The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-11-02
THE POT OF GOLD.
BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS,

|
Lieutenant Calderwood was at his sis
ter's house on visit. during his two
weeks furlough. He was sitting with
her one evening n the parlor, while
her two children were studying their
lessons at the table in the back room.
!" So Paul is a lazy scholar, eh ~ said
the Lleutepant, lowering his voice.
No, not all. He is diligent enough,
provided his studies suit his fancy
But what sre they If you look over
his shoulder now you'll find him porting
over some Book of Dream, or the
History of Captain Kidd and his
Treasures, instead of his school books.
The boy IS deranged on the subject of
growing rich suddenly at some bold
master-stroke. [ wish you would talk
to him. You are supreme with him
just now. 1t may be you could ridicule
him out of his absurdity 1 cannot.
:" But ought he to be ridiculed ;"
"James -
=" Wei, call Clara in, and I'll go and
talk to HIM awhile"
Mrs. Forces beckoned her little girl
to her, and the Liuetenant saunterhd in
to she sick room, and, [ am sorry to saw
lighted a cigar.
:" Well, Paul, my boy, hard at it 3
Where's the book-Latin or algebra ~
Paul colored a little 'Oh, can run
over my lessons in tho morning. =
They're so horribly dull. Pm reading
nOwn
Head of your class, hope, aren't
you ?"
Paul laughed. "No, indeed. nearer
the other end. Well, the truth is,
throwing down his book, and Ieanin @
over con identially, 6 I've got it int @
my head to make money. Mother has
hard work to get along with Clara and
me-"
g I know, Paul." said theLieutenant
gracely.
Now, what good does this scanning
OF dead languages and porting over cube
roots do? How much meat will that
put in the pot p
g How do you intend to aid your
mother 2"
" Well, SIR" whispered Paul eager,
| ly, for this was his first patient listen
er, 6 if | head large sum of money
that [ could get all at once without anv
delay-a large sum--then, afterward. I
could make a scholar or what I pleased
OF myself"
The Lieutenant drew the book Paul
had been reading toward him. Grey
elat1ons by ClalrvOyance and Spiritual
ism Regarding Hidden Treasures. -
Paul watched him keenly as he read
the title over, but not the vestige of a
smile fitted over the Lieutenant's face.
| III tell you candidly about it. un
Gle, " hitching his chair nearer. Erred
Parker came from jersey, near where
Kidd buried his treasure, You know
the place."
: Not precisely do you %
p" Not the exact spot, but it is near
Burlington. 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 the heart SO they buried him
standing over The chest, with his drawn
sword IN his hand. You've heard the
incident %
Yes but
How will I find he place /? Well
Paul began to fidget little, turning
over the leaves of the book.
" Perhaps you will laugh at me, I'M
Gle, but L don't see why you should.
The anclents called in the aid of or
acles and dreams. They knew how to
read coming events in the flight of birds
or by the entrails of beasts. If we cam
not do so too it seems to me it is be
cause we have lost the power, not be-
cause the signs are not there to read.
The wisest men have not been ashamed
TO be superstitious. It is only fools
who think there is nothing in the world
but what they can see and handle
L quite agree with you in regard to
the fools, Paul"
Paul, who had been defiant hitherto.
blushed with pleasure 50 don't know
he continued, "what credit to give to
spiritual mediums. Fact is, I've run
after them till I'm about tired. THEY'VE
got all my last two quarters allowance
and so I've had to go without new clothes
this Writer, But if [ could succeed
If could only find the pot or chest
Just think 1t would make mother
easy for life -
Very true" said his uncle.
They were both silent for awhile. the
Lieutenant smoking and Panl turning
over the leaves of his book with fever
ish haste, glancing up now and then,
furti-ely, at hin uncle.
g What first put this matter into your
head, Paul %
q don't know. We really need
money SO often. And then Fred. Par
ker told his stories of Kidd's treasures.
and L see these clairvoyant advertise
ments in the papers every say"
As to those mediums, said Lieuten-
ant Caiderwood, thoug htfully, "my
opinion is that they will take your
money and you will get no information
in return. / never had any intercourse
with them, for have no belief in their
ability to tell you anything you do not
know already yourself. A friend of I
mine, Captain Johns, told me of a
woman, a fortune teller. who made |
some remarkable predictions-veryr re-
markable, indeed. She sketched out
his whole career for him."