The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-08-07
Tho Pot OF Gold.
AFHFTrY 'svrE STORY,

ln the main, ana looked up 10 WIN ff'psi
b oil the inhabitants Of tho village qf Cen
tei 'ille, was mmored 20 have IN Yankee
pwIrnce, "a pretty sharp eye to the mali
char cos,
In worldly matters ho was decidedly vel
70 do, having inhedteda fine farm from biz
father, which was growing yearly more yalu
able Il might he supposed that, undcr
these circumstances, the deacon, who wa
: fully able 10 do 10, would have found help
meet TO share his houg and name, But the
deacon was wary, Maldmony was 10 hin
I In some measure rpattero money and il
was bio lrm resolve not 20 marry unoss ht
could thereby enhance his worldly prosperity
/ unhappily, tho little village Of Ccnteryille
aud the towns In the immediate vicinity con
tanned few who were qualified in this impor.
tant particular, md of those there were
probably none with whom the dcacons suit
would have prospercd,
SO II happened that year AFTER year passed
away, until Deacon Bancroft Wa in the prime
Of lifc-forty-Gyo or thetcabouts-ond still
unmarried, nud in all .uman probability like,
.,ly to remain 10,
Deacon Baneron's uearcs, neRhbor was a
widow.
The widow Wells, who had passed through
one matrimonial experience, was some three
or four years younger than the Deacon Dan
croft She was still quite oomlcy woman.
Unfortunately, the late Mr., Wells had not
been able tolcayc her sufficient TO make her
imdcpcndent Of the world. All that she
possessed was the small, old-iashioned house
in which she lived, and small amount Of
money. which was insufficient to support her
and little son Of seven, though hardly 10 be
cla'scd as producti'e'-of anything but
mischief
The widow was therefore Obliged to take
three or four bonrdcrs, TO eke out the scanty
/ income, which Of course imposed upon her
/ considerable labor and anxiety,
! II is not surprising, then, that under thcs,
circumstances she should now and then have
be,hought herself Of second marriage, as Z
method Of lettering her condition. Oragain
need we esteem II a special wonder, if in hci
reflections upon this point, she should hRv,
cast her eyes upon her ncighbor, Deacon
/ Bancroft. The deacon, as We have Nlrcad,
said, was in ilouiiShing circumstances. IL,
would be able 10 maintain a wife in grea
comforts and being one Of the chief person
ages in the village could accord her promi
ncnt social position.
Some sagacious person has observed, how
ever, that il takes two to make n match, I
fact to be seriously considered for in IN,
present case it was exceedingly doubtful
whether the worthy deacor. even II he -hnc
known the favorable opinion of his mex
I ucighbor, would have been inclined to pro
pose changing her name to Bancroft, unless
indeed, suitable motive Sas brought to beoi
upon him. Here was chance for fnessing
One evening a0cr day Of fatiguing labor
the widow Wells sat at the fire in the sitting
room with her feet resting on the fender.
IL | ever am so situated as not to have tC
work so hard, she murmured, Il shall be hap
py. Its a hard life Keeping boOrdcrs II
was only as well off as Deacon Bancroft
Still the widow kept up her thinking, anc
by-and by her face frightened up. She hac
an idea, which she resolved to put into exc
cution nj the very earliest moment Wha
It was the reader will discover in the sequel
Henry snid she 70 her son the next morn
ing, i want YOU to stop Mt Deacon Bancroft
as YOU go along to school, and ask him if h,
will call and see me in the course OF thu
morning or afternoon, just as he finds it mos
convenient
Deacon Bancroft was not little surprisec
at the summons However, about eleven O.
clock he called in. The widow had got OF
the dinner and had leisure to sit down. Sh,
appeared little embarrassed.
Henry told me that you would like to SEE
me, he commenced.
Yes, Deacon Bancroft, l do, but am yer!
much afraid you will think very strange of i
at least of what have to say to YOU
The deacon very politely promised not t.
be surprised, although at the same time hi
curiosity was yisibly cxsited.
Suppose said the widow, casting dowI
her eyes-'mnd, I am only Supposing tn,
case--suppose person should find pot OF
gold pieces in their cellar would the Law
have right to touch it, or would it belong
to them.
The deacon prieked up his ears.
"A pot Of gold pieces, widow Why, un
questionably, the law would have nothing t'
do with it.
And the one who formerly owned th'
house, couldn't come forward and claim it
could he deacon inquired the widow, further
with apparent uuXtcry,
NO, madam, certainly not-when thu
house was disposed Of everything went witt
it, as matter of course
Il am glad to hear il, deacon. You won
think strnng of the question, but it happened
to occur TO my mind, and thought woulc
like TO have it satisfied