The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-20
THE POT OF GOLD.

rem were studying their lessons at the table
in the back room.
$50 Paul is lazy scholar, Ell ?" said the
lieutenant, lowering his voice.
mo, not at all. He is diligent enough,
provided his studies suit his fancy. But
what are they !? If you look over his
shoulder now, you'll find him porting over
some Book of Dreams, or the History of
Captain Kidd and his treasures, instead of
h school books. The boy is deranged on
the subject of becoming rich suddenly, at
some bold master-strokc. | wish you
would talk to him. You are supreme
with him just now. 1t may be you could
ridicule him out of his absurdity; cam
not"
''But ought he to be ridiculed ?" .
flames I"
"Well, call Clara in, and I'll go talk to
him q while.n ..
Mrs. Forbes beckoncd her little girl to
her, and the lieutenant sauntered into the
back room, and am sorry to say, lighted
cigar.
"Well, Paul, my boy, hard at it?
What's the book? Latin or algebra ?n
Paul colored little. ooh, | 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 the
other end. Well, the truth is :" throwing
down his book, and leaning over confident
tally, "pve got it into my head to make
money. Mother has had hard work to get
along with Clara and me-"
81 know, Paul." said the lieutenant.
grayely.
"Now, what good does this scanning Of
dead language and porting over cube roots
do? How much meat will that put in
the pot"'
"How do you propose to help your
mother 2"
"Well, SIR" 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, afterward, | could make 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 fitted over the licuten-
ants face.
"I'll tell you candidly, uncle, about it,"
hitching his chair nearer. Erred. Parker
came from Jersey, near where kyd buried
his treasure. You know the place ?''
mot precisely, do you ?"
Not the exact spot, but it is near Bur-
lington. kyd buried the chest, and then
called upon his men to know who would
stand guard over it for hundred years.
So one fellow stepped out, and stood firm
till kyd 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 Y' r.
"Yes, but"-
- How will | find the place ? WelP'-
Paul began to fidget little, turning over
the leaves of the book. ,1 ..sg v,
'tPerhaps you will laugh at me uncle,
but | don't see why you should. The an
clients called in the aid 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 superstitous. 1t is
only fools who think there is nothing in the
world but what they can see and handle"
AZ quite agree with you with regard to
the fools, Paul" a.
Paul, who had been defiant hitherto,
blushed with pleasure. I" | don't know"
he continued. "what credit to give to
spiritual mediums. Fact is, I've run after
them until I'm about tired, They've got
all my last two quarters allowance, and
so I've got to go without new clothes this
Winter. But if / could succeed IF
could only find the pot or chest! Just
think 1t would make mother easy for
life!n
Very true" said his uncle.
They were both silent for a while, the
lieutenant smoking, and Paul turning over
the leaves of his book with feverish haste,
glancing up now and then, furtively, at his
uncle. ~
What first put this matter in your
head, Paul?' ..E VI
6 don't know. We really need money
so often. And then Fred Parker told his
stories of Kyd's treasures, and see these
clairvoyant advertisements in the paper
every day"-- .s. -
"As to those mediums" said Lieut..
Calderwood, thoughtfully, my opinion is
that they will take your money, and you
will get no information in return. | have
never had any intercourse with them, for
L have no belief in their ability to tell you
anything you do not already know your
SELF A friend of mine, Capt. Johns, told
me of a woman, fortune-teler, whom he
consulted here as to his future life, who
made some remarkable predictions, 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 wheth-
,cr the prophecies proved true or not-and
they were most ridiculously absurd and
untrue.
"At No. 81 Poplar ST." said his uncle,
after several moments hesitation. ''She
was to be consulted only at night. But
that was several years ago." ps'-g .-s
Il will go and see her tomorrow night"
said Paul. He was more nervous and UNI
settled than usual that evening, and sat
looking in the fire long time.
"Ihe boy is ruined, sighed his mother.
Nothing will ever restore him to COM
mon sense or usefulness" er
ut is long day until sunset" said her
brother, quoting his favorite proverb. ...
The next night Paul put on his oyercoat
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. b.
"Where are you going, my son Pr