The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-07-04
Misrtllaneons.

Misrsllaneuns.
The Hundred Dollar ELL and -Four
Acres Of Land.
ny ASsoS D. CLIFFORD.
Mr.. John Somers was merchant, doing
business in thriving country village. lie
had two clerks in his employ, but with diff
ference in minor points Of character. Pc
ter White was twenty-one years Of age, the
child Of a now widowed mother, and in the
choice of q profession he had only been gov
erned by the desire to yield to his mother
and self the surest means Of honest support.
Walter Sturges was one Of the same age.
and equally as honest, but he paid more at
tention to outward appearance of things,
than did his companion. For instance, it
CALLED him 10 put on his frock and overalls,
and help pack pork, potatoes, and 80 on
while Peter cared not what he did, so long
as his master required it, and it was honest.
One day Mr.. Soncrs called the two young
men into his counting-room. and closed the
door after them. His countenance looked
troubled, and it was some moment before
he spoke.
Boys" he said at length, Z" have been
doing very foolish thing. l have lent my
name to those thought my friends, and
they have ruined me. gave them accom-
modation notes. and they promised solemn
ly that those no,cs should not pass from
their hands save to such men us might ac-
cept. Ofcourse took their notes in ex-
change. They have now failed and cleared
out, and have left my paper in the market
to the amount of seven or eight thousand
dollars. md yarise again, but l must give
up my business. Everything in the store is
attached, and am left utterly powcrless to
do business now have looked over your
accounts. and find that owe you about
a hundred dollaN each. Now, have just
u hundred dollars in money, and small
piece ofland on the side Of the hill just back
Of the town house. There are four acres Of
land and have been offered hundred dolla1
for il by those who have lands adjoining. !
feared this blow which has come upon me,
and l conveyed this land to my brother; 50
now he can convey it to whom he plcases.
Now wish you to make your choice. i'll
could pay you both in money would, but
| cannot. one Of you must take this land.
What say you? You, Walter, have been
with me the longest, and you shall say
first"
Walter Sturges hesitatcd some moments,
and he said:
"Tm sure don't want the land, unless
could sell it right off,"
"Ah, but that won't do" returned Mr..
Somer. "If you take tho land you must
keep it. Were you to sell it, my creditors
would say at once that you did it for me,
and that 1 pocketod the money"
"Then am willing to divide the hun
dred dollars with Peter, for If had the land
l should do nothing with it."
You need not divide the money for / can
easily raise the hundred dollars on the land.
Ny brother will do that. But l imagined
that you would prefer the land, for knew
the soil was good, though quite rocky
However what say you, PeterT
"why, l will take the land" returned
Peter, "or will divide equally with Wal,
tcr-each Of us take half Of the money and
half OF the land"
But what should want with the land?'
returned Walter. 81 could not work it,
Il should hardly like to descend from
clerkship to digging and delvins in blue
frock and cowhide boots"
Then it is easily settled" rejoined Peter
Z" for I should prefer the land"
Walter was pleased with this, and before
night he had the hundred dollar bill in hi
pocket, and Peter had the warrantee dee'
Of four acres Of land upon the hill side. Boil
the young men belonged in the village, Gn'
had always lived there. II was only fv
miles fr,.m the city, and Of course many cit.
fashions were prevalent there. TWAS undc
the influence Of this fashion that Waite
} Sturgcs refused to have anything 10 do witt
the land.
Times were dull, and business slack, cvel
|, though il was early spring. Peter White
, iirt object, after having got the deed of hi
: land, was to hunt up some kind Of work
Had he been mechanic he might have foun
| some place, but he knew no trade cxcer
that Of salesman and book keeping.
, whole week he searched in vain for employ
ment, but at the end Of that time he foun
an old farmer who wanted hand, thong
he could not afford to pay much. But P'
ter finally, and with the advice Of Mr.. Son
a crs, made an arrangement Of this kind II
r would work for the old farmer (Mr. Stevens
$ steadily until the ground was open, IN
then he should devote half tho time to h
!. own land, and in part payment for his sc
5 vices, Stevens was to help about the OK wor
. that the youth might need. Next Pet