The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-02-17

"And this is homel''

Ruth Delano gaZed about her with
mingled feeling of wonder, Joy and dis
appointment Three thousand miles
had she Travelled across the continent
to reach the home her husband had pre-
pared for her, and this is what she
found:
A lonely ranch among the foothills in
Southern California, with plain log
cabin for home Not a vestige OF a
plant or flower around it, hills stretch
ing brown and bare under the July sun,
and not shade tree in sight.
"One might know there never had
been woman near this place, said
Ruth, her eyes slowly filing with tears.
1t aeemed so comfortless and barren
after leaving her mothers old fashioned
farmhouse in Maine, full to overflow.
ing with inviting. comfortable things,
and surrounded with flower gardens and
orchards, and where every nook and
corner suggested the deft hands of a
woman. She felt her very heart sink
ing within her. Then, seeing the eyes
Of her husband fixed upon her she
said, like the Ruth of old, WHITTIER
thou goest, will go; and whittier thou
lodgest, will lodge?"
Would any place, no matter how full
of comfort it might be. ever be homo
without him Had she and her baby
Ruth not wept tears of Joy when the
letter came telling them that papa was
coming from California to take them
home And had not every foot of tho
way been Joy to think he was once
more with them and that they were to
have home She stroked the hand
Of her husband, who held their little
Ruthie in his arms, smiling through
her tears.
Il know, dear, it is a new country"
she said, cheerfully, land you have
done the best you could"
1t was the truly wifely spirit, aud in
his heart he blessed the true woman
who said it.
"All the ranches look kind of DESC
late, he said, where there's no one
but men about; but now we've got
little woman here. things will soon be
looking different.
Inside of the house she found every
thing neat, at least, and that was Q
great comfort to her, and if the psrlor
was barren-looking, with no carpet
upon it, the kitchen was full of con-
trivances 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. II
was just at sunset and as Ruth sat
placidly looking at the view in front
OF her--which, after all, was fine one.
taking in glimpse of the blue Pacific
and background Of purple mountains
she began to lose the undertone Of
tomesickness which had so marred her
h~me-coming. She thought how beau.
tiful 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 if
in answer to her thought, John went
into the house and returned in a mo.
ment laden with two parcels, which
he dropped into her lap.
There, Ruth, he said, you can't
guess what these are, can you q
Il am afraid not, Ruth said, ewing
the mysterious looking packages won
deringly.
We'll, you know the house isn't
very beautiful yet, said John, 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 beautify 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.
We'll, how lovely !" she said "Now
We shall raise all the vegetables we
need, and our garden will rival dear
mothers at home"
eyes," said John, "and 90 ahead
of it !; for California beats the world
for flowers, and your garden will be
just as lovely in Winter as in Summer.
There are twenty varieties Of roses
alone among that collection Of seeds -
"Isn't it wonderful to think of -
cried Ruth, as delighted Is q child over
her treasures. "And what can be in
here ?" she continued, as she opened
the second parcel. "Wonders will
never cease" she exclaimed the next
moment. as he poured q whole bag OF
silver into her lap. "And what is this
for p
ITO buy your parlor furniture" he
replied, laughing at her amazement.
Honest ?" She looked at him, he,
brown eyes sparkling
1T is for Mrs. Delano to do with as
she pleases, he said. Il have saved
the money to furnish the cabin with
and thought to have fixed it up befor,
you came, but concluded on secont
thought that you could do better thar
L; SO there's the money. Buy what
you please, and fix up the place to sui
yourself"
well, if you amt the best John il
the whole country" Ruth said, almos
laughing and crying in the same breath