The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-21
SELECTED STORY.
The Brook OF Fortune.

81 wish there was too, my boy" re-
plied Mr.. Holcombe; shut l can see
that YOU have business head and who
knows but what some day you will
make the farm pay better than your
grandfather or have done"
Then silence followed and there was
nothing but the ticking OF the big, tall
clock and the click, click of Grandmoth-
er Holcombe's knitting needles to break
the silence. David and his father was
D lost in thought.
~ The HolcomDe farm was one of the
largest estates in the little township of
b. in the northern part of New Hamp-
shire. Here for two generations the
family had wrested a good living from
the granite hillsides. Others about them
had not succeeded 80 vel, perhaps.
But there was an element Of good,
wholesome industry about the Hol
combes. They had improved the farm
stead from year to year, and, besides
their comfortable home and healthy
fare, there was tidy sum of money in
the savings-banks of the neighborlDg
towns.
David was now thirteen years old and
had lived long enough to have achieved
the name among The farmers of being
"Holcombe al over" 1t was as flat
tering as anything that could be said.
"You see, father, l don't seem to
have the chance 10 lay up much money.
1t isn't that l care so much TO have the
money to spend, but should 80 sort of
like 10 be dom as Cousin Hal does over
to Littletou. Uncle 81 lets HIM have
all the hens will bring above cost and
last year he cleared $40. But mother
has all that, and, while I'm not exactly
complaining, l must say l hate to feel
that Hal amounts to 30 much more'n l
do"
"Well, my lad" his father said, en-
couragingly, you put $52 in the Lis
bon bank last July, that ought to be
some comfort to you. Then you know
that hens are quite little object up
here since the summer people began to
build cottages and the hotels have done
30 much business. Your mother works
hard with the biddies and it takes quite
O little head 10 do so much. Let's see
she clears about $500 year, now.
"Oh, that's all right" said David; ~
wasn't grudging mothers money at ALL
But wish there was something. Pm
uOlu DOWCilul lOb Vi tbibhAh Des
/ don't seem to find anything"
"Now I'll think, too" said the father.
81 generally do in the winter, and L
sometimes find the planning that my
brain does then amounts 10 good deal,
taken with the work in the summer"
During the past seven years there
had been new element in the farm
life of this section of the Granite State,
where the mighty Franconia hills shed
their majestic shadows over the little
hamlets clustering around their glgan-
tic sides. The summer people were
building cottages, and here and there,
on summer evenings, their windows
shed bright lights up and down the val
leys.
The demand for fresh vegetables and
other products of the farm had added
materially to the income of the farmers.
The Holcombes were beginning 10 pay
especial attention to this new market.
Mrs. Holcombe made ga good thing"
from her poultry and Mr.. Holcombe
hired an extra man and went extensive
" into the raising of hat was cal ed
In general terms "gardin' SARGE" Lit
tie Bessie had monopoly of the ber-
ries, which grew in the pastures, and
David, strange enough, had been left
out in the cold.
A few weeks later this subject came
up again.
"Well, father" said David, 81 s'pose
you've been thinkin'2 So've /; and I've
got an idea. The worst of it is ii will
take little capital, and don't believe
you'd ever want to advance it. But
will n IL
you do. Do you remember the string
of trout that sold to Major Worthin'
dale on the side of Hazen's Hill, last
year? He calls it the 'Cropolis,' OF
something like that. Well, he paid me
fifty cents a pound. l never was SC
staggered in all my life. Just think
four pounds and a half maxim 50 25
Well, he said there was fortune in
our brook, if there was some smart boy
to run it. Now, perhaps you will see
my idea"
at was a good price, certainly, Da
vid. But it is rather dreamy idea
You know that Major Worthindale il
one man, and it would take gooC
many to make much money. No
every one would be willing to pay al
much as that" Mr.. Holcombe seemed
a little troubled.
"But father, Major Worthwhile sale
he had paid as high as 81 25 pound il
New York city. I've been figuring
this thing up by myself and l am sure
/ shall have good many customers
But if l should have only five anC
they should average 20 pounds in
season, that would make $50 at 81
cents a pound. Yet know can d.
three times as well as that. at least
There are thirty cottages within three
miles of us now, and there will b.
more each year"
Mr.. Holcombe was impressed will
these figures; still he was not quit
ready to consent. He thought of some
other difficulties and he wondered il
his son had thought of them too.
"You know, David" he began
"that it will take at least three year
for the little trout to grow. l speak
supposing, of course, you intend to Sc
cure the young fish from the fisl
hatcheries at Plymouth. Now it take
a good deal of patience for a man
even, to wait that long for his invest