The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-11-13
GENERAL GRANTS coURrsnlP.
l1r.. Grant Tells how the Famous SoldSss
Proposed.

Proposed.
One summer day we were going to q
morning wedding, and Lieutenant Grant
was also invited He came for US on
horseback. and asked my brothers per.
mission to drive me. IN exchange for his
saddle. to which he gladly consented.
The day was beautiful, the roads were q
little heavy from previous rain. but the
sun shone In splendor. We had to cross
q little bridge that spanned q rsvine.
and. when we reached 1t. was surprised
and little concerned to find the gulch
swollen, q most unusual thing. the water
reaching to the bridge. / noticed. too.
that Lieutenant Grant was very quiet,
and that and the high water bothered
me. asked several times IL he thought
the high water dangerous to breast. and
told him would go back rather than
take any risk. He assured me, In his
brief way. that 1t was perfectly safe,
and In my heart relied upon him. Just
as we reached the old bridge said ::
Now II anything happens, remember I
shall cling to you. no matter what you
say to the contrary" He simply said ::
IAN right" and we were over the planks
In less than q minute. Then his mood
changed, he became more social. and In
asking me to be his wife. used my threat
as . theme. After dinner that afternoon
Lieutenant Grant asked me to set the
day. WANTED to be engaged. and told
him 1t would be much better than get
ting married-a sentiment he did not
approve. We were very quiet at tho
house that evening and neither said q
word OF the secret After supper he
went back to the regiment, and a few
days later General Taylor sent him to
Camp Salubrity. in Louisiana. He was
too shy to ask father. so he waited till
he was stationed and wrote to him.
Father never answered the letter.
was his favOrite daughter, and he
thought army life would not suit me.
Besides, said father, you are too
young, and the boy Is too poor. He
hasn't anything to give you."
l rose in my wrath and l said was
poor, too, and hadn't anything to give
him.
The next year he came back on a leave
OF absence, and can remember just
how he looked as he rode up in his new
uniform. Father was going to Washing
ton on business, and We were all on the
front porch kissing him good-by and
stuffing his pockets with notes OF things
he was to buy. Lieutenant Grant asked
for my hand. and he, in a hurry to get
of. consented.
Ny soldier lover was In and about
T. Mexico for four years, including the
| war. Every mail brought me a letter.
Every one of them full of sweet moth
ings, love and war, and now and then
some pressed leaves and flowers. Some
were written on drumheads captured
from the Mexicans. and others on sheets
| Of foOlscap folded and sealed with red
waters. read each one every day un-
| til the next one came. / have them all.
Ladies' Home journal.
Water.
There is nothing more beautiful than
| water. Look at it when you will-in any
OF its thousand fOrms-in motion or at
lest-dripping from the moss of spring.
or leaping In the thunder OF cataract.
1t has always the same wonderful sur
passing beauty. It's clear transparency,
the grace OF its very possible motion.
| the brilliant sheen Of its foam, and its
majestic march III the food, are matched
| unitedly by no other element. Who has
not blessed 1t unaware?" II objects
that meet the eye have any effect upon
our happiness, water Is among the first
OF human blessings. It Is the gladdest
thing under heaven. The inspired writ
ers use it constantly as an image for
Eladness, and "crystal waters" Is the
beautiful type Of the Apocalypse for the
New Jerusalem. / bless God for its daily
usefulness; but it Is because 1t Is an
everyday blessing. that its splendor Ia
not noticed. Take a child to 1t and be
! claps his little hands with delight and
present 1t to any one In q new form. and
his senses are bewildered. The man OF
warm imagination, who looks for th1
hrst time on Niagara, feels an impulse to
4 leap In, which Is almost irresistible
What is 1t but . delirious facination-the
same spell which, In the loveliness Of q
| woman, or the glory Of q sunset cloud
draws you to the one, and makes you
| long for the golden wings OF the other?