The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-03-25

WIG uHi DIOlUtT ll't uOnc TpIutrkV-
| bly, well, the train on which he had
ridden from Boston, whizzed past, di-
rectly across his path. He groaned
in anguish at the sight. His beauti-
ful 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 ut.
tend to such things, and he had no
doubt but the railroad company had
swindled her.
He approached the house and rap
! ped timidly at the door. TWAS open
ed, and there stood his wife, as hand.
some 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 n shrek,
and then the latter were well filed
Two hours afterwarl they were talk
ing seriously and solely upon matters
of business.
II am sorry that the railroad pass
es over our meadow" he said. at
"They have the right Of way, but
it has not injured it as much as you
think, perhaps" she replied.
II 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"
81 suppose they paid you in stock"
f. aid Dana, surprised to think that she
had got so large sum.
"Yes, they gave me part stock and
part cash. the wife replied, trying
not to look triumphant.
"And the stock, what is that worth,
a mere song, | suppose?'
" sold mne the very day that re-
ceived it, at an advance. 1t is not
worth so much per share now. tho't
l had better have the money than trust
to nm uncertainty"
The husba I'd was slightly astonish-
cd. She had received for narrow
strip of land as much as he had given
for the whole farm.
And what did you do with the mo-
ncy, Nelly?'
took six hundred and bought the
rich moving of Squire Bottoms. You
remember how you used to wish you
owned it,"
| Dana did remember 1t perfectly
well. He thought Of the land when
he was in California, 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 ut interest"
You are the best wife in the State,
the husband cried, with admiration.
"But have not given an account
Of my stewardship rs yet. You re-
member tile forest of pines on the hill
just back of the meadow -
Dana nodded an assent. He was
wondering what was to come next.
"Well, there is no longer any for
est there. sold every tree just rs
it stood"
, "Why, who was fool enough TO
buy pine woodp" Dana asked, with n
laugh.
1.-The railroad company. They
must have wood to get up steam
They gave me four hundred dollars
FOR the privilege Of choppiug down
the trees; and | was glad to get rid
Of them, for the purpose Of making Q
sheep pasture.
"a sheep pasture!" the husband
cried in astonishment.
"Yes, it makes very fine one.
bought hundred and fifty sheep and
then had some left which ! added to
, that in the bank. Last Summer ]
| sold four hundred pounds of wool al
forty cents per pound
, "That amounts to one hundred and
sixty dollars" said Dana, after {
slight calculation.
/ "Precisely, without counting chs
increase Of lambs. ] think | did very
. well by that trade"
: "You are a better manager than
t am, Nelly. Hereafter you shall b.
, the head of the house"
"Thank you, but l am perfectly
} contcnted TO resign, now that yoI
! have arrived"
"Thcn you have no more wonder
! ful bargains TO relateP' he asked.
"Yes," she replied, with sligb
) hesitancy. II have made one more
trade, but perhaps it is one that vii
displensc you"
"What, after my warm welcome
: You can do nothing in future that II
| not approve Of Remember, Nelly
s. I've returned poor in pocket, an
none TO well in health"
| II will take snch excellent care o
+ you that your health will be quite re
a stored by spring, and as for bein!
!, poor, why that is absurd when 30
: have a good farm, well stocked, am
nearly thousand dollars in the bank
0 "Beside n treasure Of wife"
Y "Thank you. But will you step in
4 to the parlor and sec my latest trade?
{ Dana followed his wife. and as sh
K opened the door, she pointed signif
9 cantiy to a dark object in ono corne
|. Of the room.
i "a piano!" cried he, astonished.
dl ayes, good, well-toned piano, bc
before you express surprise let m
e tell You how I earned it. I sold a
\ the hutter that I made during the lai