Charlevoix county herald., 1915-08-14
"SAn BROWN"
Louis p. Haight.

I she got so discouraged that she just
went and died.
"Then Abe's wife died, and it was
too much for Abe's head, and instead
of going and getting drunk, he went
batty.
eff you want my advice, it don't
cost you nothing. You'd better spend
little money on telegraphin, to stop
them goods of your'n from comm up
this way, and then spend little more
takin' that sick wife of your'n back
to her folks, if she's got any, for if
you don't it won't be long before you'll
be takin' her back in her coffin"
Sans chest heaved. All of his ex-
pectations of making home for him
self in Michigan, with the waving
fields of grain, and the scent of the
clover blossoms filling the air, faded
like a mist, and he realized that he
had been robbed. He knew that it
was partly his own fault, that he
should have Investigated the land be-
fore he paid the money, but he was SO
worried about his wife, and so anxious
to get her out of the city, that he had
not exercised prudence. However, he
resented the deception, and resolved
that he would prevent others, if pos
sible, from being cheated in the same
fashion.
Without telling Sue his fears, he
watched over her like a mother with
an infant, all the night, trying to get
her to sleep, and holding her thin hand
in his strong one, so that she would
know he was near.
AS soon as he had given her her
meagre breakfast, and had his own,
he was ready to start with Pete to see
his farm.
They drove for miles through the
stump lands, over sandy roads, with
here and there an abandoned shanty,
which marked other victims more un-
fortunate than himself, for he had
enough money to get out of this desc
lation before its discouragements had
made wreck of him, like poor Abe,
who had purchased his land on con-
tract.
After several hours they came to
the bank of little stream, and there
was Abe's house, built of rough
boards, once covered with tar paper,
while crude lathing and plaster shut
out the winter storms from the inside.
The windows were broken, the door
open, and the weeds growing in the
doorway, completed the scene of dis
olation.
"Such a location in Southern ILL
nois," said Sam, with good SOIL,
would be worth 5000 an acre; but 1
believe you're right about lookin' to
heaven for the so bushels of wheat to
the acre, rather than at this sand.
I'm stumped. l acknowledge it, and
I'll take your advice, and take the
little girl back to her father and
mother. They'll be glad to see her,
and God helping me, I'll swallow my
pride, and work until / can earn
enough to buy back the old home
where l was born, and live as my
father and mother wanted me to, or
else I'll come back to this wilderness
and redeem this God-forsaken land.
"Come, let us get back as soon as
we can, and I'll take the first train
for Southern Illinois.
The ride home was more monoton-
Gus than the one out. Neither man
felt like talking, and it was bitter
task Sam had to perform when he
told Sue that there were no clover
fields, and no waving grain, that he
had been cheated, and that he was go
ing to take her back to her old home,
until he could provide better one for
her.
She realized how humiliating it
would be for him, but she was glad to
get back to her mother, and the old
home.
Bidding the Peterson family good
bye, Sam and Sue left on the first
train for Illinois; but he sent his deed
to be recorded, and had the title
searched, to see that it was clear.