The Penn's Grove record., 1896-06-19

big rock was dug out and the hole hlled
M: and he never quit this practice until
nvery cultivated field was az free from
stones as this same farm Gas free from
profit for the Arst Eve years after the
old man died.
"Old Abram Dodge had great faith
In hard work and his wife's common
sense. These two things he said mad
made his life a success; and when n
lay, while in the field, he was told that
his wife had died suddenly while about
her usual work, he left the plough
standing where 1t was, and never went
back 70 1t, but in less than a year he
a laid at rest beside his wife, his
lifework ended.
well, Abram left one son, John,
who was the posscssor Of many n
fancies, and an education considerably
better than that possessed by any other
Young man In the neighborhood, and
to this son he left the farm and about
ten thousand dollars in cash. Besides
these, the old man left the O good
example, but John Dodge was so
pleased with the farm and the cash
that he forgot all about this last men
toned bequest.
John believed In display, and began
TO show It. He tore down the old barn
and built two larger ones, and spent
nearly two thousand dollars In modern
izing the house.
"rhe farm had always been known
as the Dodge Place but this didn't
sound quite fancy enough to suit
Johns ideas, 80 he gave 1t the name OF
Twin Farm on account Of the new
barns being alike and the elm trees
resembling each other. He said pretty
loudly and pretty often that he'd show
the folks around there that there was
money In scientific farming-a fact !
believe In myself, when accompanied
by q little common sense.
"He hired a large force OF men, ana
bought about every kind Of a machine
intended for farm use he could hear OF.
He went In for fancy stock, too-spdrt
q small fortune for a small herd Of cat
tie Of a reputed famous breed that
never amounted to much except to Mt
tract quite a number Of visitors to look
at them. His horses were all high
priced; three Of them he boosted could
trot inside Of two twenty and every
thing else about the place showed the
owners love Of making a spread
John never had much head for fig
ures, and so when his accounts began
to get a little mixed he engaged a
young lady bookkeeper from tho city
to take charge OF them. She WINS
smart and pretty. and John told qnlte
a number, c~onfldentially, that II she
proved to be the woman he took her to
be, she might become mistress Of the
farm some time.
''Well, things ran along for about five
years, when one fine morning John
Dodge awoke to the fact that his cash
had all been invested In fancy stock
and scientific farming apparatus, and
worse still, that his affairs in general
were hopelessly involved.
'There was but one thing LETT for
him to do. He knew that by disposiog
of the farm he could probably save two
or three thousand dollars from the
wreck: and his self-conceit, which wns
n prominent trait in his character.
prompted him to think that with this
capital he could engage in some bust
ness in the city, and o become rich
enough to buy half the town In which
he had been born, and where thus far
he had been a failure.
Another thing, also, he decided to
do. The young bookkeeper had proved
to be all he had supposed her to be, a
woman worthy to be the wife Of even
John Dodge, and he determined to en-
tighten her In regard to this fact, and
ask her to assist md share In bis future
brilliant career. He had never spoken
to her upon this subject, but he took II
for granted that he would receive q
favorable answer, as he considered
himself n prize of considerable mngni-
tude In the matrimonial market. He
entered the little office where she pre-
sided, and after his pleasant greeting
had been returned, he said:
"'Well, Miss Colburn, Pm thinking
very strongly of selling the farm
"Indeedl' replied the boookkeeper.
ayes he continued, L begin to think
1 can make more money In tho COM
mercial world. l have made my plans,
and have now come to you to assist me
In carrying them out. VIII you do sop
az have always been faithful, j
think, to your interests, and shall con
tinue to be- was the bookkeeper's an.
swer.
THUS encouraged, John Dodge asked
her to be his wife, but the little woman
very coolly told him she was sorry to
dlsappotnt him, but that she was al
ready engaged to a young man who
worked upon his farm.
"At this Jchn was SO taken abnck
that he sat there, not knowing what 70
say, when the little woman continued;
"'You spoke Just now Of selling the
farm; at n Reasonable price, ] think
can get you a customer"
My friend paused here. and I quietly
said:
II think II 1 were to guess who Is al
prasAnt the mistress Of Twin Farm, !
should say tho bookkeeper."
Right you are" said my friendl "and
there's another fact which perhaps you
wouldn't guess; Pm the farmland who
bought tho place"
/ extended my hand to my friend In
congratulation, and presently asked:
what became of John D0dgeT"
"Nell, after he sold the farm and hal
settled up, he had about twenty-five
hundred dollars left; this he took to the
city and invested in what l never could
quite make out, but he would come TO
the neighborhood occasionally In n
| swell suit and a beaver hat, and once
lie limited to me that If a nan wanted
to make money he'd better quit farm
ing. l told him If l wanted to make
money, probably I'd quit farming; bnt
IL my object in life happened to DO to
get an honest living and to have d
happy home, I guessed I wouldn't
'hange my occupation.
THAT vas some years back, but