Squatter sovereign., 1856-04-01

q Cd pitdi VI oiiy AsS iuLnuiSu uCiIdIS, dttCI
working in the mines for four months. To
be sure, his sickness had cost him large
sum. and his doctors bill was was fright
full 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
going in the cart, and ;elted over the un-
even road, he thought what ninny he had
been to leave a comfortable home, and a
loving wife, for the sake of trying to accu-
mulate fortune.
The jolting of benefited him, for the
fever rapidly left him, and by the time he
reached San Francisco he felt like new
man. He had a mind to turn back and
try it again; but he thought of his wife,
and nature conquered. He went imme-
diately TO the Office Of the steamship COM
pany. and secured a passage for home.
Il was cold clustering day in the mid
die of winter, when Dana reached Wind
sor. He pulled his cap over his eyes to
prevent being recognized, and then started
on foot 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
in sight of the house in which he had
spent so many happy hours. He glanced
over his farm and found that everything
had been well cared for. The stone walls
were in good order, the barns looked neat
and well repaired, and just as he was think
| ing that his wife and brother had done re-
markably well, the train on which he had
ridden 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 all owing
to his wild goose chase for for,une.-
His wife could not be expected to know
how to attend to such things, and he had
no doub. but that the railroad company
had swindled her.
He approached the house and knocked
timidly at the door. It was opened, and
there stood his wife, as handsome as ever,
but she looked at him with surprise. He
| had forgotten that he had net shaved since
he left her.
He spoke and held out his hand, then
| his arms. There was shrek, and then
the latter were well filled. Two hours af.
forwards they were talking seriously and
soberly upon matters of business.
81 am sorry that the railroad passes
over our meadow" he said; SIT renders ii
almost useless"
"They have the right of way, but it has
not injured it as much as you think" she
replied.
81 don't suppose they paid you more
than enc hundred dollars for the land" said
Dana.
"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" he
said, surprised to think she had got SC
large sum.
"Yes, they gave me part stock and par'
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 l received it
at an advance. 1t is not worth so much
per share, now. I thought I had better
have the money than to trust to an uncer.
tainty.''
The husband was slightly astonished.-
He had received as much for narrow
strip of land as he had paid for the whole
farm.
ssAnd what did you do with the money
Nelly a''
81 took six hundred and bought the rici
meadow of Squire Bottoms. You remem
Der how you used to wish you owned it."
i Dana did remember perfectly well.-
He had thought Of the land when in Cali
fornia. and was in hopes of getting bael
with money enough to buy it.
i "The other six hundred and fifty I places
in the savings bank. where it is now at il
terest."
] "You are the best wife in the state," tn
husband cried with admiration.
..Bui have not given full account o
my stewardship yet. You remember ih'
forest of pines on the hill just back Of th
meadow 3"
i Dana nodded an assent He was won
|, dering what was to come now.
| .Well there is no longer any fores
| there. / sold every tree just as it stood.
Il "why. who was fool enough to buy pin
,iwood e Dana asked with laugh.
i ..The railroad company. They mul
h~vo .rf,ea 10 Cef m Sfenrya They ray