Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-08-17
JOHN ALDEN's FARM.

aYou may laugh il you will Susy,
s9but there is something in luck and
luck has always peen against the Al
dens, sold John Alden, despondeptly
70 his sister.
aHow. Johng' susy turned her
rouud, bright face toward him.
aLook at grandfather, George Al
den and his sonsl Why, their estate
was the richest on the Ohio shore.
They lived like Irish kings, I've heard
people say, and excepting father they
all died penniless ~ s-ti- w
Grandfather Alden, | am sorry To-
say was to fond Of horse-racing and
cards to keep money long, and his sons,
excepting father, sll drank, said Snsy
dryly. "Lving like Irish kings. too,
is not the most secure way OF keeping
q fortune" a.t4'I saf' i' "''''p'''f
"Well, now, look at me, continued
John, with the scowl on his face unal.
tered. al neither drink nor gamble,
nor care for the turf, I'm nineteen and
I've tried honestly to do my duty in
every way fle efs t'Seysg s.,
swell, John?" f.'.' !. I - - 49,.
"Well"-snappishly-t the diff
ference between me and George Har-
vey. AT school, study as hard as I
could, he carried of all the prizes. l
was the dull Plodder, he the brilliant
scholar, the genius. When visitors
came, l heard him pointed out invaria-
bly, as Harvey, sir. A most promis-
ing fellow. He'll make his mark in
fhe world l was passed by without
a word. When we go into society it
is the same thing. take the utmost
pains to be polite and attentive to the
girls, and Harvey laughs, and quizzes,
and is positively rude to them. Yet
he Is splendid and 'facinating, and
the incest girls are proud to have him
for a partner, while am endured on
sufferance. There is precisely the,
same difference in business. In every
way he is favord by fortune and / am
slighted."- ST
4 do not see that, John, " said Susy
gravely. George has snowy, dashy
manner, which commands attention to
whatever he knows. But people soon
find out how little that is. Even girls,
in the long run" s4s 81.
81 hate the long runp cried John,
impatiently. g..
Susy was silent. She knew very.
well that this outbreak was all owing
to the fact that Laura Faulke had
shown some attention to George Har-
vey the night before. He always did
care to much for Laura Fakes opin-
ion since they went to the primary
school together" thought Susy, indig-.
nantly. "And as for business" she
said aloud, II do not see that George
has any advantage over you in his po-
sition. You both have been left farms,
both are independent, both have the
means of making a,shre though not a
large income haa 4N
''Now that shows just how little you
you know about it. Harvey's farm
numbers just the same amount Of
acres that mine does, it is true. But
his is on the south side Of the creek,
inrich alluvial soil mine on the hillside,
where nothing will grow but pine trees
and jimson weeds. sfEa
aHello! What's the matter, Jack?"
said Squire Hall, riding up to the porch
ON his gray mare. pe
~ was grumbling about my patch
here to tell the truth. It will yield
nothing; absolutely nothing" =
"Don't be too sure Of that, my bov.
Come out here q Bit beckoning him
mysteriously aside.
They whispered for some time to-
gether, and then John came in, his
face flushed and his eyes glowing. n
There's great news, Susy! Oil has
been discovered in the bottom, and a
company from New York have sent on
inspectors to test the property on eth
er side of the creek; among the rest,
Harvey's and mine. Iftherer are any
indications Of oil being there we can
ask our own price for the land. =
~ 40, John, I knew all would 60 we'll
with you'll"
The little girls face was pretty and
sparkling, and her, brother stopped
and kissed it heartily.
"The inspection is to be made to-
morrow, and then Pm made or lost
for life. II only luck is not against
me!n
"God will be for you in auy case.
John,' said Susy, gently.
But "luck" to John Alden which
came in visible good fortune Of dollars
and cents or even praise, was much
MORE real thing than the unseen power
which his sister worshipped so faith
fully. NJ "
He rose the next morning with a
haggard face, which showed he slept
but little.
To-day, he said to susy, "it will
be- all settled. The Inspector from
New York will be here by ten o'clock.
In an hour he can tell If there be any
oil on the land. He is an expert you
understand. If there be any I will
sell and build house like Squire
Peters, only larger And then, Susy--
who knowsI--I might marry. lam as
old as Ben Scott"