he object of purchasing the adjacent
lands. Imagine his chagrin, when he was told Joel had the refusal of the
whole tract. With a low cunning he endeavored to make the old merchant
dissatisfied with the sale, by telling him that he had parted with his
property for a quarter of its value--in fact, had given it away. He
would have offered twice the money himself.

'I am glad to hear you say so,' was the only reply the fellow received,
'for I take a great interest in that young man. So he has got his mill
a-going, has he? Good.'

'But if I should offer you ten dollars an acre for the next
hundred-acre-lot, don't you think you could manage to let me have it?'

'No.'

What an excitement there was when our smart man returned and gave an
account of his trip. Then followed all sorts of rumors. Joel was in
partnership with a rich old fellow in 'York,' who was going to let him
have all the money he wanted. There was to be a new village right away,
situated somewhere--on the ridge--on the stream--across the creek--on
the plain--under the hill. What wouldn't the speculators give to know
_just_ where! With the erection of the saw-mill, several little huts
went up near it for the use of those employed there. These huts were not
made of logs--there was plenty of lumber now--but cheaply constructed
and clap-boarded with slabs. Some of the Sudbury wits derisively called
the place 'Slab City.' The lumber-men seemed to like this name, for they
at once adopted it, and it has never been known by any other.

But before this, a remarkable event occurred, affording still greater
food for town-talk and gossip generally. The neat log-house on the ridge
had been comfortably furnished, and Ellen Bellows--now Ellen
Burns--installed as its mistress.

On his third visit the mystery was solved in a manner quite satisfactory
to the aunt. To do that lady justice, we must say she was not half so
selfish nor so calculating as she might have been. It is true she had
not generosity enough to run the risk of offering Ellen a home as long
as she might require one, whatever should happen. But she was tolerably
kind to her, and when she heard that a wedding was to be speedily
improvised, she entered into it heart and soul, and made every thing
pass pleasantly, yes, happily. Furthermore, I am bound to record that
she refused to take one penny for Ellen's 'board,' although Joel pressed
her to do so.

'Do you think I am an old hunks, Joel, because I did no