Evening journal., 1899-10-07
HUI4DAH AND DONALD,
q JT WOMAN With ideas Of her own .

Her mother had often said TO her
"Huidah, you need never marry for a
heme; when your father and l are gone
there viii be money enough TO buy ycu a
small place, and you viii be quite indopend.
ent."
But a series Of misfortunes had fallen
upon the Owens, and when the debts were
paid and the estate was settled only a few
hundred dollars remained. Besides Tie
money, Huldah possessed common school
education, excellent health, an independ
ent spirit and strong, common sense.
Many plans floated through her mind
There was one thing she greatly desired,
and that was 20 be an owner of real estate.
Why could not she do with small village
property what the money kings had done
with railroads-buy dilapidated houses, put
them an repair and sell at profit or keep
them and live on the rental!
After eating breakfast at her friends
house She started out in quest Of a bargain
IN real estate
Every house she passed which looked as If
1t were going to decay she scanned with
interest, and in some instances inquired ii
the property were for SALE In view of
possible purchaser, the price was generally
raised beyond the reach of luldah's small
capital On the outskirts Of the village
stood an old house which she especially
wished to possess. Il was large and sur
rounded by about two acres OF land. L.
seemed in the last stages Of decay. The roof
of the kitchen had fallen in, the fence was
nearly all gone, the weil-curb had rottod
away, and the weeds made a wilderness
about the place.
ff..~r ,....s.ft az. ,,....I, f.,.T NTH
mused huldnh, Il might be able to buy ID,
but l 10 not want to go in debt and If the
Hulsey heirs knew that / wanted to buy Is
they would want fancy price
She went home quite tired, and with a
much clearer idea Of what 5000 would not
purchase than when she started out.
Come here and welcome her friend,
Mrs. Ramsdell, had said, when the breaking
up at the homestead had left Huldah with
out shelter.
Thank you, kindly" the young woman
had responded, 1T viii only be for short
time, for ! 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 want
ed for study were begrudged and broken.
The children Of the family crowded the
patient little fellow away from the lamp
and away from the fire.
Huldah made a resolve that if ever she
had a home Of her own Donald should have
a coy nook by the freside 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 a great scholar.
The evening that Huldah had heen out
prospecting a man came to see her about
Selling the Hulsey property.
Il am one Of the heirs, he stated. "There
are three Of us, and we are tired of looking
for q buyer. 1t hasn't been so we could
rent it fur a long spell, and we amt none
of US but could use a bit Of cash right handy,
now that cold weather is a-comin' on.
ben over TO see Sary Ann an John about it,,
an they reckon if you hev a mind to give Us
each a hundred dollars fur our sheer we'll
sell out an the plaoell be yourn."
Three Of theml One hundred dollars
apiece Huldah thought rapidly. II was a
very low figure. Still, she was shrewd
enough not to seem too eager.
4 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 a good cellar, an excellent founda-
tion wall and timbers, and three or four
rooms that could be made habitable with
out 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
It was early in September, but there was
much to do before cold weather. She went
to her friend and asked for Donald.
81 want him for my boy, she explained.
81 will give him home and educate him. "
Donald stood by, anxious to hear the de-
cision.
III he wants to go, said Mrs. Rams.
dell, Il have no claim on him. just took
him in out Of charity, but / have enough
Of my own
DO you want to be my boy, Donald"
"Oh, yes'm, if you please"
Huldah was not a demonstrative woman,
/ but she kissed the eager, uplifled face. That
! caress made the motherioss boy her friend,
willing to lay down his life in her service.
In the busy days that followed she found
/ her boy a very efficient helper. It was Don
aid who cleared the place Of weeds. IL was
Donald who helped TO scrub and whiiewash
! the rooms. 1t was Donald who worked with
all his might when the drayman brought
| Huldah's furniture from her old home.
Donald, l do not want you 90 work so
hard. fear you will injure yourself" re-
monstrated Huldah, "aud I want you TO
have time for study"
81 love to work for you" responded tho
boy. "Aou never scold me, and ! want TO
see how well we can make the place look. d
1T is wonderfully improved already
Since you pulled up those great weeds and
burned them it looks like another place.
but We need d carpenter TO put a new root
on the wing Of the house, and to ix the
doors and windows. Then, if the house had
a coat of paint, it would be quite respecta
I ble.'
u She soon found a carpenter who was viii
ing TO make repairs If he could turn his
work on rent. Huldah furnished the ma
terials, and ia a week the man and his wife
moved into a part Of the house. so that al
most from the first the property began "a
be a paying investment. Donald begged tc
be allowed 10 paint the outside of the house
lie also learned TO put on shingles, and wa.
so much help in making the repairs that th,
term Of the carpenters service was com
paratively short. At the end OF the second
( month the rent was cash, and it went fal