Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-09-23

guy you small place, ana you Will
oe quite independent" -..,.
But a series OF misfortunes had
fallen upon the Owens, and when the
lebts were paid and the estate was
settled only a few hundred dollars re.
named. Besides the money, Huldah
possessed o common school educa-
ion, excellent health, an Independent
spirit and strong common sense.
Many plans hoated through her
mind. There was one thing she
greatly desired, and that was to be an
owner of real estate. Why could not
The do with small village property
what the money kings had done with
railroads buy dilapidated houses,
put them in repair and sell them ct q
profit or keep them and live on the
rental?
After eating breakfast at friends
house she started out in quest OF
bargain in real estate.
Every house she passed which
!ooked as If it were going to decay
she scanned with interest, and iu
some instances inquired if the prop
srty was for sale. In view of q posi-
BILE purchaser, the price was generally
raised beyond the reach of Huldah's
small capital. On the outskirts Of
.he village stood an old house which
she especially wished to possess. 1t
was largo and surrounded by about
two acres of land. 1t seemed in the
last stages of decay. The roof of
the kitchen had fallen in. the fence
was nearly all gone, tho well-curb
had rotted away, and the weeds made
wilderness about the place.
eff there wasn't so much land with
it," unused Huldah, II might be able
70 buy it, but do not want to 60 in
debt, and if the Hulsey heirs knew
that I wanted to buy it they would
want fnncy price," |.I
She went home quite tired, and
with a much clearer idea Of what $500
would not purchase than when she
started out.
"Come hero and welcome" her
friend, Mrs. Ramsdell, had said,
when the breaking up at the homo.
stead had left Huldah without shelter.
"Thank you, kindly" the young
woman had responded, "it will only
be for short time, for I must get
settled"
In the same household was lad
about ten years old, WHO did chores
for his board. The chores lasted all
day long, and even the few hours
after supper which Donald wanted for
study were begrudged and broken.
The children of the family crowded
the patient little fellow away from the
lamp and away from the Ere.
Huldah made n resolve that il ever
she had home OF her own Donald
should have cosy nook by the fire.
side. She had helped him with his
examples, and he was grateful, for
poor and homeless as he was he had
set his heart on becoming q great
scholar.
The evening that Huldah had been
out prospecting man came to see her
about selling the Hulsey property.
81 nm one Of the heirs" lie stated.
"There are three OF us, and we are
tired of looking for buyer. 1t hasn't
been so we could rent it fur q long
spell, and we amt none of us but
could use bit of cash right handy,
now that cold weather is a.comin' on.
I ben over tc see Sary Ann an John
about it, an they reckon if you hev q
mind to give us each hundred dol
lars fur our sheer We'll sell out an
the plece'll be yourn."
Three of them! One hundred dol
lars apiece Huldah thought rapidly.
1t was very low figure. Still, she
was shrewd enough not to seem too
eager.
II will look the place over in the
morning and let you know" she
said.
Bright and early she was making
her way through the weeds to the old
Hulsey house. She found good eel.
lar, an excellent foundation wall and
timbers, and three or four rooms that
could be made habitable without much
expense. The land alone she knew to
be worth more than the price asked.
After ascertaining that the title was
good, she concluded the bargain as
soon as possible.
1t was early in September, but there
was much to do before cold weather.
She went to her friend and asked for
Donald.
IT want him for my boy" she ex.
planned. II will give him homo and
educate him."
Donald stood by, anxious to hear
the decision.
IF he wants to CO." said Mrs.
Ramsdell. 81 have no claim on him.
I just took him in out OF charity, but
I have enough of my own."
"Do You want to be my boy, Dom
aldo"
"Oh, yes'm, if you please"
Huldah was not q demonstrative
woman, but she kissed the eager, up
lifted face. That caress made the
motherlcss boy her friend, willing to
lay down his life in her service.
In the busy days that followed she
.ound her boy very efficient helper.
It was Donald who cleared the place
If weeds. 1t was Donald who helped
10 scrub and whitewash the rooms.
It was Donald who worked with all
his might when the drayman brought
Huldah's furniture from her old home.
Donald, I do not want you to work
80 hard. fear You will injure your
SELF" demonstrated Hnldah, land 1
want you to have time for study"
II love to work for you," respond.
ed the boy. ''You never scold me,
and I want to see how we'll we can
make the place look"
ut is wonderfully improved al
ready. Since you pulled mp those
great weeds and burned them it looks
like another place, but we need car
penter to put q new roof on the wing
OF the house, and to fix the doors aud
windows. Then, il the house had Q