The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-08-14

quite fourishng condition is it not?"
"None in the State on better footing"
was the prompt response.
"You receive deposits, do you not?'
Yes, madam, We are receiving them
every day"
"Do you receive as high as-as five thou
sand doliars2'
mo" said the cashier, with some sur.
prise; cor rather we do not allow interest
on so large a sum, One thousand dollarsis
our limit Did you know of any one who"
" 1t is Of no consequence" said the widow
hurriedly +" l only asked for curiosity. By
the way did you say how much interest you
allowed on such deposits as come within
your limit!"
Five per cent, madam
Thank you. only asked for curiosity.
What beautiful morning it is"
And the widow tripped lightly out Short
iy afterwards the deacon entered.
/" How's business, now, Mr.. Cashierr' he
asked
About as usual"
chad any new deposits lately p
" ,S'o'e Of any ,--"nrsahi-e.'
81 rou.ht O. .~sra a hdp ,ifis morning who
seemed to have bsssSxSsess with YOU
The Widow Wei5si
Eyes"
"Do you know" asked the cashier, 'whe-
ther she has money left her lately Z"
None that know of, y said the deacon,
pricking up his ears. "Why' Did she
deposit any:"
NO; but she inquired whether wa re-
csved deposits as high as five thousand
dolla-s"
Indeed CALCULATED the deacon. Was
II l.
meHt afterwards.
No; she exchanged gold piece for
some bills"
"Ha." pondered the deacon, r.hectire'y,
" did she give any reason for inQuiringS"
No. she said she only asked from Curl
osity"
The deacon left the bank in deep thought.
He came to the conclusion that this Curl
o.ity' only seiled deeper motive. He no
longer entertained doubt that the widow
had actually pot of gold in her cellar, and
appearances seemed Up Indicate that it's pro-
bable value was equal 10 five thousand dol
lars. The gold piece which she had erchan-
ged at the bank appeared to confirm tais
story.
q" rather think" said the deacon com
placently, Il can see into a milestone about
as far as most people, - statement, the
literal truth Of which ! defy any one to
question, though, as TO the prime fac. OF
peoples being able to see into a milestone
at all. doubts have no. and then intruded
themselves upon my mind.
Next Sunday the Widow Wells appeared
at church in a new and stylish bonnet, which
led to some such remarks as these
How much vanity some people have to
be sure
How woman tha. has 70 keep board
ers for living can afford 10 dash out with
such bonnet is more than | can tell!
should think she was Old enough to know
better"
This last remark was made by lady Just
SIX months younger than the widow, whose
attempts 20 catch a husband had hitherto
proved utterly uaavailins.
Z" i-euppose," continued tao game young
lady, "she is trying TO catch second hus-
band with her tinsry Before | would con-
descend 10 such means Td-Ti drown my
self"
In this las. amiab,e speech the young Ia
dy had unwittiagly hit upon the true mo-
tive. The widow was intent upon catching
Deacon Bancroft, and She indu' ged in cost
ly bonnet. not because she supposed she
would be caught with taery, but because
this would strengthen in his mind the idea
that she had stumbled upon hidden wealth.
The widow had calculated shrevdy, and
the display had the effect that she had an
ticipated.
Monday afternoon, Deacon Bancroft found
an crank that called hin over to the Wild
ov's. 1t chsuced TO be about tea time. He
was importuned to stay to tea, and, some
what to his surprise, actually did.
The polite widow, who knew the deacon.
weak point, brought on one of hsr best
mince pies, slice OF which her gusto par
took Of with ,est.
You'll take another piece know said
she Persuasivey.
Really, am ashamed" said the deacon
and ne passed his plate. The fact is" be
said, apolige,ically, "your pies are SO nice
don't know where to stop"
'.Do you call these nice, said the wild
ow, mcdesty. 81 only call them common.
can make mince pies, when set out to,
but this time didn't have such good luck
as usual"
"I shouldn't want any better" said the
deacon, emphaticsi'y.
Then | hope, if you Ike them, you'll
droa into tea often. We ought to be more
neighborly, Deacon Bancroft
Deacon Bancroft assentsd. and ne meant
what he said. The fact is, the deacon be-
gan to think the widow was very charm
ing woman. She was very comeiy, and She
was such an excellent cook Besides, he
had no doubt in his own mind that she was
worth considerable sum of money. What
rejection could there be to becoming Mrs.
Bancroft? He brought this question before
her one evening. The widow blushed, pro-
fessed to be greatly surprised-in fact she
had never thought Of the thing in her life
but, on the whole, she had thought highly
of the deacon, and, to short the matter, ae-
cepted him.
A month afterwards she was installed as
mistress of the deacon's large house, some
what to the surprise of the village people,
who could not conceive how she had bro't
him over.
ventured to inquire about the pot Of gold
which she had found in the cellar.
"Pot Of gold :" she exclaimed in surprise;
al know OF ncne."
But" SAID the deacon disconcerted you
know you asked me about whether the law
could claim It"
"Oh. lor deacon, only asked from GU
riosity." ....
quiries at the bank :" -,
Certainly. What else could it be p
The deacon went out to the bars, and for
half an hour sat in silent meditation. AT
the end Of that time he CALCULATED, as clos
inp consideration. After oil she makes
good mince pies !"
1t gives me pleasure to state that the un-
ion between the deacon and the widow pro-
we'd a very happy one, although to the end
of his life, he never could quite make up his
mind about "The Pot of Gold"
The Throne Of Solomon.
The description which We here give to our
readers was translated by Capt. w. Franklin
from Persian manuscript entitled beet al
Makuds," or History Of Jerusalem, and
will be found in the first volume of the
"Orisntal Collections" 10 the Mason 1t
"A