The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-04
Returning the salutation, aud request

Returning the salutation, and request
ing his visitor to enter. the old man in
quired. ''Who are you?"
"Only traveller who has become tired
with a long and tedious journey. and
desires conveyance of some sort to
carry him to the next town."
Il haven't got any carriage for you."
"Oh! my good sir. don't wish for
carriage; saw farm wagon in your
yard as came in, and, surely, you must
possess horse of como sort"
"Yes, I have horse and cart. but
who is to bring them back; can't go.
for I'm too DID,"
"As to that" said the youth, '.it can
be easily arranged. will send man
to bring it back, or will return with it
myself. You shall sustain no loss.''
"Ah! but how am to know that?
I'm afraid I'd never see you or the horse
again"
Overcoming the smile which covered
his face for moment, the youth re-
piled: "Well, if you cannot trpst me, I
presume you will allow me the team,
providing I deposit with you sufficient
amount to cover the value of horse and
cart; then. should I not return, you will
lose nothing. and il do, and your team
has not suffered at my hands, T may
claim my money again?"
The old man, whose love of gold had
lost none of its ardor with increasing
years, now seemed all attention, az he
replied, "Ohl if that's the talk, why,
perhaps, I might let you have it. How
much are you willing to give?"
what do you consider your team
worth?"
"Well, say $780," we'll knowing when
he said it that such sum was very
much more than it's value But he was
a shrewd old fellow, and meant to put
his prices, like Yankee peddler, high
enough to allow OF q considerable full.
and still secure moro than the value of
the article.
Imagine his surprise, upon sceing the
youth, without word, draw forth
leathern purse, from which he counted
SlOo in gold, and throwing them upon
the table, and turning again to the old
man, said:
'Now your team, for wish to be on
my way" Gathering up the gold and
putting it safely away in oil old stocking,
the old man hurried away. followed by
the stranger, to prepare the conveyance,
which the latter had bnrgained for. The
horse was soon hitched to O wagon to
match, and mounting tho seat, the
youth bade the old man ''good-night,"
and drove away in the darkness, while
the old farmer returned to his dwelling
to count and recount the gold left by the
stranger, and secretly hoped that the
latter would never return to claim it..
Our friends may with surprise inqnire
what has become of the seer. Wait
moment, and you shall see. Upon
reaching the farmhouse, tho youth, as
has been related, proceeded to the door
to negotiate for team, with what sue
cess has been already stated, while the
seer continued right on with their car
rlage Tor about fifty rods, until he
reached IL turn in the road which hid
him completely from view of the farm
house. Then, alighting, ho proceeded
to secure the horse to neighboring
tree, then stood quietly awaiting the
coming of his young friend. 1t was not
long before the rattling wheels of the
OLD farm wagon wore heard approaching.
1t soon reached the spot where the seer
was standing, who mounted to seat be-
side the youth. and leaving their own
horse tied there, they kept on in the
farm cart. Moving toward the left, and
following a narrow and obscure road,
they finally came out upon tho level
plain near the beach. Keeping about
the same distance from the shore, they
moved on in Northerly direction.
at Inst they stop. The young man
alights from the wagon, and leads tho
horse cautiously forward few yards,
when they come again to halt, and the
seer alights and stands beside his com
panion, and there, right before them,
with its bright leaves glistening in the
pale moonlight, stands the sweet briar
bush, which guards the iron chest.
Then driving the team as near the spot
as possible, they took therefrom shovel,
and the trunk, which they had previous
ly transferred from their carriage. De-
posting the trunk upon the ground. and
seizing the shovel. the youth began at
once throwing out the sand which, few
hours before, he had piled upon the
chest.
1 Reaching once moro the object of his
labors, this time he toro away what re-
mained of the lid, and there, piled upon
each other, lay the shining gold pieces
He did not attempt to remove the mas
sive iron chest, but pulling the trunk to
aiplace beside him, he began Immediate