Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-03-18

| ter of capital of only five hundred dollars af-
ter working in the mines for four months. To
be sure, his sickness had cost him large sum,
and his doctors bill was frightful to contem-
plate.
He started the next day for home He de-
termined to live a 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 jOlted over the uneven roads, he thought
what ninny he had been, to leave a cOmforta-
bic home and loving wife. for the sake of accu-
mulating fortune
| The jOlting of the cart may have benefited
him. for the fever rapidly left him, and by the
time he reached San Francisco be felt like a
different man. He had mind to turn back and
try it again, but he thought of his wife, and ma
ture and love conquered. He went immediate-
ly to the Office of the steamship company, and
secured passage for home.
1t was cold clustering day in the middle of
winter, when Dana reached Windsor. He pull
ed his cap over his eyes, to prevent being recOg-
nized and then started on foot for his home
He had heard from his wife but once since he
had been absent, and he hardly dared to hope she
was well. He quickened his pace and came in
sight of the house in which he had spent many
happy hours. He glanced at his farm, and saw
that everything appeared to be well cared for.
! 4 Ne slOQ0 Walls were III SOOQ OTuGfs b46 DdIHs
looked neat and well repaired, and Just as he
was thinking that his wife and brother had done
remarkably well, the train on which he had rid
den from Boston, whizzed past, directly across
his path. 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
fortune. His wife could not be expected to
know how to attend to such things, and he had
no doubt but the railroad company had swim
died her.
He approached the house and knocked timid-
ly 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 left her.
He spoke and held out his hand, then his
arms. There was shrek, and then the latter
were well-flled. Two hours afterward they
were talking seriously and solely upon matters
of business.
meadow" ne said 1t renders it almost use
less"
"They have the right of way, but it has not
injured it as much as you think, perhaps" she
replied.
al don't suppose they paid you more than one
hundred dollars for the land"
"There is where you are mistaken. They gave
me twelve hundred dollars for merely the right
of way"
- suppose Iney pdlQ you IN SLOCk, SdlQ Id
na surprised to think that she had got so large
a sum.
"Yes, 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, 1 supposef'
Il sold mine the very day that received it,
at an advance 1t is not worth so much per
share now. 1 thought had better have the mo-
ney, than trust to an uncertainty"
The husband was slightly astonished. She 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 money,
Nelly"
al took six hundred and bought the rich
moving of Squire Bottoms. You remember
how you used to wish you owned it"
Dana did remember it perfectlyaell. He had
thought of the land when ne was in California,
and was in hopes of getting back with money
enough to buy it.
{" The other six hundred and fifty placed in
the savings bank, where it is at interest.
"You are the best wife in theState," the hus-
band cried, with admiration.
"But / have not given an account of my
stewardship as yet. You remember the forest
of pines on the hill Just back of the Meadow"
Dana nodded an assent. He was wondering
what was to come now,
"Well, there is no longer any forest there, l
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 hun
the trees, and was glad to get rid of them, for
the purpose of making sheep pasture.
"A sheep pasture" the husband cried in as
tonishment.
"Yes it makes a very fine one. l bought a
hundred and fifty sheep and then had some left
which 1 added to that in the bank. Last sum-
mer 1 sold four hundred pounds ofwool, at forty
cents per pound"
lsrs, said Dana, after slight calculation.
Precisely, without counting the increase of
lambs. think did very well by that trade. 3"
"You are better manager than am, Nelly.
Hereafter you shall be the head of the house"
THANK you, but am perfectly contented to
resign, now that you have arrived"
"Then you have no more wonderful bargains
to relate?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, with a slight hesitancy-
81 have made one more trade, but perhaps it is
one that will displease you"
"What, after my warm welcome? You can
do nothing in future that I'll not approve Of
Remember, Nelly, I've returned poor in pocket,
Il will take such excellent care of you that
your health will bequite restored by spring, and
as for being poor, why that is absurd when you
have good farm, well stocked, and nearly
thousand dollars in the bank"
Beside treasure of wife.
"Thank you. But will you step into the par
lor and see my latest trader
Dana followed his wife, and as she opened the
door, she pointed significantly to dark object
in one corner of the room.
"a pianol" cried he, astonished.
"Yes, good, well-toned piano; but before you
express surprise let me tell you how earned it.
sold all the butter that l made during the last
nine months, and invested the proceeds in an
instrument that knew you longed for, and to
tell the truth, was rather anxious to own my
self; but never said so, and until found my
self able, never thought of buying one Now
are you angryg"
"AngryT
There was a peculiar sound Aeard in the par
lor as though Dana was kissing his wife. At
any rate when she again entered the kitchen,
her face looked uncommonly flushed, as though
her husbands rough beard had ehafed her soft
skin.
Mr. Dana has never expressed wish to roam
again. He is perfectly satisfied that he can find
more happiness on his farm, and in the society
of his wife, than he could if surrounded by all
the gold mines of California.
IL, Nrnlrn Dufr n