Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-09-17
THE POT OF GOLD. ].

Il @"oaSS HNsAohOSs % paStSy C1t
TO the main chance. peculiarly from
which deacons are not always exempt
Deacon Bancroft was in the prime %
life-45 or rthereabouts-and still unmar'
ried. and 10 all human probability wa.
likely to remain so. y.
Deacun Bancroft's nearest neighbol
was widow.
The Widow Wells, who had passed
through one matrimonial experience. was
some three or four years younger than
Deacon Bancroft. She was quite q
cemely woman. Unfortunately. the late
Mr.. Wells had not been able to leave her
sufficient TO make her independent of the
world. Allthat she possessed was the
small old fashioned house in which she
lived, aud small amount of money.
which was insufficient to support her and
a little son Of seven. though hardly to be
classed as .'productiye" of anything but
mischief.
The widow was therefore obliged to
take three or four boaders. to exc out the
scanry income. which Of course impossd
upon her considerable labor, aud anxiety.
1t is not surprising, then. that. under
these circumstances she should now aud
then bethink herself OF second marriage
as method of bettering her condition
Or again. need we esteem it special
| wonder IT, in her reflections on this point,
she should have cast her eyes upon our
neighbor. Deacun Bancroft The Dua
con was in furnishing circumstances. He
/ would be able to maintain wife in great
comfort and being one of the chief per>
sonages in the village. could accord her
n prominent social position.
One evening. after day of fatiguing
labor. the widow Wells sat at the tire 10
the sitting room with her feet resting on
the fender.
"If ever am so situated as not to
have 10 work so hard" she murmured
Il shall be happy. It's hard life keep
ing boarders."
I'll was only as we'll off as Deacon
Bancroft"
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
practical moment. What it was the
reader will discover in the sequel.
Henry" said she to her SON the next
morning. II want you to stop at Deacon
BancroIL's as you go TO school. aud ask
him if he will call and see me- in the
course Of the morning or afternoon. just
as he finds it most convenient"
Deacon Bancroft was not little sur
prised at the simmons. However abou'
eleven O'Clock he called in The widow
had got on the dinner and had leisure to
sit down. She appeared little embar>
raS$ed
Henry told me YOU would like to SEE
me-" he commence d.
Yes. Deacon Bancroft, l do. but
am very much afraid you v ill :hink yer,
strange of tat least of what have to
say to you
The Deacon very politely promised not
to be surprised. although at the same
time his curiosity was vi>ibly excited
Suppose said the widow. casting
down her eyes-"mind, am only sup.
posing the case-suppose person should
find pot Of gold pieces in their cellar
would The law have q right to touch it.
or would it belong to them %
The deacon prcked up his ears.
"A pot Of gold pieces. widow? Whv.
unquestionably the law would have moth
ing to do viii it,"
And the one who formerly owned thr
house couldn't come forward and claim
it. could he, deacon inquired the wild
ow. further. with apparent anxiety.
mo. madam, certainly nor-wh-n the
house was disposed of. every thing went
with it, as matter OF course"
Il am glad TO hear it. deacon. You
won't think strange Of the question, dea
| b,,, 81 bor 4
and thought l would like to have it sat-
s6ed."
Certainly. widow. certainly" SAID
the deacon abstractedly.
And deacon. as you are here. hope
you'll stop TO dinner with US. it will be
ready puuctualIy at twelve"
"Well, no." said the deacon : "I'm
much obleeged to ye, but they'll be ex
pecting me home"
"At any rate. deacon" said the widow
taking stesming mince pie from the
oven. ''you won't object TO take piece
of my mince pie; you must know that
rather pride myself On my mince pies .
'-The warm pie sent forth such a d Ii
cious odor that the deacon was sorry
tempted. and after saying, "WelI
really. With the intention OF refusing
he finished by saying. ION the whole l
gr+ss will as it looks so nice"
The widow was really good COO >
and he deacon ate with much gusto. the
generous slice the widow cut for him :;
and after little more chatting upon un.
important subjects. Withdrew in some
mental perplexmy.
WAS i. possible" thought he. "that
the widow could really have found pot
of gold in her cellar? She did not say
so. to be sure. but why shoulI she show
50 much anxiety to know as to the propri-