Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-08-20

influence Of this fashion that Walter Stur
gis refused to have anything to do will
the land.
Times were dull, and business poor
even though it was early spring. Pete
Whites first object alter having got thu
deed of the land, was 10 hunt up som,
kind Of work. II he had been a mechan
ic he might have found some place, bu
he knew no trade but that of salesman ant
book. keeping, A whole week he search
ed in vain for employment, but at the enc
of that time he found an old farmer whC
wanted hand though he could not IF
ford to pay much. But Peter. finally, ans
with the advice Of Mr. SomeTs. made ar
arrangement Of this kind: He woule
work for the old farmer Mr.. Stevens,
steadily until the ground was open. ant
he should have half the time TO devote tS
his own land, and in part payment io1
services, Stevens was TO help about tn,
OK work that the youth might need
Next Peter went TO the hotel, where there
was quite stable. and engaged a hun
drcd loads of manure, the landlord prom
ising to take hi. pay in produce wher
harvest time came. So Peter White lu
on blue freck and cow-hidc boots anC
went to work for farmer Stevens.
In the meantime Walter Sturgis hat
been to the city TO find situation in some
store, but he came back bootless. ll'
was surprised when he met Peter driving
m OK team through the village. At frs
he could hardly believe his own eyes
Could it be possible that was Peter White
in tha, blue frock and those coarse boots
On the next day a relative from the
city came 10 visit Walter. The two
walked out, and during the day Walter
saw Peter coming towards them with his
team. He was hauling lumber which Mr.
Stevens had been getting out during The
winter. Walter saw how coarse ano
humble his quondam clerk.mate looked
and he knew that Peter would hail him
If they met; so he caught his companion
by the arm and lodged into a by-lane
Peter saw the movement, and understood
it, but he only smiled.
By-aud-by the snow was all gone from
the hill side. The wintry garb was re-
moved from the spot before it left Other
places. for Peters lot lay on the southern
side OF the hill, and thus had the advan
tage of the warm sun all day, without
any of the cold north and east winds
The youth found his land very rocky, bu'
none of them were permanent; so his
first move was 10 remove some oil these
distractions; and as Mr.. Stevens land
WAS not yet clear from snow, he was able
to give his young workman considerable
assistance. They took two yoke OF oNer
and two drags and went at il, and IN just
five days every rock was ut the foot OF the
slope, and made into L good stone wall.
Peter then hauled his hundred loads o'
manure which he bought for seveniy-hve
dollars aud part OF it he plowed in, ane
par; he saved for top dreSsng.
Peter now worked early and late, ant
much of the time he had help.
Mr.. Stevens was surprised at the rich
ness of the soil, but there was reason to'
it. Al the top ofthe hill there wasahug'
ledge; the rocks which had encumbereC
the hillside mus, ut some former peiioe
have como tumbling down from th'
ledge; and the rocks, lying there torages
perhaps, and covering nearly half of th'
surface of the ground, had served to keel
the soil moist and mellow.
The first thing Peter planted was about
4 quarter OF IN acre of watei' melons. III
then cot in some early garden sauce, sucf
- potatoes, sweet corn. peas, beans
radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes and so on
And he got his whole piece worked NJ
and planted before Stevens land was ire'
| from snow.
People stopped in the road and gazec
upon the hillside in wonder. Why hat
that spot never been used before? Fo1
forty wears it had been used as sheer
pasture, the rocks having forbidden al
thought of cultivating it. But no"
admirably il was situated for tilling; anf
how rich the soil must have been, will
sheep running over it 50 long! An adioin
| ing hill shut off the east winds, and tht
hill itself gave its back to the chill north
Peter had planted All acre OF corn, AZ
acre of potatoes. and the rest he hat
divided among all sorts ofproduce. Their
he went TO work for Stevens again, ant
in a few weeks he had more than paiC
for the labor he had been obliged to hir'
| on his own land.
In the meantime again, Waller Sturgi:
had been looking afteremployment. ili
hundred dollars had been used up to the
last penny, and just then he accepted
place in one of the stores in the village
at salary of three hundred dollars
year. He still wondered how Petel
White could content himself in sucf
business. Peter used TO be invited to al
the little parties when ho was clerk, bu
he was not invited now. Walter Sturgi:
went to these parties and was highly edi
fed by them. Also. when Peter was
clerk there were several young and hand
r. IL srxt tx