Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-10-16

on the mountain aide. Or they tlus
tered about tho shed and rick Of grain
or camo with tho chickens at fcedin
time to the bare bit OF ootth near th
kitchen door to receive thoir portion o
tho foo thrown to them by some mem
Der Of the family dwelling within tn
vine-wreathed cottage.
And here, one morning week afte
Erastus' coming, little party, com
posed OF neighbors and their families
gathered to witness tho marriage OF tn,
young couple who had plighted theil
faith two years before, standing in Oh,
road while tho cows went lazily homo
without them.
1t was not an assembly such as would
have graced fashionable church in q
great city. Not one among them all
perhaps, but would have felt i'll Mt ease
In richly furnished parlor OF a brown.
stone front in New York or Chicago
They were common country people
husbands and wives who gained their
living rs John and Martha Parsons
gained theirs--by the tillage of the soil
and the raising of fruits, and grain,
and poultry. Young men and maidens,
the sons and daughters of these people
in the common walks of life, dressed -
the girls in cheap, lght-colorcd lawns,
with may be a bit of bright ribbon at the
throat or about the waist; the young
men in suits of linen or somc other
light and not costly fabric, and all OF
them with hands and faces tanned by
the sun, but with hearts that throbbed
as quickly at whspcrings of love, or
capable of feeling rs kecnly the stngs
of unjust criticism, as II they were robe,l
in velvet, with diamonds sparkling upon
soft, white hands.
Before these friends and neighbors,
Lucy, dressed much as the other
maiIcns were dressed, only that her
robe OF pure white vas OF finer material,
and without ornameh. except some
roses upon her breast aii in her beauti-
full dark hair, stood up With Erastus
and gave the responses that mado them
husband and wife as they werc pro-
pounded by the gray-haired minister
whose services had been secured for the
occasion.
The kisses and congratulations over,
and the tears which would come in spite
OF her determination not 10 let them
dried upon the cheek of the bride, they
all sat down to meal at which there
was n brides cake, of course, and cold
roast turkey, and great mealy potatoes,
and the most beautiful bread.
There was fruit also; the first borne
by the trees and vines planted since
coming to the place, by the hands that
sought out and plucked these, the oc-
caSional first offerings found scattered
here and there among the foliage.
| And afterwards there were kisses and
hand-shakes again, and foldings of the
bride to the tosom of father and mother,
and tears in the eyes of all, and fervent
"God bless you's."
And then Lucy was helped to a seat
in the wagon, over which n canvas
cover had been stretched and into which
the little store of household goods
which formed her dowry had been
packed. Then her husband climbed up
by her side and amid wavings of hand
kerchiefs and more "God bless you's, "
they drove down the lane and out upon
the road which led away over the
mountain and the foothills towards the
new cottage which awaited their COM
ing at the Slough.
Oh, what happy, happy journey was
that for seven whole bright October
days; travelling by easy stages during
the day, and camping out, and sleeping
in the wagon at night!
What beautiful pits of scenery they
pointed out to each other! How they
laughed over the little incidents of the
journey or the camp,as the tipping over
of their coffee kettle while getting their
evening meal in some quiet little grove,
after the days drive.
| What memories of the longer journey
across the plains when they were chill.
dren came back to them as they
watched the campfire smoldering in
the darkness and the twinkling of the
stars overhead; and what beautiful Sc.
crets they disclosed to each other as
proofs of their mutual love and conf,
dence! And when, on the evening oi
to the johnson shanty, what hearty
the young bride who had come to make
glad the home of her husband and Il
be neighbor and friend among neigh
bors and friends
And when, after hearty meal of the
best that could be found in the house.
they went to take look at their OWL
home, walking hand in hand across the
fields, with what pride Erastus pointed
out the boundaries of his own claim; t.
the vineyard, and orchard, and fields
made fruitful by the water that, coming
through the open bitches cut by hi:
own hands and those of his neighbors
was fast turning the desert into gar
den.
And the cottage; how pleased Lucy
professed to be-really was-with il
appearance and conveniences! Wha
pleasure they took in deciding JUS
where each piece of furniture should b,
placed! They would have carpet or
the larger down stairs room, and tht
bureau and the best chairs should 90 il
that; and the small table, with few
books should stand near the center o.
it. Lucy's guitar should hang on the
wall with Erastus' flageolet, and Just n!
soon as they could they would get few
pictures to help make the room still
more bright and tasty. Their bed they
would put up stairs, and, until they
could build larger, would eat in thu
kitchen. or in pleasant weather, out o
doors, and so keep the best room alway!
cozy and nice.
And SO, still planning for the future,
yet perfectly happy in the present, they
returned as they came, hand in hant
across lots to Mr.. Johnson's. where
they were to spend the night.
On the morrow Mr.. johnson helped
Erastus to unload the few heavy arti
cles and place them in the cottage, anl
then they went away, and together thu
young couple put down the carpet ant
arranged the furniture, returning t.
Mrs. Johnson's to dinner, as that lad,
insisted that they should do.
Indeed, she would have had them ro
main with herself and husband for 1
week, until they got rested from thei
journey" as she said, but to this the,
could not think of consenting.
They were both anxious to get init
their own house. that they might to
gether take up the work of making