Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-08-28
i He POT OF GOLD.
BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS.


Lietenant Calderwood was at his sis
ter's house on q visit, during his two weeks
furlough. He was sitting with her one
evening in the parlor, while her two chill
dren were studying their lessons at the
table in the back room
g So Paul Is a lazy scholar, eh ?n said
the lieutenant, lowering his voice.
"No, not at all. He is diHgent enough.
provided his studies suit his fancy. But
what are they? IF yon look over his
shoulder now you'll find him pOring over
some Book OF Dreams,' or the History of
Captain Kidd and his Treasures instead d
of his schoi books. The boy is deranged
on the subject of growing rich suddenly
at some bold master-stroke. I wish YOU
would talk to him. You are supreme
with him just now. It may be you can
ridicule him out of his absurdity. [
cannot.n
q But ought he to be ridiculed ?"
"Jamesn -
Well, call Clara in, and I'll go talk to
him for a while7
Mrs. E orbes beckoned her little girl TO
her, and the Lieutenant sauntered into the
back room, and, am sorry to say, Lighted
"a cigar.
Well, Paul, my boy, hard at it?
What's the book-Latin or algebra ?"
Paul colored a little. "Oh, [ can run
over my lessons in the morning. THEY'RE
so horribly dull. Pm reading now.''
" Head of your classes, [ hope, aren't
you"
Paul laughed "No, indeed nearer
+I,o Ill
ing down his book and leaning over conf
dentiallY, ~ got it into my head to make
money. Mother has hard work to get
along with Clara and me-"
know, Paul." said the Lieutenant
graVelY.
" How do you intend to aid your moth
er?"
"Well, sir,n whispered Paul, eagerly,
for this was his first patient listener, /" If [
had large sum of money that [ could
get all at once, without any delay-a large
sum-then atterward [ could make
scholar or what pleased of myself"
The Lieutenant drew the book Paul had
been reading toward him, Revelations
by ClairVOyance and SpirituaHsm regard
ing Hidden Treasures Paul watched
him keenIy as he read the title over, but
not the Yestige of a smile fitted oyer the
Lieutenant's face
&" Pll tell you, candidly, uncle, about if
(hitching his chair nearer) Fred Park
er came from Jersey, near where Kidd
buried his treasure. You know the place?n
" Not precisel ~; do you?"
"Not the exact spot but it is near Bur-
ington. Kidd buried the chest, and then
called on his men TO know who would
stand guard over it for a hundred years.
SO one fellow stepped out and stood firm
while Kidd shot him through TIE heart.
So they buried him standing over the
chest, with Il drawn sword in his hand.
You've heard the incident ;"
"Yes, but
How will find that place? Well"
the leaves of the book.
Perhaps you will laugh at me, uncle,
but | don't see why you should. The an
clients called Ill the aids of oracIes and
dreams. They knew how to read coming
events IN the flight of birds or by the en-
tiles Of beasts, If we cannot do so too,
it seems to me it is because we have lost
the power, not because the signs are not
there to read. The wisest men have not
been ashamed to be superstitious. 1t is
only fools who think there is nothing in
the world but what they can see and
handIe'
Z" quite agree with you regard to the
fools, Paul"
Paul, who had been defiant hitherto,
blushed with pleasure. Il don't know
he continued, "what credit to give to
spiritual mediums. Fact is, Pve run after
them till Pm about tired. They've got all
my last two quarters allowances. and so
/ We had to 60 without new clothes this
winter Bntif | could succeed If [ could
only lind the pot or chest Just think! 1t
would make mother easy for life! ~
very true," said her uncle.
They were both silent for while, the
Lieutenant smoking and Paul turning over
the leaves Of his book with a fe2erisb
haste, glancng up now and then, furtivelv,
at his uncle, ~