The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-07-18
THE ,STORY-TELIER.
THE POT OF GOLD.
BY REBECCA IL. DAVIS.

Lieut.. Calderwood was at his sisters
mouse ON visit, during his two weeks
turlough. lie was sitting with her one
evening in the parlor, while her two
children wero studying their lessons ut
the table i'll the back room.
$50 Paul is a lazy scholar, eh ?" said
the lieutenant, lowering his voice"
mo, not at all. He is diligent
enough, provided his studies suit his
fancy. But what are they2 If YOU
look over his shoulder now, you'll find
him poring over some Book ct Dreams.
or the History Of Capt. 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
10 MN. You are supreme with him
Just now. 1t may be you could ridicule
him out of his absurdity; cannot"
But ought he to be ridiculed ?"
"'Weli, call Clara in, and I'll go talk
to him awhile"
Mrs. Forbes beckoned her little girl to
her, and the lieutenant sauntered into
the back room, and, am sorry to saw,
lighted cigar"
We'll, Paul, my boy, hard at it |?
What's the book? Latin or algebra :"
Paul colored little "Oh, / can run
over my lessons in the morning. They
are so horribly dull Pm reading
now."
Head of your classes, I hope, aren't
you?"
Paul laughed. "No, indeed, nearer
the other end. Well, the truth is"
throwing down his book, and leaning
over contidentially, GIVE got it into nv
head to make money. Mother has hard
work to get along with Clara and me-"
II know, Paul" said the lieutenant,
gravely.
"Now, what good docs this scanning
OF dead languages and poring over cube
roots do? How much meat will that
put in the potY"
mother 2"
well, sir" whispered Paul, eagerly,
Tor this was his first patient listener, "if
had large sum of money that could
get all at once, without any delay-a
large sum, thcn, afterward, could make
scholar or what l pleased of myself"
The lieutenant drew the book Paul
had been reading toward him. "Reve-
latlons by Clairvoyance and Spiritual
ism, regarding hidden Treasures"
Paul watched him keenly, as he read
the title, but not the vestige of a smile
fitted over the lieutenant's face.
I'll 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 Z"
mot precisely; do yout"
"Not the exact spot, but it is near'I
Burlington. Kidd buried the chest,'and
then called ON his men to know who |
weuld stand guard over it for Hundred |
years. 80 one fellow stepped out and
stood firm till 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 incidents"
"Yes; but
Glow will find the place? Well"
Paul began to fidget little, turning
over the leaves of the book.
Perhaps you will laugh at me, uncle,
but don't see why you should. The
ancients called in the aid of oracles and
dreams. They knew how to read COM
ing events in the flight of birds, or by
the entrails of beasts. If we cannot do
30, 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 SUPER
stitious. 1t is only fools who think there
is nothing in the world but what they
oan see and handle"
4" l quite agree with you in regard to
The fools, Paul"
Paul, who had been defiant hitherto
blushed with pleasure. 81 don't know"
ne continued, "what credit to give to !
spiritual mediums. Fact is, I've run !
after them till I'm about tired. They've l
got all my last two quarters allowance,
md SO I've had to go without new '
clothes this winter. But if l could sue
,eed If L could only find tie pot or
hest ! Just think 1t would make S
mother easy for life p '
Every true" said his uncle.
They were both silent for awhile, the q
lieutenant smoking, and Paul turning
ver the leaves of his book with feverish G
taste, glancing up now and then. fur
lively, at his uncle. i
"What first put this matter in your f
ead, Paul?" C
al don't know. We really need money i
o often. And then Fred Parker told
is stories of Kidd's treasures, and 1 see L
hese clairvoyant advertisements ia the Il
aper every day t
As to those mediums" said lieuten- t
mt Calderwood, thoughtfully, "my /
pinion is that they will take your y
loney, and you will get no information c
a return. 1 never had any intercourse I
nth them. for have no belief in their
bility to tell you any thing you do not s.
lready know yourself. A friend of o
line, Capt. Johns, told me of woman, 81