Sharp County record., 1879-06-12

What ~ he NIGHT do, but really curing ms
haort = m' wound in silent contemplation OF
nature. Herein was be douoly wise.
In q moment of inspiration he thought
Of emigratipg to New York; Other fel-
lows had zone there, and had made
money; why not he? He even lnVeSu-
Gated the expense of the journey; but
Something stood in the way. de loVeo
the Object still. .h,o,,ch
One day he happened to pass through
tbe main street at high noon. Ihere
was not soul to be seen IN all Inc
drowsv place. Some stray hens gath
erred round the overhowing water-trough
before the chief store, and a solitary
COW cropped the grass along the slde,
walk. He was trihe hungry anu
went up the decayed and broken steps
of the store to purchase a lunch; Inc
door was locked, and he peered IN at
the dirty windows. Was it here tne
bousekeeperS of Weston bought thelr
SUGARS and molasses, their teas and
spices? He felt glad he had not known
| # before. What a horrible place
Dark, dingy, confused with halt-openetd
boxes and barrels, a broken scale on the
counter, rows of hy-specked bottles on
the shelves, confusion and disorder
everywhere. ,.,
just then a man in shirt sleeves and
frowzy hair appeared and opened the
door. Tom asked for bread ana cneeSe'
He paid for something, took it away in
a newspaper, and charitably bestowed
the whole of it upon the ancient hens IN
the street. WV, ,
It wa, a good investment. With the
purchase he gained an idea. Ideas are
money to the wise, and Tom Maxwell
was wise above his generation. lie
looked up ard down the sleepy street,
and contemplated the three establish
meats that supplied the village needs
one variety place, where nails, needles
and dried fish found home; cne butch
er's shop-a horrid den, full Of"nspeak
able denominations; and the disl al gro
Gerry.
The idea grew " on him rapidly. He
considered it two days, and t en- re-
solved to try it. Little did he imagine
the immense social changes his decision
would involve. How could he foresee
the Sights, the sneerS and insulting con-
descension that would be bestowed up
on him? He saw nothing, not even the
outcome of his love experience that
would spring from his new idea.
The following week the village car
penter received an order to turn the
lower story of the old Allen mansion
into something new-what, he could
not exactly comprehend. There were
to be two immense windows, with
wide door opening in'o a aparlor. Be
hind this were to be two large rooms
and in front there was % be wide pl-
azza, with ample canopy and broad
steps, and with spaces for flower Dor,
ders on either, r,sieac quickly hrough the
village. Every body knew that Tom
Maxwell had embarked in some insane
scheme, and was tearing the Allen
mansion to pieces. Poor BOY! his 'ad
love experience had injured his mind.
He was throwing MS money away. lis
friends should interfere and save him
from ruin. At night the returning mer-
chants paused before the dismantled
mansion, and wondered what new folly
had broken oose in the town.
Maxwell heard of these thing, and
the next morning a high board fence
shut the work from view. This only
excited the greater curiosity. Every
female tongue wagged fast over Toms
cOnsummate folly. What did he in
tend to do? Was it house, theater,
shop, or studio?
Weeks passed. There was much
hammering behind the high board
fence. Then came the silent painters /;
and lastly one night two huge wagons
unloaded sundry boxes and barrels at
the door. The same evening every fam
lily in the village, and in all the villages
round about, received polite invitation
to inspect, on the following night, the
new establishment.
The next afternoon at half past the
carpenters pulled down the hi igh fence,
and displayed-well, it could not be
called any thing. Nothing like it had
ever been seen in the world-at least so
they said; but then Weston sight never
extends beyond Boston.
There was in front a neat garden with
a graveled walk. At one side the road
passed close to the steps, so that car
riages came directly to the piazza. Two
immense plate-glass windows and q
double door filled the entire front of the
lower part of the building. Over the
door was o simple sign, Or card:
"Thomas Maxwell" Through the
windows could be seen tables spread
with white covers, and laid with dishes
of the most delicate dried fruit, golden
butter, bread, cake, every thing that
could delight the heart of the house
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