New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1892-01-13

the home her husband had prepared
for her, and this is what she found;
A lonely ranch among the foothills
IN Southern California, with p PLAIN
log cabin for home. Not vestige
OF a plant or flower around 1t, hills
stretching brown and bare under the
July sun, and not shade tree in
SIGH
1'One might know there never had
been a woman near this place" said
Ruth, her eyes slowly filling with tears.
1t seemed so comfortless and barren
after leaving her mothers old-fashion-
ed farmhouse in Maine, full to over
flowing with inviting, comfortable
things, and surrounded with flower
gardens and orchards, and where
every nook and corner suggested the
deft hands of q woman. 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 60;
and whittier thou lodgest [ willlodge?"
Would any place, no matter how
full Of comfort it might be, ever be
home without him? Had she and her
baby Ruth not wept tears of Joy when
the letter came telling them that pa
pa was coming from California to
take them home? And had not every
foot OF the way been a Joy to think he
WAS once more. with them and that
they were to have home?
She stroked the hand OF her hus-
band, 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 desc
jate," he said, "where there's no one
but men about; but now we've got a
little woman here, things will soon be
looking different
In side of the house she found every
thing neat, at least, and that was a
IL
lor was barren looking with no car
pet upon it, the kitchen was full Of
acontrivances 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. It was
gust at sunset, and as Ruth sat pla-
eddy 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 noun
tains-she began to losethe undertone
OF tome-sickness which had so mar
red her homecoming. She thought
how beautiful home might really be
under the shadow of the lifted pines,
and she resolved with Johns help she
could make hers one to be proud Of
AS il in answer to her thought, John
went into the house and returned in a
moment laden with two parcels, which
he dropped into her lap.
''There, Ruth, he said, "you can't
guess what these are, can your"
81 am afraid not" Ruth said, eve
ing the mysterious looking packages
wonderingly.
"Well, you know the house isn't
very beautiful 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
THY it,
What could he mean? Ruth took
up the lighter but larger one first To
her surprise it was full OF garden seeds,
small packages Of every kind, almost,
she could think Of.
.Well, how lovelyp' she said. ssNow
we shall raise all the vegetables we
need, and our garden will rival dear
snother's at home"
eyes," john replied, "and go ahead
OF it; for California beats the world
for flowers, and your garden will be
just as lovely in wintersas in summer
There are twenty varieties OF roses
alone among that collection ofseeds. !"
Isn't it wonderful to think OFF,"
cried Ruth, as delighted as a child
over her treasures. "And what can be
IN here?" she continued as she opened
the seccnd parcel Wonders will never
ceasen' she exclaimed the next NOM
rent, as he poured whole bag OF sill
Yer sato her lap. "And what is this
,for?"
ITO buy your parlor furniture" he
replied, laughing at her amazement.
.Honest?" She looked at him, her
brown eyes sparkling.
cit is for Mrs. DeIano to do with as
she pleases," he said. II have saved
the money to furnish the cabin with,
and thought to have it fixed up before
you came, but concluded on second
Shou hit that YOU could do better
Shan l.; SO there's the money. Buy