The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-12-10
LONG BRIDAL TOUR.

A correspondent Of the Detroit Free Press
tells this interesting story Reading about
bridal tours permit me to relate strange ex-
perience. Some months after the close Of the
war, gentleman residing in Texas overlook
on the road one day a well dressed soldier
The soldier was accompanied by pretty,
neat-looking girl Of apparently about eigh-
teen years of age. She carried bundle in
her hand The soldier stopped to ask direc-
tions about the road. The gentleman found
the stranger wss Confederate soldier re-
turning to his home in Texas with his wife.
He invited the stranger home with him to
dinner The soldier-a fne-looking Texan.
told his story. His home, he said, was on
the Neueces He belonged TO Johnson'a.
army and had gone through all the various
fortunes Of soldier-been once wounded.
and twice a prisoner. In one Of his various
wandeTings he had met and fallen In love
with the daughter OF a widow residing in he
northern part Of South Carolina. The wild
ow's husband had fallen at the battle Of
Manassas. The widow, from competence
found herself reduced almost to 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,
mending fences and putting the farm in the
best order he could; then thinking II time
to see about matters at home, and his old
mother in Southern Texas, of whom he had
not heard one word for two years, he pre-
pared to return, but it was hard for him to
leave his sweetheart, especially when he was
unable to perceive when he could make
money enough to return to 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
4 sacks on their hacks, and without a single
cent OF money.
But" said the bride, eve found people
very kind. We made friends all along the
road We were never turned of al night we
always got plenty to eat, and the people
would often make us little presents OF
money. We would frequently oyertake
wagner, who would give Us 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 Northern general
noticed that my shoes were nearly worn out,
I whispered something 10 one Of his aids, who
went out and came back with a pair Of
shoes, and the general asked If ] would
oblige him 10y accepting them. l have them
on now.
when We left he shook hands with both
OF Us, and said we were a 'plucky young
couple When I get to my husbands home
1 shall have travelled over sixteen hundred
miles-and most Of il On foot would not
take anything in the world for my trip. 1
have found everybody so kind 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 wss
so kind.
But were you not afraid 10 come 50 far
with a wild Texan 90 some one asked.
'Oh. Eo 20 was the smiling reply. i al
ways liked the Texans-they make such
. brave, good soldiers"
You have indeed proved that You liked
+ one Of them"
After dinner the gentleman had his car
riase brought around, and carried them a
days journey homeward. As he shook
hands with the bride, all wished her pleas
ant journey.
''Oh, never fear that, she answered. I
am almost home hundred miles or two
isn't much 1 am happy as a queen"
They drove on-the happiest couple ever
seen. Vow, wasn't she a heroine 1 do not
think that many women would have under
taken such bridal tour.