Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-05-03

lhey VIII In that case, possibly serve as
warning to other husbands, and thus prevent
many heart from mourning for the absent.
Mr.. Dana's fever got no better, and at last
the doctor told him he had better seek a
change Of climate, as he might shake himself
to death Dana thought the same thing;
for it appeared to him, when the chills came
on, that every bone in his body would be
wrenched apart, and when the fever returned
he would imagine himself to be in an oven.
lie considered the subject one day, and de-
termlned to start for home A team was to
leave next day for Sacramento city, and as
soon as his resolution was formed he engaged
a passage, sold Off all his clothes, excepting
enough to reach Vermont, and found that he
was the master of capital of only five hun
dred dollars after working in the mines very
industrously for four months. To be sure,
his sickness had cost him large sum and
his doctors bill was frghtful to contemplate
He started the next day for home. He
determined to live farmer and die one, if
the Lord spared his life. He had seen
enough of the gold mines and as he was 60
ing in the cart and jolted over the uneven
roads, he thought what ninny he had been,
to leave a comfortable home and loving
wife, for the sake of trying to accumulate a
fortune.
The jolting of the cart may have benefited
him, for the fever rapidly left, and by the
time he reached San Francisco, he felt like
new man. He had mind to turn back and
try it again. but he thought of his wife and
nature and love conquered He went imme-
diately to the Office of the steamship COM
pany, and secured passage home.
1t was cold clustering day in the middle
of winter when Dana reached Windsor He
pulled his cap over his eyes to prevent being
recognized, and then started on foot to his
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 quick
ened his pace and came in sight Of the house
in which he had spent so many happy hours
He glanced over his farm, and saw that every
thing appeared to be well cared for The
stone walls we're in good order, the barns
looked neat and well repaired, and just as he
was thinking his wife and brother had done
remarkably well, the train on which he had
ridden from Boston whizzed past directly
across his farm. He groaned in anguish at
he thought and it was all owing to his wild
goose chase for a fortune. His wife could
not be expected to know how to attend to
such things, and he had no doubt but what
the railroad company had swindled her.
He approached the house and knocked
timidly at the door 1t opened, and there
stood his wife, as handsome as ever, but she
looked at him with surprise. He had for
gotten that he had not shaved since he left
her
He spoke and held out his hand, then his
arms. There was shrek, and then the lat
ter was well filled. Two honrs afterwards
they were talking seriously and solely upon
matters of business
Il am sorry that the railroad passes over
our meadow he 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 re-
Piled
II don't suppose they paid you more than
hundred dollars for the land
"There is where you are mistaken. They
gave me twelve hundred dollars for merely
the right of way
81 suppose they paid you in stock, Dana
said, surprised to think that she had got SC
large a sum.
ayes they gave me part stock and part
cash. the wife replied, trying not to look tri-
umphant.
"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 | thought had better have the
money than to trust to an uncertainty
The husband was slightly astonished lie
had received for a narrow strip Of land as
much as he had given for the whole farm
And what did you do with tie money,
Nelyp
81 took six hundred and bought the rich
meadow Of Squire Bottoms. You remember
how you used to wish you owned itp
Dana did remember perfectly well. He
had thought of the land when in California,
and was in hopes of getting back with money
enough to buy it.
"rhe other six hundred and fifty placed
in the Savings Bank, where it is at interest,"
" You are the best wife in the State the
husband cried with admiration.
:" But have not given a full account of
my stewardship yet. You remember the
forest Of pines on the hill just back Of the
Meadow
Dana nodded an assent He was wonder.
ing what was to come now.
well, there is no longer any forest there.
| sold every tree just as it STOOD
"Why, who was fool enough to buy the
pine woodP Dana asked with lough.
The railroad company. They must have
wood to get up steam. They gave me four