River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-02
THE SOLDIERS WIFE.
Her Bridal Tour OF sixteen Hundred
Miles on Foot.

Detroit Free Press.
Reading about bridal tours, permit
rae to relate strange experience Some
months after the close of the war a
gentleman residing in Texas overlook
on the road one day well-dfessed ex-
soldier The soldier was accompanied
by pretty, neat-looking girl of ap-
parently about Is years of age She
carried II bundle in her hand. The
soldier stopped to ask directions about
! the road. The gentleman found the
stranger was n confederate soldier re-
turning to his home in Texas with his
wife. He invited the stranger home
with him to dinner The soldier, fine
looking Texan, told his story. His
homC, he said, was ON the Neueces. He
belonged to Johnston's army, and had
gone through all the varied fortunes of
soldicr-been once wounded and
twice a prisoner. In one of his various
Wanderings he had met and fallen in
love with the daughter of a widow re-
siding i'll the northern part OF South
Carolina. The widows husband had
| fallen at the battle of Manassas. The
widow, from competence found herself
reduced almost 10 want. When the
war closed our soldier went to the house
OF his intended mother-in-law and for a
month worked with all his might,
intending fences and putting he farm
III the best order he could: then,
thinking it time to see about
, matters at home, and his old mother
in Southern Texas, of whom he had
not heard one word for over two wears.
he prepared to return home, but it was
| hard to leave his sweetheart, especially
when he was unable 10 perceive when
lie could make money enough To re
turn for her. She settled the matter
| by saying She was going with him. So
| one morning they were married and
started for Texas on foot, with KNAPP
sacks on their backs, and without
single cent Of money.
A}ut, aid the bride, we found peo-
| pie very kind. We made friends all
along the road; we were never turned
off II night; We always got plenty to
eat, and the people would often make
us little presents of money. We would
| frequently overtake Il WAGNER, who
would give lis a ride as far as he was
going our way When we came
through New Orleans we had to get
passes to cross the river. The North
ern General noticed that my shoes were
nearly worn out. whispered something
to one of his aids, who went out and
cainr back with pair OF shoes, and
thcs General asked if ! would oblige
HIM 10y accepting them. | have them
now.
when we left he shook hands with
both of us and said we were 'plucky
young couple When Iget to my hus-
bands home shall have travelled over
600 mies-and most of il ON foot
would not take anything in the world
for my trip. | have found everybody
so kand and good.
The Young husband looked into his
wife;s bright face and smiled, as though
he thought he saw there the reason why
| every one WAS SO kind.
But were you not afraid to come So
| far " it'll II wild Texan % some one ask
ed.
"0h, mol" was the smiling reply. Il
always like the Texans-they make
such brave, good soldiers.
You have indeed proved that you
liked one Of them
After dinner the gentleman had his
carriage brought around, and carried
them days journey homeward. As
we shook hands with the bride all wish
ed her a pleasant journey.
"Oh, never fear, that, she answered.
am almost home-l00 miles or 200
isn't much. ann happy as a queen"
They drove off, the happiest couple
ever seen Now, wasn't she heroine
do not think that many women would
| have undertaken such a bridal tour.