Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-06-18
JOICEY SWEETS COURTSHIP
q A southerly wind and cloudy sky
Betokens hunting morning."

A southerly wind and cloudy sky
Betokens a hunting morning"
sang Theron Brent, as, closing the door of
his log cabin, he shouldered his gun for a
day in the woods and tramped down the
narrow footpath that bordered the "new
fallow, where, green as velvet, the spring
wheat lay among the blackened stumps
that marked how late the forest had
claimed its own. At the edge of the clear
ing the young man paused to look back,
not for last glance at watching eyes, for
the nearest face was some three miles dis
tant, but to crafty the delightful sense of
possession that that rude cabin, that bit of
smiling green set in the October splendor
of the vast and solemn woods, held for
him a sense the more vivid from memory
of the long days through which his ak had
rang, as tree by tree had yielded to the
strokes of his stout arm, for every inch of
that ground was doubly his, both by pur-
chase right and the deeper and more ex-
ultant right of conquest. And well
might Theron Brent view his wilder
ness homestead with certain pride.
Three years before be had made
on foot the long journey from the old Con-
necticut of the East to the " New Con-
necticut OF the West, with the sole capi-
tai in the shape OF carefully-folded bit OF
paper IN his pocket, to the following effect
We, the subscribers having been acquainted with
the bearer Theron Brent for several years past do
certify that he has served regular apprenticeship
at the blacksmith business and acquired hand
some knowledge of the trade that he has withal
supported character fir for honesty and integrity,
aud is a Young man Of regular and correct habits.
We therefore recommend him to the public as
young who merits public patronage
JEEIAL DUNN Justice OF the Peace.
ZGBA PAfTER, Selectman.
AZAR TRASk Iuu-keeper
Guilford, May l, 1910, state OF Connecticut, New
Haven co.
These signatures, in accordance with
custom, signifying-the Justices that there
were no debts or judgments against him
the selectman's, that there were no
charges and the innkeepers, for fair and
gentlemanly behavior. a slender capital,
do you say? But clear conscience, the
habit Of industry, and the energy of de-
termined will are on the contrary a great
capital. To these possessions having
added that October day, hundred acres
of land, with its snug log cabin and sunny
spot OF clearing, it Is no wonder that he
pauses for last glance of pardonable
pride. A hunting story to possess the
genuine flavor should be heard from
the lips of some veteran pioneer, who
has himself braved danger and ia
tigue and forgotten time and dis
tance in the excitement of the
chase, and whose dim eye kindles in
the recital, as in fancy he sees once
more the starting deer and feels his finger
tremble on the trigger. So | Will attempt
no account Of Theron Brent's day Of hunt
ing, from which he did not return till
darkness was closing through the gray, wet
twilight, for - southerly wind and a
cloudy sky" often "betokens an after
noon Of rain and wet, and chill and weary
our hunter returned to his dark and cold
and lonely cabin. It had now and then
occurred to him that womanly presence
might add 20 the cheer and comfort OF his
bachelor abode but that night, as drenched
and hungry nc piled the flint and tinder
with halt-benumbed fingers, these ideas,
that had before been vaguely intangible,
crystalllzed Into the clear and definite form
OF resolution, and as the long. sought
blaze cracked up at last over the hickory
logs, and he spread his palms to
the grateful warmth, he said aloud
with the emphasis of determination.
Z" / will marry" He had been going
to add, a" the first woman. be she black or
white, meet, but checked himself with
the reflection that such rashness might
anything but improve his condition, for
under the coon skin cap and tow-logping
frock of the young backwoodsman there
lay hidden ideal, half fancy, half dream.
ing hope OF love that should some day
crown his life and home and gladden. his
weariest and brighten his darkest days
an ideal that, phautom.like though it was,
stood in the way and waved him back when
his affections strove to turn to Limery
Pool, whose cool nerve could bring down a
wolf at sight, or Calista Satterlee, who
could boast of having carded, spun, and
woven a garment in day, list that COM
prised the only eligible damsels from which
to choose within the township. But the
burning OF the venison steak he had laid
upon the Goals recalled him to his cheerless
surroundings, his present discomfort, and
he repeated with even more emhpasis than
before, " must marry !"
II.
1t was rude temple of learning, that
little lO9 school hn,,ea. e,,4, n he ~ ha