A Home in the West: Or, Emigration and Its Consequences

CHAPTER XIII

CHAPTER XIII The little community at Hastings continued to be prosperous and hopeful, while Walter Judson found himself rapidly accumulating wealth and influence in consequence. He had come westward with the expectations only of earning a comfortable livelihood by manual labor, and feeling that with that he could be content. Yet he now found himself beyond the necessity of that daily toil which had gained for him his first “home in the west,” and surrounded by circumstances and associations beyond his most sanguine hopes. But to very few comes such full and unhoped success; and Walter felt that to him had been awarded more than to most of them who seek employment and homes in a new land. Their new home was a most beautiful one—trees and shrubbery of rare varieties were beginning to adapt themselves to the new soil, while among them, carefully tended, bloomed many native flowers. Vines, wreathed with verdure, pretty arches and arbors, and walks, were laid out and nicely finished through all the grounds. In the interior of the house, Annie’s refined tastes and skilful fingers had accomplished wonders, situated, as they were, so far from the elegances of the fashionable upholstery and cabinet wares. It was a truly lovely spot, and the sweet, still girlish face of Annie and the pure, artless beauty of their little ones, made it almost a paradise to the home loving Walter. Winter came again, but ere its coming our friends are introduced to different scenes. “How would you like to spend the winter at home, Annie?” asked Walter one late October evening. “Are you really in earnest?” “Surely, I am. And if you will promise not to betray me, I will let you into the secret of a little plot I have been getting up for the especial surprise of our fair sister Mary. Hervey came to me to-day and with sundry blushes and much embarrassment contrived to tell me that he expects to visit the east again this winter, and to become our brother on New Year’s Eve. Of course I lectured him duly upon such extravagance in a young physician, to think of 128 taking such a journey twice within a year, but he only replied by proposing that we should accompany him. I assured him that it would not be possible on account of some business which would require my especial care during that time, which I really thought was the case, but to night have received letters which place it in a different shape. And now we can go, I think, if you wish it, and by keeping Hervey in ignorance of the change in our plans, will give them quite a surprise if not some pleasure.” “How soon will he go?” “By the first of December. We will follow by the next week, at farthest, and arrive in time to tease Mary sufficiently before the wedding.” And Walter laughed heartily, and was evidently quite happy at the prospect. Going home! Annie could hardly realize it, yet her heart was overflowing at the thought.—She had heard from Mary of her engagement, and looked forward with joy to the time when they should be re-united. She had even thought of a visit home, at the time of their wedding, as perhaps possible, but the almost certainty swelled her heart with thankfulness . Those weeks of preparation were busy ones to both hands and mind, and her anxious care to 129 have Freddy and Dora appear to the best advantage to those far away loved ones, brought many an amused smile to Walter’s beaming face. “And how will that do, papa, to wear at aunt Mary’s wedding?” she asked one night presenting children for his inspection. Fred was dressed in a bright purple velvet coat or sacque, with soft white merino pants and neatly fitting gaiters; Dora in pure soft folds of white merino, embroidered with lilac leaves and flowers:—the same colors were predominant in both. “Beautiful,” exclaimed “papa,” looking admiringly at the pretty little ones. Annie was not quite sure which were meant—the children or the dresses. “Do you know, Annie,” he said musingly, as she proceeded to enrobe the little forms, and fold the white night robes about them, “do you know that there is some difference in the feelings with which we prepare for this journey, and those...