South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-09-23

1t was the true wifely spirit, aud
In his heart he blessed the true wo~
man who said il
.sAll the ranches lock kind of
desolatc," no said, sswhsn there
no one bet men about, but nov
we'vs got little woman here
things will soon be looking dlizer-
ent." So
Inside of the house che found
everything neat, at least. and thar
was great comfort to her. and il
the psrlor was barren looking with
no carpet upon it, the kitchen was
full of contrivanccs 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 tho cab
In to talk of plans for future work.
It was just ct sunset, and - Ruth
sat plac:dly looking ut tho view in
front of her, which, after all, was .
fine one, taking in glimpse Of the
blue Pacific, and background OF
purple mountaius--she began to
lose that undcrtone Of homesiok-
ness which had so married her homo
coming. She thought how bcauti-
full home might really be under
the shadow Of the lifted peaks, and
she resolved that with Johns help
she would make hers one to be
proud of. As il in answer to her
thought, John went into the house
and returned in q moment laden
with two parcels which no dropped
into her lap.
"There, Ruth" he said, ssyou
can't guess what those are, can
you ?'
az am afraid not" Ruth said,
cycling the mysterious looking pack
ages wonderingly.
"Well, you know the houee ISM
very beautiful. yet" John said, his
good face fairly shining with the
little secret he had IN store for her.
but / guess you'llfind something In
each of these parcels that will help
You beautify it,
What could he mean ? Ruth
took up the lightest 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 lovely 70 she said.
CHOW We shall raise all the vegeta-
bles we need, and our garden will
rival dear mothers at home"
EYES," John replied, sand go
ahead of it /: for California bestH
the world for flowers, and your gar
den viii be just as lovely in wins5f
as in summer. There are twenty
varieties of roses alone among that
collection Of Seeds"
"Isn't it wonderful to think OPP,
cried Ruth, delighted as child
over her treasures. "And what can
be in here ?" she continued, as sha
opened the second parcel. "WonS
deIs will never ceasel" she exclaiml
J ed the next moment, as she poured
a whole bag of silver into her lap.
"And what is this for ?''
'sTo buy your parlor furniture, -
he replied, laughing at her amaze
ment.
She looked at him, her brown
eyes sparkling.
'sHonest ?"
cit is for Mrs. Delauo to do with
as she pleases," he said. '1 saved
the money to furnish the cabin
with, and thought to have it fixed,
up before you came, bat concluded
on second thought that you. could
do better than / so there's the
money. Buy what you plesse and
fix up the placs to suit yourself, -
"Well, il you aim the best John
in the whole country !" Ruth said.
almost laughing and crying in the
same BREATH"
How could che ever be hoaesick
again And that night, instead OF
crying herself to sleep ss she thought
that afternoon to DO, she lay awake
from very Joy, thinking Of the 6ret~
ty things she could buy and make
Tor the cabin, and imagining how
picturesque it would look covered
with Lady Banks roses, and how
sweet the violet beds would Be ~
the spring time.
And 80 the very next day sho sSt
the hired man to work laying OF &
garden, and all that week and kha
next she spent her spare time Ill
digging and hoeing and spadin8.
Tbs following week John took hef
to the nearest town, aud she sslec-
ted tho various articles she desired
for her house.
She managed to furnish il QUITS
comfortably,and under her dsft 1T
gers all things began to wear q home
like air. The place lost iss barfst
and shiftless look and even the do9.
Harold, seemed to feel the chaneS
He no longer wandered air1l6sslS
about, as though seeking q comf6f-
table spot, but went to sleep & biz
ture Of c0ntentment on one Sf the
soft rugs in the sitting room, kssB-
ing one jealous eye half OPEN 0R3H
his playmate Ruthie.
The months sped by, "a spik8 81
all the hardships she had 70 6n8gFe
4