Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-05-24

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will want to see them. We will 20
to town tomorrow and you can GET
what things you need, and Miranda
can stay and help you get ready,
You will want to get off as soon as
IyOu can, for you will want to make q
good long visit while you are about
| He appeared to be anxious to has
ten her departure, but Mrs. Graham
was too happy at the thought of see
ing the home of her childhood again
to notice it at the time. ai4,l sf.'..,
| "But what will you do without us
Iif we makea long stay 7"
Don't mind about me. 1 can keep
bachelors hail. he added laughing.
Two weeks after, Mrs. Graham and
the children had gone and Hiram
Graham had the house all to himself.
After the lapse of five weeks he
went To the station to meet his wife
and children. They had enjoyed the
most delightful Of visits and all were
glad and happy, and, as they drove
homeward, there was much to be
told and many inquiries to be made.
AS they neared the house, Mrs. Gra-
ham suddenly leaned eagerly for
ward, while her husband watched
her face and rubbed his hands to-
gether in quiet glee. What was that
soft, lustrous gray, cleaning out from
among the green trees? Was she
dreaming? No, 1t was the house with
its green shutters and porticos.
"Why, Hiram Graham, what have
you been doing ?"
She looked again. "And a picket
fence! And the most charming little
gate! And a gravelled walk !" And
then she couldn't keep the glad tears
from coming. * s''.l
"Come, Jennie" said Mr.. Graham
teasingly, although his own eyes
lmOistened with sympathetic happi-
hess,-"nOw don't feel SO bad about
1t, | may have worse things yet to
show yOu.-There, how does that suit
you ?" he asked, after they had enter
cd the house, pointing. to the bay
window. l didn't understand such
things, sol got workman that did
you see it is all complete, ready for
the plants. And here" he said lead
ing the way through the Kitchen and
throwing open door, 1'is the wood
house; and here" opening a door,
sis a pantry that can't be beat any
where. And this is something you
didn't MENTION" he continued, APP
preaching neat sink in the kitchen.
and laying hold of the handle of
cistern pump that stood in one end,
up gushed jet of soft water, which
told of good cistern underneath.
"LOok through the window and you
will see a covered drain that carries
away all waste water. | am going to
fix 1t so yon can irrigate your flower
garden with it. You see / didn't do
anything with these these things" he
said, after they had entered the sit
glancing deprecatingly to-
ward the dingy papering, the dilapi-
dated furniture, and thread-bare car
pets. II would rather trust that to
you. And besides, / found there was
SO much real enjoyment in 1t, that
thought l would be generous and
leave some of the pleasure for you.
Here is the money that is left" he ad-
ded, presenting her with a goodly
roll of bills. @
One pleasant day in Autumn, and
all was complete, and indeed, as Mrs.
said, it looked like "a bit of
Eden"
81 do believe" she said, turning to
her husband with such glad, bright
look in her face, IL do.believe that I
am the happicst woman in the world"
lie drew her gently to him. "Jen-
nie," he said, "what were you think
ing about that morning that found
you churning under the locust tree,
and looking so intently at that old
stone building on the hill?' Her on
|y answer was merry laugh.
"Did you ever think so before 2"
Although he asked the question hesi-
latingly, he looked very wistfully into |
her face for an answer.
"NO, you dear, simple darling, and
| never shall again: and" looking up
Arehly. II ai1ln'f fLes.r'
Six years had passed away. and .one
bright morning in spring, Mr.. Gra-
ham entered the house. He had
changed in those wears; the slight
which had characterized |
Il
him previously had worn away;
here was an increased dignity, and
manliness in his bearing. His chill
dren, also, had grown to be con-
slant source OF parental pride and de-
light. So surely do our inner ma
lures conform to the plane OF our out
ward surroundings. He held up a
paper which he had in his hand
There he said, addressing his wife,
'is the deed to that Sonthwell forty
clear from incumbrance. Ii it had |
not been for you," he continued smi- |
ling, II should have owned that long |
ago, and the whole Southwell farm,
too, perhaps. But l thank God that |
didn't he added earne silly. IF |
had, would have bent SO close over
the work rack by this time, that
never should be able to look up"