Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1867-03-20

THOMAS Upton
The Squire folded the letter carefully,
put it back into the envelope. took off
his spectaclcs, deliberately put them into
their gerran-silver case, and deposited
them in his waist.coat pocket. Then
putting on his hat, with the letter in his
hand, he walked straight to the office Of
Dr.. Bragg across the way. The Doctor
was in. Squire Skinner entered, and
placed the letter in his hand, saying only,
"Read that"
Dr.. Bragg pecred at him curiOusly over
his spectaces to see if he was locking in
healthy state of mind, and proceeded to do
as he was bid. Tracing the lines labori-
ously with his finger he at length reached
the name, when, not seeming to compre-
hend the point, he repeated the process
more ted;ously than before.
80, so, the young fellow thinks he
shall oust man who was in practice ten
years before be was born, does he ?" And
he gave the letter back to the Squire.
Looks like that, surely" said that
important pcrsouagc, as lie stood over the
Doctors warm FIRE.
"Washing his hands in invisible soap.
And imperceptible water''
"but have no notion Of selling him the
property"
"Why, yes would :" and the Doctor
Strengthened back in bis big chair, and
inserted his thumbs in the arm holes of
his waist coat. Yes would if the fel
low is fool enough to come here, lot him
come. He will have enough time, prob
ably, to carry on his place." and he
Laughed as most men do, at his own wit.
Two weeks later Squire Skinner entered
the Doctors Office again. well Doctor,
said he, Il wrote Tom Id sell him that
property for thousand dollars including
the five acres of land. | did not think
he'd take it for the buildings are pretty
shaEy: but he has accepted my terms,
and sent me fifty dollars to bind the bar
gian, saying he will be here the last week
in March to take deed of it. So you'd
better be prepared to rent your office about
that time" and the Squire in his turn,
laughed at lis wit.
"He can hire the shocmaker's shop
around the corner cheaper said the Doc
tor. "and it'll be more in his way of bust
Less here, probably" and the two both
laughed together.
At length the last week in March arri-
we'd and with it came Tom, now Doctor,
Upton. Ten years had wrought changes
in the 10y Of twentyone. The eye, the
face. the manner, the conversation, all
bespoke the man of culture. Boys whose
shoes he had mended fifteen years before,
and who had made themselves merry over
his Comstock and DR. Gum, his bottled
reptiles and picked bugs, now looked at
him uskance end GUESSED he felt above
EN-" but the young women said he was
"a love of man. "and $50 gentlemanly."
He took a deed of the place which had
been to him home, paid down the bal
ance of the cash, procured mat erial. sci
carpenters to work to put the buildings
in repair, and gave the use of the place to
an It'd man and his wife, who were to look
after things, and in ten days was back
again at Wellville,
80 it appears that young Upton isn't
agoing to begin practice here just at pres
ent," said DR.. Bragg to the Squire. But
he's fool to buy that proberty, and lay
out so much on it when he isn't agoing
to us it. He always was full of foolish
freaks"
On the frss day Of April came a man
with dozens Of young apple trcec, all
trimmed and labelled, grated in the root
and proceeded to set them at intervals Of
two rods, around the entire place. Before
the house were set four handsome naples
and two or three grape vines were placed
in eligible situations. In the autumn
following. the old man received an hun
dred strawberry plants, with directions
how and where to set them.
And thus ten years passed away
Spring and fall something had been add
ed to the old place, till it abounded in al
the choice yarietes oil fruits. in rare plant
and shrubs, curioasly shaped beds, grav
cled walks, and summcr-houses, covered
with fruitful vines. During the eleventh
year n neat cottage house went up on
little enhance near the old one, in tn
midst Of elms and naples which had al
really begun to cast considerable shade
During all these years, also, DR.. Brag
had beca growing old. till he had come 7
do little but,
<,sit on his cushioned chair,