Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-05-15

all of this. The old family helrlooms
no longer had any attraction for him.
They seemed poor and worthless COM
which he saw in his night dreams and
day visions.
One day he walked out 10 his fields
as usual, but perhaps with moro than
usually affectionate parting with Mandy
and Jack. A tear dropped from his
eyes as he strobe rapidly towards the
north end of the farm. Here he pick
ed up a bundle that he had placed in a
hiding-place the night before. He was
really bound for the mines TO seek his
fortune.
He left IA note behind, explaining
TO Mandy that 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 hum
dred dollars which would pay eX-
penses 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. Hewas prepared to meet
with failure at first, and ne was not
easily discouraged.
Life in the poor mining camp was
rough and laborious, and many night
Abner Landon longed for the quiet
farm. He struggled along the best he
could, hardly making enough to sup
port life. He could not send any funds
home, and he had not the courage to
write until no 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 degenerated into lean.
hungry-looking miner, with long, I'M
cropped hair and beard, and staring.
wild eyes. They said he hat starved
himself to hoard up some money with
which to purchasea small digging. He
prospected late and carly, examining
every foot of ground around the camps.
Life was becoming desperate for him,
and his chances of making fortune
were dwindling.
Two years passed, and he was still
poor miner. His spirit vas nearly
broken, and his courage was oozing
ont slowly. He logged for sight of
his cosey home, and 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
poorer condition than when he left.
Several diggings were bought by
him with his hard-earned and carefully
boarded money. but they all proved
failures. None of the precious metal
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 shuddered ut the
thought
When the transfer was finally made
he went to work feverishly, and work
ed almost to exhaustion. No signs OF
the precious metal was found and his
spirits began 10 fail. He returned TO
his poor cabin. and wrote letter TO
Mandy, telling her OF his long strug-
giles and failures. This was 10 be
mailed to his wife If death carried him
away unexpectedly.
AS last effort he returned to tho
claim and 10 his work. He labored
mechanically, and without purpose;
but suddenly his eyes opened wide with
establishment, and he leaped up with
the exclamation, '.Eureka!"
He had triumphed. The mine was
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 10 his wife and son.
Steam could not carry the 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
precious in his sight as it was before
unpleasant. Strangers and neighbors
were coming in and out OF his home,
and he wondered at it, 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 Ian
don is dead" replied 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
mako no reply. He sank into a chair,
while everything. seemed to swim about
him. 1t seemed like the vision of
disordered brain, and for a long time
he remained in quiet stupor. Neigh
bors sympathized with him, but they
could not lift the weight from his
haart HE fOrft,na bod hrO,,erht him