The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-01-19
John AlGen's Farm.

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"You may laugh if you will, Susy,
there is something in 'luck;' and
luck has always been against the
Aldens,' said John Alden, despond-
emily to his sister.
"How, John?" Susy turned her
round, bright face attentively to-
ward him. ..t....- .
''Lcok at grandfather, George
Alden and his sons! Why, their es-
tate was the richest on the Ohio shore.
They lived like Irish kings, I've
heard people say, and excepting
father they al died penniless.''
"Grandfather Alden, I am sorry to
say, was too fond of horse-racing
and cards to keep money long, and
his sons, excepting father, all drank" "
said Susy, daily. Living like Irish
kings, too, is not the most secure
way of keeping a fortune"
"Well, now, look at me-" contm-
ued John, with the scowl on his face
unaitered. 81 neither drink nor
gamble, nor care for the turf I'm
nineteen, and I've tried honestly to
do my duty in every way"
"Well, John %
"Well' - snappishly - 'see the
difference between me and George
Harvey. At school, study as hard
as | would, he carried off all the
prizes. was the dull plodder, he
the brilliant scholar, the genius.
When visitors came, l heard him
pointed out invariably as Harvey.
sir. A most promising. fellow. He'll
make his mark in the world was
passed by without a word. When
we go into society it is the same
thing. lake the utmost pains to
be polite and attentive to the girls,
and Harvey laughs, ard quizz IS, and
is positively y rude to thers. Yet he
is splendid and 'facinating,' and the
incest girls are proud to have him
for partner, while am endured on
sufferance. There is precisely the
same difference in business. In ev-
cry way he is favored by fortune
and am slighted:'
II do not see that, john" said
Susy, gravely, "George has snowy
dashy manner which commands at
tention to whatever he knows. But
people soon find out how little tha.
is. Even the girls, in the long run,,''-
81 hate the 'long run ?" cried
john, impatiently.
susy was silent. She knew very
we'll that this outbreak was all owing
to the fact that Laura Fau!ke had
showed seme attention to George
Harvey the night before. 'He al
ways did care too much for Laura
Faulke's opinion since they went to
the primary school together"
thought .Susy, Indignantly. "And as
for business" she said aloud, Il do
not see that George has any advan-
tage over you in his position. You
both have been left farms, both are
independent, both have the means of
making sure though not a large
income"
"Now that shows just how little
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.
in rich alluvial soil, mine on the
hillside, where nothing will grow
but pine trees and Jimson weeds"
"Hello What's the matter, Jack2"
said Squire Hall, riding up to the
porch on his gray mare.
Il was grumbling about my patch
here, to tell the truth. 1t will yield
nothing; absolutely nothing"
Don't he too sure ofthat; my boy,
Come out here bit," beckoning him
mysteriousiy aside.
They whispered for some time to-
gether, and then John came in, his
face flushed and his eyes glowing.
''There's great news, Susy Oil
has been discovered in the bottom,
and company from New York have
sent on inspectors to test the property
on either side the creek; among the
rest, Harvey's and mine. If there
are any indications of oil being there
we can ask our own price for the
land"
80 John, I knew all would go well
with your'
The little girls face was pretty
and sparkling, and her brother stop
ped and kissed it heartily.
"The inspection is to be made to-
morrow, and then I'm made or lost
for life. If only luck is not against
me .'