The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-07-29
THE HOUSE
ON THE HILL,
BY NJ QUAD
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

the house was about completed b
died. 1t was decaying wreck whe
along came a Mr. Bushwick from n
one knew where and bought the prol
erty for 500. AS soon as he had tn
deed he offered it to any villager 70
$500 and was laughed at as weak i
the top story.
Failing to effect a sale, Mr.. BUSHNELL
had the house put in repair and an
nounced that he intended to live there
BE also announced that he should US
1t as an observatory. OF course tn
villagers knew what an observator,
was. When Mr.. Bushwick's telescop,
and tripod arrived and were set I'D OF
the veranda he permitted the villagers
to have look-not at the heavens, bu
at the earth. They could almost SCI
the houseflies in the town beneath
their feet
Gentlemen" said Mr.. BushwicB
when all was ready, 1.-THE price Of this
property is $500. 1t will increase S1OC
per week until sold"
OF course he was loony, but so long
as he appeared harmless the people
would only laugh at him. The first
one to make discovery was a Mr..
Graham. He was an old man, and he
had an old wife. They were always
wrangling, more or less. When they
had wrangled about so long each time
he would box her ears. Two days aft
er the Observatory" had been estab-
hshed and as the old couple sat on the
piazza Of their house a wrangle took
place. After bit the husband locked
around, and, seeing no one passing.
he administered a cuff. A moment
later he happened to look up on the
hill and saw that the telescope was
trained upon him. If there was any
doubt that Mr.. Bushwick had seen that
cuf inflicted it was dispelled by the
waving Of small white flag.
Elder Thompson was a good man, 4
very good man, as all elders should | e
and are. He was sitting in his back
yard under an apple tree, thinking
how good and peaceful and nice it
was to be real good. when a humble
bee came along and lifted him once
for his mothers sake. After coming
down from his high jump the elder
broke down young cherry tree, tore
down a panel of the fence and ran his
dog into the house. 1t was no more
than good man should do, but when
be looked up and saw that accusing
telescope and white flag he felt hurt
and conscience stricken.
A dszen other things Of the kind
happened during the first week, and
hen the citizens decided that an OBJ
'ervatory was unlawful. They con-
suited lawyer, and he smiled at them.
de told them the town could be sur
'ounded by observatories and not con-
lict with any law. Then it was
.hought best to make up shake purse
md buy Mr.. Bushwick out.
Gentlemen" said the telescope man
when they approached him on the SUBJ
ect. "the price Of this property is
800. Take it or leave it."
But you have no right to be spying
IN our homes" was retorted.
There is no spying. l am simply
the earth before me. If any
# you happen to come within my
'ange Of vision cannot help it. l do
lot think l shall write book on what
see. / may, but do not think So"
The citizens refused to pay the sum
famed and went down the hill to their
ZONES, while Mr.. Bushwick returned
o his post and his telescope. One Of
he residents Of the village was an old
maid named Miss Saunderson. She
lad home of her own. She was fond
# strolling in her garden. A Mr.. Bios
Iom, who lived next door, was fond of
Gaming over the line fence and quot
ng poetry to her. His wife had warn
ID him to stop it or she would quote
omething to him, but on a certain aft
rnoon he forgot the warning and was
CpCdtlnS Ohcl ludu D uluC " h1Io5
when there came a wife,
club and a cataclysm. The telescope
ook 1t all in. The white flag waved
oyously. Dozens of people saw it
wave and went hunting for the cause,
md there was some more to talk
bout Two or three days later COM
nittee climbed the hill with $500 in it's
ind pocket and told Mr.. Bushwick to
axe it and get out.
Gentlemen, I am sorry If you have
cen put to any trouble" he kindly re-
lied, "but the figure on the property
8 5000. You see, sort Of real estate
Dom has set in"
The committee hemmed and hawed
nd refused to pay. Two days after
hat the report spread that the observ-
tory man was going to have night
s well as a day glass-a glass that
would almost see through a pine door.
hen there was a hustle. Three men
ook up the task of collecting. Oh, no;
hey were not afraid Of the day glass
r the night glass or any other kind
f glass, but it would be a great i'm
rovement to the Landscape to remove
be house on the hill and set out some
ine trees there! When they went up
D see Mr.. Bushwick again he wanted
700, but, seeing 1t was they and see
1g they wanted to better the land
cape, he would throw off $50 and get
ut. In three days he was gone. and
he sigh Of relief that went up was
card all over Lorraine county. Things
o happen yet In that town, but the
'orld never hears of them. i
The Bed In Sickness.
Few DpODIa rpaIize thof for mnsf