Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-07-17
RUTH DELANO.
Weighed In the Balance and Not
Found Wanting.

"And this is homer
Ruth Delano gazed about her with n
mingled feeling of wonder, JOY and
disappointment. Three thousand
miles had she travelled across the con-
tinent to reach the home her husband
had prepared for her, and this was
what she found:
A lonely ranch among the foothills
OF Southern California, with plain log
cabin for home. Not a vestige OF
a plant or flower around IL. not sug-
gestion OF comfort or beauty within it,
the hills stretching brown and bare
under the July sun, and not a shade
tree in sight.
lone might know there had never
been n woman near this place." sighed
Ruth, her eyes slowly filling with
tears. II seemed so comfortless and
barren after leaving her mothers old
fashioned farm house in Maine, full to
overlooking with inviting. comfortable
things, and surrounded with flower
gardens and orchards, and where every
nook and corner suggested the deft
hands and delicate fancies of women.
She felt her very heart sinking within
her. Then, seeing the eyes of her
husband fixed upon her, she forced
back the tears.
Had she not said, like the Ruth OF
old: WHITTIER thou goest, will go;
and whittier thou lodgest will lodgep'
Would any place, no matter how full
OF comfort it might be, ever be home
without himp Had she and her baby
Ruth not wept tears of JOY when the
latter came telling that papa was com
ing from California to take them home?
and had not every foot of the way been
JOY to think she was once more with
him and that they were to have a
homeP
She stroked the hand of her hus-
band, who held their little Ruthie in
his arms, smiling through her tears,
al know, dear, it is anew country
she said, cheerfully, "and you have
done the best you could"
IL was the true wifely spirit, and in
his heart he blessed the true woman
who said 1t.
"And all the ranches look kind of
desolate," he said, when there's no
one but men about; but now we've got
little woman here things will soon be
looking different.
Inside OF the house she found every
thing neat, and that was great COM
fort to her, and II the parlor was bar
rem looking with no carpet upon it.
the kitchen was full OF contrivances
which women like. and she knew that
John had thought of them for her.
After supper they sat down on the
little porch in front of the cabin to
talk Of plans for future work. 1t was
just at sunset, and as Ruth sat placidly
looking at the view in front Of her
which, after all. was a fine one, taking
In n glimpse OF the blue Pacific, and u
background OF purple mountains-she
began 10 lose that undertone of home
sickness which had so married her
homecoming. She thought how beau
tiful home might really be under the
shadow OF the lifted peaks. and she
resolved that with Johns help she
would make hers one to be proud OF.
As IL in answer to her thought, John
went into the house and returned in u
moment laden with two parcels which
he dropped into her lap.
There, Ruth" he said, ''you can't
guess what those are, can youp"
IL am afraid not, Ruth said cycling
the mysterious looking packages won
deringly.
"Well, you know the house isn't
very beautiful yet," John said, his
good face fairly shining with the little
secret he had in store for her; '"but /
guess you'll find something in each OF
those parcels that will help you beau
tify it,"
What could he meanP Ruth took up
the lighter but larger one first. To her
surprise 1t was full of garden seeds,
small packages OF every kind almost
she could think OF.
well, how lovelyw she said Now
we shall raise all the vegetables we
need, and our garden will rival dear
mothers at home"
YES" John replied, land go ahead
of it; for California beats the world
for flowers, and your garden will be
just as lovely in winter as in summer.
There are twenty varieties OF roses
alone among that collection OF seeds"
''Isn't IL wonderful TO think OPP
cried Ruth, as delighted as child
over her treasures. "And what can
be in herep" she continued, as she
opened the second parcel. Wonders
will never cease!" she exclaimed the
next moment, as she poured a whole
bag OF silver into her lap. "And what
Is this forp"
ITO buy your parlor furniture" he
replied, laughing at her amazement.
s'Honestw She looked at him, her
brown eyes sparkling.
1T Is for Mrs. Delano to do with as
she pleases," he said. II saved the
money TO furnish the cabin with. an
thought TO have It fixed up before you