Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-11-10

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WAW in the early %1iftics. the fact
49, of their emitting to take a
wedding journey wnS not remarked
since it was not the custom in the vii
lage where they lived. The money
they might have used for trnve was
expended in putting some simple i'm
provements on the little farm house
which was to be their home. They had
discussed the matter between them
selves and had played with the idea
Of a wedding journey. though knowing
all the time they were %indulginG in II
fancy. Their thrift prevented what
was, to them, an extravaganza, so af-
ter their wedding they went quietly to
their home and settled down to mar
ried life, but their fancy was not for
gotten.
Both were young then and filled
with youths expectation of bright
hopes to be realized in the future.
Maybe mex year We'll have our we'd
ding Journey" he young man said,
In the beginning of their married life;
1--WE won't give it up"
His girl wife smiled her acquiesence
as ~contentedly as if the journey were
an assured fact, as it really was, to
her. Sometime they Should sc, and
until they did, it was something for
thing apart from the necessities Of
life, a pleasure they should give them
selves when all Of their duties had
been fulfilled. They seldom lost sight
Of this plan, though the multiplying
years seemed to bring 1t no nearer.
1t was at first one thing and then
another that interfered. There were
the children to be looked after and
provided for, and there vas always n
struggle to wrest a livelihood from the
STONY acres of the farm. Some years
the crops failed. Twice the barn burn
ed. Again, the house, grown too small
for the increased family, must be en-
!arScd. Then, when the boys were old
enough to go out into the world for
themselves, they must be helped a lit
tie on their way. When the girls. We're
married there were the weddings,
which, though unpretentious, required
an extra expenditure of money. And
so it went from M year to another
until youth had fed.
Their existence had always meant
continual labor, but they went hand
In hand to their tasks, unconsciously
sustained by their air castle of a we'd
ding journey which they did not per-
NIT to crumble to ruins. Sometimes
were hard pressed, but it was never
forgotten entirely.
"We'l go yet, mother" the old man
assured his wife when something &C.
Cured to bring their long-cherished
hope to mind.
$50 we will, father, so we WILL" she
answered, cheerily.
This looking forward to n joyous
event kept them young in spirit, and
their youthful spirits held their bodies
strong.
Father, you can't die yet, we
haven't had our wedding Journey" his
wife whispered, piteously. once when
the old man, seriously hurt by a fall,
seemed slipping away from earth.
I'm coming back, Mary" he prom
ised her; "we'll have it yet, I'm com
Ing back" .,-.a
Fifty years had passed before they
law their dream come true. Fifty years
spent upon n soil and in the shelter
Of the house which had received them
when they came to it as young bride
and groom and then, at last, the way
was clear. They had enough of money
to last them for the rest of their
lives, and there was nothing to pre-
vent their taking the belated wedding
journey. Their thoughts turned to the
west, where their SOL We're estab,
Ilshed. In the beginning their dream
had not carried them from their Con.
necticut home to New York and Bos,
ton, but now their horizon had wild.
ened. They were going west into
strange and far countries, and they
began to feel like adventurous explor.
ers.
"Maybe we'll get clear to Caiifor
n.y." father observed in u reckless mo
ment.
my landr'. exclaimed mother
"That's a mighty long ways off,"
Likely as not when we get to goin:
we won't be able to stop, we've beer
such a spell in getting started father
returned, humorously.
They told no one that they regarded
their intended tour as q wedding jour
ney. They kept the secret to them
selves and Rugged it to their hearts
ieveling in its delight.
"Oh, yes, were thinking of taking :
trip. We've been planning it for SOM
time haven't we. mother?" be remark