Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-12-02

for family of six.
The broken engagement offered fresh
food for gossip among the Brooke and
Stubblefeld kith and kin, but Auaranth
was not to be turned from her course
by their censures and criticisms.
The old homestead was bought and
raid for. To be sure the soil was rocky
and sterile, and the dwelling in need of
repairs.
The orchard trees--what was left of
them-were gnsrled aud bent, and The
fences and outbuildings in a sad state of
dilapidatiOD.
1t was really scarcely worth the small
sum asked for it, but Amarauth had de-
termined to buy it, and buy it she did.
An ancient COW aud half-decrepit
pony were included in the sale.
And after the house had been treated
to few repairs and thorough cleaning,
brother Reuben's family were released
from their uncongenlsl quarters in the
city and comfortably installed therein.
Mrs. Renben--a meek little woman,
with no more idea of supporting herself
than a canary bird might have-was yet
a good housekeeper, and willingly under
took the management of domestic affairs,
while Amaranth gave her attention to
the raising of poultry and garden vege-
tables. And the children grew round as
butterballs, romping under the gna-ly
old apple trees or playing hide-and-seek
among the tall sunAowers and holly
hooks that nodded in the door yard.
Later on, Amaranth earned few dol
lars Zach week by the sale Of her pro-
duce at the little village of Pineywood |
Centre, which was scarcely a stones
throw from her back pssture-bars. But |
with all her industry and economy, she |
found It a hard matter to provide for
herself and the helpless ones depending |
on her, and there were times when she
really fancied the wolf was already at
her door.
The family connections held them
selves aloof from her, and still continued |
their direful predictions.
Sylvester Smalley took particular
pleasure in driving past the house, with
Nancy Maria Stubble6eld, to whom ne
had transferred his attentions, seated
beside him in his spring buggy.
But no one offered helping hand,
and Amaranth was beginning to feel
tremor of despair, when something hap /
pened which no one-certainly not /
Amaranth-had ever dreamed would /
come to pass.
1t was nothing more nor less than the
building Of branch railway from the |
"Ozark Lead and Zinc" mines to point
on the Mississippi River some three
miles beyond Pipeyville Centre.
The nearest route, according to sur
vey, lay directly across one side of |
Amaranth's estate, and she readily ac
cepted the offer Of two hundred dollars
from the mining company for this small
portion of her "worn out" farm land.
But the tide of prosperity did not stop
here.
Roger Alden, the young surveyor,
who had laid out the new railroad, sug-
gested PiueyvilIe Centre as the most |
convenient point for the smelling works
to be erected by the mining company.
And so the sleepy little village walked |
up one fine morning to fud itself in the
midst Of a most unexpected "boom."
Carloads of lumber aud other build
ing material soon arrived, and ere long
the sound of the hammer an1 saw was
heard in the land.
Tents were put up for the temporary
use of workmen but we're soon sup
planted by neat cottages. Mercantile
buildings and supply stores followed;
streets were laid out, churches and school
houses were erected, aud the farmer who
Aocked 10 for miles around, tempted by
this new market for their "truck,"
looked with wonder at the -four
ishing town, which had spuug up, like
Aladdin's palace, from the very wilder
ness.
Adjacent farms, which the owners
would have gladly sold for ten dollars
an acre but a short time ago, now
brought more than teu times that
amount.
Amaranth, though offered high price,
refused to part with her property on
any terms. By the advice Of the young
surveyor, however, she was induced to
lay out portion of her farm, fronting
the railroad, in town lots, which were
eagerly purchased at a satisfactory valu-
alton, aud the Brooke addition" soon
ranked as the most desirable residences
portion Of Pineyville Centre.
And Amaranth fOuni herself, il not
wealthy, at least comfortably situated.
A stout hired hand attended to the
farm work now. The won-out meadows
and corn fields were redeemed from their
impoverished condition. The antiquated
COW was supplsuted by small herd Of
Jerseys. The dscripit pony was ''pen-
stoned off, on the fattest OF pastures,
while span of ''mstched bays" drew
the new carryall, when Amaranth, or