Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-10-30

the horn. The inspection was no doubt
successful, and they we're 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 the price of oil
or oil lands was very unsettled.
Two o'clock came at last, and the
dinner. do what she would, was dried
to 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 the purpose of cultiva-
tion." said the Squire, lis worthless.
perfectly worthless"
Think so. Ell? Now near New York
a man would make it pay gold to the
foot" looking with half-shut eyes down
to the ground.
"HOw?"
berries. Finest varieties of ber-
ries;" and with that they passed out of
sight.
Still John did not come in. At last
Susy put on her sun-bonnet and went
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.
"Oh, John, what is itp"
He would not answer for while.
Then he raised his head. "It's my
luck" he said savagely with an oath
such ~ never crossed his lips before.
'There will be full yield on George
Harvey's farm. and on mine"
"On yoursm breathlesslv.
"Not drop. Now let me alone. I
want no pity" and he stalked away in
to the woods.
But every cup. no matter how bitter,
is drained ut last. Months passed by,
George Harvey received from the COM
pany a sum for his land which to his
neighbor appeared princely fortune.
DerricEs 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 babe the village
| good-by. and went to one of the East
ern cities to live. Reports came back
of his lavish extravaganza, Of Partisan
clothes. of diamonds and blooded
| horses.
Harvey lives like prince" people
said to John Alden. HE does credit
to his native town."
If there was no sarcastic emphasis on
the pronoun meant. John fancied it. As
for himself, he was in morbid. sulien
despair for about year. Nobody
would buy his land, except for oil. 1t
was an elephant on his hands.
At last, being young ard hopeful,
and with Susy to urge him on. he de-
termined 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 crusty
answer.
The Squire smiled compassionately
and passed on.
Four years later Squire Peters was
escorting Mr.. Hudson, from the West,
about the neighborhood.
Here is the famous Harvey Mill"
he said, (which ran out in three years,
or but little more. Company broke up
terrible smash. The young fellow to
whomthe land belonged, too-that wa
worse wreck than one of mere capi
tai. Very promising lad; little frothy,
superficial, to be sure. But he shared
the fate of many to whom the oil fever
brought sudden fortune. Unexpected
success seemed to 60 to his brain and
made MIN heady. He took to extrava-
giant dressing at first, then card play
ing, and at last the bottle. You may
see him hanging around the tavern
door, poor. penniless sot.''
They passed down the road, still
talking of the lamentable effects OF the
oil speculation on the slow-going,
steady farmers, when the stranger
stopped suddenly.
AHA! This looks like enterprise!
Whose work is this?"
Nov, that" said the Squire, strok-
ing his chin complacently. "that is
specimen of what different stamp of
young man from poor George Harvey
can do. A miserable stone-patch of a
hillside, which had the luck to belong
to young man named Alden. He had
the idea of raising fine fruit; bought
the finest varieties of berries; spared
no expense in manuring his ground or
advertising his crops. Now. sir, he
has doubled his land. and commands
the markets in the Western cities.
Some men are born to an Inheritance
of luck.
''Or o. common sense. Married?"
mo. Lives with his sister, as nice
q little girl as the country side would
yield. But should not wonder if the
young. fellow would marry some of
these days. There's q certain young
lady in the next town that any man
might be proud to marry; but no mat
ter about that. This piece of work be-
fore you is not the result of luck-as
you see-but of downright labor and
skill. And the whole town is benefited
by the young mans enterprise and sue
cess"
1T. Nyt.