Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-08-31
The Building Of a House
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

TT WAS quite naturally matter Of
general interest and speculation.
Jne morning a wagon loaded with
dressed sandstone blocks ground it,
vay through the ruts-the suburb not
vet having attained the dignity OF
naved streets-and stopped before the
corner lot. Mrs. Robertson saw then
first and she Is rather pulled up about
II. which is absurd. The street is quite
a little below the sidewalk, so much
OF il having been carried away as muo
or blown away as dust, and the driver
OF the wagon had 10 get out and in
spect the embankment very carefully
before he was satisfied that his bis
horses with the flowing whiskers on
their hooks could pull their load up.
they pulled Il up. but the driver swor'
OF them 50 loudly and vigorously that
the whole block was aroused. Then by
the time be had piled up the stone
everybody guessed that somebody was
going 10 build on Humans lot.
II was undoubtedly, as the sign board
announced. a most desirable lot. There.
were four leafy naples on IL, and tive
slms that were just the right distance
apart 20 swing a hammock comfort
ably. The grass had never been al
lowed 20 run riotously to seed and weed
as il had on the Stoke property and the
Watkins lots. MIR. Thurman always
kept IL shaved down with his lawn
mower. gathering in two or three crops
OF hay for his COW in season. Nc
tin cans were ever dumped surrepti-
tiously within it's corner stakes, anG
the boys even respected II and buili
their bonfires and played bah else
where.
Closely following the wagon three
laborers with picks, spades and shoyels
came and proceeded to dig down to tho
sewer and water mains, aud two teams
of horses with plows and scrapers be
gan TO scoop unsightly gashes In III,
green turf More stone. some loads OF
sand and barrels of lime were brought
and before nightfall the lot was dis
figured beyond recognition.
As general thing, the little white
box OF an Office where Mr.. Thurman
ostensibly conducts a real estate and
insurance business is not oyercrowded.
Mr.. Thurman. who has really no oc-
casion 10 transact any kind OF business.
comes down regularly every morning
at nine o'clock and occupies himself
mainly in smoking a venerable brier
pipe with long cherrywood stem-un-
IN four o'clock in the afternoon. In
winter his desk is drawn close up 20
stubbv stove devoid of ornamental
ton and backing and in summer he
drags a chair outside. either TO the
front or rear Of the office, as the shad,
invites, and philosophically waits for
business. The day after the wagon
hauled the stone 10 the lot he had hard |
Is unlocked his Office when four house
holders in the row opposite dropped in
and took possession OF the three chairs |
aud a corner Of the desk.
For few minutes they discussed the |
extension OF the waterworl1s system to |
the subdivision and changes in the rail-
ANau AAAAt-ANAhs 4 ANA MI A1NAE1i Il
preached the real subject of interest.
Who's going TO build on your lot?'
he asked.
Mr.. Thurman can be exasperating /
when he pleases, and it pleased him 10
Is 50 on this occasion. He looked at
The questioner hlankly.
~Eh? Which lot do you meang" he
asked.
"Ihe lot on the corner Of Twentieth
avenue and Eastwood" chorused the
four. You've sold the lot. haven't
you?" added Forrest.
Mr.. Thurman had not, to the almost
certain knowledge Of the suburb. sold
a lot before in a year. but he removed
the pipe from his mouth and scratched
his gaunt cheek refiectively with .ean
forefnger for moment OF two before
be replied.
Corner OF Twentieth and Bass
wood he repeated. "Let me see.
think ! can tell YOU" He turned to
his Anticipated little safe. fumbled with
the combination. and finally opened II.
Then he took out big eanvas-baeked
Journal opened that, ran his finger