Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-05-09
TALES AND SKETCHES
TREASURE TROVE,


Don't fret, Jennie, lass YOU shall have
the ear rings, and something over for a frill-
ed tucker, or whatever you may fancy
Come, take your choice, girl"
Jennie came slowly forward, and rested
her hand on her fathers shoulder as she
glanced listlessly over the wares which the
pedlar spread before her.
"Humph it's not the earrings nor the
tucker that she's worrying about" observed
the mother, glancing up sharply from her
inspection of gay chintz. "She's taken on
about that lad, Frank Duncan, who, neigh
Dor Burwell told us, is TO leave the day
after tomorrow to seek his fortune, as he
says"
"And l hope he'll find it," said the farmer,
gravely. Hes good enough lad, and I'd
have nothing to say against him if he'd give
less time to books and more to work, SOS to
make money enough for wife to live on.
When young Duncan comes back with five
hundred dollars, Jennie, I'll think better of
him but no daughter of mine shall marry a
penniless man."
AS the farmer spoke, he was slowly and
carefully untying a well-worn leather wallet,
which he had taken from the upper drawer
of an old fashioned bureau with brass hand
les, which stood in a corner of the large
kitchen. From goodly sised bundle of
notes he selected one of the ten dollars,
which he handed to the pedlar.
I've no change" he replied to some re-
mark OF his wife. They're all tens and
twenties-one hundred and twenty five dol
lars IN all, ," he added, in tone of sa.isfac-
ton. "Jekyrs done a good job wi the cat
tie this year, and if the crop turns out as
well, you shall have something better than
hot nh int Int, L..
you, too, Jennie, lass"
The ..pedlar's small, keen black eyes
glanced furtively at the notes as the farmer
smoothed them out upon his knee and re.
placed them in the wallet.
Here's hundred, clear, for the bank
he observed, as he tied the wallet securely
with its red-tape string. "I'll take it down
to Logansville, Thursday. Meantime, Hetty,
put it away in the little box there"
Mrs. Haliet deposited the wallet carefully
IN tin box and replaced the wallet in the
bureau drawer, which she locked, hanging
the key on nail which was driven in the
back Of the bureau itself.
Jennie having selected her earrings and
piece of lace for tucker" sat down to
sew the latter on the neck of her best blue
delaln dress. There was to be "bee" at
neighbor Burwell's that evening, and q
dance after; and though in no dancing
mood, she would go, for she knew that
Frank Duncan was to be there, and this
would be their last meeting before he de-
parted to ''seek his fortune" in the CITY,
Poor girl it was her first sorrow, and
we all know how hard are such to the young
with their helplessness, their inexpefience,
and their ignorance of life As she sat on
the side of her little bed sewing the lace on
the blue dress, che looked aud felt very sad
Much as she loved her parents, she could
not help thinking them cruel and unfeeliug
in this instance, when they must know how
dearly she loved Frank, and that she could
never, never be happy without him. He
was so clever, so handsome, so good-apd
they objected to him because he was poor
As if she, or Frank either, minded poverty |
oh, if he had only that FIVE hundred dollars!
how in this world could Frank make that
enormous sum
Her mothers voice calling her to supper,
aroused her. With country hospitality, the
good dame had added some extra dishes to
the usual evenings meal, and she looked
little disappointed at the pedlar's non. ap-
probation of the good things set teforre
him. He seemed absent and restless; and,
declining the proffered nights lodging, said
ne must 20 riBnt on 10 Logansvllle to-
night, in order to meet friend whom he
expected there. So, after joining in with
fervent "amen" to the hosts after-grace,
and thanking them in pious strain for their
hospitality, he shouldered his pack and re.
sumed his journey. From the window,
Jennie, looking listlessly out saw his tall
form disappear at bend of the road about
a mile distant, and dreamily heard her
fathers remark
81 don't fancy that stranger. Somehow
he don't look to me like genuine pedlar-
not sharp enough at bargaining, not in
terested enough in his business. And then
I noticed he never looks you right in the
eye--always q bad sign"
"Well,n observed his thrifty wife, ! can't
say that liked him the best for his easy
bargains. He don't make much profit by
'em' though, I guess Judging from that old