When we decided the Ohio land was not quite what we wanted,she sent me farther west to prospect,while she stayed at home and kept the baby.When I reached this land,found it for sale,and within my means,I bought it,and started home happy.Before I'd gone a mile,I turned to look back,and saw that it was hilly,mostly woods,and there was no computing the amount of work it would require to make it what I could see in it;so I began to think maybe she wouldn't like it,and to wish I had brought her,before I closed the deal.By the time I returned home,packed up,and travelled this far on the way back with her,there was considerable tension in my feelings--considerable tension,"repeated father as he turned the horses and began driving carefully,measuring the distance from Hoods'and the bridge.At last he stopped,backed a step,and said:"There,mommy,did I hit the spot?"
"You did!"said mother,stepping from the carriage and walking up beside him.She raised one hand and laid it on the lamp near him.He shifted the lines,picked up her hand,and held it tight.Mother stood there looking,just silently looking.May jabbed me in the side,leaned over and whispered:
"Could we but stand where Moses stood,And view the landscape o'er,Not our Little Creek,nor dinner getting cold,Could fright us from that shore."I couldn't help giggling,but I knew that was no proper time,so I hid my head in her lap and smothered the sound the best I could;but they were so busy soft-soddering each other they didn't pay a bit of attention to us.
It was May now,all the leaves were fresh and dustless,everything that flowered at that time was weighted with bloom,bees hummed past,butterflies sailed through the carriage,while birds at the tops of their voices,all of them,every kind there was,sang fit to split;friendly,unafraid bluebirds darted around us,and talked a blue streak from every fence rider.Made you almost crazy to know what they said.The Little Creek flowed at our feet across the road,through the blue-flag swamp,where the red and the yellow birds lived.You could see the sun flash on the water where it emptied into the stream that crossed Deams',and flowed through our pasture;and away beyond the Big Hill arose,with the new church on top,the graveyard around it,the Big Creek flashing at its base.In the valley between lay our fields,meadows,the big red barn,the white house with the yard filled with trees and flowering shrubs,beyond it the garden,all made up,neat and growing;and back of it the orchard in full bloom.
Mother looked and looked.Suddenly she raised her face to father."Paul,"she said,"that first day,did you ever dream it could be made to look like this?""No!"said father."I never did!I saw houses,barns,and cleared fields;I hoped for comfort and prosperity,but I didn't know any place could grow to be so beautiful,and there is something about it,even on a rainy November day,there is something that catches me in the breast,on the top of either of these hills,until it almost stifles me.What is it,Ruth?""The Home Feeling!"said mother."It is in my heart so big this morning I am filled with worship.Just filled with the spirit of worship."She was rocking on her toes like she does when she becomes too happy at the Meeting House to be quiet any longer,and cries,"Glory!"right out loud.She pointed to the orchard,an immense orchard of big apple trees in full bloom,with two rows of peach trees around the sides.It looked like a great,soft,pinkish white blanket,with a deep pink border,spread lightly on the green earth.
"We planted that way because we thought it was best;how could we know how it would look in bloom time?It seems as if you came to these hilltops and figured on the picture you would make before you cleared,or fenced a field.""That's exactly what I did,"said father."Many's the hour,all told,that I have stopped my horse on one of these hilltops and studied how to make the place beautiful,as well as productive.
That was a task you set me,my girl.You always considered BEAUTY as well as USE about the house and garden,and wherever you worked.I had to hold my part in line.""You have made it all a garden,"said mother."You have made it a garden growing under the smile of the Master;a very garden of the Lord,father."Father drew up her hand and held it tight against his heart.
"Your praise is sweet,my girl,sweet!"he said."I have tried,God knows I have tried,to make it first comfortable,then beautiful,for all of us.To the depths of my soul I thank Him for this hour.I am glad,Oh I am so glad you like your home,Ruth!I couldn't endure it if you complained,found fault and wished you lived elsewhere.""Why,father!"said my mother in the most surprised voice."Why,father,it would kill me to leave here.This is ours.We have made it by and through the strength of the Lord and our love for each other.All my days I want to live here,and when I die,I want to lie beside my blessed babies and you,Paul,down by the church we gave the land for,and worked so hard to build.I love it,Oh I love it!See how clean and white the dark evergreens make the house look!See how the big chestnuts fit in and point out the yellow road.I wish we had a row the length of it!""They wouldn't grow,"said father."You mind the time I had finding the place those wanted to set their feet?""I do indeed!"said mother,drawing her hand and his with it where she could rub her cheek against it."Now we'll go home and have our dinner and a good rest.I'm a happy woman this day,father,a happy,happy woman.If only one thing didn't worry me----""Must there always be a `fly in the ointment,'mother?"She looked at him with a smile that was like a hug and kiss,and she said:"I have found it so,father,and I have been happy in spite of it.Where one has such wide interests,at some point there is always a pull,but in His own day,in His own way,the Lord is going to make everything right.""`Thy faith hath made thee whole,'"quoted father.
