Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-01-09
HIS GREAT FIND,
BY THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH.

School of Mines in Paris. He was recog-
nized abroad and at home as a man of
profound learning, and at the early age
of thirty was made professor of natural
science at Barneville College. He came
of race of scientific notables. His
grandfather, a Scotsman, had been pro.
fessor at Glasgow. His father, who
came to this country and married, and
settled down hero, though he never
taught was more distinguished, and
Professor Roderick bade fair to surpass
his predecessors in scientific renown.
But the close pursuit of knowledge has
its penalty. The first commencement
day found the professor quite broken up.
Nearly six feet high, and with muscles
to fit, he had been the crack oarsman at
Yale, and at the head of the first class
of the Turn Verein at Giessen. Now
he had grown lean, weak and listless.
His colleagues viewed his state with
alarm. One of them, also skillful
physician, gave him a prescription.
Mac" he said, "you have worked
wonders for us during the course, but at
your own expense. Go to the country.
Get away from books entirely. You
have three months of vacation Use it
up by absence from ink of all kinds, or
you will be used up"
The professor thought on it. 81
ought to devote the vacation to my
treatise on the Gryllide, " he said. "But
perhaps you are right Up in Mountain
county there is gneiss formation, per-
meated by veins Of coarse granite that
must be rich in minerals. 1t has been
little explored, and may make great
find there, and get a specimen or so that
shall be proud to show to my friends" "
So the professor bought coarse gray
suit, packed his valise, added a leathern
satchel and belt, with hammer, chisel,
and blow.pipe, and started for Mountain
county. On the cars he fell in with an
old friend, who happened to know all
about his place of destination. He was
told to get off at Firwood station, where
he would find stage coach to take him
to Rockborough, the county town. The
The inns there were were execrable, and
he was advised 10 seek boarding in q
farm house.
"Can you recommend one2" asked the
Professor.
''They are about the same kind" was
the reply, "clean, coarse, and with nc
chamber window that will let dowr
from the top. The natives have ;
horror of letting foul air out or fresf
air in. There is one exception: ole
Squire Martyrs has a nice house, ant
lives well. His maiden sister is hi
housekeeper. He has a very prett,
daughter; but she is off at boarding
school, The squire takes boarders onl,
now and then--he is rich-and only TO
company. If he likes you, and his siste
should like you, he'll let you stay. HI
lives three miles east of Rockborough
and any one can pilot you"
"Thank you. III try him."
81 must tell you, however," resumed
his informant, "that the squire is
character. He is fairly educated man
and as you say you are mineral hunter
he can help yol, for he has collection
and knows the localities. But he'll &C
cost you in the vernacular of the region
and keep it up until he gets to know
you"
Thus it was that one afternoon earl,
in July, Professor Roderick MacDouga
was carried in hired wagon from Rock
borough to Martyrs Nest, as the farr
was called. The farmhouse, standing upo
rising ground q short distance from tn
high-road, was half hidden by wistaria
and creepers that draped the wide verand
and climbed the blick walls to the cave
of the gambrel roof There was an al
tempt at a lawn, with beds of gay-colore
flowers, The place looked comfortabl
and home like. The man who sat o
the veranda with his chair tilted back
his shirt collar unbuttoned, and a co
pipe in his mouth, looked at home toe
Why not? He was the owner. II
brought his chair forward and arose 6
the professor came up the steps.
esquire Martyrs, presume" said til
b professor, blandly.
"That's what they call me, Is it boo
or lightnin -rod?"
Neither, " replied the professor, smi
7 ing. "My name is MacDougal, and
have been advised to try the hill air fC
time. / called to request you to a,
q commodatc me with board for a fe
A weeks"
May ask what you do for livin''
81 am professor in Barneville co
Icge.n
q You ain t one of them snake -catche
an bug-hunters3"
~ know something about reptile
and insects but expect to amuse IN,
self by collecting the minerals and plan
Of the region"
n "Stuns, ehl There 'ain't been stu
hunter in these parts not sense the tin
Of the Jollylogical Survey, an there
right smart of queer stuns here ye
Plants, enl That would suit my Hett
If she was to home, for she's got lots
EN- upstairs in books-Lucy Ann"
A tall, neatly dressed old lady came
lt the door, and said, "WellW
&c "Can we make room for 4 stu
j. hunter 2"
Lucy Ann surveyed the professor, WI
smiled at the scrutiny, and then sal
"There's plenty of room; but if Il
gentleman be hunting minerals, there
be nice pair to clutter us up"
And with laugh she retreated.
~ "Approved by the higher powers
. said the Squire, laughing. WI
brought you over 2 l see now John A
kins. John, bring in the professo
al things. Sit down and rest yourse
u. There will be no difficulty about terms
think"
The professor soon found that his
formant had been right. He had col
to +ba heet ,,loca He was asqiuned