
audiobook
HIDDEN TREASURE - THE STORY OF A CHORE BOY WHO MADE THE OLD FARM PAY - BY - JOHN THOMAS SIMPSON - COLORED FRONTISPIECE BY E.H. SUYDAM AND 16 ILLUSTRATIONS
THE AUTHOR FEBRUARY, 1919 - ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I. THE OLD HOMESTEAD
II. A DAY'S WORK
III. A RAINY DAY
IV. DRAINING THE POND
V. SELLING TURTLES
VI. SELLING SAND
VII. THE NEW AUNT
VIII. THE SALE
A former farmhand returns to the Pennsylvania homestead of his childhood, only to find the fields overgrown, fences broken and the once‑proud orchard wilted. As he walks the muddy lanes, the stark contrast between his memories and the present decay sparks a determination to turn the old property around. He quickly discovers that modern machinery, clever engineering, and a few unconventional ideas could be the key to reviving the land.
Guided by a cast of practical mentors—farmers, inventors and even a beekeeping editor—the boy‑turned‑chore worker begins to experiment with tractors, concrete mixers, and new dairy techniques. Each small success, from draining a stagnant pond to selling turtles for extra cash, reveals how diligent work and clever tools can transform hardship into profit. Listeners will be drawn into a vivid portrait of early‑20th‑century rural life, where determination and innovation uncover a hidden treasure far richer than gold.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (391K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Jun 1, 2004
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
A storyteller of rural life, he is best remembered for a 1919 novel that mixes farm know-how with an encouraging coming-of-age tale. His work offers a window into early twentieth-century ideas about work, self-reliance, and life on the land.
View all books
by Vinceslas-Eugène Dick

by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé

by Abraham Cahan

by Eliza Fowler Haywood

by Laure Conan

by Pauline E. (Pauline Elizabeth) Hopkins

by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps