Butte record., 1856-04-05

=. t1SiA iAAe' 'e'O4S VI Jus
mess.
4 am sorry the railroad passes over
our meadow he said, it renders it all
useless
They have the right of way, but it
has not injured it as much as you
think, she replied.
4 don suppose they paid you more
than one hundred dollars for it.
'Ihere is where you are mistaken.
They gave me twelve hundred dollars
for merely the right Of way
! suppose they paid you in Stock
Dana said, surprised to think that she
had got SO large a sum.
Yes, they gave me part stock and
part cash. She replied; trying not to
look triumphant.
And the stock, what is that worth,
a mere song, I suppose?
4 sold mine the very day | received
it, at an advance. It IS not worth so
much per share now. thought had
better have the money than to trust to
an uncertainty.'
The husband was slightly astonish-
ed. He had received for a narrow
strip Of land as much as he had given
for the whole farm.
And what did YOU DO with the mo-
ncy, Nellyn
I took six hundred and bought the
rich meadow Of Squire Bolton. You
remember how you used to wish you
owned it?'
Dana lid remember it. He had Of
ten thought of the land when in Cali
fornia, and was in hopes Of getting
back with money enough to buy it.
The other six hundred and fifty I
placed in the Savings Bank, where it
Is at interest,"
You are the best wife in the State
the husband added with admiration.
But ] have not given a full account
Of my stewardship as yet. You re-
member the forest of pines on the hill
just back Of the meadow!'
Dana nodded assent. He was won
dering 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
pine Wood!' Dana asked with laugh.
The railroad company. They must
have wood to get 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 a sheep pas
ture.'
"A sheep pasture?' the husband cried
IN astonishment.
'Yes, it makes very fine one. l
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 dellars, said Dana, after a Slight
calculation.
Precisely, without counting the in
crease Of lambs. I think | done very
well by that trade
'You are a better mana rer than
am, Nelly. Hereafter you shall be
the head of the house,
Thank you, but I'm perfectly con
tented to resign, now that you have ar
rived
Then you have no more wonderful
bargains to relate? he asked.
Yes she replied, with slight hes
itancy, I have made one more trade,
but perhaps it is one that will displease
you.'
What, after my hearty Welcomed
You can do nothing in. future that I'll
not approve of. Remember, Nelly,
I've returned poor in pocket, and none
too well in health
4 viii take such excellent care Of
You that your health viii be quite re-
stored by spring, and as for being poor,
why that's absurd, when you have
good farm, well stocked, and nearly
thousand dollars in the bank
Besides a treasure ola wife,
Thank you. But viii you step in
to the parlor and see my latest trader
Dana followed his wife, and as she
opened the door, she pointed signiG-
cantly to dark object in one corner
of tae room.
a pianol' cried the astoniahed hus-
band.
Yes, good, well-toned piano. But
before You express your surprise, let
me tell you how I earned it. / sold
all the butter that made during the
last nine months, and invested the pro
ceeds in an instrument that knew you
longed for, and, to tell the truth, | was
rather anxious to own myself, but |
never said 50, and until / found myself
able, | never thought Of buying one
Now are YOU angry?'
'Angry!'
MIR. Dana has never expressed a