The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-18
BOOM-FIZZ.

Tho lockwood Land Company. When
this is exhausted, can get from the
drawer OF my desk roam of the fine
linen OF tho Stonewall Land Company,
and after that the John Jones Medicine
Manufacturing and Land Company will
supply me indeti nitely.
once was an easy-going young man,
trying to earn steady, honest living.
Now am restless fortune seeker, try
ing to get rid of my solo possessions,
stock IN land companies.
Such speculation as l am engaged in
at present doubtless appears ridiculous.
But Iassure you it seems small thing
when compared with my plans OF two
years ago. / was at that time boarding
in fairly good, fairly cheap boarding
house. My wife and | enjoyed life in
the small space between fireplace, bed,
bureau and trunk, in 4 room twelve by
fourteen, enjoyed it with such fullness
that it ran over its narrow limits and
flowed in ripping laughter out of the
window, reaching the ears of the crusty
old bachelor below, and making him
kick his dog for very envy. II steak
was tough it gave my wife good ex-
cuse for making me take sick leave of
half day every now and then to take
long walks to the end of the town. and
on to the woods beyond. What
mattered day off to US? We were san
guine. Yes, and even wealthy; for is il
not wealth to have contcntment and
owe no man aught but Kindness? l
could lay by enough in year to begin
housekeeping on the cottage plan and
maybe buy my Sweetheart" q piano.
We were two children laughing and
singing through the day, and in the
evening over our coy fire chatting over
and planning the pretty play house we
would soon build for ourselves.
In day our ideas changed we would
not hare playhouse, but very soon
pretentious Residence" with long halls,
double parlors, high windows, soft cur
tains and glittering chandeliers.
The reason of this was that we were
getting very rich. A man had said to
me yesterday: do you see that beau
tiful view, those mountains, the river?
Have you never thought OF the natural
facilities of this valley and the sur
rounding hills for q queenly city?' 1t
will be here some day II is not far of;
people have recognized the fact; CAPT.
talists are becoming interested in estab-
llshlng enterprises here.
On onder bottom will be steel plant
that will require 500 or moro, probably
1000 men. Tho wooden mills, the
chosen site of which is just below us,
will employ GOO men and women. The
rolling mill will employ 1000 men. A
new and handsome depot is in process
OF erection, also an eleg ant hotel. This
lot was sold day before yesterday for
$500, 10 day it sold for $1,000. know a
man, sir, who would give $500 for it,"
well, yes" l reply, laughing, very
willing to believe what he says. lone
or two lots can't ruin me and they
might make me rich" And I actually
did begin to feel like a moneyed man,
anxious to sell and reinvest. Purchaser
were not wanting, and in five weeks IN
sales had made me enough to commence
housekeeping, fix me in business, and
buy Sweetheart" piano. This was
more than 1 had dared to hope for
in so many years.
But now | was flushed with exciting
dreams of wealth such AS would enable
me to live on my income. I put all my
fortune Il had acquired littlc) in lots
on Canaan Heights, in corner LOTS
and lots on Chestnut avenue = one chest
nut tree was all that remained OF the
wood that had stood there IL few months
before. l talked to my wife about tho
sales, dividends and stocks, and though
she often looked as ii she didn't exactly
understand IL all, she would smile
each my enthusiasm and hold her head
as II the wind were rushing past her, as
she leaned back in her carriage behind
fast horses. A. other times she would
grow dubious when smiled and showed
her an empty pocket, when she asked
"a n n lsl-
that she IVES Obliged to have .
She would look with questioning eyes
in my face, running her hands into ali
OF my pockets, and then cxclaim
We'll, where Is all that money you tell
me about? | want q bonnet. DO we
have to save up much longer, before We
may begin to spend littlc?" How
often those innocent words recur 10 me
like sharpest sarcasm. YES, save up
for little while longer, and we'll get
rich yet" laugh. Then 1 begin again
that oftrepeated explanation. She
smiles, willing 10 forget the bonnet for
while. But" still mystilied, she
asks, can this land keep on growing
more and more vaiuable?' Evcryb ody
must want il very much. | DON'T SEQ
why. | had much rather have the
money; suppose we sell all Of .ours?"
remark that Of course | don't care
for much real estate. Even in the case
OF the towns growing | shouldn't care
to own more than three or four lots, and
that if see the town is not continuing
TO grow | will "pull out" is there
such a possbiiity?' she says with horr..
fled eyes. And suppose you shouldn't
get out in time?" / assure her that I
Will take care Of myself ami that She
shall have lots OF bonncts pret,icr than
any she ever had before and gloves that
reach to the shoulder, if sho Will only
wait a little while.
One day | made her look very sur