The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-03
RUTH.

Toronto Truth.
RUTH.
."And this is home!'
Ruth Delano gazed about her with
n mingled feeling Of wonder, JOY and
disappointment. Three thousand
miles had she travelled across the
continent to reach tile home her hus-
band had prepared for her, and this
was what she found:
A lonely ranch among the foot
hills of southern California, with u
plain log cabin for IL home. Not a
vestige Of a plant or flower it,
not IL suggestion of comfort or
teauty within it, the hills stretching
brown and bare under the July sun,
and not shade tree in sight.
Zone might know there had never
been a woman near this place, "sighe,l
Ruth, her eyes slowly filling with
tears. 1t seemed SO comfortlcss and
barren afterle leaving hermotl,er's old
fashioned farmhouse in Maine. full to
overfiowing with inviting, comforta-
l,le things, and surrounded with
flower gardens and orchards, and
where every nook and corner s,ly.scs-
ted the deft hands and delicate fal-
cies OF women. She felt her Very
heart sinking within her. Then scc-
ing the eyes of her husband fixed up
on her she forced back the tears.
Had she not said, like the Ruth Of
old, "Whitller thou gocst, l will go;
and whittier thou lo,lgest I will
lodge
Would any plnce, no matter how
full of comfort il might he, ever I've
home without him? Had she and
her baby Ruth not wept tears of Joy
when the letter came telling them
that papa was coming from Califor-
mia to take them home? and had
not every foot OF the way been n Joy
to think she was once more with him
and that they were to have IL home?
She stroked the hand of her hus-
band, who held their little Ruthie in
his arms, smiling through her tears.
Il know, dear, it is IL new country"
she said cheerfully, "and you huvc
done the best you could"
1t was the true wifely spirit, and in
his heart he blessed the true woman
who said it.
"All the ranches look kind of DESC
late" lie said, "wllen there's no one
but men about: but now we've got
IL little woman here, things will soon
be looking different
Inside Of the house she found every
thing neat. at least. that was n great
comfort to her, and if the parlor was
barren looking with no carpct upon
it, the kitchen was full ullofcontrivance
which women like, and she knew that
John had thought of them for her.
After supper they sat down OH the
little porch in front of the cabin to
talk of plans for future work. TWAS
Just Mt sunset, and as Ruth sat plac-
idly looking ut the view in front of
her-wllich, after all, was IL fine one,
taking in n glimpse Of the blue Pacific,
and n background of purple noun
tains-slle began to lose that under
tone of inconsistencies which had 80
marred her homecoming. She
thought how beautiful II home might
really he under the shadow of the
lifted peaks, and she resolved that
with Johns help she would
make hers one to he proud
of. AS if in answer to her
thought, John went into the house
and returned in IL moment ln0en with
two parcels which he dropped into
her lap.
"There, Ruth" bcsnid, "you can't
guess what those are, can you?"
81 am afraid not" Ruth said, ey-
ing the mysterious looking packages
wonderingly.
well, you know the house isn't
very beautiful yet" John said, his
good face fairly shining with the lit
tie secret he had in store for her; "but
I guess you'll find something in each
of those parcels that will help you
benutify it,"
What could herne an? Ruth took ND
the lighter but larger one first. To
her surprise it was full of garden
seeds, small packages of evcrj kind
air ost she could think of.
"Well, how lovelyw she said.
"NOw we shall raise all the vegetables
we need, and our garden will rival
dear mother at home
"Yes," John replied "andgo ahead
Oft; for California beats the world
for flowers, and yonr garden will be
just as lovely in Winter as in Sum-
mcr. There are twenty varieties OF
roses alone among that collection of
seeds"
"Isn't it wonderful to think of"
cried Ruth, as delighted as IL child
over her treasures. "And what can
be in herc?" she continued, as she
opened the second parcel. "Wonders
will never cease" she exclaimed the
next moment, as she poured IL whole
bag OF silver into her lap. "And
what il this for?
ITO buy you parlor furniture" he
replied, laughing at her amazemcnt.
'Honest!" She looked mt him, her
brown eyes sparkling.
ut is for Mrs. Dclano to do with
as she pleases," he snid. II saved
the money to furnish the cabin with,
and thought that you could do bet
ter than l; so there the money. Buy
what you you please and fix up the
place to suit yourself
well, ii you amt the best John in
the whole country" Ruth said. al
most laughing and crying in the
same breath. How could she ever be
home-sick again?
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