ?'.;
= ''"rThc blue dress with the gold stat
J, iu it."
:'But that is your Wedding dress
can't take that"
eyes, Matte, you must" said she
j. "when | came cut here it was too ir
d !. for me, and it has been long enough
/. that old chest"
s So mother opened the chest, and v
r. both got down On our knees on Il
floor beside it, and looked at it lyin
D. there. Then shc unwrapped the clo'
t bout IL and ahook out the crumble