The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-11-22
TEN ACRES
OF SAND
By NJ QUAD
By NJ QUAD
Copyright 1912, By Associated LIT.
erafy Press.


Grandfather Sharp founded the towfI
Of sharpsvills where he did. There
were hills around II. and those hills
were full Of sand and gravel. Foe
thirty years every man that built =
house or had need of sand was free to
dig into any hill and help himself Il
all he wanted.
Sharpsvllle had got to be q town Of
1900 people and wns jogging along In
humdrum way when a great and sud-
den change swooped down on It. A
railroad decided to come that way: q
shoe manufactures decided to erect q
big factory there; II was One site for
Q chair factory. and a. the country
around was agricultural q cannery was
to be established. In sly. secret way.
sites were purchased and then came
the announcements that fairly made
the town stand on its head. All the
sandpits were bought up except one.
There were ten acres Of that. and It
was owned by q spinster named Han.
nah Goodhue.
Three or four different times Miss
GOodhue had offered to sell those ten
acres for $50 Nothing but sorrel and
mullen stocks would grow on the sandy
surface. and nobody could tell wheth-
er the material below amounted to
anything. Not over 100 cart loads Of
snnd had ever been taken out. as
there was plenty to be had nearer.
The land buyers inspected the sand,
pronounced 1t good and offered $50 for
the ten acres. They would have got It
but for old Ezra Johnson. one Of the
old pioneers OF the town. who had
known the splnster since her birth.
He had overheard some talk and he
called on her to advise.
"IIanner. 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 II It turns out that you've got the
only pit you can get your own price
for 1t. Jest hang on for awhile any
way"
"WeIl, II you think So"
~ surely do. Say. Hammer. You know
I was widower ten year agof'
EYES"
81 kinder hung around here for a
spell"
Hannah looked embarrassed.
'Guess mebbe you thought was
after your"
"Why, Mr.. Johnson!"
ITO be honest with you. I was after
you, but them relations Of mine talked
and talked until l got switched Off aft
er the Widder Colby. It's allus laid
heavy on my conscience"
"But never even dreamed Of mar
ryipg your exclaimed the blushing
spinster.
"Tut. tut! It's all right. however.
I'm goin' to show you how to get n
better husband than I would have
made. Them ten acres IL goin' to do
the trick"
"But--but I don't want to marry"
ooh, yes. you do! This pokin' around
alone hain't good for folks. You Jest
refuse to sell that land ut any price,
but throw out n strong hint that when
you have a husband he can do as he
will about sellin'. Now. don't he skit-
tish about 1t. Every woman on airth
Is entitled to a husband. II he don't
come through love make him come
through ten acres Of sand. Love and
sand will mix all right after a bit.
Mind what tell you. Orter married
you myself. but I'm doln' the next best
thing, II not the best"
Now and then Ezra Johnson met Miss
Goodhue on the street and winked at
her, and when he judged the time ripe
he went TO the president Of the big shoe
concern. who wns tearing his hair 10
anxiety. and asked;
do you want To git holt OF Miss
GOodhue's sand lots?"
do | want TOT" was shouted In re-
ply, "Why. man, you may go and tell
her that I'll give her check for $751;
600 for them right now"
"She wants more than that"
"Weil. make II $4,000"
"NO use to offer money-not now"
''Thcn In heavens name what can We
offcrT'
"Ilave you got mighty good man
hnnging Nround-a fellcr about forty
good nailrcd and OF loving DISPOSE
tion, widow or bnch?"
I'm! I'm! Let's see. Yes, have
He's one OF my foremen and good as
the day II long, Why"
Get him TO marry the old maid. and
goull 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 It bru
tai affair? BY no manner OF means
Why. 1t was the piainest case Of dolnl
the right thing at the right time 70,
ever heard Of, and Cupid came ringing
the doorbell almost as soon M the prin
cipals had been introduced.
In month there was a marriage
1