The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-06-30
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dress Of Sky blue delaine," trimmed
with white lace on the ruf1es, and her
last seasons hatredecorated with fresh
ribbon bows. This going away cos
tune represented the savings on the
sale Of eggs and butter above the fam
lily groceries for many weeks. It was
hand made" too, a sewing machine
not yet being one of the luxuries Of
the Lane household.
Early as they were, the Unfair"
guests were arriving before them. The
chairs were arranged in a semi-circle
aroundathe room, and Jim" and Hes
ter sat down near the open door, The
company. the older members first,
came forward one by one and shook
them. by the hand and offered their
congratulations. There was only one
phrase in which the good wishes could
be conveyed. Il wish you much JOY"
repeated each neighbor solemnly, and
sat down again. Then there was ST.
lence in the room, the guests staring
blankly at the bride and groom, who
relieved their embarrassment by oc-
c%asional whispers to each other. The
young people Of the company finding
the silence oppressive, went outside,
the young women sitting down on the
woodpile. and the men ranging
themselves on the low rail fence. Then
dinner was announced, which was the
real Unfair" and in the good cheer
of the table the stiffness and formal
ity vanished.
When the jests and witty sayings
which e%nlivened the festivities Of the
jungle" were exhausted, some Of the
older folks began notwithstanding of
former wedding occasions.
Its curious how the world does
change" said Uncle Jimmy Taylor.
He and HIS. wife, "Aunt Laura" were
the pioneers Of the Jungle" you
young folks who get married and start
out in the world nowadays don't know
what hard times are. You've lumber to
foor your house with, and a cook
stove, and you ear buy beds and chairs
and tables already. made. 1t wasn't
so fifty years ago. when Laura and I
GOT hitched.
Laura. lived at old Kaskaskia. Her
father had come over on to the I'LL
nois side from Kentucky, and l., be-
ing a rowing chap and tired Of Ten
nessee hills, turned up there one day
and went to work for him. Seeding
was all done by hand in those days,
and Laura helped in the corn plant
ing. We fell in love, and were mar
ried. One day after that l took Laura
up behind me OF a horse, and with all
u worldly goods tied in a bundle we
started out to seek fortunes in. a
new country. We never stopped till
We reached the Jungle" and took up
a piece of land and built a cabin. I
made all the furniture with my own
hands, and. Laura cooked on the Goals
in the fireplace. I had to go to st.
Louis for almost everything in those
days, and Laura staid alone in the
wilderness, but the Indians were gone.
and there wasn't anything more dan
gerous in the woods than varmints
and. Wildcats"
And we didn't have Unfair din.
ners in those days." said "Jim's"
father. We had turkey and venison.
which we shot in the woods. and for
cake and pie we had good corn pones
baked in, the Goals on the hearth.
.Jim's' mother didn't have a store
bought wedding dress like Hester
here, but good linsey woolsey she
wove herself and carded the wool for
It, too. There wasn't no fine hats in
them days; the girl was proud who
could get a bit of calico to make a
s%unbonnet."
There would have been more stories
of the good old days when simplicity
reigned at wedding feasts, but the men
must hurry away for the house
raising" and before the sun went
down the logs Jim" had carefully
hewn and piled on a pretty site on the
ten acres were in their place. and q
new home wac ready in the Jungle"
In the evening bill" Bludsoe, the
rejected: sutton. to show that he cher
ished no ill-will, brought his fiddle and
there was a dance in the new house. q
house. warming" and the wedding
festivities were over.
Jim and. Hester still live In the
Jungle" and the little house has 9TH
er rooms added to it, and a neat picket
fence and .well-kept orchard and gar
den evidence the prosperity which L.
Transforming the 'jungle" into pro
gressive farming community, and the
Unfair" and the house raising" will
soon be only a memory Of a pictur-
esque past.-Chicago Tribune.