San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-30
RUTH
And this is homer

Ruth Deano gazed about her with a min
gled feeling of wonder, joy and disappoint-
ment. Three thousand miles had she trav-
eled across the continent to reach the home
her husband had prepared for her, and this
was what she found:
A lonely ranch among the foothills in
southern California, with a plain log cabin
for a home Not veStige of plant or
flower around it, not a suggestion of comfort
or beauty within it, the hills stretching
brown and bare under the July sun, and not
a shade tree in sight
"One might know there never had been
woman near this place." sighed Ruth, her
eyes slowly filling with tears. 1t seemed so
comfortless and barren after leaving her mo-
theirs old fashioned farmhouse 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,
"Whither thou goest, will go; and whittier
thou lodgest will lodge9"
Would any place, no matter how full of
comfort it might be, ever be home without
him2 Had she and her baby Ruth not wept
tears of joy when the letter came telling
them that papa was coming from California
to take them homes and had not every foot
of the way been joy to think she was once
more with him and that they were to have
home?
She stroked the hand of her husband,
who held their little Ruthie in his arms,
smiling through her tears.
II know, dear, it is new country" she
said cheerfully, and you have done the best
you could.
1t was the truly wifely spirit, and in his
heart he blessed the true woman who said it.
"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 everything
neat, at least, and that was a great comfort
to her, and if the parlor was barren 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 glimpse of the blue Pacific, and a
background of purple mountains-she began
to lose that undertone of homesickness which
had SO marred her home coming. She thought
how beautiful a home might really be under
tie shadow of the lifted peaks, and she re-
solved that with Johns help she would make
L., D. l.. = 4 a
her thought, John went into the house and
returned in moment laden with two parcels
which he dropped into her lap.
There, Ruth" he said. you can't guess
what those are, can you"
Il am afraid not, Ruth said, eying the
mysterious looking packages wOnderingly.
well, you know the house isn't very beau
tiful 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 mean2 Ruth took up the
lighter but larger ono first. To her surprise
it was full of garden seeds, small packages of
every kind almost she could think off
well, how lovely!" 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 va
rieties of roses alone among that collection of
Seeds
Isn't it wonderful to think off" cried Ruth,
es delighted as a child over her treasures
And what can be in hereF' she continued.
as she opened the second parcel. Wonders
will never ceased" she exclaimed ths next mo
ment, as She poured whole bag of silver
into her lap. And what is this forr
ITO buy your parlor furniture" he replied,
laughing at her amazement.
"Honest!" She looked at him, her brown
eyes sparkling
at is for Ms. Delano to do with as she
pleases," he said. Il saved the money to
furnish the cabin with, and thought to have
1t fixed up before you came, but concluded
on second thought that you could do better
than l; so there's the money. Buy what you
please ard fix up the place to suit yourself. "
'WeI, if you amt the best John in the
whole country" Ruth said, almost laughing
and crying in the same breath How could
sho ever be hOmesick again2
And that night, instead Of crying herself to
sleep, as she thought that afternoon to do, she
lay awake from very Joy, thinking of the