The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-11-15

IeeQluS SOIue pet ueGI Vi HIS, jim
looked up.
''You own this land here?" inquir-
ed the stranger.
Certainly" responded Jim, "you
can shoot an fish all you want. Go
right ahead
"That isn't it," said the stranger,
II want to buy some property" "
Jim laughed and shook his head.
''You got the wrong pig by the
ear, stranger. It's my brother you
want to see. He's got the finest bit
of salable land around here any
where's. You'll find him about two
miles along through that path. He's
got great farm-cleared it all in ten
year, too. Ten year ago it was just
like this"
The stranger snorted. ''Cleared it,
did he? Blamed idiot p Then he
looked keen1y at Jim. "It's you I
want to dicker with. It's your land
1 want" He looked up at the tall
hardwood trees that had matured in
the 10 years that Jim had been living
his life of ease.
"How much land have you got 2"
he asked. Jim told him.
"I'll give you twenty-five thou
sand cash for it right now," returned
the stranger carelessly. He looked
up again at the trees.
twenty-five thou" Jim began
in astonishment.
Then he stopped. Down in his
system somewhere Jim had bit of
the instincts of the McCreas-his
mothers kinsmen. They had been
traders. And then, too, he thought
of all the pleasant years he had spent
in this outdoor palace, with the turf
for carpet, and the blue sky for
roof. He shook his head.
II won't SELL" he replied. The
man burst into laugh.
"I shouldn't think you would p
he exclaimed, at that price. Come" J"
he continued seriously, "I'm author
lied to offer you $50, ooo-not cent
more or less. Will you take it?"
Jim scratched his head. "What for 7"
he inquired.
"Why, for the timber, of course"
continued the man impatiently. "The
land is worthless" Jim looked up
at the tall straight trees that rose
above him. "I never realized it,"
he said "we've grown up, the trees
and I together" Then he turned to
the man.
Stranger" he said, ''for 100000
I'll go you"
And at that price shiftless Jim sold
out his land. The 10 years was up.
x X x x
Jim was the first to reach home.
He found his father a ruined man
almost. But Jim stepped into the
breach. Things had gone down hill
with the old man, but Jim turned
them right about face. Jim paid off
the big mortgage, and took up all
the notes that he found to buy. And
the old man fell upon his neck and
blessed him.
William Henry p he exclaimed,
forgetting for the moment that it was
Jim, "what would I have done with
out you?"
And then William Henry arrived.
"Bill," said Jim, his eyes twink
ling, you've been the faithful stew
ard. Here is your reward. Father
said you'd get it. Here it is.
He handed over $4,000 in cash.
Then he turned to the old man.
Father" he exclaimed, "Bill's
done we'll. Got the best farm in three
counties. Cleared it in 10 years
not root or stone in it. And, say"
he continued, "it's worth $40, 1000 if
it's worth cent. Ten thousand dol
lars-think of it %
He closed his eyes a minute, the
better to contemplate William Hen
ry's success.
"Ten thousand dollars p he muir
INJURED. "Ten thousand dollars ?
That's what labor accomplishes. And
if he hadn't cleared it, it wouldn't
have been worth more than"-he
struck the table with his fst-"more
than-well, fifty or sixty thousand at
the outside. By George, it wouldn't
would it, Bill? Verify, industry
hath its reward p
That is shiftless Jim's story. He
is now one of the largest lumber men
and dealers il. timber land in any State
west of the Mississippi.
William Henry's farm is still the
marvel of three counties-not rock
or a snag upon it anywhere-Co1y-
rfgnted, 1892, BY Daily StO,y Pub
kshtne Co.