River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-08-12

cleaning out from among the green
leaves? Was she dreaming? No; it was
Il house with green shutters and
portico-.
why, Hiram Graham, what have
YOU been doing?"
She looked again. And a picket
fence and the most charming little
gate And a gravel walk" then she
couldn't keep the tears from coming.
Come, Jennie said Mr.. Graham,
teasingly, although his own eyes moist
ened with sympathetic happiness,
''don't feel so bad about it. There,
how does that suit?" he asked, after
they had entered the house, pointing to
the bay-window. 81 don't understand
such things, so l got workman who
did YOU see; it is all complete, ready
for plants And here" leading the way
through the kitchen and throwing open
the door, lis pantry that can't be beat
anywhere And this is something you
did not mention" he continued, APP
preaching a neat sink III the kitchen,
and laying hold of the handle of els
tern pump that stood in one corner,
up gushed Il jet of soft water which
told of a good cistern underneath.
Look through the window and you
will see covered drain that carries
away all the waste water; | am going to
fix it so you can irrigate your flower
garden with it. You see | didn't do
anything with these things" he said,
after they had entered the sitting
room, glancing deprecatingly toward
the dingy-colored papering, the dilapl-
dated furniture and threadbare carpet.
Il would rather trust that to you. And
besides. found so much real enjoy
ment in it, that | thought | would be
generous and leave some OF it for you.
Here is the money that is left" he
added, presented her goodly roll OF
bills.
One pleasant day in autumn and all
was complete, and, indeed, as Mr. Ora
ham said it looked like "a bit of
Eden"
Il do believe" she said turning to-
ward her husband with glad, bright
look in her face, II believe that am
just the happiest woman in the
worldv'
He drew her gently to him. "Jen-
ME-" he said what are YOU thinking
about, that morning | found you chum-
ing under the locust tree, and looking SO
intently ut the old stone building on
the hill?"
| Her answer only was a merry laugh.
Did you ever think 50 before?' Al
though he asked the question hestat-
", he looked very wistfully into her
| face for an answer.
NO, YOU dear, simple darling, and
am sure | never shall again." and,
looking up archly, Il didn't them
Six years had passed away, and one
bright morning in spring, Mr.. Graham
entered the house. He had changed
in these years; the slight roughness
which had characterized him previous
~, had worn away there was an in
creased dignity and manliness in his
| bearing His children had also grown
to be Il constant source of paternal
pride and delight. So surely do oul
inner natures conform to the plan OF
our outward surroundings. He held
up paper he had in his hand. There,
said he, addressing his wife, sis the
deed of that Southwell forty, clear from
incumbrance If it had not been fol
you" he continued, smiling, II should
| have owned it long ago, and the whole
Southwell farm, too, perhaps. But
thank God that | didn't" he added
earnestly "If | had, | should of been
SO close over the work rack by this
time, that never should be able to look
up