The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-08-20
THE POT OF GOLD.


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.
$50 Paul is lazy scholar, eh?" said
the lieutenant, lowering his voice."
s'No, not at all. He is diligent enough,
provided his studies suit his fancy. But
what are they? If you look over his shoul-
der now, you'll find him pouring over some
book of Dreams or the History of Capt.
Kidd and his treasures, instead of his
school books. The man is deranged on
the subject of growing rich suddenly, at
some bold master-stroke. l wish you
would talk to him just now. 1t may be
you could ridicule him out of his absurdity;
l cannot"
"But ought he to be ridiculed?"
",Tames ~
"Well, call Clara in, and I'll 90 talk to
him while"
Mrs. Forbes beckoned her little girl to
her, and the lieutenant sauntered into the
back room, and, I am sorry to say, lighted
cigar.
"Well, Paul, my boy, hard at itP What's
the book Latin Or algebra?"
Paul colored little. "Oh, can run
over my lesson in the morning. They are
so horribly dull I'm reading now"
"Head of your classes, hope, aren't
you q''
Paul laughed. "No, indeed, nearer the
other end. Well, the truth is" throwing
down his book, and leaning over confiden-
TALLY, "I,ve got it into my head to make
money. Mother has hard work to get
along with Clara and me-"
81 know, Paul." said the lieutenant,
gravely.
"Now what good does this scanning of
dead languages and pouring over cube
roots do? How much meat will that put
in the pot?"
elbow do you propose to help your
mother?"
"Well SIR" whispered Paul, eagerly,
for this was his first patient listener, "if
had large sum of money that l could
get all at once, without any delay-a large
sum, then, afterward, could make a schol-
ar or what pleased of myself"
The lieutenant drew the book Paul had
been reading toward him. Revelations
by Clairvoyance and Spiritualism, regard
ing hidden Treasures"
Paul watched him keenly, as he read the
title, but not the vestige of a smile fiutter-
ed over the lieutenant's face.
"Ill tell you candidly, uncle, about it,"
hitching his chair nearer Fred Parker
came from Jersey, near where Kidd buried
his treasure. You know the place?"
Not precisely; do you?'
"Not the exact spot, but it is near Bur-
lington. Kidd buried the chest, and then
called on his men to know who would keep
guard over it for hundred years. So one
fellow stepped out and stood firm till Kidd
shot him through the heart. So they bur
led him standing over the chest, with his
drawn sword in his hand. You've heard
the incident ?"
"Yes; but
"How will find that place9 "Well--'
Paul began to fidget little, turning ovel
the leaves of the book. NJ a.
"Perhaps you will laugh at me, uncle,
but don't see why you should. The an
clients called in the aid of oracles ant
dreams. They knew how TO read coming
events in the fight of birds, or by the en-
trails Of beasts. II we cannot do so, too
it seems to me it is because we have los
the power, not because the signs are no
there to be read. The wisest men have no
been ashamed to be superstitious. 1t Il
only fools who think there is nothing in th'
world but what they can see and handle. ;
D"I quite agree with you in regard t.
the fools, Paul.'' sa4aa Hil f1n"I
"Paul, who had been defiant hitherto
blushed with pleasure. "I don't know,
he continued, "what credit TO give Il
spiritual mediums Fact is, I've run afte
them until I'm about tired. They've 20
all my last two quarters allowance, and 81
I've had to 60 without new clothes thi
winter. But If could only succeed III
could only find the pot or chest Jus