The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-17
TEN ACRES
OF SAND
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1912, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

and chimneys you must nave SAND
Perhaps that was the reason why
Grandfather Sharp founded the town
of sharpsville where he did. There
were hills around it, and those bills
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
1000 people and was jogging along In
humdrum way when a great and sud-
den change swooped down on It. A
railroad decided to come that ,say;
shoe manufacturer decided to erect
big factory there; it was fine site for
a chair factory, and as 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 we're ten acres of that, and 1t
was owned by a spinster7named 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-
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 ii
but for old Ezra johnson. one OF the
old pioneers of the town, who had
known the spingter since her birth.
He had overheard some talk and he
called on her to advise.
"Hanner. I hear you ara gofn>8
sell them tenAacressforS $50 Dun,tIyou
do #" i'd
rive got a sneakins idea thatEthe
other sand pits are petertn out !
know Taylors is, and JohnscHs newer
did amount TO much. There's goingto
be a terrible pile Of sand used here
and IL It turns out that you've got the
only Dit you can get your own price
for II. Jest hang onsforsaVhilesany
way" x
well, 4f you. think So"
sT surely do. Say, Hanner,Syouknow
I was a widower ten year agoTs a
"Yes."
81 kinder hung around here-forsa
spell" 81
Hannah looked embarrassed.
"Guess mebbe you thought 4 was
after your"
why, Mr.. Johnson
''To be honest with you, was after
you, but them relations of mine talked
and talked until got switched of aft
er 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 goin' to show you how to get
better husband than / would have
made. Them ten acres is goin' to do
the trick"
"But-but I don't want to marryw
ooh, yes, you do! This pokin' around
alone hain't good for folks. You jest
refuse to sell that land at any price.
but throw out strong hint that when
you have a husband he can do as he
will about sellin'. Now, don't be skit'
fish about 1t. Every woman on airth
h,,ehond If hn 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 I tell you. orter married
you myself, but I'm dom the next pest
thing, IL not the best"
Now and then Ezra Johnson met Miss
Coodhue on the street and winked at
her, and when he judged the time ripe
be 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 lotsg'
aDo l want tor was shouted in re-
ply. why. man. you may go and tell
her that I'll give her a check for Sl5f
600 for them right now" AM
'she wants more than that" R9;
well, make it $4,000"
seNo use to offer money-not now"
ssThen In heavens name what can@we
offerT'
"Have you got mighty good man
hanging around-a Teller about forty
good natured and OF loving DISPOSE
tion, widow or bach?"
"Um! Umi 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-hus1
band, no sand"
Then Mr.. johnson explained and the
foreman was sent for. and within two
hours the plot was laid. Was 1t a bru4
tai affair? BY no manner of means!
why, 1t was the plainest case OF doing
the right thing at the right time you
ever heard of, and Cupid came ringing
the doorbell almost as soon as the prin-
clpals had been introduced.
In q month there was a marriage.
and the town was hustling again. The I
husband thought the land worth about f
$4,000. and he got his price, and. though
Ezra Johnson doesn't wink at Hannah i
any more when they Dass he does