Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-05-23
TEN ACRES
OF SAND
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1912, by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By NJ. QUAD


and chimneys you must have sand.
Perhaps that was the reason why
Grandfather Sharp founded the town
of Sharpsvile where he did. There
were. hills around it. and those hills
were full of sand and gravel For
thirty years every man that built a
house or had need of sand was free to
dig into any hill and help himself to
all he wanted.
Sharpsville had got to be a town of
/ 800 people and was jogging along in a
humdrum way when a great and sud
den change swooped down on it, A
railroad decided to come that way:
shoe manufacturer decided to erect
big factory there; it was fine site for
Il chair factory. and AS the country
around was agricultural Il cannery was
10 be established. In Il sly. secret way.
sites were purchased and then came
the announcements that fairly made
the town stand on its head All the
,andpits were bought up except one.
There were ten acres of that. and II
was owned by spinster named Han
nah GOodhue.
Three or four different times Miss
GnOdhue had offered to sell those ten
acres for $50 Nothing but sorreI and
MULLEN stocks would grow on the sandy
surface, and nobody could tell wheth-
or the material below amounted to
anything Not over 100 cart loads OF
sand had ever been taken out. as
there was plenty TO be had nearer
The land buyers inspected the sand.
pronounced it good and offered $50 for
the ten acres. They would have got 1t
but for Old Ezra Johnson. one Of the
old pioneers of the town. who had
known the spinster since her birth
He had overheard some talk and he
called on her to advise.
Hammer. hear you are goin' to
sell them ten acres for $50, Don't you
do it."
But why?"
I've got sneakin' idea that the
other sand pits are peterin' out.
know Taylor's is. and .Johnson's never
did amount to much. There's going to
be a terrible pile of sand used here.
and If it turns out that you've got the
only pit you can get your own price
for it. Jest hang on for awhile any
way"
We'll, II you think So"
II surely do. Say, Hammer, you know
| was widower ten year ago?"
Yes"
II kinder hung around here for
spell"
Hannah looked embarrassed.
Guess mcbbe you thought I was
after your"
why, Mr.. Johnsonv'
"To be honest with you, was after
you, but them relations of mine talked
err the Wilder Colby. It's allus laid
heavy on my conscience"
But never even dreamed of mar
rying your exclaimed the blushing
spinster
Tut, tut! It's all right. however.
I'm gotn' to show you how to get
better husband than | would have
made. Them ten acres is goin' to do
the trick"
"But-but don't want to marry"
"Oh, yes. you do. This pokin' around
alone hain't good for folks. You jest
refuse to sell that land Mt any price
but throw out strong hint that when
you have a husband he can do rs he
will about selin'. Now. don't be skit
fish about it. Every woman on airth
Is entitled to a husband If he don't
come through love make him come
through ten acres of sand. Love and
sand will mix all right after bit
Mind what tell you. l orter married
you myself, but I'm dom the next best
thing. If not the best"
Now and then Ezra Johnson met Miss
Goodhue on the street and winked Mt
her, and when he Judged the time ripe
he went to the president of the big shoe
concern, who was tearing his hair In
anxiety. and asked
do you want to git holt of Miss
Goodhue's sand lots?'
40 | want to-" was shouted in re-
ply. why, man. you may so and tell
her that I'll give her check for $l5.-
600 for them right now"
"She wants more than that"
well, make it $4,000"
mo use to offer money-not now"
"Then In heavens name what can we
offer?'
"TIave you got a mighty good man
hanging around-a Teller about forty
good natured and of loving DISPOSE
ton, widow or bachT'
"Um! I'm! Let's see. Yes. | have,
He's one Of my foremen and good as
the day Is long, Why?"
Get him to marry the old maid, and
you'll get your sand all right No hus-
band no sand"
Then Mr., Johnson explained and the
foreman was sent for. and within two
hours the plot was laid. Was 1t a hru-
tai affair? BY no manner of means,
Why, 1t was the plainest case Of doing
the right thing at the right time You