Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-05-28
VOL. XII.
THE POT OF GOLD.


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 yaL
uable II might be supposed that, under
these circumstances, the deacon, who was
fully able to do so, would have found help
mate 10 share his house and name. But
the deacon was wary. Matrimony was to
him in some measure matter o money, and
it was his firm resolve not to marry unless
he could thereby enhance his worldly pros
perity. Unhappily, the little village of Gen.
treville, and the towns in the Immediate Vi
cinity, contained few who were qualified in
this important particular, and 9f those few
there were probably none with whom the
deacon's suit would have prosPered.
: So it happened that year after year pas
sed away, until Deacon Bancroft was in the
prime of Iife-forty five or ihereabouts-and
still unmarried, and ia all human probability
likely to remain so.
Deacon Bancroft's nearest neigh6or was 4
widow.
The widow Wells, who had passed through
one matrimonial experience. was some three
or four years younger than Deacon Ban
croft.
She was still quite a comely woman
Unfortunately, the late Mr.. Wells had not
been able to leave her sufficient te make
her independent of the world. All that she
possessed was the small, old-fashioned house
in which she lived, and small amount of
money, which was insufficient to support her
and little son of seven, though hardly to be
classed as productive OF anything but mis-
chief.
The widow was therefore obliged to take
three or four boarders, to exc out her scanty
income, which of course imposed upon her
considerable labor and anxiety.
1t is not surprising then, under these cir
cumstances, she now and then would have
bethought herself of second marriage, as
a method of lettering her conditiona Or
again, need we esteem it special wonder,
if, in her reflections upon this point, she
should have cast her eyes upou her neighoor
Deacon Bancroft! The Deacon, as We have
already said, was in fourishing circumstan-
ces. He would be able to maintain wife
in great comfort; and, being one of the
chief personages in the village, could accord
her prominent social position.
He was not especially handsome, calcu-
lated to make profound impression upon
the female heart-this was true-but he
was of good disposition, kind-hearted, and
would no doubt make good sort of hus-
band A desirable match.
Some sagacious person, however, has OBJ
served that it takes two to make a match, a
fact to be seriously considered; for in the
present case it was exceedingly doubtful
whether the worthy deacon, egen-if he had
known the favorable opinions of his next
door neighbor, would have been inclined to
propose changing her name to Bancroft, un-
less, indeed, suitable motive was brought
to bear upon him. Here was chance for
6uessing.
One evening, after day of fatfguing la
Dor, the widow Wells sat at the fire in the
stting-room, with her feet resting upon the
fender.
"Ifever am SO situated as not to have to
work so hard,'' she murmured, 81 shall be
happy. It's hard life keeping hoarters.--
If was only as well off as Deacon Ban
croft''-
Sill the widow kept up her thinking. and
and by-and-by her face frightened up. She
had an idea, which she resolved to put into
execution at the very earliest practicable
moment. What it was the reader will dis
cover in the sequel.
| sHarry,'' said she TO her son the next
morning, 81 want you to stop at Deacon
Bancroft's as you go along to school, ant
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 little surprised al
| the summons. However, about / O'Clock
he called in. The widow had got on She din
ner, and had leisure to sit down. She ap
pea red little embarrassed.
SHary told me you would like to see me,
he commenced.
"Yes, Deacon Bancroft, DO but am very
much afraid you will think strange ofit--a
least of what may have to say to you.''
The deacon very politely promised not bt
surprised, though at the same time his curl
osity was visibiy excited.
"Suppose," said the widow, casting dowI
her eyes-"mind am only supposing cas-
suppose person should find pot full 0
gold pieces in their cellar, would the Law
have the right to touch it, or would it beEon!
to them.''
The deacon Pricked up his ears.
ga pot of gold pieces, widow? Why IN
qaestionably, the law would have nothing
do with it,"
nd tie one who had formerly owne
the house couldn't Gon-e forward and CLAN
j it, could he Geacvh}' inquired the widoV
! further with apparent anxiety.
"No, madam, unquestionably not. Whe
the house was disposed of, everything wen
with it, as matter of course"
Fl 81 am glad to hear it, deacon. Yo
: won't think strange of the question, but
happened to occur TO my mind, and / tho
] would like to have it satisfied"
"Certainly, widow, certainly said th
! deacon abstractedly.
: ssAnd, deacon, as you are here, hope yo
: will stop to dinner with US. l will be read
! punctually at twelve.'
d "Well, no,'' said the deacon rising, tsI'
: obliged to you, but they'll be expecting n
e at home"
e eat any rate, Deacon said the widow
e taking steaming mince pie from the owe
!, "you wont object to taking piece of II
g mnce pie, you must know | rather pri'
g myself on mince pies"
IS The warm pie sent forth such delicio
> odor, that the deacon was sorely temple
o and after saying, "Well, really" with Il
intention of refusing, he finished by sayin
"On the whole, guess will, as it looks
'e NICE" E1
,. The widow was really good cook, a
y the deacon ate with much gusto the gems
N GUS slice which the widow cut for him, a
ir after little more chatting upon unimPt
m tant subjects, Withdrew in some mental p'
" plexity.
,e aWasit il possible" thought he, "that
,e ur;dnur could really have found pot Of u