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

Some more conversation was held,
and then Peter went home. On the
following forenoon, the very man who
had been the first to come and look
at the side hill, called to see Peter,
introducing himself as Mr.. Anderson.
Lets see-I believe you own some
two or three acres of land, up here on
the hill side" he said, very carelessly.
| own four acres there" replied
Peter, very exactly. Hg1
All, yeS-well; it doesn't make
much difference. | didn't notice par
tlcularly how much there was [
thought [ should like to build there;
if YOU would sell the land reasonable.
l might like to purchase. 1t would be
enough to afford me quite a garden;
though | suppose it would cost about
as much to till such land as the pro
duce would be worth"
THAT would depend upon how you
worked it, said Peter, drily.
o, yes, | suppose SO. But you are
willing to sell out, l suppose
" Certainly"
The mans eyes began to brighten.
How much should you want for
it ?" he asked.
"Well, [ don't know. What could
you afford to pay?"
"Why, | suppose I could afford to
pay a good deal more than it is worth.
Rather than not have it, | would pay
we'll, say two hundred dollars,
or two hundred and fifty at the out
side"
:" don't think there is much use of
our talking, sir"
" But-you paid one hundred, only
if mistake not"
II had my choice between one
hundred dollars and the land, and |
chose the latter, but as you seem to
labor in the dark, | will explain to
you. In the first place there is not
another spot Of land in this section OF
the country that possesses the natural
advantages which this does. I can
have my early peas and vines up and
hoed before my neighbors get their
ground ploughed ; so | have my early
sauce in the market ahead Of all 9th
erS, save a few hot house owners,
whose plants cannot compare with
mine for strength and size. Then my
soil is very rich, yields fifty per cent
more than most land. Now look al
this: During the last season | have
realized over eight hundred dollars
from this land, and next season | can
get yW8rs hyap. tHat t9E EJfI ~ strAfyElPgegrr{{ fyl 81
not any two farms in town that car
possibly be made to realize so muct
money as my hill side, for YOU see il
Is the time oI my produce, and moi
quantity, that does the business. A
bushel of my early peas on the twenty
second of May, are worth ten times
as much as my neighbor's bushel Oh
the first day OF July and August. Two
hundred dollars will more than pay
me for all my time and trouble in at
tending my land; so you see | save
this year six hundred dollars interest
Then You wouldn't sell for less
than six hundred, l suppose? said Mr.
Anderson. carelessly.
Would YOU sell out a concern that
was yielding you net profit Of six
hundred dollars year, for that sum
sir ?" asked Peter.
"A-hem--well-ah--you put il
rather curiously.'
"Then I'll put it plainly. You may
have the bill side for ten thousand
dollars" .. .....
Mr. Anderson laughed; but he found
that Peter was in earnest, and be
commenced to curse and swear. AT
this, Peter simply turned and left his
customer to himself, and he saw moth.
ing more Of the speculator.
| Two days afterwards, however, three
of the merchants came to see our hero
and when they had heard his simple
story, they were ready to do justly by
him. They went up and examined
the spring, which they found to be
pure as crystal, and as it was then a
dry season. they saw the supply of
water could never fail, and all the
houses which might be built on Peters
land could be supplied with running
water, even in tho very uttics of the
upper ONES.
The merchants first went to the
man who owned the land above Pc
ter's Including tho Lodge and sp-,;-e,
and he agreed to sell it for two hund
red dollars. This, to building was a
great bargain, for the stone of the
ledge, was excellent granite. Then
they called surveyor and made I
plot of the hill side, whereby they
found they could have forty building
lots, worth from two hundred and fif
ty to four hundred each. They hesi
tated not moment after the plot wa;
, made, but paid Peter his ten thousand
dollars cheerfully.
Ere many days after this transac
: ton, Peter White received a very
polite note from Cordelia Henderson
asking him to call and see her; but he
did not call. He hunted up Mr.
Somers and went into business, witt
him, and this very day Somers &
White do business in that town, anC
Walter Sturgis is their clerk, And
in all the country there is not pret
tier spot than that old hillside. The
railroad depot is near its foot, and il
Z is occupied by sumptuous dwellings