Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-08-07
THE POT OF GOLD.
A PRETTY CT TE STORY.


In worldly matters he was decidedly we
to do, having inherited fine farm from hi
father, which was growing yearly more valu
able. 1t might be supposed that under thes
circumstances, the deacon, who was fully abb
to do so, would have found help meet t.
share his house and name. But the deacon
was wary. Matrimony was to him in som
measure matter-o'- o'-money, and it was hi
firm resolve not marry unless he could there
by enhance his worldly prosperity. Unhap
PLY, the little village of Centreville, and til,
towns in the immediate vicinity, contained
few who were qualified in this importan
particular, and of those there were probabl,
none with whom the deacon's suit woult
have prospered.
SO it happened that year after year passed
away until Deacon Bancroft was in the prim,
of life-forty five or thereabouts-and still
unmarried and in all human probability like
! ly to remain so.
! Deacon Barcroft's nearest neighbor was
widow
TIE Widow Wells who had passed through
one matrimonial experience, was some threl
or four years younger than the Deacon Bran
croft. She was still quite comey woman
Unfortunately, the late Mr.. Wells bad net
been able to leave her sufficient to make her
Independent of the world. All that she pos
scs>ed was the small old fashioned house in
which she lived, and a small amount of mo-
ney, which was sufficient to support her and
little son Of seven, who was hardly to be
claSsed as "productive'-of anything but
mi-chief.
The willow was therefore obliged to take
three or four boarders, to eke out the scanty
income, which of course imposed upon her
Considerable labor and anxiety.
1t is not surprising then, that under these
circumstances she should now and then have
beth u~iIt herself of a second marriage, as a
method Of bettering her condition? Or again,
need We esteem it a special wonder, if in her
reflections upon this point, she should have
cast hei eyes upon hcr neighbor, Deacon
Bancroft Z. The deacon, as we have already
said, was in flourShing circums tances. He
would be able t. maintain wife in great
comfort; aud being one Of the chief person
ages in the village, could accord her pronl-
nen social position.
Some sa@acious person has observed, how
ever, that it takes two to make mattel
fact to be seriously considered for in the
present case it was exceedingly doubtful
whether the worthy deacon, even if he lad
known the favorable opinion of his mkt
ncichbor, would have been inclined to pro-
pose changing her name TO Bancroft. unless.
indeed, a suitable motive was brought to bear
upon him. Here was chance for fines
sing.
One evening, after a day of faticuino Ia
tor. the widow Wells sat at the fire in the
sitting room, with her feet resting on the fen
der
If am so situated as not to work so
hard she murmured, 81 shall be happy. It's
a hard life, keeping boarders If I was only
a. well Oft as Deacon Bancroft--''
Still the widow kept up her thinking, and
hy-and-by her face frightened up. She had
an idea, which she resolved to put into execu-
ton at the very earliest practical moment.-
" hat it was, the reader will discover in the
sequel.
. Henry said she to her son the next
morning. want you to stop at Deacon Ban
croits Il, you g. along to school, and ask il
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 surprised
at the summons. However, about eleven
o'clock lie cclled in. The widow had GOT on
The dinner and had leisure to sit down. She
appeared a little embarrassed
Henry told me that you would like to see
HE, he commenced
" Yes Deacon Bancroft, do. but I am
very much afraid you will think very strange
OF it-at least what have to say to vou.'
The Deacon very politely promised not to
lac surprised, although at The same time his
curiosity was visibly excited
Suppose" said the widow, casting down
her cyes-''mind am only supposins the
CASE suppose Il person should find pot
of gold pieces, in their cellar, wonld the law
hav' right to touch it, or would it belong
to Them
The Deacon picked up his ears.
\ pot of gold pieces widow Whv.un.
quc>tonably, the law would have nothing to
do w'h it,"
And the one who formerly owned the
house, couldn't come forward and claim it,
conid he,dcaccn?' inquired the widow fur her
with apparent anxiety"
\" madam, certainly not-whcn the
house was disposed Of everything went with
Il, a matter of course"
g am glad to hear it, deacon. You won't
think strange of the question. but it happened
to occur to my MUD, and thought would
like to have 1t satisfied
"Certainly, widow, certainly said the
deacon: abstractedly.
And deacon, as you are here, [ hope
you'll stop to dinner with us. 1t will be
ready punctuaIy at twelve
We'll, no, say the deacon" I'm Obliged
to ye. but they will be expecting me home"
s. 1t any rate, Deacon" said the widow,
taking mince pie from the oven,n vou
went Object to ia ing piece of mince pie
You must know that | rather pride myself on
my mnce pies"
The warm pie sent forth such delicious olor'
that the deacon was soreiy tempted.-
and after saying. "Well, reall " with the
intention Of refusing, finished bv say
ing, son the whole, guess will, as it looks
so nice.'
The widow was really good cook and
the deacon ate with much gusto the gener-
Gus slice the widow cut for HIM +; and after
a little more chatting on..important subjects
Withdrew in some mental perplcxity.
Was it possible" thought he, " that the
widow could really have found pot of gold
in the cellar! She did not say so, to be sure
but why should she show much anxiety, to
=" wv pop VI tlCdSUit-
found, if she had not happened upon some ~
To be sure, so far as his knowledge extend
ed there was do one who occupied the house
who would in the least be likely to lay up
such an amount of gold but the house was
one hundred and fifty years old, at the very
least, and undoubtedly had many occupants
of which he knew nothing. 1t might be, az
ter all. Tie widows earnest desire to have
think it was only curiosity, likewise gave ad-
ditional probability to the supposition.
81 will wait and watch, thought the dea-
con.
1t so happened that Deacon Bancroft was
one of the directors in Savings" Inststution,
in the next town, and accordingly
used to ride over there once or twice month
to attend meetings of the Board.
On the next occasion of this kind Widow
Wells sent over tie know if he could carry