Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-23

were he worked in the bed of the river and
was quito fortunate, until attacked with the
fover and ague, which roasted him out at enc
moment and frOze him the next
He would lie in his tent, and wish that the
gentle hands of his wife could wipe the mois
ture from his brow, or cover him with blank
cts when shivering with cold. All of has ad
ventures might be written out, and perhaps
Mr.. Dana some day will give the world an ac-
count OF his doings in the land of gold. They
VIII, possibly, servo as a warming t. other
husbands, and thus prevent many a heart
from mourning for the absent.
Mr.. Dana's fever got no better, and at last
the doctor told him he had better seek q
| change of climate, as he might shake himself
to death. Dana thought the same thing; for
| 1t appeared to him. which the chills came on,
that every bono in his body would be wrench
| ed apart, and when the fever returned he i'm
aSlned himself in an oven.
lie considered the subject ono day, and de-
| termined to start for homo. team was to
leave next day for Sacramento city, and, as
| soon as his resolution WAS formed he engaged
passage, sold of all of his clothes except
| ing enough to reach Vermont and found that
he was the master of a capital of only FIVE
| hundred dollars after working in the mines
tor four months. To be.sure, his sickness had
cost him large sum and his doctor bill was
| frlghtful to contemplate.
He started the next day for home lie de.
| termlned to live a farmer and die one, if the
| Lord spared his life He had seen enough Of
the gold mines, and as he was going in the cart
| and Joited over the uneven roads, he thought
what ninny he had been, to leave comfort
able home, and loving wife, for the sake Of
| trying to accumulate fortune
The Jolting Of cart NAV have benefited
| him, for the fever rapidly left him, and by the
time he reached San Francisco, he felt like
new man. lie had mind to turn back and
| try 1t again, but he thought Of his wife and
nature and love conquered. He went imme-
dlately to the Office Of the steamship COM
pany, and secured passage for home.
IL was cold clustering day in the middle
OF winter when Dana reached Windsor lie
pulled his cap ever his eyes to prevent being
recognized, and then started on foot to lis
home. lie had heard from his wife but once
since he had been absent, and he hardly
haired to hOpe that she is we'll lie quick
ened his pace, and came in sight of the house
IN which he hal spent so many happy hours
lie glanced over his farm and saw that every
thing appeared to be well cared for The
stone walls were in good order, the barns
looked neat and well repaired, and lust as he
was thinking his wife and brother had done
remarkably we'll, the train on which he had
ridden from Boston whizzcd past, directly
across his farm. He groaned in anguish at
the sight. His beautiful meadow was ruined
1
goose chase for fortune His wife could not |
be expected to know how to attend to such |
things, and he had no doubt but what the rail.
road company had swindled her.
He approached the house and knocked tim
idly at the door. 1t was opened, and there |
stood his wife, as handsome as ever, but she
looked at him with surprise. He had forgot i
ten that he had not shaved since he left her.
al He lis. snQkse fAPd asd, oNit his haRd haRd thep his
uaI TIol
wards they were talking seriously and solely /
upon matters Of business.
I" am sorry that the railroad passes over /
our meadow" ho said, it renders it all use
less"
They have the right of way, but it has not
injured it as much as you think, " she replied.
- don't suppose they paid you more than
one hundred dollars for the land
There Is where you are mistaken They
gave me twelve hundred dollars for merely
the right of way"
q suppose they paid you in stock, Dana
said, surprised to think that she had got 50 |
large sum.
YES, they gave me part stock and part
cash, the wife replied, trying not to look
triumphant.
And the stock, what is that worth, a mere
song, ] suppose
81 sold mine the very day received it, at
an advance. 1t is not worth so much per
share now. l thought L had better have the
money than to trust to an uncertainty"
The husband was slightly sstonished. He |
had received for narrow strip of land as
much as he had given for the whole farm.
And what did you do with the money,
Nelly"
II took six hundred and bought the rich
meadow of Squire Bottoms. You remember
how you used to wish you owned it ?"
Dana did remember perfectly well He
I. IL Ia n. II
and was in hopes of getting back with money
enough to buy it.
d" The other six hundred and fifty placed |
in the Saving Bank, where it is at interest. "
- You are the best wife in the State,' the
husband cried with admiration.
But have not given full account of my
as yet. You remember the for
est of pines on the hill just back of the mead
ow ?'
Dana nodded an assent He was wonder
ing what was to como now.
"Woll, there is no longer any forest there.
l sold every tree just as it stood"
why, who was fool enough to buy pine
wood ~ Dana asked with laugh.
"The railroad company. They must have
wood to got up steam. They gave me four
hundred dollars for the privilege of chopping
down the trees, and was glad to get rid of
them for the purpose Of making sheep pas
ture?'
L" A sheep pasture'" the husband cried IN
eyes, it makes a very fine one. bought
one hundred and fifty sheep, and then had |
some money left, which added to that in the
bank. Last summer sold four hundred pounds
OF wool, at forty cents per pound.
That amounts to one hundred and sixty
dollars" said Dana, after slight calculation
Precisely, without counting the increase
of lambs, think 1 done very well by that
trade
You are a better manager than L am,
Nelly. Hereafter you shall be the head Of
the house"
Thank you, but I'm perfectly contented
to resign, now that you have arrived"
"Then you have no more wonderful bar
gains to relate 1'' he asked.
Yes, she replied, with slight hesitancy,
"I have made one more trade, but perhaps 1t
is one that will displease you"
What, after my hearty welcome! You
can do nothing in future that I'll not approve
of. Remember, Molly, I've returned poor in