Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-03-01

the horn. The inspection was no doubt
successful, and they were now chatter
ing for the sale of the farm. Would
they give the money in cash? Hun
dreds-thousands-a million? Susy's
ideas on the subject of oil or oil lands
were very unsettled.
Two o'clock came at last, and the
dinner, do what she would, was dried
to a crisp. Just as the clock struck
SQUIRE Peters, and the stranger from
New York rode past the door. Susy
could not help listening intently for
any chance words she might hear.
"The land for purposes of cultiva-
tion," said the squire, sis worthless ;
perfectly worthless"
"Think so, eh? Now, near New
York, a man would make it pay gold
to the foot" looking with half-shut
eyes down at the ground.
"How?"
'Berries Finest varieties of berries :"
and with that they passed out of sight.
Still John did not come In. At last
Susy put on her sun-bonnet and ran
through the garden, the truck patch,
the woods, in search of him.
She found him, after long search,
among the hay mows, lying on his face
his head covered with his arms.
20 John, what is it?'
He would not answer for awhile.
Then he raised his head. "It's my
luck !" he said, sayagely, with an oath
such as had never crossed his lips be-
fore. "There will be full yield of oil
on George Harvey's farm, and on
mine"--
''On yours s2"-breathless1y.
mot a drop. Now let me alone!
want no pity" and she Stalked away
into the woods.
But every cup. no matter how bitter
is drained at last. Months passed by.
George Harvey received from the COM
pany a sum for his land which to his
neighbors appeared a prinGely fortune.
Derricks and mills were built. The oil
poured out like water. A branch rail-
road was built FROM the city to the
Harvey Mills"
Harvey himself bade the village good
by, and went to one of the eastern ci-
ties to live. Reports of his lavish ex-
travagance soon came back !; of suites
of apartments in the large hotels, of
Partisan clothes, of diamonds, etc.
Harvey lives like prince" people
said to John Alden. He is credit to
his native town."
If there was no sarcastic emphasis on
the prOnoun meant, John fancied it.
AS for himself, he was in a morbid, sui
len despair for about year. NOBODY
would buy his land nobody would bay
any land except for oil. 1t was an ele-
phant on his hands.
AT last, beingyOung and hopeful, and
with Susy to urge him on, he determin-
ed to make use of his elephant.
"What are you going to do, Jack 2"
queried Squire Peters. digging up
your sheepwalk ?"
"Yes; berries" was Jacks crusty an
swer.
The squire smiled and passed on.
Four years later Squire Peters was
escorting Mr.. Hudson, from the West,
about the neighborhOod.
"Here is the Harvey MILL" he said,
which ran out in three years, or but q
little more. Company broke up-terri-
BILE smash. The young fellow to whom
the land belonged, too.-that was g
worse wreck than one of mere capital.
He shared the fate of many to whom
the oil fever brought sudden fortune.
He took to extravagant dressing first,
then dancing, then card playing, and
at last the bottle. You may see him
hanging round the tavern door now, a
Door, penniless sot.n
"They passed down the road, when
the stranger stopped suddenly.
"Aha! This looks like enterprise !!
Whose work is this?"
Nov that" said the squire, "that is
a specimen of what a dsffsrent stamp of
young man from poor Harvey can do.
A miserable stone patch which belong
g d to a young fellow named Alden. He
ha d tue idea of raising fine fruit ;
bou, ,ght the finest varieties of berry,
snare d no expense in advertising his
crops. He has doubled his land, and
the markets in the western
Cities"
married ?'
mo: lives with his sister; but I
should not wonder if he would marry
soon. There's young lady in the next
town who would be a prize-but no
matter. This before you is not the re.
suit of luck, but downright labor and
skill. And the whole town is benifitted
by the young mans enterprise and sue
cess Youths Companion.