Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-05-15

pared with tho articles of furniture
which he saw in his night dreams aad
day visions.
One day he walked out TO his fields
rs usual. but perhaps with more than
usually affectionate parting with Mandy
and Jack. A tear dropped from his
eyes rs he strobe rapidly towards the
north end of the farm. Here he pick
ed up n bundle that he had placed in u
hiding-p place the night before. He was
really bound for the mines 10 seek his
fortune.
He left note behind. explaining
To Mandy mat he would be- back when
his fortune was made. Then he would
come and make life happy and pleas
ant for her. He left all his money
with her, amounting to several hun
dred dollars. which would pay eX-
pensos until he returned If he did
not come before that was exhausted,
she could mortgage the farm.
hands. but Abner was gone. He Jour-
neyed on foot and by rail toward the
distant mines, where he was TO realize
his fortune. He was prepared To meet
with failure at first, and ne was not
easily discouraged.
Life in tho poor mining camp was
rough and laborious. and many II night
Abner Landon longed for the quiet
farm. He struggled along the best he
could. hardly making enough 10 sup
port life. He could not send any funds
home. and he had not tho courage to
write until he found better luck. From
one camp to another he drifted. follow
ing every story and rumor about rich
discoveries.
The once sturdy, strong limbed
farmer dcgenerated into lean.
hungry miner. with long. UNI
cropped hair and beard. and staring
wild eyes. They said he half starved
himself TO hoard up some money with
! which TO purchase "A small digging. He
prospected late and early, examining
every foot OF ground around the camps.
Life was becoming desperate for him,
and his chances Of making fortune
were Gwindling.
Two years passed, and he was still n
poor miner. His spirit was nearly
broken and his courage was oozing
out slowly. He louged for sight of
his cosey home, ana the loved ones in
it. and in his dreams he talked and
spoke of Mandy and Jack. But his
pride kept him from returning IN a
poorer condition than when he left.
Several dggings were bought BY
him with his hard-eained and carefully
boarded money, but they all proved
60; e ha al
could be found. Then he returned To
his old labor, and saved and toiled for
another venture. His physical strength
gradually left him under the intense
mental excitement and strain.
The time came when fortune seemed
TO change. He had saved enough TO
make one more venture. He examined
the ground carefully before purchasing
the claim, for he felt that everything
depended upon his final effort. Failure
would kill him. He felt it in his
bones. and he shuddcred Mt tho
, thought.
When the transfer was finally made
he went 10 work feverishly, and work
ed almost To exhaustion. No signs OF
the precious metal was found. and his
spirits began TO fail. He returned TO
his poor cabin. and wrote Il letter to
Mandy, telling her OF his long strug-
giles and failures This was TO DO
mailed to his wife if death carried him
away unexpectedly.
As d last effort he returned TO the
claim and TO his work. He labored
mechanically, and without purpose;
but suddenly his eyes opened wide with
astonishment, and he leaped up with
the exclamation, Eureka
He had triumphed. The mine was u
fortune in itself, and his long anticipat-
ed wealth had at last been realized.
The fearful cost at which it had been
purchased was nothing now TO the JOY
of returning home, and carrying the
good news TO his wife and son.
Steam could not carry tho half
! frenzied miner fast enough, and he
was far ahead Of the cars in spirit. At
last he reached the home of his boy
hood. and rushed up to his old farm
house. which was now as dear and
prec Gus in his sight as it was before
unpleasant. Strangers and neighbor5
were coming in and out of his home.
and be wondered ut il. He hurried on
across the field.
! He was in his rough miners clothes.
and his old friends did not recognize
him. He pushed his way through
| the small crowd and inquired the
meaning of the assembly.
why, man, it's death; Mandy Lam
don is dead. T." replied Il stalwart farmer.
Then noticing the pale reeling man at
his side, he continued: why. bless
me! it's Abner Landon himself
The roughly dressed miner could
make no reply. He sank into chair,
while everything seemed to swim about
! HIM. IL seemed like the vision OF u
! disordered brain, and for long time
/ he remained in quiet stupor. Neigh
/ bors sympathized with him. but they
/ could not lift the weight from his
heart. His fortune had brought him
I