Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-07-01
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THE POT OF GOLD.

Deacon Bancroft, though very good
man in the main, and looked up to with
respect by all the inhabitants of the village
Of fCenterillc, was runlorcd 70 have, in Yam
kce p;irlance, "a pretty sharp eye to the
main chance, IA peculiarly from which
dcacons are not ALWAYS exempt.
In worldly matters he was decidedly well
to do, having inherited a fine farm from his
father, which was growing yearly more val
uable. II might he supposed that, under
these circumstances, the deacon, WHO was
fully able to do SO, would have found a
help mate TO share his house and name.-
But the deacon was wary. Matrmoney
was to him in some measure matter-o'mo-
iIey and il was his firm resolve not to mar
ry unless he could thereby enhance his
worldly prosperity. Unhappily, the little
village of Ccntrevillc, and towns in the i'm
mediate vicinity, contained few who were
qualified in tins important particular, and
rf those few there were probably none with
whom the dcacon's suit would have pros
pcred. ~.
So it happened year after year passed
away, until Deacon Bancroft was in the
prime of life fc-forty-iiv or thereabouts-
and still unmarried, and in all human prob
ability likely to remain SO. - '-l,
Deacon Bancroft's nearest ncighbor was
a widow. -'''
The widow Wclls, s,wlio had passed through
ole matrimonial experience, was some three
or four years yonger than Deacon Ban
croft. 49,
She was still quitc.a comely woman
Unfortunately, the late Mr.. Wells had not
tccn able to leave her sufficient to make
her Independent of the world. All that
she possessed was the small, old d-fashioned
house in which she lived, and small
amount of money, which was Insufficient
to support her and a little son of seven,
though hardly to be cIasscd as productive
-Aof anything but mischief. 2. 'tf-i.'
The widow was therefore. obliged to take
three or four bearders, to exc out her scail-
ty income, which of course imposed upon
her considerable labor and anxiety. +" 7
1t is not surprising then, under these cir,
cumstapces, she now and then would have
bethought herself of a second marriage, as
method of bettcring her condition! Or
again, need we esteem it a special wonder,
If, nhcr reflections upon this point, she
should have cast her eyes upon her neigh
Dor Deacon Bancroft! The Deacon, as we
have already said, was in fourishing cir
cumstances. He would be able to main
tain n wife in great comfort; and, being
one of the chief personages in the village,
could accord her prominent social posi-
tion. Tiirs ~ Ee 80
He was not especially handsome, calcl-
lated to make a profound impression upon
the female heart-this was true-but he
was of good disposition, kind-hearted, and
would no doubt make a good sort of hus-
band., a desirable match.
a Some sagacious person, however, has OBJ
served that it takes two TO make match,
a fact to be seriously considered; for in the
present case it was exceedingly doubtful
whether the worthy deacon, even if he had
known the favorable opinions of his next
door neighbor, would have been inclined to
propose changing her name TO Bancroft,
unless, indeed, a suitable motive was
brought to bear upon him. Here was n
chance for finessing. .1 % Iaaarea .7
One evening, after a day of fatiguing Ia
Dor, the widow Wells sat at the fire in the
sitting room, with her feet resting upon the
fender. ..it .lss- +;
"If ever am so situated as not have to
work so hard" she murnured, Il shall be
happy Its a hard life keeping boarders.
If l was only as well off as Deacon Ban
Still the widow kept up her thinking.
and by-and-by her face frightened up
She had an idea, which she resolved to put
into execution at the very earliest practiica-
bic moment. What it was the reader will
discover in the sequel.
s1Iarry," said she to her son the next
morning, 81 want you to stop at Deacon
Bancrofts as you 60 along to school, and
ask him if he win call and see me in tho
course of the morning or afternoon, Just as
he finds it most convenient" 30
Deacon Bancroft was little surprised
at the summons. However. about II
o'clock, he called in. The widow had go'
on the dinner, and had leisure to sit down
She appeared a little embarrassed.
"Harry told me you would like to sec