The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-04-25
THE BAG OF GOLD.

"MoNEY is a great trial." said the
widow Peckington, impressively. II de-
clare did not know what care meant be-
fore brother Gabriel died and left me all
the money"
"Well, Cousin Clarissa," observed
George Merrilton, who was assidously en-
gagged in entangling the widows work to
the very best or the very worst Of his
ability, "in case you find yourself une-
dual to the strain, all you have to do is to
leave me the five thousand dollars"
"The first thing in the morning." went
on Mrs. Peckington, unheeding Mr.. Mer.
ilton's modest hint, and the last at night
I'm thinking about it. First put it in
Deacon Elijah Horizons bank, and then
drew it. out again-banks aren't noways
safe nowadays. And then buried it in
the east cellar, close to the apple bin,
and then came the deluging rain and l
kuowed the cellar would be three inches
deep in water. So up it came again, and
theil could not rest in my bed for fear
of fire. So I got it changed into gold,
and guess it's safe enough"
"In the bottom of your big red chest?'
mischievously hazarded George.
"No matter where, sill" said the widow,
nodding her head.
"oh, but you might 1T tell u.s." ,. persisted sS,tet
Cora and l."
Cora Dallas sat stitching quietly in the
corner-the pretty orphan whom good
Mrs. Peckington had taken out of the
orphan asylum "to bring up" five years
before.
81 don't expect to leave you nothing, F."
Mrs. Peckington had said, " for I've rela-
tions of my own, but I'll give you dis
trict school education, and decent bring
ing up, and a good chance to do for your
And Cora had accepted the good DANES
offer with meek gratitude.
She had grown very pretty in the last
few years, this solitary child of nobody.
Dark.eyed, with hair full of deep chestnut
golden shadows, peach blossom skin,
where the rosy blood glowed brightly
through on the slightest provocation, and
q mouth like Hebc, it seemed as if nature
had made solemn compact with herself
to atone for all social sli ights that might
be cast across Cora Dallas path.
"Well," said Mrs. Peckington, seriously,
II don't mind telling you, but mind you
don't repeat 1.-THE bags hung halfway
up the chimney, on an iron hook"
"But suppose the chimney should take
fire." said Merrilton.
1T won't. keep it we'll swept and be:
sides, if it should, it takes pretty good
heat to melt gold.'' .
"Upon my word, Cousin Clarissa," !" said
Merrilton, you are second Machiavelli.' y
"Who in pity sakes was he?" asked
Mrs. Peckington. "There's Neighbo1
Simkins at the door-jump and let him in
Cora, for it's beginning to snow like all
possessed
And Neighbor Simkins came in-a
broad.faced, jovial agriculturist, who lived
on the next farm, and was suspected o1
matrimonial designs on the heart of Widow
Peckington.
"set by, Mr.. simkins," said the widow
Hospitality, putting another moss-fringed
log on the fire; "seems like we're going
to have another spell of weather."
And while the widow and her middle
aged lover discussed the weather, George
took occasion to help Cora get down q
half bushel of red apples from the garrett
and was unnecessarily long about it, too
II should think you would be ashamed
Of yourself, George Merrilton," said
Cora, dimpling and blushing, and trying
to look very angry, in which she sue
ceeded very indifferently.
"Whnt f0r?" audaciously demanded
George. zone doesn't get chance t.
kiss pretty girl every day in the year.
"What would Mrs. Peckington say?"
II dare say she's doing the very sam,
thing herself down stairs with Jehorun
Simkins.h
And Cora burst outlaughing at the pre-
posterous idea, just as the widow came il
to bustle around after ounce jelly ani
apple butter, an1 to tell Cora to mix up (
batch of mullins, for Neighbor Simkin
was going to stay to tea
And then Mr.. Simkins took his leav