Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-06-17

1t was cold clustering day in the mid :
die of winter VII n Dana reached Wind
sor. He pulled his cap over his eyes to
prevent being recognized, and then start
ed for home. He had heard from his
wife but once since he had been absent.
and he hardly dared to hope that she was
well. He quickened his pace, and came
III sight of the house in which he had
spent so many happy hours. He glanced
over his farm, and saw that everything
appeared cared for, The stone walls
were IN order, the barns looked neat and
well repaired, and he was lust thinkino
hls wife and brother had done remarkable
Well, when the train on which he had rid
den from Boston whizzed past, directly
across his farm. He groaned in anguish
at the sight. His beautiful meadow was
ruined he thought, and it was owing to his
Wild goose chase for fortune. His wife
could not be expected to know how to at
tend to such things, he had no doubt but
that the railroad company had swindled
her.
He approached the house and Knocked
tnmdly at the door. 1t was opened and
there stood his wife, as handsome as ever.
but she looked at him with surprise. He
had forgotten that he had not shaved
since he had left her.
He spoke and held out his hand then his
arm. There was shrek, and then the
latter was well filled Two hours after
wards they were talking seriously and
solely upon matters of business.
I'm sorry that the railroad passes
over our meadow" he said, f" it renders
it useless"
''They had the right of way, but it has
not injured you as much as you think"
she replied.
/ don't suppose they paid you more
than a hundred dollars for the land
"There IS where you are mistaken
They gave me twelve hundred dollars for
merely the right of way
8 suppose they paid you in stock he
replied, surprised to think that she had
got so large a sum.
:" Yes, they gave me part stock and part
cash. the wife replied, trying to look tri-
umphant.
!" And the stock, what is that worth
a mere song ! suppose"
g sold mine the very day received it.
at an advance. 1t is not worth as much
per share now. / thought | had better
have the money than to trust to any un-
certainty.
The husband was slightly astonished.-
He had received as much for a narrow
strip of land as he gave for the whole
farm.
" And what did you do with the money,
Nelly 2"
q took six hundred and bought the
rich meadow of Squire Bottoms. You
how you used to wish you owned
it,"
Dana did remember perfectly WE'LL
He had thought of the land when in CAL
lfornia, and was in hopes of getting back
With money enough to buy it.
The other six hundred and fifty dol
lars | placed in the Savings Bank where
ii is on interest"
g You are the best wife in the States,''
the husband cried with admiration.
g But | have not given full account of
my stewardship yet. You remember the
forest of pines on the hill just back of the
meadow 2''
Dana nodded an assent. He was
what was to come now
'Well there is no longer any forest
trees there. | sold every one just as it
stood"
Why, Nelly, who was fool enough to
buy pine wood!'' Dana asked with a
laugh
g The Railroad Company. The must
have wood to get up steam. They gave
me four hundred dollars for the privilege
of ehopping down the trees, and l am glad
to get rid of them for the purpose of ma
king sheep pasture.
:" A sheep pasture - said the husband
with astonishment.
"Yes, ii makes a 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"
g That amounts 10 one hundred and SIX
ty dollars said Dana, after slight cal
culation.
Precisely. Without counting the in
crease of lambs, think | did very well
in that trade"