The Yale expositor., 1895-01-04

Gay GSJSSS miles hau she wv
ny veled across the
w continent to reach
the home her husband had prepared
for her, and this is what she found;
A lonely ranch among the foothills
in Southern California, with a PLAIN
log cabin for a home. Not . veStise
of a plant or flower around it, hills
stretching brown and bare under the
July sun, and not shade tree in
sight.
lone 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 mothet's 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 woman. She felt her
very heart sinking within her.
Then seeing the eyes OF ner husband
fixed upon her she forced back the
tears.
Had she not said, like the Ruth OF
old, WHITTIER thou goest, | will GO;
and whittier thou lodgest will Hodge,"
Would any place, no matter how
full OF comfort it might be, ever be
home without him? Had she and her
:, n yna,,
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 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 If
his arms, smiling through her tears.
"l know, dear, it is n new country"
she said cheerfully, land you have
done the best you could"
1t was the truly wiley spirit, and 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 n
little woman here, things will soon be
looking different"
In side OF the house she found every
thing neat, at least, and that was r
great comfort to her, and If the par
lor was barren-looking with no car
pet upon it, the kitchen was full of
contrivances 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 oil plans for future work. 1t was
jus at sunset, and as Ruth sat pla-
cidly looking at the view in front of
her--whIch, after all, was a fine one,
taking in Il glimpse of the blue Pacific
and background of purple noun
tains--she began to lose the undert one
OF home-sickness which had so mar
red her home coming. 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 ifin answer to her thought, John
went into the house and returned in a
nom, ut laden with two parcels, which
he drop ped into her lap.
"There, Ruth" he said, "you can't
guess what these are, can your"
IL am afraid not" Ruth said, eye
ing the mysterious .@oking packages
wonderingy.
"Weil, you know the house ism {
very beautiful YETI" John said, his
good face fairly shining with the little
secret he had in 81 ore for her; "But |
guess you II 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 ful ofgarden seeds,
small packages of every kind, almost,
she could think Of.
"Well, how lovelyl" she said. "Now
we shall raise all the Vegetables we
need, and our garden will rival dear
mothers at home"
"Yes," John replied, "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 ofseeds. "
"Isn't it wonderful to think Off"
cried Ruth, az delighted rs n child
over her treasures. "And what can be
in here2" she continued as she opened
the second parcel "Wonders viii never
ceasel" she exclaimed the next NOM
ent, as he poured whole bag OF sill
yer into her lap. "And what Is this
for?"
ITO buy your parlcr furniture" he
replied, laughing at her amazement.
"HonestP" She looked at him, her
brown eyes sparkling.
1T is for Mrs. Delanc to do with as
she pleases," he said. 81 have saved
the money to furnish the cabin with,
and thought TO have it fixed up before
you came, but concluded on second
thought that you could do better
shan l. 90 there's the money. Buy