Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-01-01
VARIED VIEWS.

IL
California to find contentment The
problem is not impossible but the
woman's husband had tried in vain to
solve it
He could not understand why his
wife, in comfortable house. with
plenty OF silk cushions on her couch
and more books and magazines at
hand than she could read. should have
any just cause for complaint.
Life on the ranch is so broad and
free, " he said one morning as he stood
at the window looking out over his
precious acres so different from
being cramped up in the city,"
Different indeedr moaned the
lady, who sat with her back turned to
her husband.
But my dear, just look out here"
he argued. ''See that view! Doesn't
ii compensate? Say"n
Half turning she glanced over her
shoulder 'Oh, yes, of course. It's
all very grand; great sweep of sky and
same old mountain always standing
exactly so in just the same place.
tell you it's lonesome. Think Of the
dry goods stores on State street in
Chicago
The door closed abruptly and she
realized that her husband had left the
room. After she had wept little she
felt better.
Its no use," she told herself HE
can't understand. A man is NANNY
and a woman is womany. and he
can't understand a thing about il. D."
just as she reached this conclusion
she was surprised by the entrance OF
pale, poorly dressed woman, who
announced herself with the words:
I'm your neXt-door neighbor. live
seven miles from here up the mount
ain. and thought as long as | am the
only white woman you'll see while
you are here I'd just come in and see
YOU"
She found a ready welcome, and be-
fore she left the lady OF the ranch had
promised to bring her husband the
very next day TO return their noun
tain neighbours visit.
The cattle owner gratifed to have
his wife show even n hint of in
~
jubilant mood next morning when
they started forth behind their fine
horses for the three hours pull up the
mountain side.
The way grew more picturesque
with every mile. At last in spot
surrounded by the widest OF mountain
scenery. they came upon little log
house with an expectant man and
woman standing just outside its door
Dinner was waiting and they were
quickly seated about the table spread
in the only room the house contained.
RSuch a dinner! 1t would have been
a good one anywhere but when you
reflect that 1t was served in hut on
the mountain-side and that the woman
who cooked it had raised every part
OF it observation-disclosures, vegetables.
everything, and had even pounded out
the -four OF which the delicious gra-
ham bread was made-that dinner
grows to be something like a wonder
When it came TO the potatoes, the
guests could not help from exclaim-
ing.
They are good; that's fact" adj
mitted the hostess with a sad sort of
smile. Il always say that when you
can bake a potato and break it open
and have it look just like ball OF
cotton in your hand it's pretty good
potato. Why, he must take you out
when you get through and show YOU
our potato patch. It's the lovliest
little valley with just an acre in it.
and it's the only level spot in our whole
farm"
Yes" added her husband. we've
got perpendicular farm here and no
mistake. Out of the whole piece
there's just five acres that can be cul-
tivated, but l tell you there ant any
thing you can think of that we can't
grow or these five acres"
After dinner the men went out and
looked about with the result that the
cattle owner struck good bargain
and bought 81. 30 worth of vegetables
from his neighbors. Meantime in tho
house. the women talked and SYM
pathized and grew TO be old friends
before the day was done.
The cattle-owner's wife nestled ose
to him as they turned their horses
heads toward home Il have so much
TO tell you" she began
Go ahead, " said he; I'm all at
tention." He was watching the wis
dom with which his horses chose their
footing on the steep incline.
We'll, it's what the woman told
me and she never would have done it
ia the world but | almost set my chair
in one corner OF the floor. and Just to
cover my awkwardness l laughed and
said: Did you run short of boards
when you came 10 this corner? You
can think how felt TO have her sud-
denly drop her face into her apron and
begin to sob as If her heart would
break! 1t was the longest time before
i could quiet her at all, and then she
told me all about it-poor little thing:
you see they came straight to san
Diego from the East. and not having
money enough 10 travel around any