Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-03-26
[copu;0ht Secured an Rioats Reseypedl
Driven From Sea to Sea,
Or, JUST A CAMPIN.
BY q. O. Posr.

in rows, together with the richness of
their foliage, formed a background that
brought out the coloring of as pretty
picture of simple home life as one may
hope to see in a long drive in the mounC-
ms or foothills; and it is in the mount
aims and the foothills that beautiful
pictures are to be sought for.
Outside of the Enclosure, and little
further up the mountain, the COWS
which Lucy had driven home on that
blissful evening two years before, when
Era tus had told her of his love, were
chewing their cuds beneath scraggy,
low branched oak.
Below, brown in the October sun, lay
the stubble field from which the grain
had been harvested, and which now
stood in a rick near t e shed where the
horses were munching at their feed.
Beyond the cottage was the young
orchard of peach. and pear. and apple
trees, and over all the cloudless blue
sky of California
More than hundred turkeys wan
dered at will through the orchard,
down into the stubble-l. cid, and far up
on the mountain side. Or they clus-
tered about the shed and rick of grain,
or came with the chickens at feeding
time to the bare bit of earth near the
kitchen door to receive Their portion of
the fool thrown to them by some men,
Der of the family dwelling within tue
vine-wreathed cottage.
And here, one morning a week after
Erastus' coming, little party, COM
posed of neighbors and their families,
gathered to witness the marriage of the
young couple who had plighted their
faith two years before, standing in the
road while the COWS went laZily homo
without them.
1t was not an assembly suoh as would
have graced a fashionable church in d
great city. Not one among them all,
perhaps, but would have felt ill at ease
In richly furnished parlor of brown-
stone front in New York or Chicago.
They we're common country people
husbands and wives who ga ned their
living as John and Martha Parsons
gained theirs-by the tillage of S il
and the raising of fruits, and grain,
and poultry. Young men and maidens,
the sons and daughters of these people
in the common walks of life, dressed
the girls in cheap, light-colored lawns,
throat or about the waist; the young
men in suits of linen or some other
light and not costly fabric, and all of
them with hands and faces tanned by
the sun, but with hearts that throbbed
as quickly at whisperings of love, or
capable of feeling as keenly tie stings
of unjust criticism as if they were robed
in velvet, with d Almonds sparkling upon
soft, white hands.
Before these friends and neighbors,
Lucy, dressed much as the other
maidens were dressed, only that her
robe OF pure white was OF finer material,
and without ornament ex ept some
roses upon her breast and in her beauti-
full dark hair, stood up with Erastus
and gave the responses that made them
husband and wife as they were pro-
pounded by the grayhaired minister
whose services had been secured for the
Occa ion.
The kisses and congratulations over,
and the tears which woul come spite
dried upon the cheek of the bride, they
all sat down to a meal ut which there
was brides cake. OF course, and a cold
roast turkey, and great mealy potatoes,
and the most beautiful bread.
There was fruit ALSO the first borne
by the tire s and vines planted, nee
coming to the place, by the hands that
sought out and pluckei these, the oc-
caSional first onerings found scattered
here and there among the o.iage.
And forwards there were kisses and
hand-shakes again, and foldings o. the
bride to the osom offather an mother.
and tears in the eyes OF all, and 1ervent
"God bless you's.'
And then Lucy was helped to seat
in the wagon, over which a canN as
cover had been stretched and in o which
the little store of household goo IS
which formed her dowry had been
packed. Then her husband climbed up
by her side and amid wav,ngs OF hand
kerchie S and more God bl SIS you's, "
they drove dow the lane and out upon
the road which led away over the
mountain and the DOT hills towards the
new cottage VIII CHI awaited tLeif c0ln-
ing at TIE Sloug',
Oh, what a h,ppy. happy journey was
that for seven whole bright October
days; travelling by easy stages dur ng
the day. and camping out, and sleeping
in the wagon at night!
What beautiful bits of scenery they
pointed out to each other! How they
laughed over the little incidents of the
Journey or the camp, as tibet ing over
of their coffee kettle while getting til il
evening meal in some quiet littl; grove
after the da, q drive.
What memor es of the longer Journey
across the plains when they were chill.
dren came back to them as they
watched the campfire smoldering +
the darkness and the twnkling of t {
stars over cad; and what bcaut fui Sc
crets they disclosed to each other a.
proofs of their mutual love and conf
-dence! And when. on the evening o
the last days journey, they drove VI
to the johnson shanty, what heart.
greeting Mrs. and Mr. johnson gave t.
the young bride who had com" to maxi
glad the home OF her husband and
be a neighbor and friend among neigh
bors and friends
And when, after hearty meal of thu
best that ,ould be found in the house