ay for them,
and the money was ready at five dollars the acre, and he desired the
refusal of the balance at the same rate. The bargain was closed in this
way, and Joel went on to his own property rejoicing. The plot selected
by him was from that portion nearest to the road, which here was about a
mile distant, and at a point of the stream most favorable for the
erection of a _saw-mill_. This hundred acres Joel had had carefully
surveyed before he went to New-York. It embraced a portion of the
'ridge,' with a front on the stream. The old village was miserably
situated, on the ancient principle of putting it in the centre of the
township, and a new road had been talked of for some time, which would
shorten the communication between two important points, and leave it to
one side. This was also known to Joel, and it led him to greater energy
in trying to secure the property. But he did not omit to mention this
circumstance in his interview with the proprietor, though, if the truth
be told, he was tempted to keep silent. Joel Burns had a fine moral
sense, to violate which, gave him pain. Without going through any
argument on the subject, he _felt_ that it would amount to a deception
if he withheld the information.

At the time of Mr. Bellows' death Joel was worth about twelve hundred
dollars. His benefactor had not only paid him a full salary, but,
besides this, perceiving that Joel displayed an aptitude for business,
Mr. Bellows allowed him privileges by which he was able to make some
money on his own account. The result was, he had accumulated the sum I
have mentioned, from which had now been disbursed five hundred dollars
for the land purchase.

Through the winter Joel was very busy. He hired four stout, active
lumber-men, built a rude log-hut, which was comfortable enough inside,
and all set to work first to cut a road to the highway. Then they
commenced clearing. The timber was magnificent first-growth pine. It cut
up splendidly. The lumber-men now saw what Hiram was driving at. They
began to respect the young fellow who looked so much like a boy, yet who
showed such pluck, nerve, and sagacity. After a while, in a pleasant
position on the ridge could be seen a very neat log-house in progress of
erection. It contained four rooms--a spacious edifice for the woods--all
of course on the ground floor, for there was no second story. Great
attention was paid in a rude way to the interior, and by spring it was
finished.

Du