Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-04-17


sides this he had corn, potatoes, beans
and vegetables enough for his own
consumption. That winter he worked
for Mr.. Stevens getting out lumber for
twenty-five dollars per month; and
when spring came, he was ready to 60
al his land again.
In the mean ntime, Walter Sturgis
had worked year at a fashionable
calling for three hundred dollars, and
at the end of the term he was the alb
solute owner of two dollars.
Say, Peter, you aren't going to
work on that land of yours another
season, are you?' asked Walter, as
tle two met in the street one evening.
i TO be sure am, was the response.
But here's Simons wants a clerk,
and | told him | guessed you would
be glad to come"
what will he pay ~
"Three hundred"
"Ah, Walter. | can make more than
that from my laDd."
Sturgis opened his eyes in aston
ishment.
you're joking" said Sturgis.
"No, sir. received five hundred
and five dollars in money last year.
Seyenty-five of that went for manure
but some of that manure is now on
hand, as | found the land so rich last
year as not TO need much more than
half OF it. This season | shall have
two hundred dollars worth of straw
berries, nothing unusual happens.
And you don have to work any
winters to do this ?"
"No; four months labor is about
all | can lay out to advantage on it. ="
Walter went to his store, and dur
ing the rest of the evening he wond-
cred how it was that some folks had
so much luck.
During the second season Peter had
experience for guide, and he filled
up many gaps that he had left open
the year before. His strawberries
turned out better than he had antici-
pated, and he made a better arrange
ment for his melons. And then from
all that land whereon he planted his
earl y peas, ETC., he obtained a second
crop Of much value, 1t was but one
hours drive into the city. and he al
ways obtained the highest prices, for
he brought the earliest vegetables in
the market
Gu tne first Of the next November
he had cleared seven hundred dollars
for the season over and above all ex-
| D0It'Aa' ..l,,4.. ..,..l. ..4.o4 une CIopo " elu
all in, Peter found a man walking
about over the land, and as the young
man came up, the stranger asked him
who owned the hill side.
:" 1t is mine, sir, replied Peter.
The man looked about, and then
went away, and on the next day he
came again with two others. They
looked over the place, and they seem.
to be dividing it off into small lots.
They remained about an hour, and
then went away. Peter suspected the
land was wanted for something. That
evening he stepped into the post of
flee, and there he heard that a rail
road was going to be put through the
village as soon as the workmen could
be set at it.
On the next morning Peter went
on his land, and as he reached the
upper boundary and turned and look
ed down, the truth flashed upon him.
His hill side had gentle, easy slope,
and the view from any part oil it was
delightful A brook ran down through
it, from an exhaustless spring up in
the ledge, and the locality would be
cool and agreeable in summer and
warm in winter At the foot of the
hill, on the left lay small lake, while
the river ran in sight for several miles.
"Of course" soliioquized Peter,
" they think this would make beauti-
full building lots. And wouldn't it ?
Curious that never thought of it be-
fore. And then when the railroad
comes here, people from the city will
want their dwellings here. But this
land is valuable. 1t is worth-let me
I see-say six hundred dollars a year.
| can easily get eight or nine hundred
dollars for what | raise here, and |
; know that two hundred dollars will
pay me a good round price for the
labor | perform on it. And then when
my peach trees grow up, and my
/ strawberry beds increase-Ho! its
more valuable to me than it could be
to any one else"
When Peter went home he could
not resist the temptation to sit down.
and calculate how many house lots
his land would make; and he found
that his hill side would afford fifty
building spots, with good garden to
each one. But he didn't think of sell
, ing.
: Two days afterwards, six men came
: to Look at the land, and after travel
= ing over it, and sticking up some
stakes, they went away. That even
] ing Peter went down to the hotel, land
: the irst thing he heard was, ''Aha
q Pete you've missed it"
ii z How so ?" asked Peter.
3 "Why, how much did you get fol
a that hill side ?"
Y sWhat do you mean ?"
r 4Hayent you sold it 2"
"No sir .--sa. - .a-.aaa- a#
S Why, there was man here look
: ing at it week or so ago, and to-day