The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-07-24
OUR HOMECOMING.
From the American Rural Home,

Hiahlng inns old broken down habita-
i tit to live in!" and l, the bride of
week, laid my head on my husbands
shoulder and INDUCED in a good old
fashioned cry.
1T Is a hard looking place, 1 must
admit" said Will; "but you see, little
one, father has been unfortunate, and
his old place was all he had to give
me towards making q start in life.
Suppose we put our two heads togeth-
or and try and make the old place
blossom like the rose"
Wills CHEEKY voice, and the hopeful
view he seemed to take concerning the
situation, aroused my ambition. l
put my arms around the neck OF the
great strong fellow and promised to
aid him in everything that he felt able
to undertake.
The next day we laid out a plan OF
operation and proceeded to act on it
without delay.
Years ago there had evidently been
quite a nice little garden in front ofthe
house; but now the ground was COM
pletely covered with a heavy growth
OF noxious weeds. The fence what re-
manned of it, appeared to be of very
little use except as Il resting place for
a score OF distressed looking chickens,
evidently the property OF some II
worse off than ourselves.
Will and l spent two whole days in
the e~xhilarating occupation OF pulling
up great green stalks, that had ''set
and sot' until they had, beyond all
possibility OF a denial, "about TUX
root"
We concluded to arrange the front
yard before we turned our attention
tothe vegetable garden. Will loosened
the rich earth with spade and hoe,
whilst I welded the rake in such good
earnest that the whole surface of the
ground soon presented an appearance
sufficiently smooth to convince us that
it was only necessary to plant the
seed, in order to have a lovely collec-
ton of flowers.
Weheld demonstration of-war, Isup-
pose must call it, for we intended to
totally annihilate thercmnant% offence,
that needed but a pushto lay it fiat on
the ground.
In looking through the stableloft we
found three great coils of heavy wire.
1t had evidentally been the intention
OF some one to use the wire in the con-
struction of a fence; but like the chest
laid plans OF mice and men, the pro-
ject had been a failure.
l suggested to Will that it would be
the easiest thing imaginable to put up
a fence. He smiled-notin a way that
was "childlike and bland" but as
though he felt theleast bit i~ncredulous
concerning the feasibility OF the plan.
However, he went to work in such a
determined way that he bid fairto dis
tlngulsh hlmselfin the art offence max
ing.
From a planingmillinthe vicinity he
procured a number ofiat stakes, about
four feet in length; with a large gimlet
he bored three holes in each stake. To
expedite matters a nan was hired for
a day to help drivethe stakes into the
ground, and to assist in putting the
wire through.
One week from the day on which Will
put his spadein into the ground, thefence
was completed; a coat of green paint
and a row of small shrubbery planted
alongthe inside, gave itavery attract
i've appearance. We were amply re-
warded by hearing u neighbor who re-
sided nthe vicinity, declarethat "them
young people up to Hubb's farm beat
everything the way they are fxin up
things"
The next thing to be taken in hand
was the veranda that extended along
the front and side of the house. We
planted u row of Mexican vines, then
started toward the wood shed for the
purpose of ransacking and old tool
chest in the hope of finding a quantity
OF stout Irvine; fortunately we came
across a roll of thin wire, which would
be far superior to ordinary twinein the
formation OF asupportfor heclimbing
vines. row ofsmall nails were driver
along the under part oftherailing, and
a similar row along the wood work be-
low the caves. The wire was then
wound around each nail, upanddown,
until it vas sufficiently strongto act as
q support for the vines.
One bright morning while we were at
breakfast, we heard some one pause in
front of the house; the next moment a
miserable specimen of humanity push
edhis way into the room. His clothes
were ragged and his face was positive
ly brown with dirt that had probably
been accommodating for weeks. / retir-
ed behind Will and whispered to him
tosend the horrid creature away. In
stead OF granting my request, Will
turned towards the man and said,
"What is the matter, can | do any
thing for your"
The man thus encouraged, began q
tale of woe unparalleled in the history
ofany tramp, living or dead. He con
cluded the narrowing tale by inform
ingus that he was one of the best
painters this side OF "Yurrup."
| put my lips to Wills ear and told
himto get the man to paint our house.
The fellow heard me and exclaimed,
"Im your man, ma'am?"
eve will give you your board until
you have finished the Job, and that is
all we feel able to give YOU" said Will.
There's nothing mean about me-"
said our employee. "Ill take what 1
can get and be satisfied.
Will procured a quantity Of gray
paint, and the traveller" went to
work.
Cali things come round to him who
will but watt" and we did wait forthe
last touch Of paint to be put upon our
domicil. For three mortal weeks that
poor abused man crept up and down
a ladder that stood against the side
of the house, at least twenty times a
day. Whenever he came down herest-
cd mon the grass f,,)Iv half an ho,r