The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-04-05
: COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE, APRIL, 5, 1872,

\
isunnecessary for you to explain you
self further. Your name is Pat
: Forbes. You desire to know by wins
D means sou may obtain q certain treas
1 ure." slsee ssa s7 ssa
e Paul was terrified. Fhe other me
r diums that he had consulted had neve
. told him actual facts.
"When do you hold q seance?"
) "Now,u in q h0arse gratin,
voice. L need no trumpery tables
t or cards, or machinery. Do you asl
, whether can see into futurity T? Yol
| have scar on your shoulder beneatI
| your clothes, and an unhealed wcun,
below your knee. II / can tell yol
about these things that other eye
can not see, you can afford to trust m,
for the truth of whatever else may
say. Ask what you will, and l viii
answer.n
"How am l to obtain the treasurer
said Paul, trying to speak boldly.
"How should l know what treasure
you mean? But pause" The figure
moved her hand slowly to her, fore.
head, muttered for q few moments,
then took i. slowly down, and looked
piercingly at the terrified Paul.
"The pot of gold waits for you.
enough to give you fortune and power.
| Here are the direction by which you
are to obtain it. She placed a small
slip of paper in his hand.
| ION these conditions she said, in
a hollow whisper, ..that you solve
the mystery of this paper alone. You
are to receive no assistance in reading
it; if you do, all is lost. Begone? you
are answered"
Paul placed his money in her out
stretched hand, and went stumbling
down stairs under the red lamp.
The next morning at daybreak he
was knocking at the door of his
uncIe's chamber.
"What is this?" showing him a
paper full of figures, lines and dia-
grams. "Don't read it ton Only
tell me what sort of puzz,e it is"
The lieutenant raised himself on his
elbow, smothering q yawn. at seems
to be a mathematical puzzle, Paul;
the description Of some locality,
think. won't interpre, it to you. 1t
would need q good typographical en-
gineer to 90 that. Where did you pick
itup.m AZ -
Paul mumbled out utsomething, and
disappeared. 8 90 - =.
"A week after, the lieutenant re-
turned to his regiment. He noticed
Paul busy every night with his math-
ematics, and his slate and pencil.
The dream book was laid on the shelf.
Several months after, Mrs. Forbes,
20 h<r hpA q
have something to tell you OF
Paul which ] know will please you.
Much to my surprise, he took the first
prize in mathematics at school last
term. Finding prize-taking agreeable,
| presume, he has devoted himself to
all his studies with renewed assiduity.
But mathematics appear to be pas
sion with the boy. He told me that
he designed studying typographical
engineering, the very profession /
would have chosen for him. l can
not tell you how thankfut am for his
sudden cbange.n ~ =, 4s.a.s-.a ? ~
The lieutenant laughed, but male
no other sign.
He heard from his sister but aeIong
intervals, as he was stationed on the |
frontier, but every letter brought ac-
counts of Paul's incessant, steady |
labor in the one direction.
Whether the hope of the treasure |
found that mathematics were his
proper work, and that for which his
talent and real tastes fitted him,
we can not say. But it is certain that,
at the end of three years, he was
ready to enter the highest class in
Practical Surveying of the Polytechnic
College. s-.-
A year later, Lieut. CalderwoOd was
seated i'm the door Of his tent, when
two or three strangers dashed up, and
a stout. bearded, bright-eyed young
fellow jumped off his horse. canght
him by the shoulders, shook him,
ard laughed, aud ended by kissing
him like a girl.
"Paul? Forbes! Bess you, boy! how
did you come here?"
Paul jumped to his feet, turned red,
and then burst into shOusof laughter.
"You werezhe seeress l know you
were" @ raa4 ar a-f. s E.l8
The lieutenat nodded. "Do you be-
grudge the dollar for his prophecy"
he said. AS II look back now, don't
quite approve of my manner of teach
ing you your lesson, but you have
shown youself a better scholar than l
feared.n
"Been appointed Assistant Surveyor
Of this Territory, Sir! Attached to the
party under Gen. Hay.
l can't tel you all now, only that l
have the position for ten years, at a
fine salary; and mother aud Clara are
snug and happy as they never were
before. What do you think of that,
Uncle Jem ?"
Uncle Jem wrung his hand. '"Think?
Why, that you must have worked
hard to achieve so much, Paul"
Yes, yes, it took hard work." nod
ding. It's queer, TOO, what trifies
will drive fellow on a road, eh ?" :
Several months after, the lieutenant
came upon Paul one day, who was
looking at bit of yellow paper, COW
cred with figures and lines.
"Do you, know" said lie, looking
up, "there's puzzle that took me
years to work out ? l did it just before
| left home, and found the answer to it
-nothing."
The lieutenant paused = smiled.
SC Hard, healthful study, a good pro-
fession, and good income will not
serve for pot of gold, them. Paul ?"
be said. with shrewd twinkle of his
eye.-7he Companion. ....-..
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