The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-11-24
5pltrtta Sturu.
TIE POT OF GOLD.
A rRETTY CUTE STORY.

Deacon Bancroft, though very good
man IN the main, aud looked up to with
respect Lv all the inhabitants Of the vii.
lage Of CenterviIIe WAS rumored to have,
IN "nkee p"rlsnce, "a pretty smart eye
I" the MA II chance,'-a pecuiari,y from
which deac"ns are not always exempt.
In worldly uIatter lie WAS decidedly
wei t" do, having lnheri,el a fac farm
from his father, which WAS growing year.
iy more valuable. 1t might be supposed
That under these circumstances the deacon
vino Was fully able TO do SO, would have
io"n' = hrlp Meet TO share his house aud
name. Bu, the Deacon was wary. Mat.
rImnmv was Ia bun - soma m"asmra u
ma',er u'.morey aud 1t WAS his firm re
solve not 10 uurry unless he could there
JOY enhance his worldly prosperity. Tn
happUy the iitle village Of CsnterviIle,
ANA the town, ~ the immediate vicinity,
contained tew who were qualified ~ tins
IEpurnut ra,licu.ar, and ot those there
were probably none with whom the Dca
cons suit would have prospered.
80 N happened that year after yea;
pa,,cI away, until Deacon Bancroft WAS
ip tie prime Of forty five or therca
bou,s-and sui unmarried, and in all
human probability likely to remain so.
Deacon Bapcroft's nearest neighbor
was "A widow.
The Widow Wells, who had passed
through one matrimonial experience, was
some three or four years younger than
Deacon Bancroft. She was still! quite u
comrly woman. Unfortunately, the late
Nj. Wells had not been able to leave her
sufficient to make her independent OF the
word All she possessed was the sma
old fashioned house in which she lived,
and small amour, Of money, which Was
insufficient to support her and lLte son
OF seven, though hardly to lie classed AS a
'prodnclve'-ofa ANYTHING but mischief.
The Widow WAS therefore Obliged TO
take three or four bosrJers, to eke out
the scanty income, which oi course impos-
I'd upon her considerable labor aud auXi.
ETY..
1T is TO, surprising, then, that under
these circumstances she could now aud
then have bethuught herself Of second
marriage, ~ method Of lettering her
condition Or, again, need We esteem IL
special wonder II, in her reflection upon
this point, she could have cast her eyes
upon her neighbor, Deacon Bancroft p
The Deacon, as We have already said.
WAS in furnishing circumstances. He
would be able to MAINTAIN wife in great
comfort; and, being one Of the chief per
sonages 10 the village, could accord her a
prominent social position.
Some sagacious person has observed
hoseyer, that il takes two TO make a
match, n f'ct TO be seriously considered :
for in the present case it Was exceedingly
doab,fuI whether the worthy Deacon, even
IL he had known the favorable opinion ol
his pext neigh Dor, would have been in.
clined to propose changing her name to
Bancroft, unless. indeed, suitable mo
tive was brought TO bear upon him. Here
WAS chance for fnessing.
One evening. after day Of fatiguing
labor, the Widow Wells sat at the tire in
the sitting room, with her feet resting on
the fender
'If am so situated as not TO have Ia
work so hard she murmured, Il shall be
happy! It's hard life, keeping board
ers. II was only as well oil as Deacon
Bancroft
Still the Widow kept up her thinking
and by'and by her face brightered up
She had an idea, which she resolved tc
put into execution at the very earliest
practical moment. What Il was, the rea
der will discover in the sequel.
Henry said she to her son the mex
morning, i want you TO stop at Deacon
Bancroits as you 90 along to school, and
ask him il lac will CAL and see me in The
course Of the morning or afternoon, jus
as he finds 1t most convenient
Deacon Bancroft WAS not little sur
prised at the SUMMONS, However, abou