American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-08-17
Miscellany.
THE POT OF GOLD.
BY REBECcA HARDING DAVIS.

BY REBECcA HARDING DAVIS
LIEUTENANT CALDERwoOD was at hi
sisters house on a visit, during his tw,
weeks furlough. He was sitting witt
her one evening in the parlor, while he
two children were studying their lesson
at the table in the back room.
$50 Paul is a lazy scholar, eh?" salt
he Lieutenant, lowering his voice.
mo, not at all. He is diligent enough
provided his studies suit his fancy. Blu
what are they. If you look over hi
shoulder now you'll find him porting ovel
some Book of Dreams or the History
of Captain Kidd and his Treasures in
stead 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 absurd
ity; cannot"
''But ought he to be ridiculed?"
"Jamesr'
"Well, call Clara in, and I'll go talk tc
him a while.
Mrs Forbes beckoned her little girl to
her, and the Lieutenant sauntered into
the back room, and, 1 am sorry to say,
lighted a cigar.
''Well, Paul, my boy, hard at it.
What's the book-Latin or algebra?"
Paul colored little. ''Oh, l can run
over my lessons in the morning. They're
so horribly dull. Pm reading now"
Head of your classes, l hope; aren't
your"
Paul laughed mo, indeed; nearer
the other end. Well, the truth is"
throwing down his book and leaning over
confidentially, Tive 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
roots do? How much meat will that put
in the pot?"
"How do you intend to aid your
mother ?"
"Well, sir" whispered Paul, eagerly,
for this was his first patient listener, eff
had large sum of money that l could
get all at once, without any delay-a large
sum-then afterward l could make a
scholar 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 over, but
not the vestige of smile flitted::over the
Lieutenant's face
(hitching his chair nearer. Erred Parker
came from Jersey, near where Kidd
buried his treasure. You know the
place 81
''Not precisely; do you ?"
''Not the exact spot but it is near Bur
1ington. Kidd buried the chest, and then
called on his men TO know who would
stand guard over it for 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 drawn sword in his hand.
You've heard the incident ?"
Yes, butt
How will I find the place Well"-
Paul began to f1dget ii little, turning over
the leaves of the book.
perhaps you will laugh at me, uncle,
but 1 don't see why you should. The
ancients called in the aids of oracles and
dreams. They knew how to read coming
events in the flight of birds or by the en-
trails 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
handle"
II quite agree with you with regard to
the fools, Paul.
Paul, who had been defiant hitherto,
blushed with pleasure. 81 don't know
he continued, 'what credit to give to
spiritual mediums Fact is, I've run
after them till Pm about tired. They've
got all my last two quarters allowance,
and SO I've had to go without new clothes
this winter. But if could succeed. If
I could only find the pot or chest! Just
think! 1t would make mother easy for
lifer'
Every true" said his uncle.
They were both silent for awhile, the
Lieutenant smoking and Paul turning
over the leaves of his book with a fever
ish haste, glancing up now and then, fur
lively, at his uncle.
''What first put this matter into your
head, Paul."
Il don't know. We really need money
SO often. And then Fred Parker told his
stories of Kidd's treasures, and see these
clairvoyant advertisements in the paper
every day"
GAS to these mediums" said Lieutenant
Calderwood, thoughtfully, "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 mine, Captain
Johns, told me of woman, fortune
teller, who made some remarkable predic-
tIOns-very remarkable, indeed. She
sketched out his whole career for him."
"Who was she? Where is she to be
found?" cried Paul, forgetting to ask
whether the prophesies proved true or
not-and they were most ridiculously alb
surd and untrue
"At No. 81 Poplar street." said his
uncle, after several minutes hesitation.
"She was to be consulted only at night
But that was several years ago"
"Pll go and see her tomorrow night"
said Paul. He was more nervous and I'M
settled than usual that evening, and sat
looking in the fira for a long time.
The boy is ruined" sighed his
mother nothing WIN ever restore him to
common sense or usefulness
1t is a long day until sunset" said
her brother, quoting his fayorite proverb.
The next night Paul put on his over
coat just after supper. and his last dollar
in his pocket. His uncle had not been at
home during the afternoon. Paul kissed
his mother good-by once or twice.
w here are you going, my son ~
10 make our fortune" he said gayly
as he ran out.
No. 81 Poplar street was soon found.
It was narrow, dark entry, lighted by a
red lamp, which gave a ghostly and muir
derous light. Paul went up the winding
stairs, and found at the top a door with
a placard, on which was printed with
common pen
."MADAME D'AUBREY, SEEREss"
Paul tapped. No answer He tapped
aoain