Year: 1868

me quite garden; though 1 suppose it
would cost about as much to till such
land as the produce would be worth


That would depend upon how much
worked it, said Peter dryly.


%, yes, l suppose &c. But you are
willing to sell out, | suppose


Certainly.


The mans eyes began to brighten.


How much should you want for III
he asked.


well, l don't know What could you
afford to payl


'Why, l suppose could afford to pay
great deal more than it is WORTH
Rather than not have it would pay
well-,say two hundred dollars, or two
hundred and fifty at the outside.


Il don't think there is much use of our
talking, SIR


'But-you paid one hundred, only, if
| mistake not


Il had my choice between one hun
dred dollars and the land, and / chose
the latter but as you seem to labor in
the dark, l will explain TO you. In the
first place there is not another spot Of land
in this section of the country that possess
ses the natural advantages which this one
does. l cab have my early peas and
vines up and hoed before my neghbors
get theii ground ploughed; so l have my
early sauce in market ahead of all others,
save few hot house owners, whose plants
cannot compare with mine for strength
and size Then my soil is very rich,
yields fifty per cent. more than most other
land. Now look at this During the
last season have realized over eight
hundred dollars from this land, and next
season 1 oon set rnV,e than .hot, for my
strawberry vines are flourshing finely -
There are not any two farms in town
that can possibly be made to realize so
much money as my hill side, for you see
it is the time of my produce, and net
quantity, that does the business. A bush-
ell of my early peas on the twenty second
of May, are worth ten times as much as
my neighbours bushel on the first of July
and August Two hundred dollars will
more than pay me for all my time and
trouble in attending my land so you see
| save this year six hundred dollars IN
tcrest'


'Then you wouldn't sell for less than
six hundred, | suppose said Mr.. An
dersoD, carelessly


would you cell out concern that was
yielding you net profit of six hundred
dollars year, for that sum, sir p asked
Peter.


'A.hem woll- eh.yon put it rather Gu
riously.'


Then I'll put it plainly. You may
have the hillside for ten thousand dollars


Mr.. Anderson laughed; but he found
that Peter was in earnest, and he CONS
menced TO curse and swear. At this, Pc
ter simply turned and left his customer to
himself, and he saw nothing more of the
specuator.


Two days afterwards, however, three
of the merchants came to see our hero,
and when they had heard his simple story
they were ready to do justly by him
They went up and examined the spring,
which they found to be pure as crystal,
and as 1t was then dry season, they saw
that the supply Of water could never fail,
and all the houses which might be built
on Peters land could be supplied with
running water, even in the very attics OF
the upper ones.


The merchants first went to the man
who owned the land above Peters includ-
ing the ledge and spring. and lie agreed
to sell it for two hundred dollars. This,
to builders was great bargain, for the
stone OF the ledge was excellent granite
Then they called a surveyor and made a
plot of the hillside, whereby they found
that they could have forty building lots,
worth from two hundred and fifty to four
hundred dollars each. They hesitated,
not moment after the plot was made
but paid Peter his ten thousand dollars
cheerfully.


Ere many days after this transaction,
Peter White received very polite note
from Cordelia Henderson. asking him ia
call and see her; but he did not call -
lie hunted up Mr.. Somers and went into
business with him, and this very day
Somers & White do business in that town,
and Walter Sturgis is their clerk. And
in all the country there is not pletter
spot than the old hillside. The railroad
depot is near its foot, and it is occupied
by sumptuous dwellings in which live
merchants who do business in the adiac,
ent city.


One thing Peter missed-that he did
not reserve building spot for himself -
But his usual good fortune attended him,
even here. A wealthy banker had oc
casion to move 10 another section of the
country, and sold his house and garden to
Peter, for just one half what the building
cost him. So Peter took wife who
loved him when he dug in the earth, and
found home for her and himself upon
the old hillside.


And now reader, where do you think
the hill side is Perhaps you know; fol
) il is vertabe history have been writ
ing, and the place have told you about
is now one of the most select suburban
} residences.


Edward Everett always had smil
and a pleatant word for children.


The remains of Beverly l.. Clark O