Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-11-20
JACK AND JILL.
How They Went Up the Hill of
Life Together.

1t was too funny for anything, but
we were married. 1t didn't concern the
world in the least, but it was a matter
OF no small moment to Jack and nv
self, as we came out of the little box of
a parsonage, that we were actually man
and wife. DR.. Pitcher, the Lutheran
doininie, eyed lis sharply as he came
into the cozy study. How we'll I re-
member that morning! the sunshine fell
across the window garden, with its
fragrant flowers, and made a golden
spot on the carpet Just at Jacks feet.
In front of me was a Beatrice Di Cenci,
after Guido, on the wall, and the sad,
pathetic face haunts: me yet. 1t almost
seemed to speak to us, saying: .'Chil-
aren, you are so foolish"' Dr. Pitcher
evidently thought so, too, for he was a
bachelor, and questioned Jack quite a
while; but Jack was manly and frank,
and he had a letter of introduction
from good old DR.. Clark, who had
known him from a boy, and so our
dominic was satisfied.
It was very solemn, after all, the
serving man and maid came in as wit
nesses, and I nudged Jack as they
looked at us in establishment, as much
as to say: What do these children
want to commit such foolishness for?''
But we answered the questions, we took
each others hand, the good doctor
prayed so tenderly, as if his W past
had toned his words. and we went out
into the sunshine, past the gray church,
one to climb the hill of life together.
Jack kissed ME in the shadow of che
Tower, although I told him he
shouldn't on the public street, and we
surned our faces toward home. Jack
was twenty and l was sixteen; no won
der you grow solemn aud shake your
heads, you older ones, but I believe the
young folks will envy us now. but not
bye and bye, perhaps, for life is tough
thing, and the hill for Jack and Jill
was no exception. But we commenced
to climb with light hearts, we were
strong and Young, and we loved each
other. 'Until death.'do us part" did not
seem a very hard thing to answer from
the DOCTORS lips.
We had four rooms to Oyerselves-a
little bird-house Of Observation-Disclosures,
parlor and two bedrooms; yet what in
the world we wanted of an extra bed~
room one could hardly tell, as we were
both orphans in this Western city, far
away from any one we knew. =.
We were alone in the world. we loved
each other, why pot climb the steep
hand in ! nd? Jack worked in a great
Touring mill; his day began at sever
aud closed at six; what nice long even
ings we bad to study and read and
dream! To be sure, Jack had only
FORTY dollars a month, and we had
many sums in addition and subtraction
to do to keep out of debt, but he said ]
didn't grow poor, and my Dutch an
cestors certainly would not have been
ashamed of me in thar regard. l was
accustomed to take my hair down at
nioht to please him--it was blonde, the
color of eold--and he called me "Ihe
Mermaid" so covered was I by the
meshes of light. | was just a little
proud of my hair, like a silly child, and
rsed to tell Jack jokingly: IF worst
came to worst, I could sell that fol-
hresd.n One evening our landlord came
in. lust as I had allowed the last coil
to fall. He inquired OF Jack II l was e
a Younger sister. my wi1e, WI.
Lane said Jack, smiling. l thought
it too bad that l looked SO young, gu.
nv cheeks would be red, and 1 was
plump as a partridge. .,o
But that first year sobered us a little
we found Fate was no sentlmentalls1
a aue = ed.i if possible. looked after tht
house, did the marketing, and pla laf
%o ssd gov go in providing y food. 1uh Thf
first month 1 spent thirty. wn,cI
made jack look sober, but the next St,l
aid better. until, finally. ! was ablt
With case to do what / desired. Jaci
and / were determined to lay by VS. some hs;
thing il we went hu mH}ch we We hardly ras