Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-09-26
HULDA'H'S LAND SPEC

A woman With ideas of her own,
her acqualntancks said of Huldah Owen.
She was only me of that great multi
tude OF middle aged unmarried women
who are dependent upon themselves. Her
mother had often said to her:
Huldah, you need never marry for 4
home; when your father and [ are gone
there will be molley enough to buy YOU Il
small place, ana you will be quite indie
pendent.
But series OF misfortuneS had fallen
upon the owens. and when the debts
were paid and the estate was settled only
few hundred dollars remained. Be
sides the money. Huldah possessed a
common School education, excellent
health, an independent spirit and strong,
common sense.
Many plans Heated through her mind.
There was one thing she greatly desired,
and that was 10 )e an owner of real es-
tate. Why could not she do with small
village property What the money kings
had done with raHroads-buy dilapidated
houses, put them in repair and sell at a
profit or keep then and live on the rem
tai?
After eating Breakfast at her friends
house she started out in quest Of a bar
gain in real estate
Every house Sha nasspd which looked
as If It were going to decay she scanned
with interest, and in some instances in
CURED If the property were for sale. In
view of a possible purchaser the price
was generally rals4d beyond the reach of
Huldah'S small capital On the outskirts
of the village stool an old house which
she especially wished to possess. 1t was
large and surrounded by about two acres
of land. 1t seemed in the last stages of
decay. The ROOT of the kitchen had
fallen in, the renee was nearly all gone,
he,6
the we'll euro mao rOtted away, and the
weeds made Wilderness about the place.
If there WASH So much land with it,
unused Huldah. L might be able to buy
it. but | do not Want to go into debt, and
if the Hulsey heirs knew that l wanted
TO buy 1t hey would want fancy price"
She went home Cutie tired, and with
a much clearer idea of what $500 would
not purchase than When she started out.
Come here and Welcome" her friend.
Mrs. Ramsdell, had said, when the
breaking-up of the homestead had left
Huldah without shelter.
THANK you, kindly" the young WON.
an had responded, it will only be for
! short time, for [ must get settled"
In the same household was a lad about
10 years old, who did chores for his
board. The chores lasted all day long.
and even the lew hours after supper
which Donald wanted for study were be-
grudged and br9ken The children of the
family crowded. the batient little fellow
away from the fanp and away from the
fire.
Huldah made "a resolve that if ever she
had a home of her own Donald should
have coy nook by the fireside. She
had helped him with his examples. and
he was grateful, for moor and homeless
as he was he had set lis heart on becom-
in a great scholar.
The evening that HJldah had been Ont
prospecting, q man caIhe 20 see her about
selling the Hulse5 PROPERTY.
Il am one Of the heirs no stated
There are three OF Us, and we are tired
Of looking for a buyer IT hasn't been
so we could rent lit fur n long spell. and
we amt none of us but couId nse a hit of
cash right nancy now that cold weather
IS a-comn on I pen lover to see Sary
an Jane ABOUT IT, an they reckon if you
heY mind TO give Us each hundred dol
lars fur our sheer we'll sell ont an the
place'il be yourn.
three OF them One hundred dollars
apiece. Huldah thought rapidly. 1t
WAS very ~" MsuIe. Still she was
shrewd enough not to Seem foo eager
L will look the pace C,ver in tbe morn
ing and let you know, She said
Bright and early she was making her
way through the weeds to the old HuI-
sey house. She found a GOOD collier an
excellent foundation waIll snd timhors
and three or four rooms that could he
made habitable without much exnense
The land alone she knelv - he worth
more than the price asked After ascer-
tanning that the title waI I'd She CON
Guided the bargain as sodn * nossihle
1t was early in SepteD, bor b,It tboro
was much TO do before cold weather She
Went TO hef 1flend hu SEED for Donald.
Want nm loi NY boy" she ex-
plaIned- VIII give Min a home and
Donald stood by, anxious to hear the
decision.
al IL n. ne wants to 80: SAID Mrs. Rams
49, r. nave no GIL ai: On him. [ just
oOone, I,iS of III oul VI charity, but have
old y 30 you want to- be MY boy, Don
..Oh, yes'm, if you please +,
Huldah was not do, 1It,,.s+i,-o WON
faca TIT a Misseei bger. uplifted
how bor 80, Sa1es s,, h motherless
l;fa ~ bor A sor,i VIZ b r. Fay down his
II Tue ousy days followed she