The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-04-15

cousin.
Mary was firm IN her determination
20 70 with John. and when their ar
rangemcnts were made. and their small
store Of goods WAS packed IN the big
covered wagon. then Mary, nttired as
became the wife Of an cmigrant. walked
into the church with John. and was
made his wife.
When John and Mary stepped from
the low stoop into the "prairie ~scisoon-
err there were lcar-dimmed eyes and
hearty God-bless-you's from the simple
villagers. for they were great fayorites
with these people. SiIas Green was
there. and his haggard face showed his
inward suffering: for despite his great
wealth. he envied the man in the lnm-
Der wagon with his pretty bride beside
him.
Was ever happier bridal tour? No
proud lips 70 curl in scorn at their love
passages. Riding all day long past
farm houses. across streams and
through towns. camping ont At the
close ~ day. with nothing 70 disturb the
hush Of right save the murmur Of the
leaves overhead, or the wash Of the
stream near By. john rifle furnished
them with many a sayory mess Of game.
Sometimes they would let the horses
have a long incoming while they fished,
sitting close together and planning for
| the future. Johns small store Of
money. they planned, would build them
a wee little house, subject TO additions
when crops came in John would get
work enough the first winter TO supply
4 them with the neccssaries Of life When
breaking season came, John would
break an hundred acres or more,
and raise enough sod corn TO
do them the first year and some
TO sell then the rext spring
he would have eighty acres d wheat,
and the remainder corn. Eighty acres
Of wheat. they figured, averaging twen-
IL bushels To the acre. AZ M dollar per
bushel. would bring sixteen hundred
dollars. This would finish their house
and greatly improve their farm.
Thus. you see. the page 81 their tut
urc was full of golden anticipations; no
margin left for misfortune, failure Of
crops or possible sickness. II people
would only learn 10 count On what they
have instead Of what they expect 70
have. there would be fewer disappoint-
ed lives.
But the season was getting late: al
ready the frost had nipped the grass,
and they were yet o weeks drive from
their claim.
One evening John said: II believe
we'll camp early tonight. Mary. ! don't
like the way Topsy holds her head. Il
will not do for the horses 10 get sick. z
But poor Topsy was already sick
hardly was the harness lifted from tho
faithful creatures back before She
dropped on her side. Not q mouthfu
would she ca.. though Mary plucket
handouts Of tender grass for her. AL
night long they watched beside her
dong ali they could 70 alleviate hel
sufferings. but in the morning there wa
but one horse 70 feed. for Topsy wa
dead.
John must have another horse. and
Of course he was Obliged "a pay . mos
sxorbitant price for Il. When the,
started once more upon their journey
John ! face was rather sober, for the pric'
Of the new horse had taken q hug
slice Of the money devoted to building
their house.
Their route now lay through the re
gion Of homestead claim. On eithe
hand. prairie stretched from the ri-inI
70 the setting sun. Here and there
|, few trees were SET out, . small housI
: built. and 4 tract Of black sod upturned
Sometimes they saw q smoke curling N
| from the side Of . hill. where an emf
grant. too poor 70 build a house, ha'
scooped II a dng-out for q home
These people knew the meaning Q
hard times. but they had faith 70 be
, lievc that sometime this beautiful, me-
country would yield them All "hundrc'
fold" for their toll.
Z AZ last they reachedtheir destination
: and John pointed out q fair q piece 9
+: land rs ever the sim shone on as 20
homestead
Old Jerry Stevenson. their neares
/ ncighbor within four miles, saw III
: wagon. and came with true hospitalit
, 10 invite them to his home and som
I warm grub"
NJ you can bring your beddin' In an
STAY with Us till YOU cit q roof over YOU
4 heads. The weather bites most too har
for a-body to live comfortable IN
1 prairie schooner" ..
Z John and Mary gladly accepted HI
{ kindness. Mary was All eagerness :
+ learn Western ways. She watche
Jcrry's wife as she went about preparin
the evening meal; she went with Jerry I
d feed the horses and hogs. and bcior
the evening passed she had contidcd /;
him lust how much money they hal
1 ana iii their plans. So Jerry was we
A acquainted with their financial affair
The next morning. after breakias'
r Jerry said. as he pushed back his plat'
Now reckon You young folks Al
thinkin' about gettin' . place % I've y