Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-06-27
A Gold Mine.

Not far from the southwestern corner
of Wisconsin is a farm which, while now
unproductiVe, produced gold in small
quantities i'm the early sos. Chris Jensen
was the owner in the "god-bearing"
days.
on a visit to Chicago he attended an
auction sale of unclaimed packages held
by an express company and, bidding in
spirit of fun, found himself saddled with
"A box full of teeth consigned to dead
dentist. The box found its way into
his capacious bag and was carried to the
farm in secrecy. prompted by his fear of
ieering neghbors. The bag and its con-
tents were forgotten in the rush of work
which had accumulated. The summer
passed and Chriss carpet bag stayed in
its corner unopened, attesting to his bach
elor state. When the winter nights
heightened Chris undertook to clean
house. This periodic event consisted of
moving all the furniture to one side of
the room and leaving it there. When the
years's debris was removed from where
the furniture had stood the room was
cleaned
one Of the first things to be moved was
the bag and Chris looked long at the box
which had cost dollar for few min
utes of fun. out of curiosity he opened
the box to view his purchase. He saw
several hundred teeth in various stages
of decay. But all had been filled at some
time and the gold in them doubtless rep
resented the margin of some extracting
dentist. Chris knew gold when he saw 1t
and set to work to recover his dollar.
The best way he could conceive was to
get the filling by cracking the teeth.
Crushing them with n hammer on a board
was impracticable. so Chris went out to
little rocky knoll on the farm and,
searching in the snow, found a stone to
crack the teeth on.
Glenn Brewster the village canitalist
passed by as Chris searched for his anvil
and twitted him about looking in the snow
for stones
The loony Scandewegian! Wonder
what he's up tor
Reaching home, Chris cracked teeth
until he had respectable store of filings.
The next day he walked to the village to
realize on his Investment The ieweler
was surprised at the array of gold but
being interested in profits only, asked no
questions. Just as Chris was putting
his pay into his wallet Glen Brewster
came into the shop. His eyes opened
wide Waiting until Chris had left. Glen
turned to the jeweler
What are you paying money for?
didn't ever know that your money ever
went in that direction"
"Well, I don't know I gave him what
his gold was worth"
Gold! Chris! Where did he get it?"
Don't know Don't care. It's good
gold"
Let me see. Nuggets. Gold, Don't
you know what these are? They're gold
| nuggets I've seen 'em out West. And
| farm"
Ignorant of the commotion he had
| caused Chris went his way and put the
receipts from the teeth in a safe place.
He was finishing his chores when Glenn
drove up.
Chris, are there many more stones
| like that you got on the hill yesterday"
"Oh. yes"
Amt you afraid that someone will
| steal them"
| "Oh. no."
Say. Chris. want your farm. How
much do you WANT"
What you give2" Chris had gained
some Yankee traits.
Say four thousand. 1t amt worth it,
| That's ten an acre more than you paid"
Maybe you give seven?"
| TOO much. III give you five"
81 won't take it,"
| "Five-fifty?"
Chris shook his head He had the
bankers measure.
| six"
Nope"
| "Six-fifty."
when you want the FARM
| Now"
| "Cash?"
| Yes"
| Take IT,"
| Keep II quiet"
on the receipt of the money Chris moved
to the village and prepared to go back to
| Norway. Before he left he finished
cracking the teeth and sold the filings
| to the jeweler.
| Some more nuggets?" asked that
| worthy.
| Nuggets! oh. yes"
| Then the story came out.-[Chicago
| Daily News.