The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-04-09

Il might marry. am as old as Ben
Scott"
"Yes, tha, is true
She could not bear to discourage him
by hint Of defeat. He watched nerv-
ously by the door for the men to appear,
and when he saw them coming-the
New York expert, one or two Of the
proposed stockholders in the new CON-
papy, and Squire Peters himself-he
snatched up his hat and hurried down
the road to meet them.
Even Susy'sheart throbbed fast. She
told herself in vain that it was not a
matter Of life ard death it seemed to
her as though her own fate as we'll as
Johns depended on the few words to be
spoken in the coming half-hour.
The hour passed. She had seen the
groups Of men passing from point to
point Of the farm, until they turned to
the right Of the big red barn, and dis
appeared in the corn patch. After that
they were lost to sight.
Noon came One O'Clock The din
ner was ready, but she dared not sound
the horn. The inspection was no doubt
successful, and they were now chaffering
for the sale Of the farm. Would they
give the money in cash , Hundreds
thousands 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 crisp. Just rs the clock struck,
Squire Peters and the stranger from New
York rode past the door. Susy could
not helplistening intently for any chance
words she nigh; hear.
"The land for purposes of cultiva
tion," said the squire, "is worthless I;
perfectly worthless"
"Think so, eh f? Now, near New York,
man would make j, pay gold to the
foot" looking with half-shut eyes down
at the ground.
"How ?"
"Bcrries. Fines; 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 MN.
She found him, after a long search,
among the hay-mows, lying on his face,
his head covered with his arms.
"O John, what is it ?"
He would not answer for awhile
Then he raised his head. "lt's my
luck ?" he said, savagcly, with an oath
such a,had never crossed his lips before.
"Theie will be a full yield Of oil on
George Harvey's farm, and on mine"
"On yours ?"-breathlessly.
"Not drop. Now let me alone l
want no pity" and he stalkcd 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 princely 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 cities
to live. Reports of his lavish extrava-
gance soon came back Of suites of
apartments in the large hotels, Of Pari-
sian clothes, Of diamonds, etc.
"Harvey lives like a prince" people
said to John Alden. ale is credit to
his native town."
II there was no sarcastic emphasis on
the pronoun meant, John fancied it,
As for himself, he was in morbid, sui
len despair for about 4 year. Nobody
would buy his land (; nobody would buy
any land except for oil. 1t was an ele-
phant on his hands.
At last, being young and hopeful, and
with Susy to urge him on, he determin-
cd to make use Of his elephant.
"What are you going to do, Jack ?"
queried Squire Peters. "Digging up
your sheep.walk? ?"
"Yes; berries," was Jacks cr,isty
answer.
The squire smiled and passed on.
Four years later Squire Peters was cs-
cor;ing a Mr.. Hudson, from the West,
about the neighborhood.
"Here is the Harvey Mill, he said,
(which ran out in three years, or but a
little more. Company broke up-ter-
rible smash. The young fellow to whom
the land belonged, too,-that was a
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, n poor,
penniless sot."
They passed down the road, when the
stranger stopped suddenly.
"Aha This looks like enterprise !
Whose work is this?"
Snow that" said the squire, "ihat is
a specimen Of what different stamp OF
young man from poor Harvey can do.
A miserable stone patch which belonged
to young fellow named Alden. He
had the idea Of raising fine fruit bought
the finest varieties OF berry, spared no
expense in advertising his crops. He
has doubled his land, and commands
the markets in the western cities"
"Marriedl''
"No; lives with his sister; but |
should not wonder if he would marry
soon. There's young lady in the next
town who would be prize-but no mat
ter. This before you is not the result
of luck, but downright labor and skill.
And the whole town is benefited by the
young mans enterprise and success
XonfRs Companion.