The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-02-01
a. Find IT Hard to occupy Myself"

noble grove of walnut trees on the
other half. No one had ever dreamed
of leasing, buying or occupying 1t.
But Ralph resolved now to make
erty, and his own? BY diligence might
he not wrest some return for his hard
work? The prize, Myrtle. seemed far
enough away, for Allen Bruce had a
decided advantage over him. Still he
must live, he must make a beginning,
and the end of month saw a rude
but comfortable cabin erected at the
extreme north end of Lonely island.
At the end of another month Ralph
had cleared a f1ve-acre stretch of it's
underbrush, preparatory to doing
some real farming the next season.
One day he received a visit. It
was from man Familiarity known as
| Quaker Wilson. The latter was an
intensely religious and industrious
man, an old bachelor. odd in some of
his IDEAS, but thoroughly honest and
dependable
"Dering;' he said, in his quaint,
open way, Il want you to set me at
work"
Ralph smiled at the mere sugges-
ton.
why, Mr.. Wilson. find it hard to
occupy myself"
IT know that" nodded Wilson, but
I've got contract to bring you that
NAV obouro conditions X0,, HpO1y
| they are building a levee down be-
yond Millyille."
Il heard SO, yes"
"They are looking for material to
! I'LL in. Rock is too scarce and ex-
pensive. l got an idea. Nothing is
better for a base between the piles
than willows. l have convinced the
contractors Of this. They have agreed
to supply a scow and pay well for
every boatload we supply. The cut
ting ia easy and l will stick right with
you and live here for twenty-five per
cent Of the returns"
1t was better bargain than Ralph
had at first calculated. At the begin.
ming OF November, after thirty days
hard work, he had the satisfaction
of having cleared over FIVE hundred
dollars from this unexpected windfall.
Then came a second seeming stroke
Of fortune. A stranger rowed over to
the island one day and introduced him.
self to Ralph as the agent of a for
eign government. He wished to buy
all the standing timber on the island.
Ralph was puzzled and amazed at the
extravagant price named and said so.
IT'S simple" was the prompt ex-
PLANTATION. Our hardware factory
has q big war order-for guns. We
want your walnut to supply the
stocks"
The sum offered dazzled Ralph. He
was induced to go to town and sign q
contract. His eyes glistened as he
saw deposited in the bank the con-
tract that called for one thousand dol
lars a month for the next two years.
He thought of Myrtle-the future
looked bright. All kinds of extrava-
CANT dreams of fortune and success
filed his mind. Then there came a
dampener that set him to thinking.
A meeting with some friends, on the
way to the island, gained for him the
information that Myrtle was at the
head OF the movement for sending
clothing and general supplies to Euro
pean war sufferers. In q flash his
mind recoiled from a realization Of
the good she was attempting and the
sordid bargain he was lending him
self to.
Ralph was only half-hearted about
his impetuous plunge without think
ing into the war order proposition as
he told Wilson Of what he had done.
The latter was amazed and shocked.
He bluntly cited that his principles
we're against any encouragement of
strife, even in an indirect sense. He
seemed greatly moved as he gave his
views and after he had retired Ralph
caught the echo of fervent but sub
dued voice and knew that it was Will
son, praying.
"Mr Wilson," he said, first thing
next morning, II am going to town
to cancel that contract" and the old
man clasped his hand silently, but
with q look of relief and gladness on
his furrowed face.
Ralph did not return that day, nor
the next. Three days later Quaker
Wilson received . letter. 1t told him