The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-10-25

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or came with the CHI ckens at feed ng
kitchen door to receive Their portion OF
the foo thrown to them BY some mem.
Der Of the family dwelling within the
-wreathcd cottage.
And here. one morning week after
Erastus' coming. little party. com.
posed OF neighbors and their families.
gathered TO witness the marriage Of the
young couple who had plighteI their
faith two years before. standing in the
road while the cows went iazily homo
without them.
1t was not an assembly such as would
have graced fashionable church in
great city. Not one among them all,
perhaps, but would have felt i'll ut ease
in richly furnished l,arlor Of a brown
stone front in New York or Chicago.
They we're common country people :
husbands and wives who gained their
living As John and Martha Parsons
gained theirs by tn, ;illagc Of tie soil
and the III sing Of fruits. and grain,
and poultry Young men and maidens.
the sons and daughters of these PEOPLE
in tie common walks OF life dressed :
the girls in cheap. light-colored lawns.
with may be bit Of bright ribbon ut the
throat or about the waist; the young
men in suits Of linen or some other
light and not costly fabric. and all of
them with hands and faces tanned by
the sun. but with hearts that ihrobbed
- quickly at whispcrings Of love. or
capable OF feeling Is keenlv the stings
of unjust criticism. as il they were robed
in velvet. with a Almonds sparkling upon
soft. white hands.
Before these friends aud neighbors.
Lucy. dressed much AS the other
maiirns wer. dressed only that her
robe o. pure white was of finer material,
and without ornament ex ept some
roses upon her breast and in her beaut-
full dark hair, stood up with Erastus
and gave the responses that made them
husband and wife as they were pro.
pounded by the grasha rel minister
whose services had been secured for the
occa ion.
The kisses and congratulations over.
and the tears which would come in spite
OF her dete III nation not 10 let them
dried upon the cheek OF the bride. they
all sat down to meal Mt which there
was BRIDES cake. oil course, and cold
roast turkey. and great mealy potatoes,
and the most beautiful bread.
There was fruit also: the first borne
by the tres and vines planted, snce
coming to the place. by the hands that
sought out and pluckel these, the oc-
ca>ional first offerings found scattered
here and there among the foliage.
And forwards there were kisses and
hand-shake, again. and loldings OF tho
bride to the osom OF father an 1 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 canvas
cover had been street he'd and in which
the little store OF household goo Is
which formed her dowry had been
| packed. Then her husband climbed up
BY her side and amid wavings OF hand
| Ike chic and more God bl - you's,"
they drove doan the lane and out upon
| the road which led away over the
mountain and the loot hills towards the
| new cottage VIII oh awaited their COM
ing at TIE Slougn.
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 ut night!
What beautiful bits of scenery they
pointed out to each other. How the,
laughed over the lite incidents of the
journey or the camp,as the I p ing over
Of their coffee kettle while getting their
even NJ meal in some quiet little grove.
after the tia,' drive.
What memories Of the longer journey
across the plains when they were chill
dren came back TO them as they
watched the campfire smodering in
the darkness and the twinkling Of the
stars overhead; and what beaut full sc
crets they disclosed to each other as
proofs Of Their mutual love and conf
dence! And when, on the evening OF
the last days journey, they drove UP
| to the johnson shanty, what heart,
| greeting Mrs. and Mr. johnson gave tc
| the Young bride who had com" to make
| glad the home OF her husband and Il
be n neighbor and friend among neigh
bors and friends.
And when. after hearty meal Of tn
best that could be found in the house
the, went to take look at theif OIL
home. walking hand in hand across TIN
fields. with what pride Eras.us p int.
out the boundaries oil his own aim; t,
the vineyard. and orchard, and fields
made fruitful b. the " alter that, comm:
t. ngh the open bitches cut by mi
owl hands and those of his neighbors
was fast turning the desert into gar
den.
And the cottage; how pleased Luc
protested to be really was-with il
appearance AMI convcnienccs. Mhs
pleasure they took in deciding n,
where each piece OF furniture should b
placed! They would have carpet o
the larger down stairs room, aud tn
bureau and the best chairs should 90 i
that; and the small table. witt, fe
books. should rand near the center {
it. Lucy's guitar should hing on tn
wall with Eraslu,' flagco.et. and iu~t q
soon as they could they would get fc'
pictures to help make the room I'll
more bright and tasty. TIER bed tn
would put up stairs, and, until the
cou d build larger. would eat in t.
kitchen, or in pleasant weather. out {
doors, and SO keep the best room alwa.
coy and nice.
And SO. still planning for the future
yet perfectly happy in the present. the
returned as they came, hand in han
across lots to Mr.. Johnson's. wher
the, were to spend the night.
On the morrow Mr.. johnson helpe
Erastus to unload the few heavy art
cles and place them in the cottage, an
then they went away. and together til
young couple put down the carpet an
arranged the furn ture, returning
Mrs. Johnson's to dinner. as that lad
insisted that they should do.
Indeed. she would have had them II
main with herself and husband for
week. until they got rested from the
Journey" as she said, but to this TIC
could not think of consenting.
They were both anxious to Get I'M
their own house. that they might t,
J getEer take up the work OF maxim
still more beautiful aud productive Il
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