The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-10-17
RUTH.

RUTH.
"And this Is homel"
Ruth Delano gazed about her with {
mingled feeling of wonder, JOY and dis
appointment. Three thousand miles hat
she travelled across the continent to reacl
the home her husband had prepared fol
her, and this WAS what she found;
A lonely ranch among tho foothills II
southern California, with = plain log
cabin for home. Not a vistage of a
plant or flower around 1t, not sugges
ton of comfort or beauty within it, thu
hills stretching brown and bare nnder the
Jnly sun, and not shade tree In sight
lone might know there never had beer
woman near this place. sighed Ruth
her eyes slowly filling with tears. Il
seemed SO comfortless and barren aftel
leaving her mothers old fashioned farm
house In Maine, full to OVERLOOKING witt
inviting, comfortable things, and sur
rounded with flower gardens and orchard.
aud where every nook and corner sugges
led the deft hands and delicate fances oil
women. She felt her very heart sinking
within her. Then seeing the eyes of hei
husband fixed upon her, she forced bacl
the tears.
Had she not said, like the Ruth of old
Nv hither thou goest, | will go ant
whittier thou lodgest will lodge2"
Would any place, no matter how full
of comfort 1t might be, ever be hom'
without him2 Had she and her babl
Ruth not wept tears OF joy when the let
ter came telling them 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 hin
and that they were to have homer
She stroked the hand of her husband
who held their little Ruthie in his arms
smiling through her tears.
II know, dear, it is a new country,
she said checrfully, and you have don't
the best you could.
1t was the truely wifely spirit, and il
his heart he blessed the true woman whit
said it.
GAN the ranches look kind of desolate'
he said, "when there's no one but mel
about; but now we've got little womai
here things will soon be looking diff
ferent."
Inside OF the house she found every
thing neat, at least and that was grea
comfort to her, and X the parlor wa
barren looking with no carpet upon 1t
the kitchen was full of continuance:
which women like, and she knew tina
John had thought OF them for her.
After supper they sat down on the lit
tie porch in trout of the cabin to talk Of
plans for future work. 1t was Just a
sunset, and as Ruth sat placidly looking
at the view ia front of her-which. after
all, was fine one, taking in glimpse OF
the blue Pacific, and background OF
purple mountains-she began to lose tina
undertonc Of inconsistencies which had 81
marred her home coming She though
how beautiful home might really be un
der the shadow of the lifted peaks, and sh'
resolved that with JOINS help she would
make hers one to be proud of. AS If il
answer to her thought, John went into
the house and returned in moment lad
en- with two parcels which he droppet
into her lap.
There, Ruth he said, "you can
guess what those are, can your
~ am afraid not" Ruth said, cycling
the mysterious looking packages wonder
ingly.
"Well, you know the house isn't very
beautiful yet" John said, his good face
fairly shining with the little secret he hat
in store for her; but | guess you'll fine
in each of those parcels that
will help you beautify It,"
What could he mean7 Ruth took W
the lighter but larger one first, To hel
surprise it was fun of garden seeds, small
packages of every kind almost she coult
think of.
"Well how lovely!" she said. "Now
we shall raise all the vegetables we need
and our garden will rival dear mother al
home"
YES" John replied, land go ahead OF
1t; for California beats the world fol
flowers, and your garden will be just al
lovely In winter as In summer. There are
twenty varieties of roses alone among
that collection of seeds.
Isn't it wonderful to think Off" cried
Ruth. as delighted as . child over heI
treasures "And what can be In herer
she continued, as she opened the second
parcel. wonders will never cease y
she exclaimed the next moment, as she
poured whole bag Of silver into her lap.
And what is this forf'
U Duy ycul hS ~
piled, laughing at her amazement.
"Honest!" 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, and thought to
have it fixed up before you came, but con.
cluded on second thought that you could
10 better than 1 SO there's the money.
Buy what you please and fix up the place
10 suit yourself"
well If you amt the best John In the
whole country" Ruth said, almost laugh
ing and crying In the same breath. How
could she ever be homesick again5
And that night, instead of crying her
self to sleep, as she thought afternoon to
do, she lay awake from very joy, think
ing of the pretty things she could buy
and make for the cabin, and imagining
how picturesque 1t would look covered
with Lady Banks roses, and how sweet
the violet beds would be in the spring
time.
And so the very next day she set the
hired man to work laying off garden,
and all that week and the next she spen'
her spare time In digging and hoeing anC
SpaulDp. lit loilOWihS Nceh oohh WIN
her to the nearest town, and she selected
the various articles she desired for the
house. She managed to furnish 1t quite
and under her def finger
all thugs began to wear q homelike air
The place lost its barren and shiftless
look. and even the dog, Harold, seemed
to feel the change. He no longer wander
ed aimless about, as though seeking .
spot, but when to sleep
picture of contentment on one of the soft
rugs In the sitting room, keeping one
Jealous eye always half open upon his
playmate. Ruthie.
The months sped by, In spite Of all the
hardships she had to endure-for life Ii
hard for q woman In the new country
on light wings for Ruth. She made the
best Of all her trials, and was as sweet
and content as she had been In the fall
home they had once owned and lost
Though often her limbs ached and hel
head was weary with the weight Of worn
which fell to her share, she never COM
Not once did she grow fretful
or reproach her husband for taking heI
30 far away from all that she loved.
He Is doing the best he can" sht
Always sAlu W HcTscu, uuu wune "ou"
4 palace be without his lovef Besides
how much have got to be grateful for.
And somehow the remembrance OF thell
flrst evening In the log cabin would al
ways bring the tears to her eyes. 1t va.
such real proof Of his love and thought
fulness for her.
When the next spring heightened intt
the summer, and her sweet face began Il
wear tired look that he did not like tc
zee, he came to her ono evening saying
gravely:
Ruth, pack your trunk tonight. To
movsow I want to take you with me Il
San Diego. Important business calls M
there, and you and Ruthte both need
change"
"But how can you leave the ranchi
Ruth asked, "just now, when your ar
most uesdedi"
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