Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-25

stock in the new road, which was to make
Olesn large city and its citizens all mil
lionaires But the bubble burst before IL
had been fairly blown, and the farm was ad-
vertised to be sold by the sheriff. The pro-
cess by which this was affected was a long
one, occupying some months, and they were
sad ones TO Farmer Doane and his wife.
James upbraided him for his folly, and de-
clared that he deserved TO lose his farm.
IF Jack was only here" said Mrs. Do
ane, "he would be such a comfort-some-
thing to lean upon"
"Jack is worthless dog" said Farmer
Doane in reply, "and III warrant is beg
ging his daily bread, or working for his
board at best He would be poor stick to
lean on"
The day of sale came, and large crowd
was attracted TO the farm, for it was the
best farm in the county, well worth $780,,
900, but these close times, and at public
sale, would not bring much over half that
amount.
The bidding was slow. A stranger In
the crowd, with his overcoat buttoned up
around his ears and his cap pulled down
well over his eyes, watched the bidding
closely, until it reached 10000. This was
the bid of Mr.. Wysnt, the rich banker Of
Oleau, and he chuckled as he thought of
the rich speculation the chance offered. No
one, he thought, could go much above this.
The farm would be his, and in three years
he would double his money on it. But his
exultation was cut short by the clear, firm
voice of the stranger.
"Eleven thousand"
Banker Wyant caught his breath at the
audacity of man who would advance 81 900
at one bid, and the auctioneer dwelt on the
81 900 for some time before the banker re-
covered enough TO make another bid of $11,-
100. But this was quickly supplanted by
the strangers 81 200. The bidding now
was left entirely to these two, and it went
up gradually slower until it was knocked off
at Sl2 100 to the stranger.
"What name sir 2" asked the clerk.
"Jack Doane," was the quiet reply.
But if the answer was quiet the sudden
commotion it created was not. In minute
he was surrounded by fifty old acquaint-
ances, all trying to shake his hand and ask.
ing thousand questions Jack stood it all
calmly, and finally shook himself loose and
strobe toward the house, but half way there
he met his mother and behind her his father,
who had heard, as they sat in the darkened
room mourning over their misfortunes, that
Jack was the purchaser of the farm.
Never did the village of Olean experience
such sensation. 1t was just like novel,
every one said, when they learned that Jack
had developed into one of the best civil EN-
gineers in the country, and had cleared
$4,000 by experimenting the opening of
the great - silver mine in Colorado, and
was now engaged at a salary of $4,000, in
the construction of an important railway of
the west. He was a tall, solid, splendid
| bo yaI la
knew what foundation he was standing
upon, and that it was sure.
Jack decided the farm to his mother, tell
ing her it was only principal and interest
on the loan you made me when left home,
and little payment on the motherly COM
fort you afforded me during my stupid,
plodding school DAYS."
Inquiry among Jacks employers revealed
the fact that the high priced quality in
Jacks composition was his deliberation.
You can depend implicitly" said the
principal owner of the mine referred to, con
all of Jacks decisions, for he won't make
one until he knows he is right I've been
out of patience several times at his apparent
slowness, but found him right every time.
He never made a mistake, and we never
wasted any labor. In the end we came out
ahead of other enterprises with less careful
engineers at their head. Jack is worth his
weight in gold"
Jack is still at his profession, and stands
at the head of it. No large enterprises are
undertaken without consulting him. Riches
have come to him almost unasked, and for
all he gives his mother the entire credit.
James sank into dissipation, lost his prac-
tice, and is indebted to Jack for position
that affords him livelihood. Over the door
of the handsome villa where Jack resides,
with loving wife, he has placed a motto
1.-THE is not to the swift"